Illinois CPA Society Names Diversity Awards After Former Fed Reserve Bank Chair

The Illinois CPA Society has announced that its two annual awards presented to recipients for outstanding leadership and emerging leadership in advancing diversity have now been named in honor of Lester H. McKeever.

The announcement was made on June 14 at the Society’s 2016 Leadership Recognition Dinner in Chicago. During the event, McKeever was honored before the newly named Lester H. McKeever Jr. Outstanding Leader in Advancing Diversity and Emerging Leader in Advancing Diversity Awards were presented to recipients for the very first time.

McKeever is one of the most prominent Chicago-area leaders in the accounting profession and has been a pioneer in promoting diversity, inspiring students and opening doors of opportunity – especially for those passionate about a career in accounting, but with limited resources. In more than 50 years as a member of the Society, McKeever has remained a strong advocate for advancing diversity in the accounting profession. He often mentors young professionals to promote career opportunities for qualified individuals of all backgrounds.

As a lifelong Chicagoan, McKeever has made a significant difference in helping others achieve their goals during his remarkable career. In addition to being a longtime partner in the local firm of Washington, Pittman and McKeever, he is also a former Chairman of the Federal Reserve Bank of Chicago and past Board Chairman of the Chicago Urban League. McKeever, who is a CPA and an attorney, is also a former member of the Illinois CPA Society’s Board of Directors as well as a founding member of the CPA Endowment Fund of Illinois.

As a passionate civic leader, McKeever has also been an influential voice in Chicago’s City Hall. He served on the city government’s finance committee under mayors Harold Washington and Richard M. Daley.

“Lester’s drive and dedication to our profession is a shining example of how one person can help so many others while setting a high, prestigious bar of achievement,” said Todd Shapiro, President & CEO of the Illinois CPA Society. “His continuing passion for civic leadership parallels the true, core mission of our Society in enhancing the value of the CPA profession through education, information, advocacy and connections.”

McKeever also dedicates his time to the schools he attended. He has served on the Board of Directors for the Illinois Institute of Technology where he graduated from the Chicago Kent College of Law. He’s also a former treasurer of the Board of Trustees for the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign where he earned bachelor’s degree in accounting.