CHICAGO, June 10, 2019 – More than 200 professionals attended the Illinois CPA Society's (ICPAS) Young Professionals Leadership Conference, titled “Social Impact,” held in Chicago on Friday, June 7. This annual networking and professional development event is designed to help young accounting and finance professionals build their leadership presence.

This year’s program focused on how to make your mark by building professional skills, leading meaningful change and affecting positive social impact.

Global adventurer, motivational speaker, and author/creator of the book and Netflix show, The Kindness Diaries, Leon Logothetis, served as the event’s keynote speaker. Logothetis focused on the power of the human connection and shared how he discovered that the true magic of humanity lies in our capacity to connect, to inspire and to belong.  

The program also featured stories and tips on how to combine your professional work with social responsibility from local not-for-profit influencers including:

Kim Szalkus, CPA - Vice President, Finance and Administration for Ronald McDonald House Charities of Chicagoland and Northwest Indiana

Jennifer Casteller, CPA - Director of Accounting and Financial Reporting, Obama Foundation

Anthony Fiore, CPA - Vice President and Controller, Feeding America

Ashley Nazarak - Vice President, Learning and Evaluation, YMCA of Metropolitan Chicago

Daniel Cervantes - Senior Vice President, Programs, Skills for Chicagoland’s Future