Women's Leadership Committee
The Women's Leadership Committee promotes the growth, advancement and recognition of women in the accounting and finance profession through professional development, mentoring and recognition through the Women to Watch awards.
The Committee objectives include:
- Develop, advance, and recognize woman CPAs.
- Develop and host the Women in Leadership Summit at the FICPA Mega Conference that provides practical information and enhances leadership skills for development and growth.
- Promote, administer and presents the FICPA Women to Watch Awards.
- Develop and enhance the website with resources that support women initiatives.
Meet the Women in Leadership Committee Members

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. The Women to Watch Awards were created by The American Institute of CPAs to recognize outstanding women in the accounting profession and are given in two categories:
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Experienced Leaders: A woman who has advanced to a higher level or leadership position within her profession. Titles include, but are not limited to, partner, shareholder, owner, elected official or appointee, executive, etc.
Emerging Leaders: A woman who has made significant contributions to the profession and her community, but who has not yet reached the highest levels of advancement. The candidate should be licensed less than 10 years as of July 1st of the current FICPA fiscal year. Typical roles include business owners, sole proprietors, and small firm principals.
Nominees must be a CPA and a member of both the FICPA and the AICPA
Are you a woman to watch? Do you know someone who deserves to be recognized for her achievements and contributions to the accounting profession?
Women to Watch Awards will be accepted beginning December 1, 2022 and will close January 15, 2023. Please check back for details on December 1st.
A list of eligibility standards is listed below, although it should be noted that while evidence of each and every item listed under each category is not required for consideration, but nominees should have made significant contributions in at least two of the criteria listed below.
Experienced Leaders:
- Authorship of articles
- Major or unique contribution to the profession
- Public and/or community service
- Mentoring other professionals
- Improvement to the workplace
Emerging Leaders:
- Public and/or community service
- Demonstration of leadership
- Contribution to the profession
- Creation and implementation of unique initiative(s)
- Involvement with alma mater or other local colleges and universities
2023 Women to Watch Nominees
Experienced Leaders:
Sharon Bradley, Partner, Daszkal Bolton LLP
Katie Davis, Partner, James Moore & Co., P.L.
Ana del Cerro-Fals, Tax Office Managing Partner, BDO
Jennifer Keshwar, Principal, Withum
Carla McRae, Audit Senior, Berman Hopkins CPAs & Associates
Arlene Ravalo Jao, Director, Cherry Bekaert Advisory LLC
Marie Rosier, Owner, MMR Certified Public Accounting
Karen Tenenbaum, Founder & Managing Attorney, Tenenbaum Law, P.C.
Caridad Vasallo, Partner, VMBG Accounting
Emerging Leaders:
Cindy Bryan, Tax Manager, Eisner Advisory Group LLC
Katie Byrd, Senior Manager, Carr, Riggs & Ingram, LLC
Eva Ducanis, Audit Associate, Daszkal Bolton LLP
Kathryn Exum, Senior Consultant, A-LIGN
Elizabeth Jackson, Manager - International Tax, RSM US LLP
Jennifer Keller, Senior Tax Manager, Crowe LLP
Fiona McKenna, Audit Senior, Berman Hopkins CPAs & Associates
Margaret Reach, Tax Managing Director, BDO USA LLP
Marie Torossian, CPA Advisor & 10K Certified Coach, Marie Torossian CPA, PLLC and The Profit Lab, LLC
Megan Van Horn, Supervisor, Anglin Reichmann Armstrong
Congratulations to our Women to Watch Award Recipients

2022 Experienced Leader
Jodi M. Malis, CPA, CGMA, Hancock Askew & Company, LLP

2022 Emerging Leader
Veronica Larriva, CPA McHale, P.A

2021 Experienced Leader
Genevieve Hancock

2021 Emerging Leader
Rummesa Abar

2020 Experienced Leader
Karen Lake

2020 Emerging Leader
Kathryn Horton

2019 Experienced Leader
Wendy Y. Terry

2019 Emerging Leader
Gretel Perez

2018 Experienced Leader
Jamie Campbell

2018 Emerging Leader
Amanda Porupski

2017 Experienced Leader
Gail Markham

2017 Emerging Leader
Caridad Vasallo

2016 Experienced Leader
Debbie Leonard

2016 Emerging Leader
Natasha Novikov

2015 Experienced Leader
Susan Thompson

2015 Emerging Leader
Amanda Bonifay

2014 Experienced Leader
Sheri Schultz

2014 Emerging Leader
Allison Harrell

2013 Experienced Leader
Karen Mosteller

2013 Emerging Leader
Stephanie Martin