The Illinois CPA Society, in partnership with its Women’s Committee and the Association of International Certified Professional Accountants, has announced the recipients of the 2021 Women to Watch Awards.
The annual awards — presented across Experienced Leader and Emerging Leader categories — recognize local female professionals who have made significant contributions to the accounting profession, their firms and the development of future women leaders.
“We’re proud to recognize the inspiring achievements and contributions of these remarkable women,” said ICPAS president and CEO Todd Shapiro in a statement. “Having such dedicated leaders striving to create positive change in the CPA profession and their communities, while also working toward increasing gender equality and inclusion, will undoubtedly help to pave the way for future generations of women to enter and succeed in both the CPA profession and the broader business world.”
This year's honorees will be recognized at the ICPAS’ Leadership Recognition and Awards Dinner on Aug. 5, 2021, as well as be featured panelists at the ICPAS Women’s Leadership Forum on Sept. 17, 2021. Both events will take place in Chicago.
The 2021 ICPAS Women to Watch Award winners are:
Experienced Leaders:
- Rebecca Shortridge — Rollins Chair of Accounting, the University of Tennessee at Chattanooga
- JoAnna Simek — Partner, BKD CPAs & Advisors
Emerging Leaders:
- Danielle Martin — Manager, Porte Brown LLC
- Amanda Rzepka — Accounting manager, Berlin Packaging LLC
For more on the Women to Watch awards, head to ICPAS's
