As an advocate for the public interest, Wolfe was a founding member of the IRS Collection Territory Managers/Practitioners Committee, where he champions taxpayer rights.

With an eye to the future, Wolfe also serves as an advisor to the Dempsey J. Travis Foundation, which awards scholarships to diverse students in the Chicagoland area, and has supported the CPA Endowment Fund of Illinois and its Mary T. Washington Wylie Opportunity Fund.

Wolfe began practicing accounting nearly 50 years ago and founded Larry J. Wolfe Ltd. in 1982. His Skokie, Ill.-based firm is focused on providing specialized tax controversy services, including resolutions with the IRS and state taxing agencies.

At the ICPAS Leadership Recognition and Awards Dinner on June 13, 2024, Wolfe expressed his gratitude, stating he was “very honored and humbled to have been selected as the recipient of the Illinois CPA Society’s 2024 Lifetime Achievement Award.” He thanked the CPA community for this honor, along with his wife, Linda, and his team at Larry J. Wolfe Ltd. for their loyalty, support, and sacrifices over the years.

The Colorado Society of CPAs (COCPA) is hosting its annual women’s summit. The 2024 Women’s Summit: Elevating Your Excellence will take place at the DoubleTree by Hilton ins Denver, CO, on August 23, 2024 from 8:30 AM to 4:30 PM. The summit will also be available as a webcast for those unable to attend in person.

COCPA members pay $405, with a non-member price of $574. Visit the COCPA website for more information and to register.

The Georgia Society of Certified Public Accountants (GSCPA) recently announced that Kathryn Fletcher, CPA, partner at Draffin & Tucker, LLP of Atlanta, Georgia has been elected chair of The Georgia Society of Certified Public Accountants (GSCPA) Board of Directors for the 2024-25 fiscal year. Mrs. Fletcher was selected at the Society’s annual business meeting in St. Augustine, Florida.

“I’m looking forward to the opportunity to speak with students of all ages and tell our story,” she says. Financial literacy is another important topic for Fletcher. “Not everyone needs to be a CPA, but money and finances are a part of our everyday lives. Everyone can benefit from a greater understanding of financial literacy,” she explains. “As a profession, there are a lot of opportunities for advocacy efforts, not only to encourage people to enter the profession but also in simply increasing general awareness and knowledge of the monetary things that impact our daily lives.” Fletcher is also excited about the impact artificial intelligence will have on the accounting profession. “There are so many promising innovations and prospects with leveraging AI to enhance and transform the services we provide,” she says.

Mrs. Fletcher is the quality control partner of Draffin & Tucker, LLP and assists the firm with accounting and auditing research, attest engagement reviews, training and development of firm personnel, and monitoring the firm’s quality control policies. Mrs. Fletcher is proud to call Atlanta, Georgia home.

The Indiana CPA Society (INCPA) is hosting the CPA Trends Forum, which will take place on August 28, 2024 at the INCPAs Learning Center in Indianapolis. The event will also be offered virtually for those unable to attend in person. The fee is $339 for INCPA members and $489 for non-members.

Visit the INCPA website for more information or to register for the event.

The Maryland Association of CPAs (MACPA) has named Thomas White, CPA, CGMA, director of accounting for CareFirst BlueCross BlueShield, chair of the 2024-25 Board of Directors of the Maryland Association of CPAs.

White was elected chair by the MACPA membership during the association’s 2024 Annual Meeting, held on June 26 at the Junior Achievement of Central Maryland offices in Baltimore. He succeeds Christine Aspell, CPA, managing partner of the Baltimore office of KPMG LLP, who served as 2023-24 chair.

A MACPA member since 2010, White has more than a decade of accounting and audit experience in various industries, currently focusing on health care. He has extensive knowledge of health care finance, internal audit, and compliance. He started his career in public accounting with large firms, focusing on international, public, and non-profit clients. He then transitioned into industry at CareFirst.

White is an active MACPA and AICPA volunteer whose work includes involvement with the MACPA’s Mentor Program, Champions Program and Scholarship Committee, as well as the AICPA’s Council and Health Care Expert Panel.

Joining White on the 2024-25 MACPA Board of Directors are:

• Vice chair: Maxene M. Bardwell, CPA, CIGA, CIA, CFE, CISA, CITP, CRMA, assistant inspector general in the Office of the Inspector General for the Washington Suburban Sanitary Commission
• Secretary / treasurer: Savedra N. Scott, CPA, CGMA, CrFAC, MSA, MBA, owner, Savvy Financial Solutions
• Past chair: Christine Aspell, CPA, managing partner, KPMG LLP Baltimore office
• Karl Ahlrichs, SHRM-SCP, SPHR, CSP, senior consultant, Gregory & Appel
• Monique Booker, CPA, chief operating officer, SB & Company, LLC
• Jackie Cardello, CPA, president and managing partner, GRF CPAs & Advisors
• Michele Chalmers, CPA, managing principal, Maryland office, CliftonLarsonAllen LLP
• Bo Fitzpatrick, CPA, COO / director of executive programs, Dembo Jones, PC / 20-20 Services LLC
• Robert Goldstein, CPA, controller, Paul Davis Restoration of Greater Baltimore.
• Gregory Repas, CPA, vice president and comptroller, McCormick & Co., Inc.
• Janice Stucke, CPA, chief financial officer, CREW Network / CREW Network Foundation / CREW Network Canada