Leadership and Governance
Governance & Structure
The FICPA's Governance structure is comprised of the Council, Board of Directors, standing committees and general committees, with each Director having oversight for an assigned set of committees.
The FICPA's Nominations Committee is charged with selecting nominees for the Board/Council, as well as making appointments to Standing Committees.
FICPA Board of Directors
The Board of Directors has general charge of the property and affairs of the Institute, including the power to direct and control the expenditures of funds within the approved budget of Council, formulate and present plans for the advancement of the Institute, and fulfill other responsibilities as assigned.
The Board of Directors shall consist of the volunteer officers of the FICPA and eight members-at-large and shall manage the affairs of the FICPA and oversee the activities of the committees, task forces and chapters. The Chair of the FICPA's Young CPAs Committee will serve a one-year non-voting position, and the FICPA President & CEO shall serve as the Secretary/Treasurer and is also non-voting.
Meet our 2024-25 Chair, Ed Duarte, and the Board of Directors
Ed Duarte (Chair) | Foreign Parts Distributors |
Karen Lake (Chair-Elect) | Berkowitz Pollack Brant |
Key O'Keefe (Immediate Past Chair) | O'Keefe, Somerville & Associates |
Kathryn Horton | Kathryn K. Horton, CPA |
Jennifer Keller | Crowe |
Amy Kistka | Deloitte |
Robert Maya | Kaufman Rossin |
Chris Oatis | Grant Thornton |
Mindy Rankin | Warren Averett |
Brion Sharpe | PwC |
Alex Sueiro | PAAST |
Kyle Gosiewski (YCPA) | Crowe |
Board Purpose Statement
To represent the FICPA's members and other stakeholders by providing strategic direction, stewardship of value, and accountability through consistent, future-focused leadership with a healthy mutual respect for our staff and fellow volunteers.
FICPA Council
The Council is the Governing Body of the FICPA and guides the direction of the Institute by identifying and advising on issues of importance to the profession and the FICPA. Council has the responsibility for evaluating, revising, and recommending the FICPA strategic initiatives and authoring resolutions on issues impacting the profession on behalf of the Institute.
The 2024-25 Council is comprised of the Board of Directors and the following members-at-large:
Carshena Allison | BCA Watson Rice LLP |
Kristin Bivona (Past Chair) | GellerRagans |
Yvonne Clayborne | Carr, Riggs & Ingram |
Adam Daniels | SBF |
Ashley Fagan | BDO |
Carlos Grosmann | Kaufman, Rossin & Co. |
Genevieve Hancock | G Hancock Advisory |
Anne Marie Hicks | Capital Edge Consulting |
Tarsha Jacobs | Jacobs & Associates |
Graeme Mellet | RSM US |
Evaristo Palmer | Cherry Bekaert |
Heber Rojas | Tapia, Rojas & Associates |
Christopher Stemley | Disney Financial Services |
Guy Strum | Gladstone, Strum & Company |
Cheri Swain | Carr, Riggs & Ingram |
Alex Welsh | A-LIGN |
Aharon Yoki | University of South Florida |
Dana Zukierski | EY |
Council Purpose Statement
To serve as a fiduciary steward, protecting the association and advocating for the members by developing strategy, setting policy and providing leadership.
AICPA Council
AICPA Governing Council determines AICPA programs and is made up of approximately 265 members and representatives from every U.S. state and U.S. territory. Council meets twice a year, in May and October, and Regional Council meetings are held every year in March. Florida has eight FICPA Council delegates that currently serve on the AICPA Council.
Julian Dozier | Thomas Howell Ferguson |
Ed Duarte | Foreign Parts Distributors |
Kathryn Horton | Kathryn K. Horton, CPA |
Key O'Keefe | O'Keefe, Somerville & Associates |
Jennifer Keller | Crowe |
Karen Lake | Berkowitz Pollack Brant |
Mindy Rankin | Warren Averett |
W.G. Spoor | SBF |
To be considered for service on the AICPA Council, one must be a current member of the FICPA Council and submit an application (available in mid-June) through the FICPA's Nominations Committee's annual process. The nominees for AICPA Council are then ratified by the FICPA's Board of Directors and forwarded to the AICPA for consideration for election by the AICPA's Nominations Committee.
Chapter Leaders
The FICPA has 23 Chapters, which are further grouped into six geographical regions. Each chapter elects its own officers, including the chair, chair-elect, secretary, and treasurer.
Committees & Knowledge Resource Groups
In addition, the FICPA has many working committees and task forces to provide leadership opportunities in each of these targeted groups. Committee sign-up occurs between February and April and appointments are finalized in June, with service beginning July 1.
Volunteer Opportunities
Volunteers are the heart of the FICPA, and we welcome you to learn more about volunteering with the FICPA.