Young Leader Awards
PICPA Members to Watch
The PICPA annually recognizes its members under the age of 40 who demonstrate a extraordinary commitment to the accounting profession through PICPA or community service.
In addition to climbing the ranks quickly at their organizations, past winners have gone on to serve as chapter presidents, committee chairs, and speakers at conferences. Nominees for the 2018 Young Leader Awards must be born on or after Jan. 1, 1978.
2018 Young Leader Award Recipients
Jennifer L. Barrick
South Central Chapter
Jenny is a senior associate with Rotz & Stonesifer PC in Chambersburg. In addition to training interns and new staff at her firm, she is an active volunteer in her community, specifically with her local rotary club in Shippensburg.
Amanda J. Bernard
Greater Philadelphia Chapter
Amanda is a principal with Maillie LLP in Mont Clare. She was a speaker at the 2018 Pennsylvania School District Conference, 2018 Government Accounting Conference, and the 2017 Reading Chapter Accounting and Auditing Conference.
Alyssa Brunatti
Pittsburgh Chapter
Alyssa is a business advisory senior associate with Schneider Downs & Co. Inc. in Pittsburgh. She serves on the Pittsburgh Chapter Women in Accounting Committee.
Nicole T. Buckman
Northeastern Chapter
Nicole is a senior tax accountant with Jones Kohanski Certified Public Accountants in Sugarloaf. She is president-elect of the Northeastern Chapter and is an active member of its CPA Voice volunteer group.
Lauren G. Carrig
Greater Philadelphia Chapter
Lauren is a financial reporting and controls senior analyst with Penn Mutual in Horsham. She serves on the Greater Philadelphia Chapter Women of the PICPA Committee.
Elizabeth C. Cuthbert
Pittsburgh Chapter
Liz is the director of general accounting with Western Pennsylvania Conservancy in Pittsburgh. She serves on the Pittsburgh Chapter Member Services Committee.
Nathan DeFilippi
Pittsburgh Chapter
Nate is a senior tax associate with H2R CPA in Pittsburgh. He has assisted with PICPA’s online “Ask a CPA” consumer service.
Christopher Fadule
Northeastern Chapter
Chris is a senior accountant with Jones Kohanski Certified Public Accountants in Sugarloaf. He cochairs the Northeastern Chapter Emerging CPAs Committee.
Cara M. Ferrante
Central Chapter
Cara is a supervising senior with Wessel & Company in Johnstown, where she coaches new staff. She is active in her community, serving as treasurer for Beaverdale Public Library and the Cambria County Library.
Krista M. Gardner
South Central Chapter
Krista is a principal with Stambaugh Ness in York, providing services in the not-for-profit/governmental practice area. She serves on the Local Government Accounting and Auditing Committee and the Not-for-Profit Conference Planning Committee.
Shane M. Gastecki
Pittsburgh Chapter
Shane is a senior audit manager with Schneider Downs & Co. Inc. in Pittsburgh. He serves on the Pittsburgh Chapter Cooperation with the Bar Committee.
Jacob P. Habel
Pittsburgh Chapter
Jake is an assistant controller with Penn United Technologies Inc. in Saxonburg. He is a past member of PICPA Council.
Christopher N. Herr
Greater Philadelphia Chapter
Chris is a principal with Maillie LLP in Mont Clare. He has spoken at multiple Pennsylvania School District and Government Accounting conferences.
Leslie A. Hoover
South Central Chapter
Leslie is an accounting officer with AgChoice Farm Credit in Mechanicsburg. She serves on the Agribusiness Committee.
Kayla M. Kale
South Central Chapter
Kayla is a tax supervisor at Smith Elliott Kearns & Company LLC in Hanover. She serves on the South Central Chapter Emerging CPAs/Member Services and Schools and Colleges committees.
Jennifer L. Kintz
Northeastern Chapter
Jenn is the U.S. controller for Bridon American in Ashley. She is a member of the Northeastern Chapter Executive Committee, the statewide Professional Ethics Committee, and the Corporate Finance Cabinet.
Christopher S. Kunkle
Reading Chapter
Chris is a manager with Herbein + Company Inc. in Reading. He is a member of the Reading Chapter Accounting and Auditing Procedures Committee.
Lauren M. Lear
Greater Philadelphia Chapter
Lauren is a manager with RSM US LLP in Blue Bell. She is a member of the Greater Philadelphia Chapter Emerging CPAs Committee and the Pennsylvania CPA Journal Editorial Board.
Erin M. McConnell
Greater Philadelphia Chapter
Erin is a tax analyst with UNISYS in Blue Bell. She serves on the Greater Philadelphia Chapter Women of the PICPA Committee.
Jeremy D. Medernach
South Central Chapter
Jeremy is a director with Boyer & Ritter Certified Public Accountants & Consultants in Camp Hill. He was a speaker at the 2017 and 2018 Government Accounting Conferences.
Cara L. Nicoletti
Pittsburgh Chapter
Cara is an audit manager with Maher Duessel in Pittsburgh. She serves on the Pittsburgh Chapter Member Services Committee.
Matthew R. O'Brien
Greater Philadelphia Chapter
Matt is a state and local tax senior manager with Urban Outfitters Inc. in Philadelphia. He serves on the Greater Philadelphia Chapter Annual Tax Forum and Planning Committee and Legislation and Local Taxation Committee, as well as the state-level State Taxation Committee.
Daniel J. Painter
Southwestern Chapter
Dan is a controller with Adam Eidemiller Inc. in Greensburg. He is a member of the Southwestern Chapter Emerging CPAs and Executive committees.
Jessica L. Phillips
Northwestern Chapter
Jessica is a manager with McGill Power Bell & Associates in Grove City. She is a member of the Northwestern Chapter Executive Committee.
Michael G. Radich
Pittsburgh Chapter
Michael is a tax manager and small-business adviser with Wilke & Associates LLP in Pittsburgh. He is vice chair of the Federal Taxation Committee.
Katelyn H. Reese
North Central Chapter
Kate is a senior accountant with UPMC Susquehanna in Williamsport. She is an active member of the North Central Chapter Executive Committee.
Scott T. Rice
Pittsburgh Chapter
Scott is a tax manager with II-VI Inc. in Warrendale. He is viewed as a leader to his client base and has attended PICPA conferences such as the Conference on Pennsylvania Taxes and the Multistate Tax Conference.
Megan L. Roswick
Reading Chapter
Megan is the owner of Roswick & Company LLC in Cumru Township. She serves on the Reading Chapter Community Engagement Committee.
Erik D. Sharkey
Northeastern Chapter
Erik is a senior accountant with Jones Kohanski Certified Public Accountants in Moosic. He is an active member of the Northeastern Chapter Executive Committee.
Michael D. Shipman
North Central Chapter
Mike is an instructor of business administration/accounting with the Pennsylvania College of Technology. He serves on the North Central Chapter Schools and Colleges Committee.
Dean J. Solis Jr.
Greater Philadelphia Chapter
Dean is a manager with EisnerAmper LLP in Philadelphia. He serves on the Greater Philadelphia Chapter Emerging CPAs Committee and the statewide Not-for-Profit Committee.
Amanda M. Spaeder
Erie Chapter
Amanda is a senior associate II with BKD in Erie. She is an active member of the Erie Chapter Emerging CPAs Committee.
Anthony J. Stranix
Greater Philadelphia Chapter
AJ is a partner with Mazars USA LLP in Fort Washington. He serves on the Greater Philadelphia Chapter Schools and Colleges Committee, as well as the statewide Insurance and Relations with Schools and Colleges committees.
Oksana K. Sweeney
Greater Philadelphia Chapter
Oksana is a partner with Deloitte in Philadelphia. She serves on the Financial Institutions Committee.
Kathleen Q. Valentine
Central Chapter
Kathleen is a supervising senior with Wessel & Company in Johnstown. She provides audit and accounting services for government entities, and has attended several PICPA conferences such as those on government accounting, local government, and employee benefit plans.
Sean E. Vanderhoof
Erie Chapter
Sean is an audit senior associate II with BKD in Erie. He serves on the Erie Chapter Emerging CPAs Committee.
Elizabeth A. Wilson
Lehigh Valley Chapter
Elizabeth is assistant vice president of finance and accounting with Valley National Financial Advisors in Bethlehem. She serves on the Lehigh Valley Chapter Executive and Schools and Colleges committees, as well as the statewide Relations with Schools and Colleges Committee.
Jennifer R. Witt
Southwestern Chapter
Jennifer is the assistant vice president and senior internal auditor with S&T Bank in Indiana. She serves on the Southwestern Chapter Schools & Colleges Committee, as well as the statewide Financial Institutions and Not-for-Profit committees.
Cristi R. Work
Pittsburgh Chapter
Cristi is a general accountant with Patriot Exploration in Butler. She serves on the Southwestern Chapter Women in Accounting Committee.
Vanessa A. Zang
Greater Philadelphia Chapter
Vanessa is a director with Kreischer Miller in Horsham. She is a member of the Greater Philadelphia Chapter Accounting and Auditing Committee and the statewide Accounting and Auditing Procedures Committee.
