AICPA announces 2016 Leadership Academy graduates

The AICPA announced on Tuesday the graduating class of the 2016 AICPA Leadership Academy. 37 young leaders in accounting participated in the four-day program at the Washington Duke Inn in Durham, N.C. earlier this month.

The class participated in interactive leadership development sessions with current leaders such as AICPA Chair (2015-2016)Christen, Institute president and CEO Barry Melancon, andMark Koziel, AICPA executive vice president, firm services.

“During my time as chair, I’ve focused on positioning the profession to stay ahead of change and maintain our relevance far into the future," said Christen, per a statement. "This year’s AICPA Leadership Academy class is a forward looking group that understands the ways technology is shaping the world and how those potential challenges can be seen as opportunities. I am confident that these young leaders have the vision, skills and sense of urgency needed to steer the profession into the future.”

This year's grads mark the eighth Leadership Academy class, with over 270 CPAs now completing the program.

“The Leadership Academy was an inspirational experience for me. I was able to form connections with a group of dynamic leaders from diverse backgrounds across all segments of the profession that I hope will last a lifetime,” stated Richard Ward, president and CEO of Capital Configuration and 2016 Academy graduate. “The insights I gained from Leadership Academy will help me make subtle but important changes in the way I approach my career and my personal life. I feel confident that I have the skills and tools I need to reach my full potential as an inspirational leader in the profession.”

This year’s class represented candidates 33 states, with the average age of attendees at 31 years old.

The 2016 Leadership Academy class is listed below, in alphabetical order:

• Vincent Accard - PwC, Tampa, Fla.
• Gil Adler - Luke’s Lobster, New York, N.Y.
• Amanda Barrett - Brough, Squire & Company, Orem, Utah
• Rosie Brammer - Perkins & Co., Portland, Ore.
• Melyssa Brown - Meyers Brothers Kalicka P.C., Holyoke, Mass.
• Martrice Caldwell - OneGoal, Chicago, Ill.
• Aaron Clayton - Eide Bailly LLP, Sioux Falls, S.D.
• Ayanna Coleman - Friedman LLP, New York, N.Y.
• Ashley Cooper - HoganTaylor LLP, Oklahoma City, Okla.
• Alan Duncan - RCP Companies Inc., Huntsville, Ala.
• Brittany Dunn - Eide Bailly LLP, Fargo, N.D.
• Mike Ferkovic - BDO USA LLP, University Heights, Ohio
• Dana Fogle - PriceRomine PLLC, Shepherdstown, W. Va.
• Brent Forbush - Forbush & Associates, Reno, Nev.
• Ivannia Graber - Insight Accounting Group PC, Goshen, Ind.
• Byron Hamlett - Grant Thornton LLP, Charlotte, N.C.
• Rich Hassinger - Bristol-Myers Squibb, Princeton, N.J.
• Holly Hawk - University of Georgia, Athens, Ga.
• Jessica Iennarella - Epps Forensic Consulting PLLC, Scottsdale, Ariz.
• Elsa Jacobs - Asurion, Nashville, Tenn.
• Steven Kurinsky - DeLeon & Stang, CPAs & Advisors, Gaithersburg, Md.
• Lori Liddell - Home LLP, Ridgeland, Miss.
• James Matthis - Waters & Matthis, CPAs PLLC, Wallace, N.C.
• Michelle McVetty - Crane & Bell PLLC, Lancaster, N.H.
• Charles Mondesir - Prudential Financial Inc., Newark, N.J.
• Matt Morey - Entergy Services, Inc., New Orleans, La.
• Philip Nathan - FTI Consulting, Washington, D.C.
• Tim O’Neill - Mueller Prost LC, St. Louis, Mo.
• Givenson Piard - Jason Industries, Inc., Richmond, Ind.
• Paul Preziotti - Johnson Lambert LLP, Vienna, Va.
• John Rainone - DiSanto Priest & Co., Warwick, R.I.
• Erin Roche - Elliott CPA Group Inc., Santa Rosa, Calif.
• Kathryn Rogers - Independent Case Management, Inc., Little Rock, Ark.
• Austin Schuerg - Simms Fishing Products, Bozeman, Mont.
• Krystal Siebrandt - HBE Becker Meyer Love, LLP, Lincoln, Neb.
• Marie Stiegel - Plante & Moran, PLLC, Grand Rapids, Mich.
• Richard Ward - Capital Configuration, LLC, Pittsburgh, Pa.

For information on the 2017 Leadership Academy, head to the AICPA's site here. The application period open now, with a deadline of May 31, 2017.