The Indiana CPA Society (INCPAS) is pleased to announce the winners and finalists for the 2024 INCPAS Awards honoring outstanding CPAs and related professionals in Indiana. All category finalists and honorees were chosen by the INCPAS Awards Committee comprised of members of the Board of Directors.
This year’s winners were announced at the annual INCPAS CPA Celebration on November 22 at The Crane Bay Event Center. The event benefited the Indiana CPA Educational Foundation, which raised more than $17,130 in donations supporting student pipeline programs including INCPAS Scholars, career awareness events and college scholarships.
Shown: Visionary Award winner, ALPFA Indianapolis Chapter.
We congratulate the following winners and finalists in each category:
ADVOCACY AWARD
This award honors an individual or organization that has advocated on behalf of the CPA profession by working with the Society’s advocacy team, legislators and regulatory officials.
Winner: Benjamin L. Smith, CPA, CGMA
President & CEO – Estep Doctor & Co, PC, Muncie
Ben began volunteering with the Society in 2011 as a member of the Knowledge Management Task Force. Over the past 13 years, he has served on the Fusion Network, Tax Resource Advisory Council, Technical Reviewers Group, Major Medical Insurance Task Force, CPA Advocates, Indiana Department of Revenue’s Commissioner Council and is a Federal Legislative Key Contact. In addition, he was a founding member of the Genesis Firm Networking Group that has since grown into 3 different groups.
BREAKTHROUGH AWARD
Presented by Miles Talent Hub
This award honors a member who has overcome significant challenges or adversity in their path to professional success.
Winner: Olga Chaikouskaya, CPA
Owner – CXO Solutions, LLC, Indianapolis
Olga moved from Belarus to Indiana with her three-year-old son, Yaugen, in 2001. As a single mom who couldn’t speak English, she was determined to set up a new life for her family here. She got her first job at the Marsh seafood department, and within a year moved up to assistant deli manager. She took on 2 side jobs to help cover food, utilities and other bills while also taking one class per semester at Ivy Tech so she could study accounting…while also still teaching herself English. Olga passed her CPA Exams, worked as CFO for a successful Indiana-based startup that was eventually sold, and today is the owner of CXO Solutions, LLC, specializing in fractional CFO services. Her three-year-old son Yaugen is all grown up, and he was both an INCPAS Scholar and INCPAS intern. He is now a CPA in California.
Finalist: Erin Smith, CPA
Senior Analyst – Insight Accounting Group, Goshen
EMERGING LEADERS AWARD
This award honors up-and-coming leaders in the profession for going above and beyond in their work for their employer, clients and/or the community.
Winner: Brendon Howell, CPA
Senior Manager – Deals – PwC LLP, Indianapolis
Brendon is an INCPAS and NABA Indianapolis member, both of which he helps with building the pipeline of Black students interested in the CPA profession in Indiana. Within PwC, he is part of the PwC Inclusion Network. At the national level, he serves as one of the leads for PwC’s Black Inclusion Network. Locally, he is one of the Purpose & Inclusion Leads who leads initiatives for educational development and facilitating discussions on racial injustice. In the community, he coordinates INCPAS Scholars tours at the PwC Indianapolis office and also serves on the African American History Advisory Board at the Indianapolis Public Library.
Winner: Esperanza Wynn, CPA
Accounting Manager – Corporate Consolidations – Elanco, Indianapolis
Esperanza is an INCPAS Young Leadership Academy graduate who has stepped up and continued her dedication to CPA workforce development. In particular, she volunteers by giving CPA Week high school presentations across Indiana and is also an INCPAS Scholars mentor—roles that are instrumental to developing the next generation of talent. In the community, she serves as president of ALPFA’s Indiana University Student Chapter, as a mentor for Big Brothers Big Sisters of Central Indiana, and as a Catholic Youth Organization coach.
Finalist: Andrew McNeely, CPA
Audit & Assurance Director – Katz, Sapper & Miller, LLP, Indianapolis
Finalist Emilee J. Smith, CPA, MBA
Partner – London Witte LLP, Indianapolis
INCPAS VOLUNTEER OF THE YEAR AWARD
This award honors a member who has gone above and beyond to serve the Society in volunteer roles.
Winner: Amanda Horvath, CPA, CGMA
Audit Director – Katz, Sapper & Miller, LLP (KSM), Indianapolis
Amanda Horvath’s involvement with the Society began as a CPA Advocate, which quickly expanded into serving on the Leadership Council and Government Relations Advisory Council. She has been instrumental in setting the Society’s legislative agenda and regulatory strategy, and has helped represent Indiana CPAs at AICPA’s Regional Council meetings in Washington D.C. She also successfully recruited a Katz Sapper & Miller colleague to the Indiana Board of Accountancy, who was ultimately appointed by Gov. Holcomb in 2023. In addition, Amanda serves the profession nationally as a member of the AICPA’s Benevolent Fund Committee.
TALENT PIPELINE AWARD
Presented by Forvis Mazars
This award honors an individual or organization that is building, diversifying and/or retaining talent in the profession.
Winner: Herschel Frierson
Principal – Strategic Networks Leader – Crowe LLP, Indianapolis
Chairman – NABA, Inc.
As the 27th chairman of the board for the National Association of Black Accountants, Herschel Frierson has been instrumental in driving NABA’s mission both in Indiana and nationwide. Under his leadership at NABA, there has been a 68% increase in scholarship applications and a 57% growth in convention attendance—signaling a successful engagement strategy with up-and-coming talent in the profession. Within Crowe, Herschel specializes in expanding the firm’s reach and recruitment through community partnerships, and also serves on the Inclusion Excellence Council. His efforts have been recognized nationally—he was one of the “Top 100 Most Influential People in Accounting” by Accounting Today.
Finalist: Andrew “Mons” Mansaray
Director of Talent Acquisition – Dauby O'Connor & Zaleski, LLC (DOZ), Carmel
VISIONARY AWARD
Presented by PwC LLP
This award honors a transformative individual or organization implementing activities, processes or programs designed to address future issues/needs.
Winner: ALPFA Indianapolis, Indianapolis
ALPFA is a Latino professional organization connecting, developing and empowering leaders for impact, with a vision for student and young professional development. In 2022, 5 of ALPFA Indianapolis’s now-board members got together to relaunch a statewide chapter. They have since grown it to more than 250 members, with 5 student chapters at Ball State University, IU Bloomington, IU Indianapolis, Marian University and Purdue University West Lafayette, with more in the works. They also recently kicked off a new mentorship program that pairs 10 Indiana college students with 10 professionals based on the student’s career interests. They played a key role in the “Vision 2027: Shaping the Future of Accounting” event and also partnered with the Society on a new CPA Exam Scholarship. Their rapid and wide-reaching achievements were recognized nationally this year at the ALPFA Convention, where they were honored with the 2024 Community Impact Award.
Finalist: Judy A. Bobilya-Feher, CPA
CFO - Perfection Bakeries, Inc., Fort Wayne
Finalist: BJ Lippert, CPA
Partner – Donovan CPAs, Indianapolis
WOMEN TO WATCH AWARD
Honors outstanding women within the CPA profession.
Winner: Katelyn N. Leichty, CPA
Tax Partner – Kruggel Lawton CPAs, Goshen
Kate was the first woman to be named partner at Kruggel Lawton CPAs’ Goshen office and the third woman to achieve the partner role. In addition to her client responsibilities, she has prepared and presented several tax webinars and led sessions at the firm’s annual CFO Summit. She serves as a mentor for several of the firm’s younger staff and is an active member of Kruggel Lawton Women’s Initiative Network. In the community, she is a board member for both Everence and Goshen Theater. In 2023, Kate was named to Michiana’s 40 Under 40 list.
Winner: Ashley Vukovits, CPA
Managing Director – LiftBridge, Fishers
For the past 25 years, Ashley has been a consultant and community leader who's active on several nonprofit boards. She was the former CFO of a $400 million public technology company, where she managed a staff of over 200 employees worldwide. In 2021, she co-founded LiftBridge CXO, a woman-owned company based in Fishers. Just 6 months later, LiftBridge had grown revenues more than 500%. In the community, she's a board member at Codelicious, NextTech, Sharpen and Informatics Diversity-Enhanced Workforce. In 2022, she was honored with TechPoint's "Service Partner of the Year" Mira Award.
Finalist: Stephanie Bowie, CPA
Owner – B. Empowered, LLC, Indianapolis
Finalist: Christy Paddock, CPA
Owner/Consultant – Christy Paddock Advisors LLC, Plainfield
Finalist: Sarah Schenkel, CPA
Director – Audit & Assurance Services Group – Katz Sapper & Miller LLP (KSM) (Fort Wayne Office)
CHAIR'S AWARD
Presented by the former Board chair, this award honors an individual who has had a profound impact on their career or board service.
This year, Carrie Minnich, CPA, MAcct,recognized Anita W. Sherman, CPA, CGMA, as the 2024 Chair’s Award honoree.
Anita joined Greenwalt CPAs as a senior partner in 1985 then served as CEO and managing partner for 11 years before retiring in 2021. With INCPAS, she served as Board President from 2007–08, in addition to being a member of Advocacy Council, AICPA Council, Case Study Judges, CPA Ambassadors, CPA Advocates, Finance Committee and Leadership Cabinet. She received the INCPAS Outstanding Public Service Award in 1995, Outstanding CPA in Public Practice Award in 2009, and Distinguished Service Award in 2012.
DISTINGUISHED SERVICE AWARD
This award is the highest honor given by INCPAS. It recognizes a member who has made major, long-time contributions to the profession, INCPAS or the AICPA during their professional career.
This year, INCPAS presented Kevin J. Hamernik, CPA, CIRA, of Forvis Mazars, with the Distinguished Service Award.
For more than 20 years, Kevin has helped the CPA profession in a diverse range of INCPAS volunteer roles. He has served as a member of the Government Relations Advisory Council, Indiana CPA-Political Action Committee Trustees, Leadership Cabinet, Legislative Key Persons, Regulated Occupations Evaluation Committee, Strategic Process Task Force, and Young Members Advisory Council.
The accounting profession in Indiana is stronger because of Kevin’s service and leadership. It’s an honor to recognize him as the 2024 Distinguished Service Award honoree.”
Thank you to this year’s Presenting Sponsor Miles Talent Hub, VIP Reception Sponsor Shepherd Financial, Photo Booth Sponsor Morgan Stanley Wealth Management, Exam Candidate After Party Sponsor Forvis Mazars, and Alliance Pipeline Partner PwC LLP.
Thank you to this year’s VIP Tier 1 Table Purchasers: Christy Paddock Advisors, LLC, Donovan CPAs, Estep Doctor & Company, P.C., London Witte LLP and NABA, Inc.