Contact: Shawn Taylor Zelman
703-506-3265
szelman@aswa.org
Celebrating the Dimensions of Success:
WOMEN ACCOUNTING PROFESSIONALS AND CORPORATIONS ARE RECOGNIZED FOR EXCELLENCE
The ASWA 8th Annual Educational Foundation Recognizes Women Leaders for Their Commitment to Work/Life, Leadership, and Financial Literacy
(McLean, VA)—The American Society of Women Accountants Educational Foundation (The Foundation) honored companies on the national, regional and local levels and individuals across the country for their commitment to work/life balance, leadership and financial literacy. These prestigious Awards – Balance Awards, Influential Woman of the Year Awards and Financial Literacy Award were presented on Tuesday, October 20, 2009, at the American Society of Women Accountants (ASWA)/American Woman’s Society of CPAs (AWSCPA) Joint National Conference in Las Vegas. These awards highlight the accomplishments of distinguished individuals in the profession; companies that encourage their employees to balance work and life; and people committed to fostering financial literacy.
The honorees include:
National Industry Balance Award Recipient
Crowe Horwath LLP
South Bend, IN
At Crowe Horwath, senior management firmly believes the company – and the profession – will lose valuable leaders if they allow traditional barriers to prevent women from reaching leadership positions. Through mentoring and advocacy, Crowe’s Women Into Leadership (WIL) program promotes career advancement, development and work/life balance.
Regional Industry Balance Award Recipient
Horne LLP
Ridgeland, MS
The company is committed to addressing the issues its female team members have identified as important to them – equal opportunity, life/work balance, and health and wellness. One way Horne addresses these concerns is through its Women Encouraging Women Forum, an initiative led by the firm’s female partners and open to women at all levels of employment in the company.
Local Industry Balance Award Recipient
KraftCPAs
Nashville, Tenn.
Since KraftCPAs opened its doors in 1958, the company has demonstrated a recognition of and appreciation for women’s contributions to the firm’s success. Today, 25 percent of the firms owners are women, and 60 percent of all employees are female. Fifty-seven percent of the firm’s managers and senior managers are women. These numbers illustrate that KraftCPAs clearly is a family-friendly workplace.
Financial Literacy Award
Wendi Taber
San Antonio, Texas
Wendi Taber is doing her best to help the homeless of San Antonio, Texas, address one of those barriers head on. Wendi leads the volunteer efforts for financial literacy classes taught to homeless individuals at SAMMinistries. More than 60 families seeking to become self-sufficient have benefited from these classes in the past year alone.
Influential Woman of the Year, Region 1
Elizabeth M. Kolar, CPA
Chairperson, Business Administration Dept Delaware Valley College
Philadelphia, Penn.
As co-founder of the Philadelphia CPA review, Liz Kohler is recognized as an expert on the CPA exam. She’s helped thousands of candidates pass the exam over the past 20 years. Many of her students and co-workers consider her to be one of the most outstanding teachers in the country. Her work at Delaware Valley College, in her local community and in ASWA has led to her receiving numerous awards.
Influential Woman of the Year, Region 2
Sandi Guy
Human Capital Partner, BDO Seidman LLP
Charlotte, NC
Sandi Guy is a partner with BDO Seidman, LLP and has more than 16 years experience in all areas of human resources management in various industries. In 2000, she joined BDO, where she has received promotion after promotion due to her outstanding accomplishments. In 2007, she became the national director of human resources and was challenged to set the firm’s overall human resources strategy. Her vision included focusing beyond traditional human resources to what is now the human capital organization.
Influential Woman of the Year, Region 3
Michele Sullivan
Partner, Crowe Horwath LLP
South Bend, IN
Michelle Sullivan is a founding member of Crowe Horwath’s Women Into Leadership Steering Committee. Michelle has been at the forefront of promoting career advancement and work/life balance among her female co-workers through mentoring and advocacy. She is particularly well-versed in helping others build their client relationships by developing their technical and professional skills.
Influential Woman of the Year, Region 4
Nichole Jordan
Audit Partner, Grant Thornton LLP
Dallas, Texas
Nichole Jordan firmly believes in the power of women mentoring other women. She has led the charge in her office to help women manage their work/life balance by creating regular luncheons for women leaders to share their ideas for having a successful career while still maintaining a balanced home life.
Influential Woman of the Year, Region 5
Mary Erlenborn
Senior Finance Manager, Science Applications International Corp.
San Diego, CA
Mary Erlenborn hasn’t always followed the most typical of career paths in the finance industry. With past work focusing on facilities management and procurement, she’s occasionally taken jobs that may not be typical "finance” positions. These positions, however, have allowed her to enhance her core financial expertise, leading to the impressive career she’s had. Currently the senior finance manager for SAIC, Mary’s work takes her from San Diego to Bangladesh, with various stops in between.
Influential Woman of the Year, Region 6 and National Influential Woman of the Year
Orphalee Smith, CPA
Owner, Orphalee Smith CPA
Bellingham, Wash.
When Orphalee Smith, CPA, started her career 45 years ago, women accountants were a rarity. Large companies refused to hire women, saying "Women have babies.” So she started her post-college career as a bookkeeper at Weyerhaeuser even though she was qualified for much more. Time passed, but attitudes didn’t change much. When Orphalee moved to Bellingham, Wash., in 1973, most local accounting firms still wouldn’t hire women, but she persevered. In 1981, Orphalee took the bold step of opening her own CPA practice even though the climate was less-than-supportive.
These national recognitions, sponsored by Accountemps & Robert Half Finance and Accounting, rewards "best in market” companies whose commitment to work/life balance, leadership and promoting financial literacy and individuals whose influence on others in the profession have placed them in the enviable position of earning the prestigious Foundation Award.
"The ASWA Educational Foundation is thrilled to honor this prestigious group of honorees this year,” said Mary Burns, CPA, Foundation Chair. "Even in tough economic times, these awards pay tribute to companies and individuals that are championing work/life balance, leadership and financial literacy in our profession.
As background,
The Balance Awards recognize companies that demonstrate sensitivity to women within our industry; that provide leadership and mentoring opportunities for women; that are involved and show concern for the financial issues facing their communities; those that implement policies, initiatives and programs that promote work/life balance.
The Influential Woman of the Year Awards recognize individuals whose accomplishments and achievements distinguish them in the financial industry; who have demonstrated leadership and have mentored to others in their industry; and those who are committed and involved within their communities.
The Financial Literacy Award recognizes an individual or group that has supported their community by teaching a Financial Literacy program. This program can be either the FDIC MoneySmart program, one of the National Endowment for Financial Education (NEFE) programs or any other program that is recognized through a state CPA Society or the AICPA.
About The ASWA Educational Foundation
The mission of The American Society of Women Accountants Educational Foundation (The Foundation) is to promote and advance financial literacy, scholarship and life skills through programs of recognition, mentoring, research and outreach. The Foundation sponsors the Foundation Awards each year to recognize the accomplishments of distinguished individuals in the profession; companies that encourage their employees to balance work and life; and people committed to fostering financial literacy. Additional Foundation programs include scholarships to encourage women professionals in the accounting fields to reach new levels of professional achievement and certification. For more information, please go to The Foundation's website.
--the foundation--
