Women's Leadership and Women To Watch Awards

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:

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