The CPE Forum was established in the Fall of 1980 by Josephine (Jo) Sarnelli, CPA. It's mission is to provide high quality educational programs at a low cost to business professionals, including Certified Public Accountants, Certified Management Accountants, enrolled agents, and others seeking continuing professional educational (CPE) credits for licensing purposes. It is also open to the general community.

Originally held at the headquarters of Friendly Ice Cream Corporation, it was nicknamed "The Friendly Forums." It soon outgrew that facility and American International College donated meeting space to the organization. This allowed the educational series to be offered free of charge to the community. This generosity continued until 2006, when rental and operating costs required that a modest fee be charged.

Jo Sarnelli continues to volunteer her services in organizing these series as a commitment to both her professional colleagues and the local business community.

Josephine Sarnelli, CPA runs a consulting business specializing in forensic accounting and white collar crime investigations, internal control reviews, temporary CFO and controllership positions for manufacturing and service companies, accounting software installation, and fund accounting applications for government and not-for-profit organizations. Previously, she has worked for a “Big Eight” accounting firm, was the head of auditing for Friendly Ice Cream Corporation for eight years, and for six years was a full-time professor and Assistant Dean for the School of Business at Western New England College. Josephine is very active in her profession and since 1980 has offered educational programs to CPA’s and the business community via the CPE Forum. Her professional web site is at www.sarnellicpa.com.