CHICAGO, Aug. 2, 2021 – The Illinois CPA Society (ICPAS), in partnership with the ICPAS Women’s Committee and the AICPA Women’s Initiatives Executive Committee, is proud to announce the winners of the prestigious 2021 Women to Watch Awards.

Each year, the Women to Watch Awards are presented in two categories, Experienced Leader and Emerging 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.

“We’re proud to recognize the inspiring achievements and contributions of these remarkable women,” says Todd Shapiro, ICPAS president and CEO. “Having such dedicated leaders striving to create positive change in the CPA profession and their communities, while also working toward increasing gender equality and inclusion, will undoubtedly help to pave the way for future generations of women to enter and succeed in both the CPA profession and the broader business world.”

The following honorees will be formally recognized at ICPAS’ Leadership Recognition and Awards Dinner on Aug. 5, 2021 and will be featured panelists at ICPAS’ Women’s Leadership Forum on Sept. 17, 2021. Both events will take place in Chicago.

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:

• Rebecca Shortridge, Ph.D., CPA (inactive) – Dr. Shortridge is the Rollins Chair of Accounting at The University of Tennessee at Chattanooga. She was previously the Donald E. Kieso Endowed Chair of Accountancy at Northern Illinois University, where she is regarded for making notable contributions to the Department of Accountancy’s efforts to launch an online master’s program, increase analytics in the curriculum, and improve diversity and inclusion. She also spent five years on the faculty at Ball State University. Dr. Shortridge has been recognized multiple times for her innovation and merit by the Federation of Schools of Accountancy, and her research—which is primarily focused on financial markets, the impact of non-financial information, and various pedagogical issues—has been published in the Journal of Business, Finance, and Accounting; Accounting Horizons; the Journal of Business Ethics; The CPA Journal; and others. She is an AICPA and ICPAS member. Dr. Shortridge earned her Ph.D. from Michigan State University and her master’s and bachelor’s degrees from Indiana University.   

• JoAnna Simek, CPA – Simek is a partner at BKD CPAs & Advisors, where she provides consulting services, risk mitigation strategies, and tax services to corporations, individuals, and flow-through entities across a variety of industries in the BKD National Commercial Services Group and serves as a member of the BKD Foundation committee and BKD SKY Advisory Council. Simek is also a member of the AICPA and serves as an at-large member of the AICPA Council; ICPAS, where she has served as chair of the State & Local Tax Committee, the Tax Executive Committee, the Diversity Advisory Council, and other task forces; and The Chicago Tax Club. In addition to her professional affiliations and positions, Simek is involved with several Chicago community organizations, including Dimensions Youth Ballet and Chicago Youth Centers. Simek earned her master’s degree in taxation from DePaul University and her bachelor’s degree in business administration from The Ohio State University.

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:

• Danielle I. Martin, CPA – Martin is currently a manager at Porte Brown LLC in Tinley Park, Ill., where she advises and consults with closely-held businesses and not-for-profit entities on accounting best practices, internal controls, financial statement and tax compliance, board governance, financial strategy, and other key matters. She also leads the firm’s internal quality control initiative and 990 preparation process. Prior to joining the firm in 2009 as a staff accountant, Martin attended the University of St. Francis, where she earned her bachelor’s degree. In 2010, Martin received ICPAS’ Bronze Medal Excel Award for high achievement when passing the CPA exam in Illinois. Her current volunteer and professional service includes serving as a board member and Finance Committee chairperson with CHAT, serving as a member of ICPAS’ Accounting Principles Committee, and serving as a board member and student alumni mentor with the University of St. Francis Alumni Association. Martin previously held various committee, fundraising, and task force positions with ICPAS and St. Mary Immaculate Parish School. Martin is an active AICPA and ICPAS member.

• Amanda M. Rzepka, CPA, CGMA – Rzepka is an accounting manager at Berlin Packaging LLC in Chicago, where she directly manages the company’s financial reporting and treasury functions. Rzepka previously held various accounting and assurance positions within the Chicago offices of Jet Support Services Inc. and PricewaterhouseCoopers. Her current volunteer service includes being a DePaul University Student Mentor, being a member of ICPAS’ Ethics Committee, and fundraising for the Near West Little League. She previously held various board, committee, and fundraising positions with Chicago Public Schools, Hubbard Street Dance Company, ICPAS, and Ledger & Quill. Rzepka is an active AICPA and ICPAS member. She earned her bachelor’s degree from DePaul University and her associate degree from William Rainey Harper College.