CHICAGO, Dec. 8, 2023 – The Illinois CPA Society (ICPAS)—one of the largest state associations serving the certified public accountant (CPA) community—is proud to announce its president and CEO, Geoffrey Brown, CAE, has been named to Accounting Today’s 2023 “Top 100 Most Influential People” list. This is an especially welcomed honor, as the news comes as Brown marks his first year at ICPAS’ helm.
Honorees on Accounting Today’s list are nominated by their peers from across the country and included prominent key thought leaders, government officials, other state CPA society executives, consultants, key influencers, and others who are shaping the accounting and finance profession.
In recognizing Brown, Accounting Today states: “As the new head of the Illinois CPA Society, Brown inherits a strong platform for making a difference in some of the biggest issues facing accounting, starting with the pipeline problem and the need for more diversity. Look for him to double-down on those, while also emphasizing the imperative for the profession to become nimbler in adapting to all sorts of change.”
“I’m incredibly humbled and honored to be recognized alongside many of the profession’s top advocates and well-known thought leaders,” Brown says. “This recognition is truly an acknowledgement of the hard work the entire ICPAS team puts in every day.”
“It’s so rewarding to see Geof being acknowledged for the impact he's already making on the profession in just his first year with our organization. This recognition exemplifies why we were excited to appoint him as the society’s new president and CEO,” says ICPAS Chairperson Jonathan Hauser, CPA, a partner with KPMG in Chicago. “We look forward to seeing what he achieves as he further solidifies himself as a thought leader in the profession and guides our organization forward.”
Brown, currently a Chicago resident, is a native of Fort Washington, Md., and an alum of the University of Maryland, where he earned a bachelor’s degree in government and politics. Brown also holds the certified association executive (CAE) credential from the American Society of Association Executives (ASAE). A dedicated volunteer leader, Brown is an active ASAE member and serves on the American Accounting Association Foundation Board of Trustees and the boards of the AIDS Foundation of Chicago and the Association of Fraternal Leadership & Values.