PPB October 2019

Denn i s Co rmany PPB sat down with Cormany to ask him a few questions about his experience—and uncover some fun facts. What was it like when you started at PPAI? I was hired in September 1979 and one of my first activities was to go to Chicago and sit with the then-bookkeeper and, more importantly, meet with the accounting firm that handled the financial activities for the Board of Directors. It was the week the movers were packing up and moving the office fromChicago to Irving. At the end of the week, I came to Irving and said, “Wow, what have I gotten myself into?” It turns out the building wasn’t complete yet, and only five of the original staff moved to Texas, so Ted Olson was really challenged with re-staffing the organization. I was interviewed in a construction trailer until we moved into the building. I was the first financial person the Association ever hired. What did you do before joining PPAI? My first job out of school was working for a family- owned business: an auto parts wholesaler. I was the office manager and stayed there for two years. Then, I was approached by the Texas Credit Union League (now Cornerstone Credit Union League). Having had a taste of the office management side, I wanted to get back into accounting, so I interviewed and was hired as an accountant there, which exposed me to nonprofit accounting and those processes. In 1979, after working there for about five years, I was tired of the corporate environment and went on sabbatical for nine months and had a great time playing tennis, golf and fly fishing with friends. Ted Olson was hired in January of 1979 and PPAI was building in Irving, and being a charter member of Meeting Planners International, Ted attended meetings in the Dallas area when in town. In May of 1979, the meeting planner from the credit union started calling me on a monthly basis, saying Ted was in town and looking to hire a financial person, and if I would be interested in talking to him, and I’d say no. By September, the seed had been planted and I interviewed—and that’s how I came here. What are some of your most standout memories working here? My position is not a forward-facing position to the membership. I’ve been more of a back-office member. I worked with people who were on the Board of Directors in the capacity of the Executive Committee, Budget and Finance Committees; professionals holding senior-level positions in companies, which allowed me to get to know these Right, Dennis Cormany’s first day at PPAI in 1979; far right, Cormany recently at the ranch. 94 | OCTOBER 2019 | CONNECT