The Maryland Association of CPAs honored two of the accounting and finance profession’s outstanding leaders with its 2026 Women to Watch Awards during the association’s inaugural Rise Together Retreat on Sept. 23.
Megan McKnew of CohnReznick received the 2026 Women to Watch Award in the Emerging Leader category, while Laura Vansuch of CLA (CliftonLarsonAllen) was honored in the Experienced Leader category.
The annual Women to Watch Awards recognize women who have demonstrated exceptional leadership, made significant contributions to the accounting and finance profession and their communities, and helped pave the way for future generations of professionals.
Emerging Leaders are professionals who have made significant contributions to the profession and their communities but have not yet reached the highest levels of advancement. Experienced Leaders are professionals who have established themselves as leaders within their organizations, advanced to the highest levels of management or ownership, and demonstrated a commitment to mentoring those who follow in their footsteps.
The two recipients were selected from 10 Women to Watch honorees by a judging panel consisting of MACPA Board members, profession champions, and past honorees. Judges independently reviewed and scored applications and letters of recommendation based on criteria established for each award category.
In addition to the winners, this year’s honorees including the following in the Emerging Leader category:
- Hannah Bumbaugh, SEK CPAs & Advisors
- Lauren Jones, GRF CPAs & Advisors
- Elena Moseyko, LedgrAI
- Harleigh Price, Roland Park Country School
- Kellan Reinikka, SC&H Group
Other Experienced Leader honorees were:
- Emily Courter, KPMG
- Julie Hulem, GRF CPAs & Advisors
- Joye Sistrunk, Premier Group
“These remarkable professionals demonstrate the kind of leadership our profession needs—leadership that not only achieves results but lifts others along the way,” MACPA CEO Rebekah Olson said in a statement. “Our Women to Watch honorees remind us that the future of this profession is shaped by people who are willing to share what they know, invest in others and create opportunities for those coming behind them. Celebrating their accomplishments is one of the highlights of our year.”
This year’s Women to Watch Awards served as the culmination of MACPA’s first-ever Rise Together Retreat, a day-long gathering designed to bring professionals from across generations and career stages together for leadership development, mentoring, reflection, and meaningful connection.
The retreat featured interactive discussions on leading through change, speed mentoring sessions, and a cross-generational panel examining what professionals at different stages of their careers can learn from one another.
Photo credit: Maryland Association of CPAs
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