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Accounting

Illinois CPA Society Hosts Annual Women’s Leadership Forum

More than 350 professionals attended the Illinois CPA Society's (ICPAS) Women’s Leadership Forum, held in Chicago on Friday, May 10. Office Managing Partner at EY Chicago, Kim Simios, CPA, served as the event’s keynote speaker.

May. 13, 2019

2019 Women to Watch Award Winners_DL

More than 350 professionals attended the Illinois CPA Society’s (ICPAS) Women’s Leadership Forum, held in Chicago on Friday, May 10. Office Managing Partner at EY Chicago, Kim Simios, CPA, served as the event’s keynote speaker.

In her presentation at this business networking event for female accounting professionals, Simios focused on the program’s theme of “Power Up,” emphasizing how simple, everyday behaviors can either build or diminish a woman’s power. She detailed how attendees can power up by projecting confidence authentically, owning their careers, widening their networks, evaluating their communications, and realizing their purpose in order to reach the next level of performance.

Additionally, four female accounting professionals were honored at the event with the 2019 Women to Watch Awards, presented by the ICPAS Women’s Committee and the Association of International Certified Professional Accountants’ (AICPA) Women’s Initiatives Committee. Recipients were recognized in two categories:

Experienced Leader Award: Recognized for mentoring other professionals, involvement in community service and/or professional organizations, major or unique contributions to the profession, leadership in workplace improvement, and for authorship of professional articles and/or speaking engagements. This year’s winners are:

  • Rebekuh Eley, CPA, MST, Senior Manager, RSM US LLP
  • Kristen L. Fitzpatrick, CPA, Managing Principal, Miller Cooper & Co., Ltd.

Emerging Leader Award: Recognized for demonstration of leadership, contributions to the profession, creation and implementation of unique initiatives in their workplace, involvement in community service and/or professional organizations, and involvement with their alma mater or high school or college-level finance and accounting students. This year’s winners are:

  • Julia M. Haried, Audit & Assurance In-Charge, Deloitte & Touche LLP and Co-Founder, MakerGirl
  • Charlene Rhinehart, CPA, Managing Director, CEO Unlimited LLC and Founder & Editor-in-Chief, Wealthy Women Daily