The best careers aren't built on autopilot. They’re shaped by the choices you make, the opportunities you pursue, and how you define success for yourself.
Join fellow emerging leaders to hear how professionals across accounting, finance, and business have built careers that reflect their individual interests and goals. You’ll gain practical advice for taking greater ownership in your current role, navigating important career decisions, and creating a path that is uniquely yours.
You’ll also celebrate this year’s Joshua D. Lance Young Professional Leadership Award recipient and connect with other professionals who are building what comes next.
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Taking Ownership in Your Role and Across Your Career
Scott J. Allen, Ph.D., Instructor, SMU Cox School of Business, Executive Education
Technology and new business models may have reduced some traditional “busy work,” but they’ve also raised expectations. You’re being asked to think bigger, contribute sooner, and help drive growth, all while delivering high-quality work. Explore what it means to take ownership at a micro level—team meetings, 1:1 meetings, and client relationships—to broader organizational priorities. You’ll leave with practical ways to show greater initiative, strengthen your impact, and take a more active role in shaping your future.
Panel: Chart Your Own Course—Unique Paths in Accounting
Dan Giancola, Vice President, Partnerships and Customer Success at Double Good
Anna Gomez, Chief Financial Officer, ITG Americas
Alek Michali, Senior Manager, Assurance,Tech and M&D at Aprio
Charlene Rhinehart, CPA Exam Instructor and Personal Finance Educator
There’s no single path to a successful career in accounting. Hear from professionals who have built rewarding careers across public accounting, corporate finance, and other areas of business. They’ll share the decisions, challenges, and unexpected opportunities that shaped their journeys, along with advice to help you explore your options and confidently choose what’s right for you.
Date: Nov. 18, 2026
Time: 8:30 a.m. – 12:00 p.m.
Location: UBS Tower, 1 N. Wacker Drive, Chicago, IL
Credits: 2 CPE
Cost: $100 Member | $125 Non-Member
Congratulations to the Illinois CPA Society’s 2026 Joshua D.
Lance Young Professional Leadership Award recipient:
Michael Currie, CPA
Senior Manager, Miller Cooper & Co., Ltd.
This award recognizes a young professional who has demonstrated outstanding leadership in their career, in public or community service, and through involvement in professional organizations.
