30 CPAs Graduate from 2021 AICPA Leadership Academy

The American Institute of CPAs (AICPA) has announced that 30 CPAs have graduated from its Leadership Academy.

The program, now in its 13^th year, was held virtually from October 25-28. The AICPA Leadership Academy was designed to strengthen and expand the leadership skills of promising young professionals while they network with a peer group of talented and motivated CPAs.

The Leadership Academy features career-development workshops and sessions with some of the accounting profession’s most prominent leaders, including William (Bill) Pirolli, CPA/CFF/PFS, CGMA, chairman of the American Institute of CPAs and Barry Melancon, CPA, CGMA, AICPA president and CEO, Association of Certified Professional Accountants CEO.

“Being a CPA is about relationship building and working to improve yourself and those around you,” said AICPA board Chair Bill Pirolli, CPA/CFF/PFS, CGMA. “This year’s Leadership Academy class is a testament to the future leadership of the profession. I look forward to seeing the great things they’ll accomplish in their careers.”

Participants were selected from public accounting firms of all sizes, business and industry, government, and consulting firms. The 2021 Leadership Academy attendees were recommended by their employers, state CPA societies, and/or volunteer organizations. Candidates submitted resumes and a statement explaining how participating in the Leadership Academy would impact them personally and professionally. They also wrote an essay on the topic “The future will bring significant changes to the accounting profession. What do leaders have to get right in order to successfully lead?”

“This program is an incredible opportunity for building your leadership skill set, self-reflection and making profound connections to likeminded CPAs,” said Catherine L. Weissert, CPA, VP/Controller at Lewis & Clark Bank in Oregon City, OR and a 2021 Leadership Academy graduate.

This year’s class included representatives from 21 states. Participants were selected from public accounting firms of all sizes, business and industry, academia and consulting firms. The class contained a diverse range of ethnicities and was split nearly evenly between males and females. The average age of the attendees was 32.

“Participating in the Leadership Academy has truly been a once-in-a-lifetime experience. Through this experience, I have been equipped with the tools and vision to unearth the strengths within me, in my pursuit of becoming a more effective leader,” said Josh Alexander, CPA, Partner at Alexander & Williams in Dallas, TX and a 2021 Leadership Academy graduate.

To date, more than 445 CPAs have participated in the AICPA Leadership Academy, many of whom have gone on to take on leadership positions in their firms, businesses, and volunteer organizations.

Details for the 2022 Leadership Academy are available online. The application period is now open.

The full 2021 Leadership Academy class is listed below in alphabetical order:

Chelsea Abercrombie, Integrity Squared CPA’s, Bolivar, Missouri
Jessica Adams, Northwest Baptist Foundation, Vancouver, Washington
Josh Alexander, Alexander & Williams, Dallas, Texas
Esteban Alfaro, PPFA, New York, New York
Janella Andrews, Lund & Guttry LLP, Palm Desert, California
Jeffrey Bowley, Joseph W. Bowley & Co., LLP, Blackwood, New Jersey
Karla Bryk, ATLAS CPAs & Advisor PLLC, Marion, Illinois
Ruben Delgado Powell, Buchbinder Tunick & Company LLP, Bethesda Maryland
Melissa Diaz, High Rock Accounting and Rebel Rock Accounting, Scottsdale, Arizona
Amr, Elaskary, Clark Schaefer Hackett, Monclova, Ohio
Kendall Gonzales, University of Wyoming Foundation, Laramie, Wyoming
Lauren Graves, Johnson Lambert LLP, Burlington, Vermont
Amanda Halverson, Eide Bailly, Oklahoma City, Oklahoma
Kathryn Horton, Kathryn K. Horton CPA PA, Coral Springs, Florida
Jennifer Korbely, BurgerBusters, Suffolk, Virginia
Shara Lucio, Dean Dorton, Louisville, Kentucky
Mary Maxion, Eadie and Payne, LLP, Riverside, California
Aaron McCarthy, Luttrell Wegis LLP, Irvine, California
Grace McKoy, Anderson ZurMuehlen, Missoula, Montana
Carey Miller, Veris Consulting, Inc., Annandale, Virginia
Ade Oluwalayemi, Intuit, Newnan, Georgia
Liz Pabst, Cotton and Company LLP, Houston, Texas
Arpit Padhiar, KNAV PA, Atlanta Georgia
Micah Pulliam,Coast Professional, Inc., West Monroe, Louisiana
Casey Savatski, Insight Enterprises, Inc, Tempe, Arizona
Chris Smith, Schellman & Company, LLC, Tampa, Florida
Carey Vasallo, VMBG Accounting, Miami, Florida
Chris Vineyard, Brown Smith Wallace LLP, Saint Louis, Missouri
Catherine Weissert, Lewis & Clark Bank, Portland, Oregon
Michael Williams, DSJCPA, Westbury, New York

For more information about the AICPA Leadership Academy, visit AICPA.org/Leadership

Accounting