Ed Duarte, CPA, CGMA, began his tenure as the 97^th Chair of the FICPA on July 1, 2024.

“It is truly an honor to lead this historic institution and to give back to my friends and colleagues across the state,” Duarte said. “The CPA profession is at an inflection point, and I am proud to serve our membership at this unique and impactful moment. I look forward to working alongside President & CEO Shelly Weir, my fellow Board and Council members, and the FICPA staff to ensure that Florida CPAs are protected in Tallahassee, respected in other states, and represented at the national level. Together, we can be part of the positive change that pushes our profession forward.”

The chief financial officer of Foreign Parts Distributors, Inc., (FPD) in Miami, Florida, Duarte spent the first 15 years of his career working in public accounting in New York City, South Florida and Puerto Rico as part of Weinick Sanders Leventhal & Co. (1999-2004), Berkowitz Pollack Brant (2004-2006), BDO USA (2006-2010) and Mallah Furman (2011-2015). Now the CFO at FPD, he is the FICPA’s first Chair from business and industry in the last decade, leveraging his experience from both the public and private sectors to connect with accountants, financial professionals and business leaders across the state and across practice areas.

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In the next year, Duarte will work closely with Weir to ensure the FICPA is well-positioned to lead its membership through a period of transition and transformation in the profession.

“Ed’s experience in both public accounting and private practice make him an ideal leader for this moment in our history,” Weir said. “As the FICPA continues to play a leading role in shaping the future of accounting, we’re also focused on strengthening and expanding the relationships we’ve worked to cultivate across the business landscape here in Florida. I am excited to partner with Ed, our Board of Directors and the Council to advocate for our priorities, expand our reach and elevate the CPA profession.”

As a member of the FICPA, Duarte previously served as President of the Miami-Downtown Chapter, as a Regional Representative on the FICPA Council (2008-2015), and as Chair of the Chapter Operations, Corporate Finance and Finance & Office Advisory committees, amongst other volunteer leadership positions. He rejoined the FICPA Council in 2017, became a member of the Board of Directors in 2022, and served as Chair-Elect during the 2023-24 fiscal year. He is also a current member of the AICPA Council, a past President of the Cuban-American CPAs Association and active board member with the Centro Campensino Farmworker Center and Live Like Bella Childhood Cancer Foundation.

“As I pass the torch to the 97th Chair of the FICPA, I do so with the utmost confidence he will lead with integrity, passion, and a deep commitment to our vision and mission,” Immediate Past Chair Key O’Keefe, CPA, said. “I look forward to supporting Ed in any way I can and witnessing the incredible impact the Institute will continue to make under his leadership.”

As Chair, Duarte will be supported by the prestigious FICPA Board of Directors and Council members listed below.

2024-25 Board of Directors: Karen Lake (Berkowitz Pollack Brant) (Chair-Elect), Key O’Keefe (O’Keefe, Somerville & Associates) (Immediate Past Chair), Kathryn Horton (Kathryn K. Horton CPA), Jennifer Keller (Crowe), Amy Kistka (Deloitte & Touche), Chris Oatis (Grant Thornton), Mindy Rankin (Warren Averett), Brion Sharpe (PwC), Jesus Socorro (Socorro Partners), Alex Sueiro (PAAST), and Kyle Gosiewski (Crowe) (Young CPA Committee Chair; non-voting)

2024-25 Council members: Kristin Bivona (GellerRagans) (Past Chair),Jessica Bormey (Nicklaus Children’s Health System),Yvonne Clayborne (Carr, Riggs & Ingram),Adam Daniels (SBF),Ashley Fagan (KPMG),Carlos Grosmann (Kaufman, Rossin & Co.), Genevieve Hancock (G Hancock Advisory), Anne Marie Hicks (Capital Edge Consulting), Tarsha Jacobs (Jacobs & Associates), Robbie Maya (Kaufman, Rossin & Co.), Graeme Mellet (RSM US), Evaristo Palmer (Cherry Bekaert), Heber Rojas (Tapia, Rojas & Associates), Christopher Stemley (Disney Financial Services), Guy Strum (Gladstone, Strum & Company), Cheri Swain (Carr, Riggs & Ingram), Alex Welsh (A-LIGN), Aharon Yoki (University of South Florida), and Dana Zukierski (EY)

“The FICPA is guided by the volunteer leaders who give of themselves to give back to the CPA profession,” Duarte said. “I am grateful to the FICPA Board and Council members listed above and look forward to working with them in the coming year to support our members across Florida.”

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