Alabama Young CPA to Attend AICPA Leadership Academy in Chicago

Michael Kassouf from L. Paul Kassouf & Co. in Birmingham was chosen to represent Alabama at the inaugural AICPA Leadership Academy. He is one of 28 CPAs under the age of 35 from around the United States to attend the three-day academy in Chicago this week. Kassouf will be blogging about his experience on the ASCPA's Young CPA blog, Alabama Young CPA. 

"Michael has tirelessly served the accounting profession through various ASCPA Young CPA leadership roles," said ASCPA President & CEO Jeannine Birmingham, CPA. "We are very proud of his accomplishments, particularly his recognition on the national level in being selected to participate in the AICPA's first-ever Leadership Academy."

Led by Institute Chairman Ernest A. Almonte, those selected to attend the academy will engage in intensive workshop training where they will develop and hone leadership skills and prepare to become the next leaders in their organizations, communities and the CPA profession at large.

“As the premier national association for CPAs, the AICPA takes very seriously its charge to help the profession continue meeting its responsibility to the public,” said Almonte.  “To accomplish that mission, we have decided to identify and develop people who not only have superior technical skills but also have the ability to shape our future.  The 28 professionals we’ve selected have that potential.”

The participants who will attend the AICPA Leadership Academy are divided equally between men and women and represent a cross section of the profession’s role in the American capital market system.  They work in public accounting, business and industry, government and academia.

“In the past two years, more people have entered the accounting profession than at any other time in history,” said Barry Melancon, AICPA president and CEO, who will address the academy on current activities and the profession’s strategic direction, as well as lead roundtable discussion groups with Almonte. 

“Because accounting is an especially desirable career path, it is all the more imperative that we begin developing tomorrow’s leaders today,” Melancon added.

Upon graduation from the Leadership Academy, the AICPA will assign each attendee to either an AICPA volunteer committee or a state society volunteer committee in the participant’s home state.  Former Institute chairs, members of its board of directors and governing Council will serve as personal mentors.

The Institute selected the 28 participants from more than 100 candidates sponsored by their employers, state CPA societies or both.  All candidates submitted résumés that included work history, licensure information, professional volunteer activities, community service, and awards and honors.  In addition, each candidate supplied a statement explaining why participating in the academy would be important personally.  AICPA senior leadership reviewed and evaluated each submission, a selection committee recommended the participants, and all were personally approved by Almonte.

Marty Linsky, adjunct lecturer in public policy at Harvard University’s Kennedy School of Government, will lead many of the sessions over the course of the three days.  J. Clarke Price, president of the Ohio Society of CPAs, will discuss volunteerism.  J. Thomas Hood III, executive director of the Maryland Association of CPAs, and Janice Maiman, AICPA vice president – communications and media channels, will co-present a session on Internet-based social media. 

Michael Kassouf is a Supervising Senior Accountant at L. Paul Kassouf & Co. He has a long record of serving the ASCPA in various leadership capacities, including President of the Young CPA Board and Chair of the Young CPA Charity Golf Tournament committee, where he helped raise more than $37,000 for charity.

The Leadership Academy will take place July 7 - 9 at the Westin O’Hare.