The Massachusetts Society of Certified Public Accountants (MassCPAs), the state professional association representing over 11,000 members, announced today that it has launched a Mentor Match Program designed to encourage, inspire and empower future CPAs, and provide an opportunity for members to give back to their profession. 
 
The program consists of 15 mentors from various firms and professional levels and 15 mentees who are either college students or recent graduates and will run from October 2022 – October 2023. Mentors and mentees completed a mentorship training series prior to the start of the program. 
 
“I joined because I wanted a mentor to help build my confidence and problem-solving skills,” says Bheamarie Quinn, a mentee to Carolyn Warger in MassCPAs’ Mentor Match Program and a rising junior, finance and accounting major at UMass Amherst. “I need guidance from someone who has been in the same shoes as me to help me achieve my career goals. Through the training, I have learned the important values of a relationship between a mentee and mentor, and I’m looking forward to building a strong relationship with my mentor!” 
 
“Navigating school and the early stages of your career can be tough, and I wanted to be an additional resource in my mentee’s corner to offer support and advice based on my life experience,” says Carolyn Warger, a mentor to Bheamarie Quinn in MassCPAs Mentor Match Program, and a partner in the Accounting Principles Group at Grant Thornton LLP. “This program has been eye-opening, giving me a great perspective on experiences outside my own, and providing my mentee and I a great framework to make our mentoring relationship a success. In the coming months, I’m really looking forward to getting to know my mentee and helping to support their journey into the accounting world or wherever life takes them.” 
 
To help develop the program, MassCPAs brought in Trish Foster, an independent consultant, to facilitate two training sessions that focused on the benefits of mentorship, building strong relationships, addressing differences and privilege, goal setting and more. The Society will be providing regular workshops and events for both mentees and mentors throughout the program.  
 
“There are so many bright, motivated students trying to decide on a career path, and it’s our responsibility to support them on their journey in the profession,” said Amy Pitter, MassCPAs president and CEO. “At the Society, we are always looking for new initiatives to help grow and diversify the accounting pipeline. Not only will the Mentor Match Program help to encourage, inspire and empower future CPAs, but it also aids our diversity efforts and provides an opportunity for members to give back to their profession.”