The Emerging Leader must also be a strong advocate of CPAFMA’s mission to lead CPA firm practice management by empowering all CPA firms to thrive by expanding knowledge, sharing experiences, achieving through collaboration, influencing leadership and envisioning possibilities.
Nominees must meet the following criteria for consideration for the CPAFMA Emerging Leader of the Year Award:
- Currently working for a 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 and teamwork skills and has made a major impact with his/her firm’s success.
- Demonstrates a strong sense of integrity.
- Demonstrates interaction with the firm’s partners and staff.
- Demonstrates a commitment to CPAFMA’s mission.
Previous Recipients of the ELAward
2025
Arcie Rojas, MBA
Grimbleby Coleman CPA's, Inc.
2024
Kathy Cochran
Mauldin & Jenkins LLC
2022
Carly Valentine
Nietzke & Faupel, PC
2019
Lisa Cloyd, PAFM
Crosslin PLLC
Nashville, Tennessee
2018
Kristin Holthus, CPA, CGMA, PAFM
Anton Collins Mitchell LLP
Denver, Colorado
2017
Julie Giacobbe
MWA CPAs + Business Advisors
Plano, Texas
Upcoming Events
CPAFMA Connections 2027
Save the Date! CONNECTIONS 2027 will take place in Louisville, Kentucky, June 15-18! 2027 Connections Conference—our national stand-alone conference bringing together firm management professionals from across the country for education, inspiration, and connection. The conference includes sessions that range from high-level practice management sessions to the smaller breakout sessions led by firm managers and geared to specific ...
More Information
Beyond the Chatbot: What It Actually Takes to Deploy AI Safely in Your Firm
General AI chatbots can help accounting firms—but they often lack the context, security, and controls needed for professional work. This session explores the difference between general-purpose AI and platform-native AI built with firm data in context, including recent IRS guidance on reviewing AI-assisted work. See how Canopy’s native AI execution layer, Coworker, uses a human-in-the-loop approach to help firms stay in control of AI-generated outputs.
More Information