J. Carlton Collins, CPA is an award winning author/editor for the Journal of Accountancy who publishes a monthly technology column in the Journal. In 2013 Collins won the prestigious Lawler Award for excellence in national journalism. J. Carlton Collins, CPA is also an award winning and top rated public speaker, delivering more than 2,000 lectures in 44 states and 5 countries at international, national, and regional conferences and full day CPE presentations. His awards include "AICPA Lifetime Achievement Award", "Tom Radcliffe Outstanding Discussion Leader Award", "GSCPA Outstanding Discussion Leader Award", and "Accounting Technologies' Top Ten CPA Technologists Award". J. Carlton Collins, CPA is also a consultant who has assisted 275+ large and small companies with the selection and implementation of accounting systems. Mr. Collins has a Bachelor's degree in Accounting from the University of Georgia, is a 25+ year member of the American Institute of CPAs and the Georgia Society of CPAs, and previously held a realtor license. At the University of Georgia, Mr. Collins was elected President of the Phi Eta Sigma Honor Society, was initiated into the BIFTAD Honor Society, served three years in the Judicial Defender/Advocate program, and was a member of Alpha Tau Omega fraternity. At Glynn Academy High School, Mr. Collins was Senior Class President, Class Valedictorian (1 of 6), and received a principle nomination to Annapolis Naval Academy. Mr. Collins has been married for 27 years and has two children. He devotes his leisure time to family, travel, tennis, fishing, snow skiing, and riding motorcycles (both dirt and street). Mr. Collins is past president of his home owners association, participates in the Gwinnett Clean and Beautiful program, and volunteers for Cooperative Ministries food drive. As an auditor Mr. Collins has audited businesses in the areas of health care, construction, distribution, automobile dealerships, insurance, manufacturing, and general business. Mr. Collins' tax experience includes corporate, individual, partnership, fiduciary, and estate tax planning work. In the area of finance, Mr. Collins has prepared (or assisted in preparing) feasibility studies and financial forecasts for nearly 300 projects seeking more than $3 billion in startup capital, including field work for 80 of those projects. Mr. Collins is familiar with bond issues, Medicare and Medicaid reimbursement, and conventional financing matters. In 1992, Mr. Collins contributed and demonstrated more than 500 pages of suggested design improvements to the Microsoft Excel development team - and many of those improvements are found in Excel today.