It's difficult to determine if CPA Steven H. Wimmers is being honored as Accountant Advocate of the Year for his work with small businesses or for his countless hours as a volunteer. In some cases, those two even intermingle.

For instance, Wimmers has served as the accountant for Precision Survey and Mapping for 18 years. "To be quite frank, if not for Steve, I would not have weathered the ups and downs of a cyclical economy," says Michael J. Pallamary, president of Precision. "I have also come to know Steve through his tireless efforts on behalf of many community organizations. I can attest to Steve's unselfish efforts as he served as my volunteer treasurer in my run for elected office in 1985."

Just listing the volunteer organizations Wimmers has assisted would take up several pages. In short, he has served as the volunteer treasurer for six nonprofit organizations and moved on to become president or chairman of five of these.

Professionally, he is a member of AICPA and CalCPA. He chaired the Management of Accounting Practice Committee for the San Diego chapter of CalCPA for two years, is the group's president and serves on its state board. He has more than 25 years in the accounting business and has owned his own business since 1979.

Wimmer's professional credits are impressive, but it is his volunteer work where he has served his community best. Whether it’s raising money for the Peninsula Family YMCA or serving on the Ocean Beach Planning Board, it’s clear he believes in giving back to others. He has been selected as the Accountant Advocate of the Year, as well as the SBA's Region IX award winner (Region IX includes California, Arizona, Nevada, Hawaii and Guam).