The Women to Watch Awards were created by The American Institute of CPAs  to recognize outstanding women in the accounting professions and are given in two categories: Established Leaders and Emerging Leaders. Started in 2010, the FICPA Women to Watch Awards were created to focus on the outstanding women who not only shape the Florida Institute of CPAs, but also the profession. Congratulations to all of our award nominees.

The 2020 Women to Watch Awards were presented during Women's Leadership Virtual Workshop un July 17, 2020.

 

Experienced Leader

Karen Lake of Berkowitz Pollack Brant
For nearly 20 years, Karen Lake has focused on helping businesses and individuals develop their tax structure and navigate complex state and local scenarios. She has specialized experience in state tax risk, improving cash flow and federal and state credits and incentives. With experience as a senior advisor in Big 4 public accounting firm, a member of the corporate tax department, and a state auditor, she understands the full range of tax issues most businesses face.

 

 

 

Emerging Leader

Kathryn Horton of Kathryn K. Horton CPA PA
Kathryn Horton is a CPA who exemplifies all the core criteria in an enduring manner, creating a lasting positive impact as an ambassador for the profession. Kathryn strives to infuse the values of servant leadership amongst the newest generation of young professionals, and her service to both the profession and community highlight her genuine commitment for the betterment of others. Horton also was recently selected for the 2020 Florida TaxWatch Citizenship Institute.

 

 

Experienced Leader

Wendy Y. Terry of WithumSmith+Brown, PC
Wendy has more than 25 years of experience providing audit services, including 13 years of experience in current position as a partner. She also has extensive experience working with multinational clients and deep understanding of cost accounting standards (CAS) and Federal Acquisition Regulations (FAR). She is Licensed Certified Public Accountant in Florida, Georgia, Alabama, North Carolina, New Jersey and Hawaii. She serves on the board of Orlando Economic Partnership and Cornerstone Hospice and is on the Audit Committee of the Special Olympics of Florida.

 

 

Emerging Leader

Gretel Perez of Perez-Abreu, Aguerrebere, Sueiro & Torres, P.L
Gretel has over ten years of experience providing accounting, finance and tax services to clients ranging from small businesses to large corporations in an array of industries. She is the senior manager of the tax and accounting team at the public accounting firm, PAAST, P.L.

 

 

Experienced Leader

Jaime Campbell - Tier One Services, LLC
Jaime is the co-founder and CFO of the Naples branch of Tier One Services, LLC. In addition to her strategic vision and leadership, Jaime has leveraged her 14 years of experience in financial analysis to double – and then triple – her firm’s revenues.

Jaime is passionate about her analytical work and self-described, “proud-to-be-a-geek” mind. By combining analytical rigor with a creative approach, Jaime delivers accounting information to her clients in a whole new light.

Jaime’s nurturing approach to her work and her clients also delivers results. As shown through her work with small businesses, local entrepreneurs, and non-profit organizations, her dedication to the community and impact on the profession is undeniable.

Thank you for your leadership, Jaime, and congratulations for being selected as the Women to Watch 2018 Experienced Leader.

Emerging Leader

Amanda Porupski - CBIZ MHM
Amanda has shown an impressive commitment to the profession through her involvement in the FICPA’s Valuation, Forensic Accounting and Litigation Services Committee, the Young CPAs Committee, and the University of South Florida Accounting Conference Committee. Amanda is also a member of the Hillsborough County Bar Association, Clearwater Bar Association, and Hillsborough Association of Women Lawyers. She serves on the board of directors of the American Woman’s Society of CPAs, Tampa Bay and the University of South Florida Accounting Circle.
In her current role with the Tampa office of CBIZ MHM, Porupski has worked on a number of high profile cases involving complex financial matters across a variety of disciplines.
Amanda has shown a willingness to give back to younger accountants, having served as a guest lecturer and speaker at the University of South Florida and a contributor to the FICPA’s Young & Licensed blog.
Amanda, congratulations on being the 2018 Women to Watch Emerging Leader Award recipient. We thank you for your service on behalf of the profession, and are excited to see what you will accomplish in the future.

 

Gail Markham - Markham Norton Mosteller Wright & Co. 
Gail graduated cum laude from the University of Maryland College of Business and Management and is the founding partner of Markham Norton Mosteller Wright & Co., P.A. Gail has extensive experience in litigation services, mediation, and forensic accounting. She is a Certified Public Accountant, a Certified Fraud Examiner, a CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNER™, is Accredited in Business Valuation, is Certified in Financial Forensics from the American Institute of CPAs, is a Florida Supreme Court Certified Family Mediator, and is a Registered Investment Advisor.

Emerging Leader

Caridad Vasallo - VMBG Accounting 
Caridad has a wide breadth of experience that gives her the versatility to serve in a number of contexts. These include Tax Preparation and Accounting Services as well as Litigation Support Services. She is the recipient of several honors and awards, including the 2017 FICPA Horizon Award, and has been widely published.

 

Experienced Leader 
Deborah Leonard

Deborah received her B.S. in Accounting from Florida State University and has over 30 years of tax, accounting, and business advisory experience. She serves on the Board of Directors for the Community Foundation of North Florida Investment Committee and is a member of the FSU Foundation Planned Giving Council. She is also the winner of the 2015 Distinguished Leadership Awards - Servant Leadership Category, Leadership Tallahassee and one of 2013’s “25 Women You Need to Know.” 

 

 

Emerging Leader 
Natasha Novikov

Natasha received her Bachelor of Science in Business Administration from the University of Florida and her Master of Science in Accounting from the University of Virginia. She is responsible for mentoring, training, hiring, interviewing, selecting, and promoting Forensic Accountants and Financial Analysts in the Accountant Unit at FBI Headquarters. She serves on the FBI Corporate Fraud Response Team and the Central Florida Fraud and Forgery Unit Working Group. She is also the recipient of the Certified Fraud Examiner of the Year and of a Standing Ovation from the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants.

Experienced Leader:
Susan Thompson of CS&L CPAs

Susan Thompson has over 23 years of experience in a variety of tax and audit services. She specializes in individuals, developers, pass-through entities, not-for-profit organizations, and foundations. She joined CS&L CPAs in 1991 and currently serves the Bradenton, Sarasota, Tampa and Ocala areas. She has previously volunteered her time with the Mayor’s Homeless Coalition Task Force, was the former Treasurer of the Pediatric Cancer Foundation and was a former Co-Chair for the Key to the Cure fundraising event.

Emerging Leader:
Amanda Bonifay of Goldstein Schechter Koch, PA

Amanda graduated from Georgia State University, where she received a Bachelor of Business Administration with a double major in accounting and finance as well as a Master of Professional Accountancy with a major in financial accounting and reporting. She is a member of both the American and Florida Institute of Certified Public Accountants. Amanda is Chair of the FICPA Miami-Downtown Chapter and founding Chair of the Ponce Society of Young Professionals. She was named one of the FICPA’s top 26 under 36 for 2013 and was a Coral Gables Chamber of Commerce 2013 Rising Star Award Finalist.

Experienced Leader:
Sheri Schultz of Fiske and Company

Sheri is an equity owner and member of the executive committee of Fiske and Company in Plantation. She is the firm’s director of litigation support and valuation services. As chair of the Business and Valuation/Litigation Committee for the FICPA, Sheri helped to develop the Valuation and Litigation Section. She is a 26-year member of the FICPA and a past member of the Institute’s Board of Governors and serves on the Valuation and Litigation Conference planning committee. She is involved in the mentoring program for the ABV credential.

Emerging Leader:
Allison Harrell of Thomas Howell Ferguson, P.A.

Allison Harrell is Director, Assurance Services at Thomas Howell Ferguson, PA in Tallahassee. She served on and chaired the FICPA’s Young CPA Committee for several years and served as the Chair for the AICPA’s inaugural Edge Conference in New Orleans. Allison represented Florida and the FICPA as a member of the AICPA’s inaugural Leadership Academy. She was appointed as the youngest member of the Executive Committee of the AICPA’s Government Audit Quality Center. Allison also became chairman of 2-1-1 Big Bend, an organization providing community support, crisis counseling, and suicide prevention services.

Experienced Leader:
Karen Mosteller of Markham Norton Mosteller Wright & Company

Karen graduated from the University of South Florida, Fort Myers, with a Bachelor of Science degree in Accounting. Karen is a member of the AICPA, the Health Management Association, and the Florida Medical Group Management Association. She serves on the Technology Committee of the National Society of Certified Healthcare Business Consultants as well as on several other committees. Among her awards are the 2011 and 2012 Best Places to Work award from Florida Trend magazine, the 2010 Business Ethics Award from the Uncommon Friends Foundation, and the 2009 Small Business of the Year Award from the Greater Fort Myers Chamber of Commerce.

Emerging Leader:

Stephanie Martin of Lewis, Birch & Ricardo, LLC

 

Stephanie joined the firm in 1999 after graduating from the University of South Florida (USF) with a Master of Accountancy degree. She also holds a bachelor’s degree in accounting from USF. Since 2010, she has organized the firm’s participation in the UPARC Foundation’s Festival of Trees. In 2011, she became a charter member and chair of Plus One Inc., a women’s philanthropy group. Stephanie has chaired the Homeless Emergency Project, Inc.’s audit committee. In 2003, she joined the Krewe of Agustina de Aragon, an all-female krewe that volunteers throughout the Tampa Bay area, primarily focused on the interests of women and children.

Experienced Leaders:
Deborah Garringer, CPA, of Crowe Horwath, LLP
Laura Krueger-Brock, CPA, of CBIZ, Kirkland, Russ, Murphy & Tapp

Emerging Leaders:
Cindy Cruz, CPA, of  Rooms to Go
Magda Sanchez-Farren, CPA, of Crowe Horwath, LLP

Experienced Leaders:
Barbara Burner; Owner, Barbara A. Burner, CPA
Deborah Goode; Owner/Audit Director of Hoyman Dobson
Jodi Kippe, Partner at Crowe Horwath, LLP

Emerging Leaders:
Lahteefah Bryant; Manager at Crowe Horwath, LLP
Andreea Cioara; Associate Director at Berkowitz Dick Pollack & Brant, LLP
Hema Rupnarain; Owner at Hema Rupnarain, CPA