CHICAGO, May 17, 2022 – The Illinois CPA Society (ICPAS), in partnership with the ICPAS Women’s Committee and the AICPA Women’s Initiatives Executive Committee, presented the winners of the prestigious 2022 Women to Watch Awards at the ICPAS Women’s Leadership Forum, held Friday, May 13, 2022, in Chicago, where they received their awards and participated in a panel discussion on the challenges women face in business, keys to their success, the importance of mentorship, and more.

Each year, the Women to Watch Awards are presented in two categories, Emerging Leader and Experienced Leader, to recognize the outstanding women who are committed to making significant contributions to the CPA profession, their organizations, and to the greater advancement and development of women as leaders in business.

“It’s an honor to recognize the remarkable achievements and inspiring contributions of these leading women,” says Todd Shapiro, ICPAS president and CEO. “Having such passionate individuals striving to create positive change in the CPA profession and their communities, while also working toward increasing gender equality and inclusion, is certain to help pave the way for more women to enter and succeed in both the CPA profession and the broader business world.”

The following honorees will be further recognized at the ICPAS Leadership Recognition and Awards Dinner on June 9, 2022, also in Chicago.

Emerging Leader Award

Bestowed upon professionals with less than 15 years of experience in the accounting and finance profession, the Emerging Leader Award recognizes women demonstrating outstanding leadership, contributions to the profession, creation and implementation of unique initiatives in the 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:

Emily Bartlett, CPA, is a senior manager in the Assurance department of CDH PC, where she manages financial statement audits and reviews for clients in manufacturing, distribution, service and construction, as well as employee benefit plan audits. Bartlett serves as the leader of “Women LEAD at CDH,” which embraces the leadership, empowerment, advancement, and development of women within the firm. Outside of CHD, she serves as secretary on the board of directors for the Boys and Girls Club of Elgin (BGCE) and on the Schaumburg Community board. She’s also a Literacy Champion for BGCE and serves on the Resource Development Committee. Bartlett is also a devoted Rotarian, belonging to the Naperville Rotary After Dark club, and is a Zontian, serving on the board of directors for the Zonta Club of Oak Brook and as the head of the membership committee. Bartlett has a master’s degree in Accounting from Elmhurst College (2010) and a bachelor’s degree in Accounting and Business Administration, with a concentration in Marketing, from Augustana College (2008).

Stephanie Keller, CPA, is a manager at CLA LLP, where she provides audit, tax, and consulting services to a variety of clients, particularly nonprofit organizations. Keller is an active member of the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants; Illinois CPA Society, where she serves on the Young Leaders Advisory Council; Indiana CPA Society; and Mental Health Association of Northwest Indiana, where she is a board member. Keller earned her bachelor’s in Accounting and Management (double major), with a minor in Psychology, cum laude, from Indiana University.

Experienced Leader Award

To honor the experienced professionals positively impacting the accounting and finance profession, the Experienced Leader Award recognizes women dedicated to mentoring other professionals, making major and/or unique contributions to the profession, taking leadership in workplace improvement, staying involved in community service and/or professional organizations, and authoring professional articles and/or speaking at engagements. This year’s winners are:

Nicole Szczepanek, CPA, is a tax partner in the Manufacturing and Distribution Services practice at Baker Tilly LLP, where she provides clients with professional tax services, focusing on ASC 740, and acquisition implementation and exit readiness for private companies in the private equity, manufacturing, technology, and pharma/ life sciences industries. Szczepanek is a member of Baker Tilly’s Tax Leadership Team, supporting the firm’s national tax leader and the future tax strategy of the firm, and the national Employee Retention Credit solution leader. She also leads Baker Tilly’s Chicago Growth & Retention of Women (GROW) initiative and is a member of the Ravinia Associates Board. Szczepanek earned her master’s in Taxation from DePaul University and her bachelor’s in Accounting from the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign.

Kelly VanCura, CPA, is a Trust Solutions partner at PwC LLP, where she specializes in SEC reporting matters, including initial public offerings, comfort letters on debt and equity offerings, restatements, and Sarbanes Oxley compliance for large and midsize companies. She is also actively involved in PwC’s recruiting and people experience initiatives for the firm’s Chicago office. VanCura is an active member of Big Shoulders Fund’s Chairmen’s Advisory Council. VanCura earned her bachelor’s in Business Administration, Accounting and Finance, from Saint Mary’s College in Notre Dame, Indiana.

From left to right: Emily Bartlett, Stephanie Keller, Kelly VanCura, and Nicole Szczepanek at the Women's Leadership Forum in Chicago. Photo credit: Illinois CPA Society/Derrick Lilly