Shelly Weir Appointed President & CEO of FICPA

Association executive Shelly Weir has been named President & CEO of the Florida Institute of Certified Public Accountants (FICPA), the premier association dedicated to enhancing the success of Florida CPAs. Weir brings extensive leadership experience in the association sector to the FICPA, one of the largest CPA organizations in the U.S.

Currently, Weir is Senior Vice President of Career Development for the American Hotel & Lodging Association (AHLA) and its Educational Foundation, where she oversees the strategic vision of workforce development.

“We are excited for what the future holds under Shelly’s leadership. She brings a wealth of membership organization success and strategic vision to the FICPA,” said W.G. Spoor, Chair of the Board of Directors of the FICPA. “I believe her leadership and infectious energy are exactly what we need at this time.”

In her role at the American Hotel & Lodging Association, Weir designed and executed programs that delivered career advancement opportunities and competency attainment for professionals in the hotel sector in order to strengthen the lodging industry workforce. Her many accomplishments include orchestrating a groundbreaking initiative to enable a cost-free college degree for hotel associates nationwide – a first of its kind, industry-wide program. She also drove the lodging industry strategy and oversight of AHLA’s apprenticeship programs. She served as Co-Chair of the Committee on Attracting Businesses to Apprenticeship under former President Trump’s national task force on apprenticeship expansion. In September 2020, AHLA’s programs were awarded the White House’s Pledge to America’s Workers Presidential Award for outstanding career development programming.

Prior to joining AHLA, Weir spent seven years with the American Hotel & Lodging Educational Institute. She led the domestic sales team responsible for all certification, training and continuing education product sales to hotel companies, schools, and state hotel association partners. During her tenure, she created national partnerships with education officials and community-based organizations to better position a pipeline of workers for the lodging industry. Previously, Weir served as State Director of Membership at the Florida Restaurant & Lodging Association, where she was responsible for the growth of association membership and retention.

“The FICPA has a rich history of advancing the accounting profession in Florida,” said Weir. “I’m honored to join the team and look forward to building upon the strong foundation in place to further promote the profession, shape public policy, and elevate the competency of our membership.”

Weir is a member of the National Network of Business & Industry Associations, National Workforce Needs Coalition, and has represented the lodging industry on federal task forces with the Departments of Education and Labor to reauthorize career education funding and competency model frameworks. She obtained a Bachelor of Arts from Florida State University.

Weir will assume her responsibilities as President & CEO of the Florida Institute of Certified Public Accountants on April 5, 2021.

The Florida Institute of Certified Public Accountants engaged Kittleman & Associates, a national executive search firm, to conduct the search for its new President & CEO. Kittleman & Associates specializes in the recruitment of CEOs for nonprofit organizations, public charities and philanthropic organizations. Kittleman recruits leaders for the entire nonprofit sector, including professional and membership associations, foundations, and education and advocacy organizations. For more information, visit www.kittlemansearch.com.

Founded in 1905, the Florida Institute of Certified Public Accountants (FICPA) is a statewide, professional association representing 19,500 member-CPAs throughout Florida, who work in public accounting, business and industry, government, nonprofit organizations, and education. The Institute’s mission is to serve the diverse needs of its members, enhance their competency and professionalism, support professional standards, promote the value of its members, and advocate on behalf of the profession. The FICPA has a strong voice and seat at the table with the American Institute of CPAs (AICPA) and the state legislature in promoting the profession and shaping public policy. For more information, visit www.ficpa.org.