AIRA Newsletter

Over the weekend, I was looking at details on the CIRA program including the most up-to-date information on the number of current CIRAs, those who have completed the three-part examination, and the number of AIRA members currently enrolled in the program and who have taken one or more parts of the examination.

I am happy to report that the CIRA program is flourishing. Since AIRA qualified the first CIRA members in 1992, six hundred and thirty-one professionals have met the standards and been awarded CIRA certificates. Six hundred and three of those remain currently active, representing two hundred and fifty-nine firms. Of the active CIRAs, 184 are also CPAs, 22 are attorneys, and 41 hold the CTP designation.

Of our total current membership of almost 2,000, approximately 80% are involved in the CIRA program.

The February 23-34, 2004 Business Valuation in Bankruptcy sessions held in conjunction with the Norton Bankruptcy Litigation Conference in Park City, UT was a success in both program content and attendance. Grant Newton moderated sessions on the Cost of Capital for Chapter 11 Companies, Valuation Issues Related to Recovery Actions, Defending and Challenging the Value of the Reorganized Business, Litigation and Chapter 11 Cases, Cash Flow Projections, and Lessons Learned from Chapter 22s.

Our thanks go out to all of the individuals and firms that presented at the conference and to Judge Leif Clark for his assistance and participation. Conference materials are available from AIRA. Please visit www.airacira.org for more information.

I hope everyone has the opportunity to enjoy the coming spring weather. I look forward to seeing many of you at the upcoming 20th Annual Bankruptcy and Restructuring Conference in Grapevine, Texas on June 23-26, 2004.

Best Regards,
Jim Lukenda
President

Jim is a founding Managing Director of Huron Consulting Group’s Corporate Advisory Services practice specializing in corporate turnaround situations, loan workouts and bankruptcy. Over his 24-year career he has worked in a variety of industries and assisted clients ranging from small privately held businesses to large multinational corporations. Since 1989, Jim has worked exclusively with clients in matters related to distressed operating situations including assistance with operations assessment, debt restructurings, mergers, acquisitions and dispositions, fraud investigations and other financial consulting, litigation, and workout assignments. He is a Certified Public Accountant and Certified Insolvency and Restructuring Advisor (CIRA). He is a past director of INSOL and a member of the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants. Jim also serves as the treasurer for Adoptive Parents Committee-New Jersey, an adoptive parents advocacy and education organization.