State CPA Society News & Updates – July 2026

State CPA Society News & Updates is a selection of recent announcements and initiatives by CPA associations in the United States and its territories.

The Tennessee Society of Certified Public Accountants (TSCPA) recently named Benjamin Wiggins as the recipient of the society’s John Glenn Award. Each year, the John Glenn Award honors the successful candidate who achieved the highest score on the Uniform CPA Exam in Tennessee and successfully passed all four parts of the exam on the first attempt.  

Wiggins graduated from Vanderbilt University in December 2023 with a double major in economics and German studies. He initially planned to attend law school and concentrate on tax law during his undergrad but decided to pursue his CPA license to gain practical tax experience before committing to the legal path. He graduated with his Master of Accountancy in May 2025.

Wiggins passed the Uniform CPA Exam in 2025 and currently works at Deloitte in London, England as a US Business Tax Analyst.

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The Iowa Society of CPAs (ISCPA) has opened registration for the Agriculture Tax and Accounting Conference, which takes place on Thursday, August 13, 2026 from 6:30 am to 3:30 PM. Pricing for the virtual conference is $369 for ISCPA members, with non-member pricing of $429.00

For more information, or to register, visit the Conference page on the ISCPA website.

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The Tennessee Society of Certified Public Accountants (TSCPA) honored its top members in six different categories at its 95th Annual Meeting and Convention held in Isle of Palms, South Carolina, on June 9-12, 2026. 

The TSCPApex Awards Program recognizes the many ways that individuals contribute significant time, energy and intellect to developing the accounting profession and fostering its success. The awards celebrate those who are emerging leaders, innovators, educators, volunteers and others who have made a substantial impact in accounting.   

CPA of the Year Award - The CPA of the Year Award recognizes a CPA who has made outstanding contributions toward advancing the accounting profession over the last year

Barrett Simonis, CPA – 2026 TSCPApex CPA of the Year Award 
Pugh CPAs – Knoxville, Tennessee   

Lifetime Achievement Award  – The Lifetime Achievement Award is given in recognition of a TSCPA member who has exhibited leadership, made significant contributions to the profession and had an outstanding record of service to the society and the local community. 

John Griesbeck, CPA – 2026 TSCPApex Lifetime Achievement Award 
Reynolds, Bone and Griesbeck, PLC – Germantown, Tennessee 

Art Sparks, CPA – 2026 TSCPApex Lifetime Achievement Award 
ATA – Union City, Tennessee   

Impact Award  – The Impact Award acknowledges a TSCPA member who has distinguished him or herself in philanthropic activities.  

Jason Lay, CPA – 2026 TSCPApex Impact Award 
McNabb Center – Knoxville, Tennessee 

Brian Tate, CPA – 2026 TSCPApex Impact Award 
LBMC – Brentwood, Tennessee   

Women to Watch Award  – The Women to Watch Award highlights the accomplishments of women in the profession. The award is given in two categories, Experienced Leaders and Emerging Leaders. 

Amelia Hart, CPA – 2026 TSCPApex Women to Watch (Experienced Leader) Award 
University of Tennessee, Knoxville – Knoxville, Tennessee 

Daria Cooper, CPA – 2026 TSCPApex Women to Watch (Emerging Leader) Award 
Pugh CPAs – Knoxville, Tennessee   

Emerging Leader Award  – The Emerging Leader Award is given to someone who has been working in the accounting profession 10 years or less. The award is presented to an individual who has made noteworthy professional accomplishments and stood out in the areas of professional knowledge, skill, integrity and leadership. 

Dhonielle Toussaint, CPA – 2026 TSCPApex Emerging Leader Award 
Henderson and Gardner, PLLC – Chattanooga, Tennessee  

Special Recognition Award  – Special Recognition Awards are given to individuals who have contributed to the success of a TSCPA project or initiative. 

Trea McMillian, CPA – 2026 TSCPApex Special Recognition Award 
Tennessee State University – Nashville, Tennessee   

Nominations for this year’s awards closed on Jan. 15, 2026, and recipients were selected by TSCPA’s Awards Committee. For more information on the TSCPApex Awards Program, visit http://www.tscpa.com/awards.

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The New Jersey Society of Certified Public Accountants (NJCPA) has announced the 2026/2027 Officers and Board of Trustees.

2026/27 Officers

President: Christopher M. Lovasz, CPA

Christopher M. Lovasz, CPA, managing director at Deloitte & Touche LLP, has been a member of the NJCPA since 1998 and has supported the Society in a variety of ways. A member of the Board of Trustees, a member of the Student Programs and Scholarship Committee since 2009, including two years as chairperson, and a past president of the NJCPA Scholarship Fund, Chris has helped drive important changes at the Scholarship Fund, including additional categories of awards. He was an NJCPA Trustee and is the chair of the Retirement Savings Plan Committee and a member of the Finance Committee. He obtained his Bachelor of Science in Accounting from Lehigh University.

President-Elect: Katherine E. Zech, CPA

Katherine E. Zech, CPA, partner at PKF O’Connor Davies, LLP, has been a member of the NJCPA since 2010. She has served on the board of directors of the Union County Chapter, as past chair of the Emerging Leaders Council and the State Board of Trustees. Kait is a recipient of the Gateway Chamber of Commerce Generation Now Game Changer award (2019), the NJCPA Ovation Award in the Woman to Watch category (2020 and 2025) and the Commerce and Industry Association of New Jersey One to Watch award (2021). She was named to Forbes’ Top 200 CPAs in America (2025) list and Best-In-State CPAs in New Jersey (2026). She earned Bachelor of Science and Master in Accounting degrees at Seton Hall University.

Secretary: Michael A. Stillitano, CPA, CGMA

Michael A. Stillitano, CPA, CGMA, strategic finance leader and founder of Stillitano Consulting LLC, has been a member of the NJCPA since 2006. His prior NJCPA leadership includes board trustee, chapter president, chair of the Chapter Operations Committee, chair of the Corporate Accounting & Finance interest group (formerly the Business & Industry interest group), and member of the Strategic Planning Committee. He holds a Master of Science in Taxation from Pace University and a Bachelor of Science in Accounting from the City University of New York, where he also serves as an adjunct professor of accounting and a member of the Dean’s Advisory Board.

Treasurer: JoAnne Geylin, CPA, CAP

JoAnne Geylin, CPA, CAP, partner at Geylin & Associates, PC, has been a member of the NJCPA since 2003 and has held positions at the chapter and state levels. She has been treasurer, secretary, vice president and president of the Bergen Chapter, participating in the chapter’s board since 2013. JoAnne brings more than 25 years of experience to her practice, having previously been a director at EisnerAmper and a member of its Center for Family Business Excellence, and a tax manager at KPMG. JoAnne serves on the advisory board for the Anisfield School of Business at Ramapo College. She received a Bachelor’s degree from Ramapo College.

Immediate Past President: John M. Szczomak, CPA

John M. Szczomak, CPA, member of the firm at Smolin, Lupin & Co., P.A., has been a member of the NJCPA since 1990 and has served as NJCPA trustee, treasurer and secretary in addition to being an NJ-CPA-PAC Trustee and an NJCPA Scholarship Fund Trustee and was chair of the Professional Conduct and Finance committees and a member of the Cooperation with Bankers Committee, Healthcare Committee, Financial Services Resource Group and Accounting & Auditing Standards interest group. John is also on the board of the Fighting Children’s Cancer Foundation and chair of the Finance Committee at St. Bonaventure Roman Catholic Church in Totowa. He is a graduate of William Paterson University with a Bachelor of Science in Accounting.

CEO & Executive Director: Aiysha (AJ) Johnson, MA, IOM

Aiysha (AJ) Johnson, MA, IOM, is the CEO and executive director of the New Jersey Society of CPAs. She is a recipient of the New Jersey Business & Industry Association’s Leonard C. Johnson Award, was recognized among the Top 100 Most Influential People in Accounting by Accounting Today (2023 and 2024), and named on the NJBIZ Leaders in Finance list (2025). She was named to ROI-NJ’s ROI Influencers: Accounting Power List (2024, 2025), Top 50 Women in Business (2024) and People of Color (2023). AJ served on the Alumni Board of the University of Chicago (2021-2023), where she graduated with a Master’s in Administration and Policy. She also completed the Senior Management Program in Business Management at University of Chicago/IE School of Business.

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The Tennessee Society of Certified Public Accountants (TSCPA) recently announced that Art Sparks, CPA, of Union City and John Griesbeck, CPA, of Germantown were presented with the Tennessee Society of Certified Public Accountants’ (TSCPA) 2026 TSCPApex Lifetime Achievement Award. 

Art Sparks

Art has been a leader in the accounting profession for more than four decades at both the state and national levels. Through his years of volunteer service with TSCPA, Art has served in many leadership positions and on numerous committees, culminating with his role as the 2014-15 TSCPA Board Chair. Art has also served the TSCPA West Tennessee Chapter in many positions, including chapter president. Currently, Art serves as the technical reviewer for the TSCPA Peer Review Program.

Beyond TSCPA, Art’s influence spans major regulatory and professional bodies, including the AICPA, NASBA, and the Tennessee State Board of Accountancy. He served as an AICPA Council member and on the AICPA Peer Review Board, the National Peer Review Committee, and as Chair of the AICPA Peer Review Oversight Task Force. Throughout his career, he has worked extensively with the Tennessee State Board of Accountancy, where he was appointed as a board member. In addition to his professional service work, Art has contributed his financial talents to many community organizations, including his alma mater, The University of Tennessee at Martin.

John Griesbeck

John Griesbeck has dedicated his career to advancing both TSCPA and the broader accounting profession. He entered public accounting in 1975, earning his CPA license that same year. By 1981, he became a partner of Reynolds, Bone and Griesbeck, PLC, where he anchored the firm’s financial institution practice and provided trusted counsel to a diverse portfolio of individual and corporate clients.

A passionate advocate for future accounting professionals, John has championed the TSCPA Educational & Memorial Foundation scholarship program for many years. John is a TSCPA Life Member, where he served on many committees and leadership positions, including 2004-05 TSCPA Board Chair.

John is in his sixth year on the Tennessee State Board of Accountancy, where he serves as Vice Chair. John remains an active volunteer in the Memphis community, lending his leadership and financial expertise to various philanthropic organizations.