Awards

Each year, the Illinois CPA Society recognizes outstanding leaders within the CPA community through our prestigious awards. To see the descriptions and criteria of each award, please click on the bold blue award names below. Nominations were open November 1 - December 4, 2020.

If you have any questions, please reach out to Paige McLeod.

Lifetime Achievement Award
Nominate an individual who has demonstrated distinguished service to the Illinois CPA Society and the accounting profession.

Lester H. McKeever Jr. Advancing Diversity Awards
Nominate an individual who is an emerging young professional or an outstanding leader committed to increasing diversity in the accounting profession.

Outstanding Educator Awards
Nominate an educator who has made significant contributions to the education of accounting students through their leadership, teaching excellence, and active involvement in the accounting profession.

Young Professionals Leadership Award
Nominate an individual who has demonstrated outstanding leadership skills in his/her career, in public/community service and through involvement in professional organizations.

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Award Winners

Lifetime Achievement Award +

2020- Elizabeth A. Murphy, PhD, MBA, CPA, DePaul University
2019- Lee A. Gould, CPA/ABV, JD, CFE, CFF, Gould & Pakter Associates LLC
2018- Wayne Ebersberger, CPA, Retired- Ernst & Young LLP
2018- Penelope Yunker, CPA, Retired- Western Illinois University
2017- Mary Ann Web, CPA, Sulaski & Webb CPAs
2016- Mary Lou Pier, CPA, CGMA, Pier & Associates, Ltd.
2015- Michael J. Singer, CPA, Michael J. Singer & Co., P.C.
2014- Brian T. Whitlock, CPA, JD, LLM, Plante & Moran, PLLC
2013- Debra R. Hopkins, CPA
2012- Sheldon P. Holzman, CPA/CFF, CFE, Baker Tilly Virchow Krause LLP
2011- Lawrence A. Wojcik, CPA, DLA Piper
2010- Edilberto C. Ortiz, CPA, CGMA, E.C. Ortiz & Co. LLP
2009- Duane D. Suits, CPA and Cameron T. Clark, CPA
2008- Belverd E. Needles, Ph.D. CPA, CMA, GCMA, DePaul University
2007- Edwin Cohen, CPA
Outstanding Educator Awards +
2020
- Michael T. Popowits, CPA, MAS, UIC Business
- Christine A. Wayne, EdD, MBA, CPA, William Rainey Harper College
2019
- Terese Kasson, CPA, MSBA, McKendree University
- Bridgette E. Mahan, CPA, MBA, Harold Washington College
- Margaret M. Tower, CPA, MBA, DePaul University
2018
- Michael Donohoe, PhD, CPA, CGMA, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign
- Luis Plascencia, CPA, MBA, MST, City Colleges of Chicago
2017
- Julia P. Shapland, CPA, MS, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign
- Gregory P. Tapis, PhD, CPA, Augustana College
- Everett Westmeyer, CPA, CGMA, Kishwaukee College
2016
- Marcus Odom, CPA, MS, Southern Illinois University
- Vicky Eidson , PhD, CPA, Quincy University
- Dominque Svarc, CPA, CGMA, William Rainey Harper College
2015
- Marty Coe, Ph.D., CPA, MBA, Western Illinois University, Quad Cities
- David Gray, MAS, CPA, CMA, North Central College
- Jeff Varblow, CPA, College of Lake County
Lester H. McKeever Jr. Outstanding Leader in Advancing Diversity Award +

2020- Sandra Waller Shelton, PhD, MBA, CPA, DePaul University
2019- Gregg S. Woodruff, CPA, PhD, Western Illinois University
2018- Kevin E. Jackson, PhD, CPA, University of Illinois
2017- Stella Marie B. Santos, CPA, Adelfia LLC
2016- Edilberto Ortiz, CPA, CGMA, E.C. Ortiz & Co
2015- Dianne Lystlund, CPA, MBA, Allstate
2014- Kevin Janes, CPA, Ernst & Young
2013- Joseph Kosinski, CPA, Abbott Laboratories
2012- Kenton Klaus, CPA, Deloitte
2011- Ron Sonenthal, CPA, Deloitte
2010- Dorri McWhorter, CPA, Crowe Horwath
2009- Scott Steffens, CPA, Grant Thronton
2008- Beth Murphy, CPA, DePaul University
Lester H. McKeever Jr. Emerging Leader in Advancing Diversity Award +

2020- Reuel Brumell, CPA, Grant Thornton LLP
2019- Chinedu C. Iwuora, CPA, Deloitte & Touche LLP
2018- Jeff Badu, CPA, Badu Tax Services, LLC
2017- Marques Fisher, CPA, PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP
2016- Juan Ortiz, CPA, Deloitte Tax LLP
2015- Samuel Delgado, CPA, Abbott Laboratories
2014- Seun Salami, CA, CPA, Deloitte
2013- Martrice Caldwell, CPA, YMCA of Metropolitan Chicago
2012- Richard Cerda, CPA, Crowe Horwath
2011- Muhammad Gigani, CPA, Deloitte
2010- Marisol Pantoja, CPA, PwC
Young Professional Leadership Award +

2020- Curt M. Mastio, CPA, Founder's CPA
2019- Nicole Presperin, CPA, Aon plc
2018- Michael Rodriguez, CPA, WEC Energy Group
2017- Timm Bellazzini, CPA, CGMA, Sikich LLP
2016- Elizabeth Pittelkow, CPA/CITP, CGMA, DTM, Arrow Stream
2015- Charlene Rhinehart, CPA, CFE, PMP, JP Morgan Chase
2014- Amanda L. Gavin, MBA, CPA, CliftonLarsonAllen
Time and Talent Public Service Volunteerism Award +

2020- Kutchins, Robbins & Diamond Ltd.
2019- CliftonLarsonAllen LLP
2018- Crowe Horwath LLP
2017- Wipfli LLP
2016- Doug Hart

2015- Sylvia Kellogg
2014- Eric Dubrowski; Elizabeth Pritchard
2013- David Hensely; Krista Piwonka
2012- Rob Cameron; Roann Kopel; David Hensley
2011- Scott Davis; Muthuswamy Sunder ; Mark Gilbert; Jarad M. K. Woiwode; Michelle Scheffki
2020 Distinguished Service Awards +
- Linda S. Abernethy, CPA, RSM US LLP, Governmental Executive Committee
- Margaret L. Al-Qassas, CPA, Michael Silver, Taxation Executive Committee
- Tony Boras, CPA, Crowe LLP, Governmental Report Review Committee
- Scott R. Cosentine, CPA, CAMS, CGMA, Ashland Partners & Company LLP, Audit and Assurance Services Committee
- Beth M. Cwik, CPA, CFP, Huck Bouma PC, Taxation- Estate, Gift and Trust Committee
- Alison H. Fetzer, CPA, ORBA, Not-for-Profit Organizations Committee
- Karen M. Fleming, CPA, MST, BKD CPAs & Advisors, Taxation- Estate, Gift and Trust Committee
- Robert T. Hedrick, EA, MST, Hedrick Systems Group Inc., Taxation- Practice and Procedures Committee
- Mark S. Heroux, JD, Baker Tilly Virchow Krause LLP, Taxation- Practice and Procedures Committee
- Mark S. Klesman, CPA, CGMA, Klesman & Company PC, Peer Review Report Acceptance Committee
- Ellen L. Landgraf, PhD, CPA, CFE, Loyola University Chicago, Ethics Committee
- Monty D. Meyer, CPA/PFS, MST, USTCP, Monty Meyer CPA & Associates PC, Taxation- Practice and Procedures Committee
- Kim D. Meyer, CPA, Hudgens & Meyer LLC, Peer Review Report Acceptance Committee
- Brittany Y. Okossi, CPA, KPMG LLP, Mary T. Washington Wylie Alumni Advisory Group
- Linda C. Rapacz, CPA, Linda C. Rapacz CPA, PC, Peer Review Report Acceptance Committee
- Jonathan E. Strouse, CPA, Harrison & Held LLP, Taxation- Practice and Procedures Committee
- Andrew VanSingel, JD, Internal Revenue Service, Taxation- Practice and Procedures Committee

Award Winners

Lifetime Achievement Award +

Outstanding Educator Awards +

Lester H. McKeever Jr. Outstanding Leader in Advancing Diversity Award +

Lester H. McKeever Jr. Emerging Leader in Advancing Diversity Award +

Young Professional Leadership Award +

Time and Talent Public Service Volunteerism Award +

2020 Distinguished Service Awards +

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