Leisa Stanberry, CPA of Stanberry, CPA has been Selected to attend the AICPA 2011 Leadership Academy
New York—(July 29, 2011) – Leisa Stanberry, CPA, Stanberry CPA in Cookeville, Tennessee, has been selected to attend the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants’ third annual Leadership Academy. Stanberry is part of a diverse group of CPAs that will attend a three-day program focused on engaging candidates in a self-examination of leadership, what that means and how that impacts their personal life, their career path, and the accounting global marketplace. The intensive program is designed to develop the skills necessary to become the next generation of leaders in business, industry, government and the accounting profession.
“Without mentors in high school and college I would not be where I am today, which is living my dream! It is an honor to have been selected as a participant and a representative of my fellow CPAs in Tennessee. Ultimately this opportunity will allow me to pass the knowledge and insight I gain through the program onto other young professionals and become a stronger leader in many aspects,” said Stanberry.
Stanberry is a graduate of Tennessee Technological University (TTU) with a B. S. in Business Administration with a major in Accounting. Upon graduation from TTU she was employed as an auditor by McGladrey & Pullen, LLP in Alexandria, Virginia. After leaving McGladrey & Pullen, she was employed by Stanley, Inc., a federal contractor. She worked in the Financial Reporting and Corporate Tax departments while at Stanley, Inc. Currently, she volunteers with the Tennessee Society of CPAs as a mentor and a liaison to Cookeville High School students interested in the Accounting profession. She has served on the Board of Directors of the Rotary Club of Cookeville for the past several years as their Secretary. She is a 2010 Leadership Putnam graduate, a member of the Putnam County Chamber of Commerce, TSCPA and AICPA. In addition, she has volunteered her time to numerous other local non-profit organizations in an effort to assist them with tax compliance issues as well as various fundraising projects.
The participants attending the AICPA’s Leadership Academy represent a cross section of the profession’s role in the American capital market system. Some work in public accounting and others in business, industry, government or academia. The 2011 class has twice the number of business, industry and government participants as the classes of 2009 and 2010. The tax and audit split is 50 / 50 and 11 states have first time candidates. On an ethnic, gender and geographic basis, this year’s Leadership Academy is as diverse as America. They are equally divided between men and women and include CPAs of Asian, African American, Caucasian, Hispanic/Latino, Native American and Pacific Islander descent from all over the United States.
“The Leadership Academy is a great example of how the AICPA works to achieve its vitally important mission to develop young CPAs to lead the accounting profession and help meet its obligation to serve the public interest,” said Barry Melancon, CPA, AICPA president and CEO, who will address the Leadership Academy. “These ambitious, talented professionals are the future of the accounting profession. And through the AICPA’s Leadership Academy, the future begins now.”
The Institute selected 34 participants from a large pool of candidates sponsored by either their employers and/or state CPA societies. Candidates, who must be under 35 years of age, were selected on the basis of their 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. All finalists were personally approved by both the AICPA Chair and CEO.
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 workshop will be held in Durham, Oct. 2-5.
About Stanberry, CPA: Stanberry, CPA is a specialty accounting, auditing and tax firm formed in 2007 with an office in Cookeville, Tennessee. Since inception, our business strategy has been to focus aggressively on distinct industry niches where we can distinguish ourselves as possessing a unique depth of technical expertise and experience specifically relevant to our clients’ needs. Stanberry, CPA has served small business clients and the non-profit industry for 5 years and today we provide audit and tax services. For more information about Stanberry, CPA visit www.stanberrycpa.com
About AICPA: The American Institute of Certified Public Accountants (www.aicpa.org), founded in 1887, is the world’s largest association representing the accounting profession, with nearly 370,000 members in 128 countries. AICPA members represent many areas of practice, including business and industry, public practice, government, education, and consulting; membership is also available to accounting students and CPA candidates. The AICPA sets ethical standards for the profession and U.S. auditing standards for audits of private companies, non-profit organizations, federal, state and local governments. It develops and grades the Uniform CPA Examination. The AICPA maintains offices in New York, Washington, DC, Durham, N.C., Ewing, N.J. and Lewisville, Texas. Media representatives are invited to visit the AICPA Press Center at www.aicpa.org/press. Follow us on Twitter at www.twitter.com/AICPANews.