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Happy 1st day of spring, Nextworking friends! We have many fun things to share this time around, including an invitation to join us for what is sure to be the most unique event we've held so far, as well as an opportunity to win this season's Book for Your Buy List. Other "must read" items include a Member Spotlight with Grant Thornton audit associate, Ian Knox, and a Best Kept Secret that is so unassuming and delicious, we encourage you to drive the extra mile to find it.

Enjoy!

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Join us for Nextworking's first ever participatory cooking event on Thursday, April 26, at Let's Cook in Northeast Minneapolis where we'll learn "How to Throw a Party in Style." Forget your fancy French cookbook! This interactive event is all about no-fuss, delicious appetizers paired with an assortment of beer, wine, and non-alcoholic beverages. Leave the evening with new business contacts and great recipes that are sure to impress at your next get together.

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Ian Knox is an Audit Associate with Grant Thornton LLP, a U.S. member firm of Grant Thornton International and a global leader in accounting, tax, and business advisory services.

Citing the "solid foundation" that a background in Accounting and Finance has to offer, Ian emerged with a Bachelor's degree in Business Administration with a concentration in Accounting and Finance from Marquette University in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. He was hired by Grant Thornton right out of college and says that having the opportunity to work with a variety of clients and experiencing vastly differing business environments are the most favored elements of his job. When not traveling domestically or internationally for work, studying for the CPA exam (which he's on pace to complete by June), training for a mini-triathlon this summer or volunteering on international service trips, Ian finds the time to be an active member of our Nextworking Steering Committee.

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Are today's hiring managers and partners at CPA firms seeing eye-to-eye with new recruits when it comes to the driving force behind a job seeker's decision to join and stay with a firm? The answer is no according to a recent study published in The Journal of Accountancy. The study revealed glaring differences in the actual priorities of new recruits versus what higher ranking individuals perceive to be important.

Check out how our experts say the Twin Cities compare!

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With gleaming praise from such critics as the New York Times, Time Magazine, and the Washington Post, we knew we were in for a treat by reading Leadership is an Art by Max De Pree. What we didn't know was just how powerful, compelling, and profound its insight would prove to be. Don't let the 148 pages of double-spaced text lead you to question this book's value. This masterpiece is chock full of true-to-life leadership philosophies and real anecdotes to depict and reiterate main points. Within its pages are nuggets of wisdom that are modest yet impactful. De Pree's understanding of effective leadership and management is rooted in the potential of the human spirit, which is a theme delicately woven into every chapter.

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Have you ever walked into a coffee shop or a cafe and felt like you were somewhere else? Like you had instantly been transported light years from dry cleaning responsibilities, corporate parking lots, and bustling skyways into a land of university professors, indie musicians and artists, and hip homemakers on a play date? It may be a stretch for some, but this month's best kept secret will have you rubbing elbows with some of the most eclectic dining companions in the Twin Cities.

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Register for the PPN Next Jobs email today and you will automatically be entered to win a copy of this month's Book for Your Buy List, Leadership is an Art by Max De Pree. Whether you are actively looking, just keeping an eye open or helping a friend find their next career move, PPN Next Jobs is a great way to check out hiring activity in the industry.