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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 HortonKathryn K. Horton, CPA
Jennifer KellerCrowe
Amy KistkaDeloitte
Robert MayaKaufman Rossin
Chris OatisGrant Thornton
Mindy RankinWarren Averett
Brion SharpePwC
Alex SueiroPAAST
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 AllisonBCA Watson Rice LLP
Kristin Bivona (Past Chair)GellerRagans
Yvonne ClayborneCarr, Riggs & Ingram
Adam DanielsSBF
Ashley FaganBDO
Carlos GrosmannKaufman, Rossin & Co.
Genevieve HancockG Hancock Advisory
Anne Marie HicksCapital Edge Consulting
Tarsha JacobsJacobs & Associates
Graeme MelletRSM US
Evaristo PalmerCherry Bekaert
Heber RojasTapia, Rojas & Associates
Christopher StemleyDisney Financial Services
Guy StrumGladstone, Strum & Company
Cheri SwainCarr, Riggs & Ingram
Alex WelshA-LIGN
Aharon YokiUniversity of South Florida
Dana ZukierskiEY


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 DozierThomas Howell Ferguson
Ed DuarteForeign Parts Distributors
Kathryn HortonKathryn K. Horton, CPA
Key O'KeefeO'Keefe, Somerville & Associates
Jennifer KellerCrowe
Karen LakeBerkowitz Pollack Brant
Mindy RankinWarren Averett
W.G. SpoorSBF


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.  

Find Chapters and Chapter Leader contact here.


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.  

Find Committees and Knowledge Resource Groups here.


Volunteer Opportunities

Volunteers are the heart of the FICPA, and we welcome you to learn more about volunteering with the FICPA.