AboutWarren D. Miller Expertise I believe I can answer nearly any question about business writing. That goes in spades if the target audience is a lay readership. I make my living writing and speaking. N.B.: I DO NOT ANSWER QUESTIONS MARKED 'PRIVATE' because I believe that knowledge should be shared, not hoarded. I also believe such questions are likely to be submitted by people trying to cheat. In addition, don't waste your time asking me to write something for you. You don't learn anything if I do that. I'm happy to critique something that YOU write, of course. That's the best way for you to learn how to write well.
Experience My profession is business valuation, which means appraising businesses whose shares are not publicly traded. This requires in-depth knowledge about a number of disciplines, including economics, finance, strategic management, accounting, anthropology, statistics, and psychology. The left-brain part of me must conduct rigorous research and financial analysis. The right-brain side must then separate what matters from what doesn't and then explain it all in writing (and in everyday English) to people (usually business owners, but sometimes judges and juries) who do not have the expertise that I have been lucky enough to acquire over the years. I love what I do and consider myself fortunate to live in a country where I can do what I love doing and make a nice living doing it. I am glad to help with writing issues, but NOT, please, with any valuation, business consulting, or other non-writing questions.
Organizations CFA Institute, American Society of Appraisers, Strategic Management Society, Academy of Management, Institute of Management Accountants
Publications My writing has appeared in the Harvard Business Review, American Fly Fisher, Business Valuation Review, CPA Expert, Academy of Management Executive, CFA Digest, and others.
Education/Credentials MBA - Oklahoma State U. (1991);
BBA - U. of Oklahoma (1975);
Chartered Financial Analyst designation (2006)
Accredited Senior Appraiser (2006)
Certified Management Accountant
Certified Public Accountant (1992)
Awards and Honors Business Valuation Volunteer of the Year (2001) - American Institute of CPAs
Winner - Statewide Humorous-Speaking Contest - Oklahoma - Toastmasters International (1971)
Question Is it legal to use designators from non-accredited certifications as suffixes in a signature block, such as
Joe Smith, SSBM, VBLSS, CPI (meaning Six Sigma Green Belt, Value Based Lean Six sigma, or continuous Process Improvement), simply because you took an on-line one week course and printed out the schools's certificate? The on-line training center has responded that it is a non-registered, non-accredited program, but does have an ISO certification.
I have an employee that I am advising against doing so, but cannot tie my advice to any legal or professional standard.
I hope the question is clear. Please advise.
Thank you,
Darrell Peebles
Answer Dear Darrell--
When I saw "CPI" there, I thought it mean "Consumer Price Index." I've never known "CPI" to stand for anything else.
Now, when you begin your question with "Is it legal. . .", then we're not in the Technical Writing arena. You're asking me to practice law. I'm neither licensed nor qualified to do that, so I won't. I'd be putting myself in legal jeopardy if I did.
What I can tell you, however, is that there are a lot of common-sense reasons NOT to put such designations after one's name. Before I share with you what those are, however, I'd like for you to share with me the context in which your employee proposes to use these "designations." Is s/he signing documents on your company's letterhead? Putting them on a business card?
One other question: When you say, "I have an employee," that suggests to me that you might own the company or have an equity interest in the company. If that is not true, please clarify for me what your role is AND, if you don't mind, (a) how many employees the company has and (b) what kind of business activity it conducts.
In this age of alphabet soup after people's names, you've raised an excellent and interesting question. I can't answer it from a legal standpoint, but I have some other thoughts that I think you'll find helpful.
Take care. I look forward to hearing back from you.
