Testimonials

"I joined ASWA as a student Beta Alpha Psi member. I volunteered to serve my local chapter as a committee member for publicity, became the newsletter editor, and then served on the board before becoming President-Elect, President and Past President. I recently volunteered to serve the national organization as a Regional Director.

"I have found that an accountant can work in any industry. Sometimes it's difficult to choose a career path. As I felt my way along, first as an associate in a Big Five accounting firm, then as the owner of an accounting business and now as a government finance director, I had many mentors in my chapter. No matter what I was doing, nor what direction I was considering changing to, there was someone there in the trenches to answer my questions and help me decide. Because of their support, I eventually found the spot to land where I can use my best talents.

"ASWA has given me an opportunity to lead, to organize professional speakers that teach and influence what we do in our profession, and has provided me with special friends that I wouldn't have met otherwise. It is my first priority association after family and church because it enriches my professional self and helps me in my career."

- Allison Hamaker, Sacramento, CA Chapter, ASWA member since 1999

"I have been a member of ASWA for 15 years. I consider my ASWA membership a great investment that pays big dividends. It is one of the best career investments that I have ever made. ASWA has given me the opportunity to develop leadership skills and to participate at the local and national level. ASWA is also a great way to network with other professionals and it has given me the confidence to aim for and achieve my career goals. ASWA has expanded my business knowledge, given me resources to tap when I need assistance and it is a network I hope to have for the rest of my career.

"I have attended ASWA's national conference for the past 14 years as well as several regional conferences. These conferences provide a very energizing experience. It's great to see so many familiar faces every year, but it always seems like the conference ends too soon!

"Through attendance at local, regional, and national conferences I have made many business and personal acquaintances. This is such a supportive group that I would encourage all female accounting and finance professionals to take advantage of all the opportunities that ASWA membership has to offer."

- Elaine Clark, Omaha, NE Chapter, ASWA member since 1993

“I joined ASWA as a member of the Chicago, Illinois Chapter and served on numerous committees and board positions, including President. When I relocated to Iowa, I moved my membership to the Des Moines, Iowa Chapter before becoming a Member-at-Large. In 1990, I helped to charter the Ames, Iowa Chapter with a co-worker and a third woman who was also a relocated ASWA member. Since then, I have served several terms as President, as Membership Chair and in various other committee and officer positions in the Ames Chapter.

"In my opinion, new members join ASWA for the ability to network and meet other women accountants as well as for the opportunity to develop their leadership skills in a non-threatening environment. The student dues rate is also very attractive.

"Over the years, I have attended many regional and national conferences. During these conferences, I have served several times on the Credentials Committee for the Annual Business Meeting, often as a delegate, introduced speakers and served as a room monitor, assisted on Workforce Development, served on the ASWA Educational Foundation nominating committee and on the awards committee to review and recommend finalists.

"Because of the wonderful relationships (both personal and professional) that I have made throughout my ASWA career, I decided to give back by mentoring for the past 18 years through a program run by the Iowa Society of CPAs. As part of my annual mentoring activities, I bring each of my students to an Ames Chapter meeting so they can experience a professional organization. I also pay their first year's dues if they wish to join the organization. Two of my recent mentees are still members. This community outreach, in part, led me to become the 2007 North Central Region Balance Award winner for Individual Achievement and I was honored to also be named the 2007 Balance Award National Woman of the Year.

"The skills I have developed as a member of ASWA and the personal and business friendships I have made over the years have helped me become the successful professional that I am.I truly wish that everyone could see the value of ASWA and have the opportunity to experience it over the many years that I have."

-Karen Jacobson, Ames, IA Chapter, ASWA member since 1971

"I live in a small city which has limited opportunities for good accounting jobs.Because of my membership in ASWA, I learned of a full time accounting position available during one of our chapter meetings that was posted by a chapter member.I applied for the job and was hired. I know my association with this member in our chapter, who became my boss, helped me get hired for this job. It was also through my membership in ASWA that I was recruited by another member for my current position.Both of the jobs were highly sought after jobs within our community, offering a good salary and excellent benefits.I feel very blessed to have found employment in my community where many graduating students of the local University often move to a larger city for employment.And I feel strongly that it was ASWA that has helped me in my career path and in my personal life.

"I served as a regional director for the Southwest Region for two and a half years andI really enjoyed the opportunities that the position provided me.I was able to attend several different chapter meetings which allowed me the opportunity to see how other chapters work and to build relationships with other members outside of my own chapter.I really looked forward to receiving the newsletters of all the chapters that I oversaw.I was not able to visit all of them but was able to learn a lot about what their chapters were doing through their newsletters.At the annual JNC, I was fortunate to meet several of the chapter leaders with whom I had corresponded as their regional director.Being a Regional Director helped me feel more connected to the members at the National meeting, even though we only knew each other through email.

"One of the many benefits of ASWA membership is the opportunity to serve in different board and committee positions to gain leadership experience.Other great benefits include having a network of other accounting professionals with whom you can draw on for help or information, not only within your chapter but throughout the national membership, and of course job networking.For me, ASWA has given me a wonderful network of colleagues and friends that I would not have been able to develop any other way."

-Kelly Robertson, Flagstaff, AZ Chapter, ASWA member since 2001

“I joined ASWA as a college junior because a Seattle, Washington chapter member invited me to attend the chapter public relations dinner and my roommate encouraged me to attend.I met wonderful women who were most welcoming and joined soon thereafter.ASWA membership enables one to meet and talk to other women in the profession and learn to take a leadership role.

"I have served as Membership, Publicity, Bylaws, Awards and Program committee chairs as well as in the officer roles of Secretary, Vice President and President.While serving as the Publicity Chair, I helped prepare our Chapter statement on the Equal Rights Amendment in San Francisco, California.

"Some of the membership benefits I have received as a member are leadership experience, job networking and professional relationships.I even bought my tax practice from an ASWA member!"

-Mary Anne Schmitt, Seattle, WA Chapter, ASWA member since 1961