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.
![WTW](/sites/default/files/2024-04/WTW%20Logo%20300.png)
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. Nominees are eligible for one of two awards:
Experienced Leader: 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 Leader: 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 1 of the current FICPA fiscal year. Typical roles include business owners, sole proprietors, and small firm principals.
![1369322642_2024 W2W Award Announcment Social 1080x1080 CRISTINA (1).png](/sites/default/files/2024-06/1369322642_2024%20W2W%20Award%20Announcment%20Social%201080x1080%20CRISTINA%20%281%29.png)
Cristina Hale
Experienced Leader
Cristina Hale is the Tax Practice Leader at BDO USA’s Tampa and Orlando offices, where she oversees compliance and quality control.
She developed her knowledge and technical skills over a 20-year career that’s taken her from Miami to Washington D.C., Boston, Abu Dhabi and Tampa.
She is a regular volunteer with Habitat for Humanity and Feeding Tampa Bay and sits on the Board of Big Brothers Big Sisters Tampa Bay.
![1369322642_2024 W2W Award Announcment Social 1080x1080 CARMEN (1).png](/sites/default/files/2024-06/1369322642_2024%20W2W%20Award%20Announcment%20Social%201080x1080%20CARMEN%20%281%29.png)
Carmen Velasquez
Emerging Leader
Carmen Velasquez is a partner and owner at Tapia, Rojas & Associates.
She has distinguished herself early in her career through her experience in the Common Interest Realty Associations industry.
She is a member of the FICPA, AICPA and Community Association Institute and serves on the FICPA’s CIRA Committee, Young CPAs Committee and Women in Leadership Committee.
Congratulations to our 2024 Nominees!
Experienced Leaders
- JoAnn Ackerman, Lecturer, Nova Southeastern University
- Sharon Bradley, Partner, CohnReznick LLP
- Kathleen Braica, Client Partner, Anchin Private Client
- Laura Chirichigno, Founder & Principal, EllentonCPA
- Ashlie Forum, Partner, Marcum
- Vivian Gant, Audit Partner, De La Hoz, Perez & Barbeito, PLLC
- Katie Gilden, Partner/COO, Fiske & Company
- Marena Loeffler, Owner, Allure International Tax Consulting
- Barbara Nooney, Partner, Flavin, Nooney, & Person
- Cristina Hale, Tax Practice Leader, BDO USA, PC
- Leslie Welsh, Principal Owner, Leslie Welsh CPA, Inc.
Emerging Leaders
- Katie Carabeo, Assurance Manager, RSM US LLP
- Neemie Chery, Senior Client Accounting Advisor, PYA
- Karol Haugan, Manager, Withum
- Tyler Heckman, Partner, Flavin, Nooney & Person
- Dana Landress, Senior Assurance Associate, RSM
- Leah Lewis, Partner, Blue Heron CPAs
- Emily Ray, Mergers & Acquisitions Tax Manager, RSM
- Savannah Snow, Associate Director, Berkowitz Pollack Brant
- Carmen Velasquez, Partner/Shareholder/Owner, Tapia, Rojas, & Associates, PA
- Alex Welsh, Staff Consultant, A-Lign
- Katelyn Wonsock, Supervising Senior, Carr, Riggs, & Ingram LLC
Previous Award Winners
![Rosier](/sites/default/files/2024-02/Experienced%20Marie%20Rosier%20-%20Pofile.jpg)
2023 Experienced Leader
Marie Rosier, MMR, CPA
MMR Certified Public Accounting
![Jackson](/sites/default/files/2024-04/Jackson%20Elizabeth%20500.jpg)
2023 Emerging Leader
Elizabeth Jackson
Manager, RSM US LLP
![Malis](/sites/default/files/2024-04/Malis%20500.png)
2022 Experienced Leader
Jodi M. Malis
Hancock Askew & Company, LLP
![Larriva](/sites/default/files/2024-04/Larriva%20500.png)
2022 Emerging Leader
Veronica Larriva, CPA
McHale, P.A
![Hancock](/sites/default/files/2024-04/Hancock%20500.jpg)
2021 Experienced Leader
Genevieve Hancock
![Abrar](/sites/default/files/2024-04/Abrar%20500.jpg)
2021 Emerging Leader
Rummesa Abar
![Lake](/sites/default/files/2024-04/Lake%20500.jpg)
2020 Experienced Leader
Karen Lake
![Horton](/sites/default/files/2024-04/Horton%20500.jpg)
2020 Emerging Leader
Kathryn Horton
![Terry](/sites/default/files/2024-04/Terry%20500.png)
2019 Experienced Leader
Wendy Y. Terry
![Perez](/sites/default/files/2024-04/Perez%20500.png)
2019 Emerging Leader
Gretel Perez
![Campbell](/sites/default/files/2024-04/Campbell%20500.jpg)
2018 Experienced Leader
Jamie Campbell
![Porupuski](/sites/default/files/2024-04/Porupuski%20500.jpg)
2018 Emerging Leader
Amanda Porupski
![Markham](/sites/default/files/2024-04/Markham%20500.jpg)
2017 Experienced Leader
Gail Markham
![Vasallo](/sites/default/files/2024-04/Vasallo%20500.jpg)
2017 Emerging Leader
Caridad Vasallo
![Leonard](/sites/default/files/2024-04/Leonard%20500.jpg)
2016 Experienced Leader
Debbie Leonard
![Novikov](/sites/default/files/2024-04/Novikov%20500.jpg)
2016 Emerging Leader
Natasha Novikov
![Thompson](/sites/default/files/2024-04/Thompson%20500.jpg)
2015 Experienced Leader
Susan Thompson
![Bonifay](/sites/default/files/2024-04/Bonifay%20500.jpg)
2015 Emerging Leader
Amanda Bonifay
![Schultz](/sites/default/files/2024-04/Schultz%20500.jpg)
2014 Experienced Leader
Sheri Schultz
![Harrell](/sites/default/files/2024-04/Harrell%20500.jpg)
2014 Emerging Leader
Allison Harrell
![Mosteller](/sites/default/files/2024-04/Mosteller%20500.jpg)
2013 Experienced Leader
Karen Mosteller
![Martin](/sites/default/files/2024-04/Martin%20500.jpg)
2013 Emerging Leader
Stephanie Martin