footnotes
SPRING 2025
MY REDBIRD STORY
Paving a path to success -
Doing it my way through the paths less chosen
By outward appearances, you could easily jump to the conclusion that I came from a well off or at least a middleclass family – this could not be farther from the truth. I am a first-generation college student, raised by a single mother who prioritized faith as the guiding principle for our life and education as the way to influence our future and rise from poverty. My mother is a guiding force and inspiration in my life and has instilled a strong sense of faith and family as well as the foundational knowledge that I can accomplish anything I set my mind to. And, if you ask her, I was born determined to pave my own path through life regardless of any circumstances I faced. As a kid, if told ‘no’ – my response was always to figure out why and find a way to get to ‘yes’. This innate God given desire to succeed and sense of curiosity has been instrumental to achieving personal and professional success – often via a path less chosen.
Define your success.
“Success is the result of perfection, hard work, learning from failure, loyalty, and persistence” - General Colin Powell. The Big 4 is a highly competitive profession with less than 2% of those who start their careers going on to become a partner –with an even lower percentage for women. The day I started as an intern at PwC in January 1993, the race was on. I was determined to outwork and outperform my peers and be seen as a success. My desire to rise above my station and prove any neigh sayers wrong was clearly a source of motivation and ascending to partner was a goal I knew I could achieve. But, with faith as my foundation I was equally determined to get there my way.
When I began my career with PwC, the average time to make partner was 12 years, so by definition success was becoming a partner in 12 years. Multiple times in my career, PwC Partners told me I would need to move to a larger city – the impact of which would have been a career sideline for my husband (Keith Hubble ’92 ISU alum) and relocating our young family away from their friends & family. I had faith that my hard work, loyalty and persistence, would result in PwC recognizing my value and they would admit me to the partnership without asking me to compromise my foundational beliefs of placing my faith and family above my career.
The early years of my career were spent working long hours, building a strong brand both as an external auditor and strong technical accounting expert. I was confident that my brand combined with the ability to build strong client relationships, develop and mentor newer professionals and lead teams
PROFESSIONAL ADVISORY COUNCIL
Stephanie Petri CliftonLarsonAllen LLP
Doug Ellerman COUNTRY Financial
Nathan Isenberg
Ben Turner Sikich
Jason Jennings GROWMARK Inc.
Zach Fortsch
Robert Glazik
Brett Schaefer RSM
Kelly Doornbos ADM
Steven Harms PwC
Ashley Carboni KPMG
Heather Powell FORVIS
Ryan Prevo Kepple Companies
Dena Rucker
John Deere
Ryan Young Caterpillar Inc.
Joseph Johnston Illinois State University
Weslie Sawyer State Farm
Bryan Rowold Loni Steinkamp Striegel Knobloch & Company, LLC
David Brown MCK CPAs and Advisors
Korey Davis
Memorial Health System
Phil Johnsen
Miller Cooper & Co. Ltd.
Steve Leazzo
Tighe, Kress & Orr Scott Lehman Crowe LLP
Jim Krinninger
Holly Nelson IDEX Corporation
Chinedu Iwuora Deloitte
Kyle Johnson Afni, Inc.
EARLY CAREER ADVISORY BOARD
Ita Adebayo Google
Brandon Brown
Jessica Laughlin
Caterpillar Inc.
John Massey
COUNTRY Financial
Fawna Ribbe
Watchfire Signs
Alec Rueff
Cintrin Cooperman
Kenneth Bonomo
Alexandra Schwartz
CliftonLarsonAllen LLP
Brandon Lew
PwC
Halle Sheley State Farm
Megan Kozlow Deloitte
Sophia Wan
Kraft Heinz Company
Franco Pettinato Macon Construction
Michael Currie
MillerCooper & Co. Ltd.
Eddie Durham Rivian
Maddie Dace RSM
Katherine Hudson
Illinois Department of Financial and Professional Regulation
Michelle Hubble
MY REDBIRD STORY
lead teams that would allow me to define my own path to success that included becoming a partner.
In 2009 a path finally became clear as I began leading our Peoria based PwC office and leveraged my auditing skills to consult with companies on more efficient ways to achieve regulatory compliance through more thoughtful design of controls leveraging technology and purposeful programmatic design. I created the PwC Center of Excellence for SOX and Internal Audit (IA) in 2010 aimed at improving our global IA/SOX methodology enabled by technology and in 2011 I became a partner in PwC’s Risk Assurance practice. Despite being 18 years from my start date (versus the average 12 years) I had redefined success: making partner in Peoria, IL prioritizing my family’s needs. Today, 14 years after becoming a partner, I lead teams that implement low-code technology solutions that digitize last mile financial reporting and regulatory compliance. Because of the career path taken, I have a deep understanding of the broad scale of PwC’s capabilities, which has also made me uniquely qualified to serve as the Lead Client Partner for large multinational companies.
Networks matter more than message: Paul Revere warned many that the British were coming and his contributions to our Nation’s triumph over the British is undeniable. But most of us would need to google William Dawes – he’s that other guy who warned just as many people. The difference between Paul and William was the subject of a PwC training that has forever changed my perspective on the importance of who you know over what you know. The difference between Paul and William was easily summarized as rapidly building trusted relationships and knowing people who have different networks than you is a much more effective way to build a career and create a legacy. As I reflected, the first decade of my career was focused on prioritizing what I knew over who.
I was William and I wanted to be Paul – needless to say, this training was the catalyst for the past two decades of purposefully building a network of friends and colleagues from multiple disciplines and backgrounds and saying YES to a lot of opportunities that extended beyond the walls of PwC, leading to a much more meaningful life, one that has enabled me to give back to my community in countless ways.
In 2003, I joined the Heart of Illinois United Way Finance Committee, followed by the Heart of Illinois United Way Board in 2008 and the Eureka College Board of Trustees in 2011. I served on the Board of my Church and led Vacation Bible School for multiple years. In 2016, through my extended network of community leaders, I was asked to join the Friends of Wildlife Prairie Park Board (www.
wildlifeprairiepark.org). With this new Paul like network of mentors and friends from across the Peoria Community, I was able to lead a capital campaign in 2018 where we raised ~$4M for Wildlife Prairie Park to build modern Cabins and improve infrastructure. I served as Board Chair from 2020-2024 and ‘Our Park’ is well on its way to fulfilling the mission of providing education, recreation and conservation for decades to come.
Actions have consequences – but time can change perspective: Living with the consequences of our actions is the guiding principle of “Reality Discipline” parenting advice espoused by Dr. Kevin Leman. These lessons are equally applicable for every action we take in life. Heeding his advice is how I have attempted to make almost every major life decision, contemplating options before acting and recognizing I would have to live with the consequences. This is not to say that I have made perfect decisions and avoided every negative consequence.
I’ve learned a lot of lessons in my professional career, but the ones that have spoken loudest have most often come from my children. In the process of selecting her college of choice, my daughter was adamant she wanted to be at least eight hours from home. While we were excited to see her spread her wings our conversation quickly migrated to how I wouldn’t miss her anyway: “After all. I traveled all the time for work.” The reality of her feelings hit me pretty hard. You see, the very conscious action of balancing family and career had a consequence of heavy travel. It was a compromise made; one I was convinced worked well for the entire family. But the reality of how my daughter felt was clear. And while I learned my own lessons on consequences of actions, I am grateful that my daughter’s feelings over this consequence also changed over time.
Fast-forward to two weeks into college living eight hours away from home. With so many of her college friends incapable of basic life tasks like grocery shopping, making meals, doing laundry and time management I got a big ‘Thanks mom – your traveling made me learn how to do things on my own’.
Faith, Family and Foundation: My faith tells me that God answers all prayers, but sometimes the answer is ‘no’. Even as an adult I still don’t like to hear that answer. I know that success is not just about reaching a destination; it’s about the lessons learned and the growth experienced along the way. My family has kept me grounded and my definition of success continues to evolve. At this stage in my life and career, I’m now looking to instill great foundations in my children and my teams: Embrace the challenges, cherish the victories, and strive to pave your own path to success.
HELP OUT A FELLOW REDBIRD.
Alumni support of Illinois State University is tremendously important for many reasons. Gifts received from alumni provide the “margin of excellence” in our programs. Additionally, outside organizations view alumni giving as a measure of “customer satisfaction.” For example, the percentage of alumni who give to Illinois State University factors into the US News and World Report’s “Best Colleges” rankings. While the number is only a small factor in the overall ranking, Illinois State University stands well behind the institutions we strive to emulate. For these reasons, your annual gift is extremely important. Your gift, no matter the size, can make a real difference to Illinois State University students.
The students, faculty, and staff of the Department of Accounting thank all those who have supported the department and the university. This significant support is testimony to the enhanced sense of mutual responsibility to ensure quality education in accounting and business information systems. Thank you to all of you for your support.
YOU
CAN HELP THE DEPARTMENT REACH ITS GOAL ONE OF TWO WAYS.
One way is to make the donation online using this QR code to right and checking the “Department of Accounting” box at the link.
The other way to donate is to mail a check payable to: Illinois State University Foundation Office Campus Box 8000 • 1101 N. Main Street Normal, Illinois 61761
Please write “Department of Accounting” on the memo line of your check, and your entire contribution will go to support the department.
NEW FACULTY
Junnan Cui joined the Department of Accounting at Illinois State University in Fall 2024 as an Assistant Professor. She teaches auditrelated courses with a focus on auditing and fraud examination. Her research explores auditor and financial users’ judgment and decision-making in business contexts.
Prior to joining Illinois State University, Junnan was an Assistant Professor at St. Norbert College. She also has professional experience in public accounting and holds a CPA license in Illinois. Junnan earned her Ph.D. in Accounting from the University of North Texas. She also holds an M.S. in Accounting from Texas A&M UniversityCommerce and a B.A. in Business English from Xi’an International Studies University.
FALL ’24 ACCOUNTING DEPARTMENT CAREER FAIR
The Department of Accounting held its 10th annual Accounting-Only Career Fair on September 6, 2024. The career fair was held exclusively for employers looking to hire accounting students. This event is an easy way to get your firm/ company in front of a large number of accounting students. Accounting faculty have recommended this event to accounting students and, in some cases, have even required student attendance. Forty-nine firms and 186 enthusiastic accounting students attended the fall 2024 Department of Accounting Career Fair. The firms in attendance were:
CAREER FAIR PREP
• Adducci Vega Financial Group
• ADM
• Anders CPAs & Advisors
• Becker
• Caterpillar Inc.
• City of Bloomington
• CliftonLarsonAllen LLP
• COUNTRY Financial
• Dunbar, Breitweiser & Company LLP
• Eccezion
• Eck, Schafer & Punke, LLP
• Enterprise Holdings
• Fates, Bodily, & Parker PLLC
• Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation
• FORVIS
• Gorenz and Associates, Ltd.
• Illinois State University
• Illinois Tool Works Inc.
• Internal Revenue Service
• John Deere
• Johnson Lambert LLP
• KEB
On August 30, 2024, the department hosted an Accounting Career Fair Prep Day. Students were introduced to faculty, Registered Student Organization presidents, and Early Program Achievers, as well as given a brief overview of the profession. Then, students attended three break-out sessions of their choice from the following topics: career fair prep, graduate programs, internships, CMA/private careers, audit, tax, and Business Information Systems/technology. The panelists consisted of faculty and professionals. The event helped the approximately 50 students in attendance be better prepared for the Accounting Career Fair, which took place a week later.
• Kemper CPA Group LLP
• Lauterbach & Amen, LLP
• Legacy Professionals LLP
• Lipschultz Levin & Gray LLC
• LWH CPA’s
• Martin Hood LLC
• Mazars USA
• MillerCooper & Co. Ltd..
• ORBA
• Pavlov Media
• PKF Mueller
• Plante Moran
• RSM
• RubinBrown LLP
• Scheffel Boyle CPAs
• Selden Fox, Ltd.
• Sikich
• State Farm
• State of California Franchise Tax Board
• Striegel Knobloch & Company, LLC
• SURS
• Tighe, Kress & Orr
• U.S. Marine Corps
• United Airlines
• Wojcicki & Associates
The 2024 Alumni Early Career Achievement Awards in Accounting
The Early Career Achievement Awards celebrate outstanding young alumni who have demonstrated innovative and responsible professional leadership and the potential for future distinction. They return to campus to receive their award and share advice with current students through panel discussions during Homecoming Celebrations. The Early Career Achievement Awards were presented at a public reception in the Caterpillar Auditorium on September 27, 2024. We are so very proud of the winners from our department!
ASHLEY CARBONI ’14 Accounting
Ashley Carboni is a distinguished Manager in KPMG’s Accounting Advisory Services practice. Ashley plays a crucial role in leading teams that guide clients through complex accounting challenges, including the adoption of new accounting standards, and supporting clients through acquisitions and divestitures. Beyond her client responsibilities, Ashley is involved in several initiatives at KPMG. She instructs new staff training and leads the Chicago office’s purposeful interactions event series. Ashley’s commitment to the accounting profession extends into her active participation in the Illinois CPA Society. She is a valued member of the Accounting Principles Committee, Women’s Committee, and Awards Committee.
Ashley graduated from Illinois State University with a Bachelor of Sciences in Accounting in May 2014 and then went on to earn a Master of Accounting Science from Northern Illinois University in May 2016. After passing the CPA exam, Ashley started her accounting career as a Technical Associate at the IFRS Foundation in London. During her two-year tenure, Ashley gained valuable insights into international standard-setting processes and had the opportunity to travel to 20 different countries.
Outside of work, Ashley celebrated her marriage to her longtime partner Zach Joiner in September 2022. They enjoy traveling and have become homeowners in Downers Grove.
NICOLE JONES ’18 BS/MPA
Nicole Jones is currently in her third season as a Senior Accountant with the Chicago Cubs (yes, they talk in seasons vs. years). She is responsible for the Rooftop and Hotel businesses along with managing the accounting for our charitable organization, Cubs Charities.
Nicole plays a key role in all monthly and annual reporting requirements and takes part in all investing and capital decisions. Nicole lives in Chicago with her dog, Lottie. She enjoys attending baseball games, running, reading, and cooking.
BRENDAN SURMEIER ’17 BS/MPA
Brendan Surmeier received his BS/MPA from Illinois State University in the spring of 2017. After graduation, he joined Brown CPA Firm as a staff accountant in Northbrook, Illinois. While at Brown, Brendan was involved with Federal and SALT tax compliances for families and small business. In December 2018, Brendan joined Ernst and Young as Staff Accountant in their Financial Services Office where he was promoted to Senior Tax Accountant shortly after. Around the same date as his start date, Brendan passed his final CPA exam and officially became a Certified Public Accountant.
Today, Brendan is a Tax Manger focusing on Federal Tax Compliance services for Private Equity Funds, Hedge Funds, and Mutual Funds. Brendan is married to his wife Megan. They have two children, Mason, Olivia, and their dog Willow.
COLLEGE OF BUSINESS
REGISTERED STUDENT ORGANIZATIONS
STUDENT ACCOUNTING SOCIETY
Student members of the Student Accounting Society (SAS) hosted their annual banquet on November 14, 2024. Fifty-four students attended the dinner event, as well as alumni, faculty, and firm representatives from CliftonLarsonAllen LLP, COUNTRY Financial, Eisner Amper, FORVIS Mazars, Martin Hood, MillerCooper & Co. Ltd., RSM, Office of the Comptroller of the Currency, ORBA, Plant Moran, Seldon Fox, and Sikich. The evening concluded with the keynote speaker, Nicole Jones ’86 – the Senior Accountant for the Chicago Cubs. We thank the participants for their support and the SAS officers for organizing the event. The SAS officers include:
• President - Eric Harper
• Vice President - Shenyari Simmons
• Event Coordinator/Philanthropy Chair - Hannah O’Brien
• Membership Coordinator/Treasurer - Hailey Adams
• Banquet and Meet the Firms Chair - Maddi Fowler
• Marketing Chair - Andrea Rivera
Accounting and Financial Women’s Alliance
The Accounting & Financial Women’s Alliance, AFWA, reached its highest membership this semester, with 38 members.
Advisor Madeline Trimble received the Emergent Leader award, given to those who demonstrate excellence through their mentoring, leadership, and professional achievements.
Two students were also recognized nationally as Outstanding Women Who Count: Hannah O’Brien and Aava Farokhian. Congratulations to all!
COLLEGE OF BUSINESS
REGISTERED STUDENT ORGANIZATIONS
Beta Alpha Psi
Giving Back to the Community
• ISU’s Accounting Honorary Society, Beta Alpha Psi (BAP), partnered with The Pack Shack, 9/11 Day and AmeriCorps to educate the public about and raise funds to fight food insecurity in the BloNo community. For example, 40% of students are food insecure (the condition of not having access to sufficient food, or food of an adequate quality, to meet one’s basic needs) and 57% of students who are eligible for SNAP do not collect those benefits. BAP and partners raised over $20,000 for the cause, that was then used to purchase food and supplies.
• On October 5th, 2024, 134 volunteers of students, staff, and faculty came together for an intense 2-hour Feed the Funnel (FtF) party. Volunteers packed 50,070 delicious, healthy meals with the purchased supplies. The meals were delivered to local nonprofits, including School Street Food Pantry, Society of St. Vincent de Paul, Tinervin Family Foundation, and Home Sweet Home Ministries.
• A big THANK YOU to the BAP students and faculty advisors for making a difference in the community! BAP is a small and driven group of accounting students that is continually looking for partners that allow them to take on these challenging projects.
National Association of Black Accountants
The ISU chapter of the National Association of Black Accountants (NABA) had an eventful Fall semester ranging from the election of new officers to networking at the NABA Regional Conference. We are proud to highlight several of their contributions below:
Election of New Members
NABA ISU held elections to select new members for the NABA Executive Board (E-Board). Below are list of the newly elected E-Board members and their respective positions for the Fall 2024 semester:
President - Armani Tubbs
VP - Olivia Acheampong
Secretary - Grace Alawode
Treasurers - Dzidzor Klu & Amya Perkins
Social Media Chairs - Adu Afolabi & Eric Ati
NABA time with KPMG
Special Events Chair - Shay Johnson
Recruiting Chair - Saharah Webb
Marketing Chair - Gifty Bansah
Committee - Saniyah Fields
NABA joined forces with KPMG to host a Career Summit for students, offering them a unique opportunity to learn about the professional world. During the event, Jacob Attieku, a representative from KPMG, shared his personal experience of working at the company and provided valuable insights into the corporate culture. He also engaged with the students, answering their questions and helping them gain a deeper understanding of career opportunities at KPMG.
NABA Regional Conference- Chicago
NABA ISU proudly sponsored 34 students to represent the organization at the Chicago Regional Conference, held October 25th – 27th. During the event, several students had the opportunity to interview with top hiring firms, with two successfully securing internships for the upcoming summer. The conference also provided an excellent platform for students to network and foster meaningful connections with potential employers.
NABA Crunch time
NABA, in partnership with other RSOs, hosted a “Crunch Time” event to help students prepare for their final exams. This initiative allowed students to connect with their accounting professors for guidance, while also providing a valuable opportunity to network with peers and foster stronger relationships between students and faculty.
Mary T. Washington Wylie Internship program
Two members of the NABA E-Board were honored with the opportunity to participate in the esteemed Mary T. Washington Wylie Internship Preparation Program.
This is an award-winning program designed to launch Black/African American and other racial/ethnic minority undergraduate college students into the accounting profession with access to training, resources, and mentors. Congratulations to the following NABA members:
Adu Afolabi, Social Media Chair and Amya Perkins, Treasurer.
ALUMNI UPDATE
MICHAEL MANCE, CPA, earned a Bachelor of Science degree in accounting from Illinois State University in 1989, and serves as the Vice President of Financial Operations at Dialysis Care Center. He leads the Accounting and Finance Teams, ensuring the strategic growth of the company and drives the financial strength of the company’s future while devising the financial planning, banking and audit relationships, capital financing and financial reporting. He further leads his team in tax planning and compliance, investor relations and acquisitions. Michael possesses 35 years of experience in accounting, corporate compliance, financial reporting, and shared services with both global public Fortune 500 and privately held companies.
Michael has been a featured speaker, moderator and panelist in several executive summits throughout the years. He is passionate about making a difference in his team’s careers and ensuring their success both internally and outside of the company. Passions outside of work are Family first, being a great Father, community involvement and golfing for relaxation.
Michael was a finalist for the Chicago Financial Executive International’s CFO of the Year award and was awarded the Controller of the Year runner up by Controllers Council. Congratulations, Michael!
MATTHEW SCHELL, the managing partner of Crowe’s national office within the firm risk management group, was appointed to the Financial Accounting Standards Board’s (FASB) Emerging Issues Task Force (EITF) in April 2024. EITF’s mission is to assist the FASB in improving financial reporting through the timely identification and development of proposed solutions to address narrowly scoped financial accounting issues within the framework of the FASB Accounting Standards Codification.
Schell’s professional involvement also includes being a member of the Center for Audit Quality’s (CAQ) Professional Practice Executive Committee, where he represents Crowe as one of the annually inspected firms that audit over 100 Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) registered issuers. Additionally, he has served on various CAQ task forces, such as the Emerging Technology task force, and is an active member of the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants (AICPA). His influence extends globally, with speaking engagements at prestigious events like the AICPA Conference on current SEC and Public Company Accounting Oversight Board (PCAOB) developments, as well as Crowe Global forums. Notably, he was also co-chair of the AICPA’s Digital Assets Working Group.
At Crowe, Schell is responsible for leading the firm’s professional practice group, which includes teams dedicated to accounting and assurance standards, SEC regulatory, bank regulatory, and legislative matters. Schell’s team plays a crucial role in resolving consultations and shaping the firm’s strategic approach to professional practice issues.
TO PAUL KELSON!
In November 2024, Paul Kelson received RSM’s Arthur H. Winakor Outstanding Teacher Award. The recipient of this award is selected by a student vote and is funded by RSM. This award has a long history in the department and is a great honor.
The annual Accounting Scholarship-Fund Golf Outing took place on October 4, 2024.
The annual accounting scholarship-fund golf outing took place on October 4, 2024. The event was sponsored by RSM, Sikich, Striegle Knoblach & Company, and the Illinois CPA Society. These sponsorships greatly added to the scholarship totals. Thank you to all the sponsors.
The winning team was from Martin Hood Friese & Associates featuring Wade Hoey and Jeff Fego, student Nick Hofer, and faculty ringer Ron Guidry. Last year’s scholarship recipients met with the participants at the lunch.
The golf outing provides scholarships to outstanding junior accounting majors at the spring Annual Accounting Awards Ceremony. If you cannot get a work team together, contact some of your Illinois State University classmates. We hope to see everyone this fall on the golf course!
We are also looking for hole sponsorships.
STRAIGHT DOWN THE MIDDLE
