The Florida Institute of Certified Public Accountants is proud to recognize the graduates of our 2023-24 Leadership Academy.
These 25 Young CPAs comprise the academy’s third-annual class.
| Jeff Appolon | BDO |
| Luisa Blandon | Kaufman Rossin & Co. |
| Marisa Burkhalter | CBIZ |
| Ivan Calata | Withum |
| Emily Demurias | BriersCPA |
| Chase DeStefanis | Grant Thornton |
| Amanda Elliott | Carr, Riggs & Ingram |
| Alexandra Escobar | Kaufman Rossin & Co. |
| Yosseidy Estevez | Kaufman Rossin & Co. |
| Rachel Faxas | Kaufman Rossin & Co. |
| Zachary Greenwald | Boulay |
| Stewart Lundeen | BDO |
| Claudia Machado | Kaufman Rossin & Co. |
| Luis Marquez | Marcum |
| Chase Orthwein | Kaufman Rossin & Co. |
| Emily Ray | RSM |
| Monica Reyes | PAAST |
| Alyssa Riley | Carr, Riggs & Ingram |
| Luis Sanoja | RSM |
| Sarah Simpson | City of Aventura |
| Katie Smith | Deloitte |
| Sebastian Sovero | Berkowitz Pollack Brant |
| Sameer Uddin | Withum |
| Ashley Valdez | Ernst & Young |
| Carmen Velasquez | Tapia, Rojas & Associates |
“The FICPA Leadership Academy identifies rising stars in our state and equips them with the leadership skills to take the next step in their promising careers,” FICPA President & CEO Shelly Weir said. “We celebrate this year’s graduates and look forward to watching them shape the future of the CPA profession.”
The FICPA Leadership Academy is a selective, high-impact program for CPAs age 35 and under who are looking to grow as leaders. Participants took part in Leadership Academy sessions hosted in Orlando and Tallahassee. They graduated on Jan. 17 during the FICPA’s CPA Day at the Capitol, where they had the opportunity to learn from Florida lawmakers and represent the next generation of CPAs and business leaders.
For the third consecutive year, the FICPA has partnered with the Succession Institute to develop the Leadership Academy’s curriculum. A pair of Succession faculty members – former AICPA Chair Bill Reeb and Former AICPA and FICPA Chair Tommye Barie – will challenge participants to evolve, create a roadmap for change, and expand their skills.
"Each year, Bill and I cherish the opportunity to work with some of the best and brightest Young CPAs from across the country, and Florida continues to deliver at a high level," Barie said. "We learn as much from these young leaders as they learn from us, and I have confidence knowing that the future of our profession is in their hands."
