“Our profession is facing an increasing talent shortage. Investing in and developing our next generation of leaders is critical not just to our organizations’ success, but to the vitality and relevance of our profession going forward,” said Rebekah Olson, CPA, president and CEO of the Maryland Association of CPAs. “Spending time with these 20 emerging leaders gave me great pride in Maryland CPAs and great hope for our future.”

Held in collaboration with the Dr. Nancy Grasmick Leadership Institute, this year’s program offered attendees the institute’s best-in-class, research-based leadership development program and customized it for the accounting and finance profession. 

Participants participated in self-exploration, practiced intentional influencing through various leadership styles, forged collective team leadership to drive goals forward, and harnessed hands-on strategies and applications to foster employee engagement. They also heard from accounting and finance leaders, learned about the trends impacting the profession, and grew their networks of peers and mentors. 

Graduates of the MACPA’s 2024 Leadership Academy are:

• Betty Adeosun, Atapco Properties
• Michelle Beasley, Atapco Properties
• Lidiya Bridges, BSC Group, LLC
• Reina Canales-Pagan, Gross, Mendelsohn & Assoc., PA
• Kathleen Dean, ClearView Group
• Andrew Edmunds, ClearView Group
• Omar Fahnbulleh, Maryland Department of Housing & Community Development
• Dani Hartz, ClearView Group
• Henry Kahwaty, Rosen, Sapperstein & Friedlander, LLC
• Hailu Mengesha, Mullen, Sondberg, Wimbish & Stone P.A.
• Renata Pacheco dos Reis, SB & Company, LLC
• Obaid Qureshi, ClearView Group
• Kellsey Rogall, BSC Group, LLC
• Pepper Sealey, Gross, Mendelsohn & Assoc., PA
• Patrick St. Clair, Ellin & Tucker, Chartered
• Brandon Tateh Achenjang, ClearView Group
• Arameh Teymouri, ClearView Group
• Jaime Thompson, Nicholynn Advisors, LLC
• Keon Webb, ClearView Group
• Mike York, ClearView Group