Gary Bolinger began his career with the Indiana CPA Society in 1984 as the field activities director and recently celebrated 32 years with the organization. His responsibilities initially included chapter management, relations with educators, the Educational Foundation and legislative relations. He was named executive director in April 1990.
Bolinger earned bachelor’s and master’s degrees at Indiana State University. In 1989, he completed the curriculum in association management through the Institutes for Organization Management, and served as chair, Board of Regents of the University of Notre Dame Institute in 1995. He served as a member of the Institutes for Organization Management National Board of Trustees (chair 1996-97), Indiana Society of Association Executives Long Range Planning and Finance committees (1995-98), and Board of Directors (2004-08, president 2007).
From 1993-95, he served on the CPA Society Executives Association Board of Directors. He was elected a member of the CPA/SEA executive committee as treasurer in October 1996, served as secretary in 1998, and president-elect and president from 1999-2000. He has served as a member of AIPCA Information Technology Executive (1997-98), AICPA Strategic Planning (1999-2002) committee, and the AICPA Peer Review Board (2003-06). In addition he was a member of the AICPA Uniform Accountancy Act Committee from 2007-10. In addition, Bolinger served as chair of the inaugural CPA/SEA - AICPA “Interchange” conference. Appointed to the Indiana State University Accounting Department Advisory Council in 1994, he is an honorary member of Beta Alpha Psi. He was recently appointed to the Indiana University Accounting Advisory Group. He is a Certified Association Executive (CAE).
Bolinger has served as a presenter for the Indiana Society of Association Executives and CPA Society Executives Association. Additionally, he presented topics for the Institute for Organization Management and the American Society of Association Executives Management Conference, as well as a number of accounting organizations. In addition to numerous INCPAS membership presentations, Bolinger speaks to a wide variety of accounting related, business organizations and associations regularly.
In October of 2014, Bolinger received the prestigious Sagamore of the Wabash, which is the highest distinction an Indiana governor can present. In March of 2010, Bolinger received national recognition as he was named AccountingWEB’s Outstanding CPA Association Employee of the year for the prior year. In 2001, Bolinger was named Association Executive of the year by the Indiana Society of Association Executives. And, in 1998, he received the Indiana CPA Society Chairman's Award. The last three awards are given to an individual who has shown outstanding dedication and service to his organization and profession.