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Awards & Recognition Programs

The CPA Firm Management Association presents several different awards to members for dedication and service to their firms and to the Association.

ACE Award

This annual award is presented by the CPA Firm Management Association (CPAFMA) and has been awarded to some of North America’s most experienced and respected firm management professionals since its inception in 1989.

The ACE Award -- which stands for Achievement, Commitment and Excellence -- honors a firm manager holding a senior-level management position for a public accounting firm. Former winners of the award have held titles such as firm administrator, director of administration, chief operating officer, chief financial officer and chief executive officer. Criteria for selection focus on leadership and the individual's strategic impact on the firm's profit and growth. Strong candidates for the ACE Award will have made major contributions to their firms by implementing and overseeing programs that:

• contribute to the firm's long-term growth;
• help the firm meet its strategic goals;
• improve firm profitability;
• help create an employee-friendly culture that encourages long-term staff retention; and
• emphasize the value of entrepreneurship, leadership, continuous learning, marketing and client service skills.

The 2018 ACE Award will be presented at CPAFMA’s National Practice Management Conference, June 11-14, 2018 in Las Vegas. Recipients receive a one-year complimentary CPAFMA membership, free attendance at the next year’s CPAFMA National Practice Management Conference, a handsome plaque and promotion for both the individual and the firm.

To nominate an individual (self-nominations welcomed and encouraged)

Email Application Download Application: Nomination Application (Word) Nomination Application (PDF) Email to: info@cpafma.org

Submit Online Submit applications on-line

Nomination deadline is May 1, 2018.

Previous recipients of the A.C.E. Award

2017 Norman D. Saale, PAFM Lutz Grand Island, Nebraska 2016 Jeanie Price, PAFM DeLeon & Stang Gaithersburg, Maryland 2015 Christine Golz, PAFM Weltman Bernfield, LLC Buffalo Grove, Illinois 2014 Ronda Lawson, PAFM Bregante + Company LLP San Francisco, California 2013 Sarah Galley, PAFM Pholman & Talmage CPAs Dayton, Ohio 2012 Ginny Fedrich, PAFM HBLA Certified Public Accountants Irvine, California 2011 Dawn Hanna Bell, PAFM Rehmann Ann Arbor, Michigan 2010 David A. Peneycad Grant Thornton LLP Toronto, Ontario 2009 Susan Groszkiewicz Accountable for Change, LLC Atlanta, Georgia 2008 John Magee # The Bonadio Group Pittsford, New York		2007 Rita Keller, PAFM # Brady Ware & Schoenfeld Dayton, Ohio Annabella Green, PAFM PKF Texas Houston, Texas 2006 Arlene Ciroula, PAFM KAWG&F Timonium, Maryland 2005 Janine Zirrith, PAFM Wilkin & Guttenplan, P.C. East Brunswick, New Jersey 2004 Nigel Jacobs, PAFM Taylor Leibow, LLP Hamilton, Ontario 2003 Bellann Morales Travis, Wolff & Co. Dallas, Texas 2002 Kathy Anthony # O'Sullivan Creel, LLP Pensacola, Florida 2001 Elvis Mizzau # North York, Ontario 2000 Geanne Yohn # Brown, Schultz, Sheridan & Fritz Harrisburg, Pennsylvania 1999 David Charnock * Alpern, Rosenthal & Co. Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania		1998 Janet K. Wolff Kula, Cowan & Barnes, P.C. Springfield, Illinois 1997 Virginia Lowery Illinois Agricultural Auditing Association Bloomington, Illinois 1996 Paul Nadolny # Malone & Bailey PC Houston, Texas 1995 William Leach # Katz, Sapper & Miller Indianapolis, Indiana 1994 Joe S. Gale # Warren, Averett, Kimbrough & Marino, P.C. Birmingham, Alabama 1993 H. Maureen Collins # Biscotti, Grassi & Co. Valley Stream, New York 1992 Cindy Bong Suby, Von Haden & Associates Madison, Wisconsin 1991 Gerald Ohe # Eide Helmeke & Co. Fargo, North Dakota 1990 Donna S. Cunningham BDO USA, LLP St. Louis, Missouri 1989 Linda A. Pappajohn SantoraBaffone CPA Group Newark, Delaware
(*) Deceased (#) Retired or no longer with the firm

Emerging Leader of the Year Award

The CPAFMA Emerging Leader of the Year Award honors an individual who works for a member firm who demonstrates a dedication to the CPA firm management profession through strong leadership, teamwork, and integrity, while continually developing their knowledge and experience, necessary in this ever-changing business. The Emerging Leader must also be a strong advocate of CPAFMA’s mission to be a recognized leader in CPAF firm practice management delivering valuable education and collaboration opportunities for those interested in elevating their practice and strategically growing their firms.

Nominees must meet the following criteria for consideration for the CPAFMA Emerging Leader of the Year Award:

• Currently working for CPAFMA member firm in good standing.
• Meets the definition of an emerging leader: an individual with up to five years of leadership experience in a CPA firm management role.
• Demonstrates strong leadership skills and has made a major impact with his/her firm.
• Demonstrates strong teamwork skills and involvement with the firm’s success.
• Demonstrates a strong sense of integrity.
• Demonstrates interaction with the firm’s partners.
  
• Demonstrates a commitment to CPAFMA’s mission.

The 2018 Emerging Leader of the Year Award will be presented at CPAFMA’s National Practice Management Conference, June 11-14, 2018 in Las Vegas. Recipients receive a plaque and one year of complimentary CPAFMA MAPCasts for the recipient’s firm.

To nominate an individual (self-nominations welcomed and encouraged) 

Submit Online Submit applications online

Nomination deadline is May 1, 2018 

Previous recipients of the Emerging Leader of the Year Award

2017 Julie Giacobbe MWA CPAs + Business Advisors Plano, Texas

Distinguished Service Awards

Distinguished Service Awards are presented to individuals for those who have made an outstanding contribution to CPAFMA and the profession and have served as a resource and example to CPAFMA members. The award is awarded at the discretion of the board of directors and can be awarded to one or more individuals but does not have to be awarded each year.

Previous recipients of Distinguished Service Awards:

2016 Marta Pardo Allen Haight & Monaghan LLP Irvine, California 2015 Bill Pirolli DiSanto Priest & Co. Warwick, Rhode Island 2014 Cecelia Chaney Retired from Squire Lemkin & Company Rockville, Maryland Jim Metzler Retired from AICPA, Vice President of Small Firm Interests East Amherst, New York Jennifer Wilson ConvergenceCoaching, LLC Bellevue, Nebraska 2006 Virginia Lowery Illinois Agricultural Auditing Association Normal, Illinois 2004 Debbie Sessions Porter Keadle Moore Atlanta, Georgia		2003 Don Scholl D.B. Scholl, Inc. West Chester, Pennsylvania 2003 Roman Kepczyk InfoTech Partners North America Phoenix, Arizona2002 William Leach Katz, Sapper & Miller Indianapolis, Indiana 2002 Rita Keller Brady Ware & Schoenfeld Dayton, Ohio 2002 Ralph Hendrix MacDonald Page Shatz Fletcher Co., LLC South Portland, Maine