McLEAN, Va., October 29, 2008 — Jacqueline Akerblom, Grant Thornton LLP’s managing partner of Women’s Initiatives and Programs, has been recognized as the American Society of Women Accountants Educational Foundation’s (The Foundation) 2008 Balance Awards "Woman of the Year.” Akerblom was one of six "Individual Achievement Award” winners. 

"Jacqueline is a talented partner and leader, and we are grateful to The Foundation for its prestigious recognition,” said Ed Nusbaum, Grant Thornton LLP CEO. "Jacqueline is passionate about ensuring that Grant Thornton attracts and retains exceptional women. She is a true role model for all of our people in balancing the challenges of work and personal life, as well, she’s an inspiration in her role as mentor to many of our women.”

The Foundation honors companies on the national, regional and local levels and individuals across the country for their commitment to work/life balance. The Balance Awards, which highlight the accomplishments of companies and individuals who successfully balance work and life, was presented to the winners on Oct. 29th at the ASWA/American Woman’s Society of CPAs (AWSCPA) Joint National Conference at The Fairmont Dallas in Dallas, Texas. The "Woman of the Year” is selected from the six regional finalists.

This national recognition sponsored by Accountemps & Robert Half Finance and Accounting, is conferred by a blue ribbon panel of ASWA judges and reflects a clear prioritization of both the value and the values that winning companies place on their chief asset . . . their people. 

"The Balance Award recognizes excellence beyond the accounting spreadsheets,” said The ASWA Educational Foundation Chair, Denisa G. Jones, CPA, Affinion Group in Franklin Tennessee. "These companies and individual winners are a testament to balancing workload and family lives. Each is vital to live a well-rounded life.” 

"Accountemps and Robert Half Finance & Accounting are proud sponsors of the Balance Awards. We are honored to recognize the commitment to values demonstrated by these outstanding women and businesses,” said DeLynn Senna, CPA, executive director of North American permanent placement services for Robert Half International.


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 ASWA Foundation sponsors the Balance Awards each year to recognize companies and individuals who succeed in balancing work and life. 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.

About Accountemps and Robert Half Finance & Accounting
Accountemps and Robert Half Finance & Accounting place accounting and finance professionals on a temporary and full-time basis, respectively, and are the only specialized staffing services nationally endorsed by ASWA. Their parent company, Robert Half International, is the world’s first and largest specialized staffing service. For more information about Robert Half, which has more than 360 locations worldwide, please visit www.rhi.com.

About Grant Thornton LLP
The people in the independent firms of Grant Thornton International Ltd provide personalized attention and the highest quality service to public and private clients in more than 100 countries. Grant Thornton LLP is the U.S. member firm of Grant Thornton International Ltd, one of the six global audit, tax and advisory organizations. Grant Thornton International Ltd and its member firms are not a worldwide partnership, as each member firm is a separate and distinct legal entity.

In the U.S., visit Grant Thornton LLP at www.grantthornton.com.