CHICAGO, June 3, 2022 – The Illinois CPA Society (ICPAS), one of the largest state CPA societies in the nation, is proud to announce the recipients of its 2022 Lester H. McKeever Jr. Advancing Diversity Awards.

Each year, these awards—which are named in honor of McKeever, a passionate civic leader and advocate for greater diversity in the accounting profession; partner at Mitchell & Titus; managing principal of Washington, Pittman & McKeever; and a founding member of the CPA Endowment Fund of Illinois—are presented to an Outstanding Leader and an Emerging Leader in recognition of their commitment to advancing diversity in the accounting profession.

“As increasing diversity, equity, and inclusion in the CPA profession is a passion of mine and a key mission of our organization, it’s a privilege to publicly recognize these inspiring individuals for what they’ve done to move the needle on this important issue,” says Todd Shapiro, ICPAS president and CEO.

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

Outstanding Leader

• Nerissa Brown, Ph.D., CFE, is an associate professor of Accountancy, incoming associate dean of Graduate Programs, and PwC Faculty Fellow at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign. Brown is also a former academic fellow in the Office of the Chief Accountant at the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission, and a former associate professor at the University of Delaware, Georgia State University, and University of Southern California. She is an editor at the Journal of Business, Finance & Accounting and serves on the editorial board of Accounting Horizons, The Accounting Review, and Journal of Financial Reporting. Brown has received multiple awards for excellence in research, teaching, and service. She has been a great partner in the development of the Illinois CPA Society’s diversity initiatives, and she has gone above and beyond in her involvement with The PhD Project and various other college and student success initiatives focused on supporting underserved and underrepresented students.

Emerging Leader

• Sergio Rodriguez, CPA, is a senior manager in Deloitte’s Global Employer Services practice, where he helps companies manage their globally mobile employees, address worldwide tax obligations, and develop and retain a powerful global workforce. Rodriguez is recognized for leading Deloitte’s market efforts to drive broader societal change. He has been instrumental in bringing Deloitte’s Equitable Mobility point of view to the global market and is a champion of fostering an inclusive workplace that encourages people to express their authentic selves. Rodriguez, a LGBTQIA+ and Latino professional, is particularly committed to empowering young professionals to find their own unique spot within the CPA profession. He has been with Deloitte since 2012. Prior to joining the firm full time, he held a research assistant position with the University of Notre Dame, an internship with Mandomedio Chile, and an internship with Deloitte Chile.