About the Logo  The idea for the NABA logo was conceived by William ("Bill") Aiken in 1971, when he served as National President. Bill felt that the primary goal of NABA was to lend a helping hand to those African-Americans seeking entry into the accounting profession, as well as those already in the profession at that time. He was a member of the audit staff of Arthur Young & Company (now Ernst & Young LLP) at the time.

Bill worked with Joan Starwood, the head of Arthur Young 's graphics department to create a series of designs which culminated in the adoption of the current logo by NABA's Board of Directors. Bill ensured that documents were filed to register our logo as a trademark. The symbol is the clasping of left hands in the vertical position inside an unbroken circle. In 1993, NABA's Board of Directors formally embodied Bill's ideals regarding the logo in NABA's motto: "Lifting As We Climb". The motto is centered directly below the symbol.