CALIFORNIA

CalCPA's headquarters in Burlingame
The California Society of CPAs opened nominations for its 2025 Women To Watch Awards, which fall into three categories: CPA Emerging Leaders, CPA Experienced Leaders and CPA Trailblazers. More information is available here

Alex Austin, Sean Nelson and Vanessa Reyes were promoted to tax managers at Lavine, Lofgren, Morris & Engelberg, San Diego.

INDIANA

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The Indiana CPA Society, Indianapolis, announced the winners of the 2024 INCPAS Awards; the Advocacy Award winner: Benjamin Smith, Estep, Doctor & Co., PC; Breakthrough Award: Olga Chaikouskaya, CXO Solutions; Emerging Leaders Award: Brendon Howell, PwC LLP; and Esperanza Wynn, Elanco; INCPAS Volunteer of the Year Award: Amanda Horvath, Katz, Sapper & Miller; Talent Pipeline Award: Herschel Frierson, Crowe; Visionary Award: ALPFA Indianapolis Chapter; Women to Watch Award: Katelyn Leichty, Kruggel Lawton CPAs; and Ashley Vukovits, LiftBridge; Chair's Award: Anita Sherman, retired; and Distinguished Service Award: Kevin Hamernik, Forvis Mazars. 

KANSAS

The Kansas Society of CPAs elected Amanda Walker, an attorney and member at Bever Dye LC Attorneys at Law in Wichita, as chair of the board for 2024-25. Additionally, elected as 2024-25 executive committee officers are: vice chair Meagan Wellbrock, Adams Brown; secretary-treasurer Darren Anderson, Swindoll, Janzen, Hawk and Loyd; and immediate past chair Norman Hope, McPherson College. KSCPA elected to three-year terms on the board of directors: Josie Brenner, Varney & Associate, CPAs; Shelly Hammond, Greater Wichita YMCA; Erin Hanavan, WaterOne;  Jaymie Rothrock, Swindoll, Janzen, Hawk & Loyd LLC; Emily Sheldon, BT&Co. Also, the KSCPA Educational Foundation board of trustees appointed Ryan Dreher, Pinion, chair of the foundation.

THE NETHERLANDS

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Robin Hodess
Robin Hodess, chief of strategy and impact for The B Team, was appointed CEO of the Global Reporting Initiative, beginning February 2025.

NEVADA

Alex Bybee was hired as a partner in the Reno office at Eide Bailly. 

NEW JERSEY

Drew Illingworth was hired as a managing director in the digital advisory practice, to lead the strategy and operations team, at CohnReznick, Parsippany. 

NEW YORK

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Carmelo Bueti
Carmelo Bueti was appointed head of corporate development at Baker Tilly, New York. 

Carlos Ferreira, the Northeast leader at Grant Thornton, was named a Notable Leader in Accounting and Consulting by Crain's New York Business. 

PwC, New York, in conjunction with the International Forum for Sovereign Wealth Funds and One Planet Sovereign Wealth Fund Network, launched a new report on sovereign wealth funds and the green energy transition, "Rethinking the role of long-term investors in the energy transition."

TENNESSEE

The Tennessee Society of CPAs held its 2024 Accounting Opportunities Month in November, which gave students across Tennessee the chance to learn more about the accounting profession as TSCPA members visited high schools, colleges and community colleges to reach a total of 900 students. 

UNITED KINGDOM

Chakib Zaari was named regional chair for the Middle East and Africa at Baker Tilly International, London. 
Forvis Mazars announced new members of its governing board: Karine Philippon, managing partner for the California and Arizona practice unit; Sarah Saunders, audit partner in the financial services practice; Gary Schafer, managing partner of the Southern Missouri practice unit; JoAnna Simek, assistant managing partner in the Indianapolis market; and Brian West, managing partner of the Houston market.
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