AICPA Emerging Leaders Award

In honor of Maximo Mukelabai

This award was created in 2012 to honor Maximo Mukelabai.

Maximo was a member of the inaugural class of the AICPA Leadership Academy in 2009. Tragically, Maximo's life ended abruptly at the age of 36. He was an extraordinary individual filled with passion, intellect, and inspiration; traits immediately recognized by anyone who met him.

Maximo was posthumously named chair for the North Carolina Association of CPAs board of director as the youngest and first African American chair of the organization. Maximo's influence and leadership was felt by so many, and he is sorely missed.

About the Award

The AICPA Emerging Leaders Award highlights CPA’s who personify an unwavering commitment as demonstrated through successful practices, community involvement, and contributions to their organization and the accounting profession. This award is aimed to highlight CPA’s who are active volunteers within their local communities or at a national level and are good stewards within their firm or organization. This award is meant to empower and raise the voices of those who are sought out as role models, mentors, and leaders within their community and/or firm or organization.

AICPA Emerging Leaders Award Overview

This award recognizes and honors outstanding CPA’s who demonstrate exceptional leadership potential and are making significant contributions to the accounting profession through volunteerism while also making impactful changes in their firm or organization. This award seeks to identify and celebrate emerging professionals who exhibit forward-thinking leadership, drive positive change, and show promise to become influential leaders of tomorrow. By acknowledging their achievements, the award aims to inspire a new generation of leaders and foster a culture of excellence within the profession.

We strongly recommend you have the professional reference form completed by your employer, state CPA society or affiliate membership organization representative, or community service organization or other professional relationship.

Professionals can only be recognized once, so that we can extend the recognition to a broader group of professionals.

Nominees must be members of the AICPA and CIMA at the time of nomination.

Award Qualifications

An AICPA Emerging Leader is defined as a CPA who has made significant contributions to the profession and their community and embodies the following:

Professional Excellence: Successful practices and demonstrating technical proficiency in accounting.
Career Achievements: Significant accomplishments in their early careers.
Commitment to the Profession: Active involvement in accounting organizations and contributions to the interest of the accounting profession.
Leadership: Strong leadership and mentorship qualities.
Community Involvement: Participation and impact in community service and volunteering.

Evidence of every item listed is not required for consideration, but nominees should have made significant contributions in at least three of the criteria listed above.

Application criteria

Be a licensed CPA and have between 3-15 years of professional experience in the fields of accounting and finance at the time of application.
Be a regular member of the AICPA
Provide the following via the official application form:
- Completed application form
- Current resume
- Two (2) letters of recommendation
- A volunteer activity essay of no more than 1,000 words focusing on each of the following topics:
  - How you have demonstrated leadership within your job or volunteer activities.
  - Why volunteering is important to the accounting profession.
  - How you have positively impacted the accounting profession through volunteering.

Application & nomination process

Nominations for the AICPA Emerging Leaders Award are due June 30, 2025. Nominees may nominate themselves and only one nomination is needed per individual.

Selection process

The application window is now closed for the 2025 AICPA Emerging Leaders Award. The application window for the 2026 AICPA Emerging Leaders Award will reopen in 2026.

Previous award winners

2025 - Sarah Flischel

2025 - Jeremiah Hathorn

2025 - Kathleen A. Mills

2025 - Tim O’Neill

2025 - Mallory D. Vincent

2024 - Nicole DeRosa

2024 - Shakor J. Jukes

2024 - Jennifer Keller

2024 - Dalton Sweaney

2024 - Benjamin Schwartz

2024 - Victoria Thayer