Excellence Awards insert - 2025

2025 WICPA

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Recognizing accounting professionals for their leadership and dedication to excellence

Accounting Educator Award Sara Hansen

Young Professional Award David Carbajal

Distinguished Career Award John Heindel

Woman to Watch Award Allyson Hofstede

CPA in Public Accounting Award Darlene Lotz

Accounting Student Award Omunazia Hicks

Community Service Award – Individual Holly Hoffman

Business & Management Award Hope Merry

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ongratulations to the 2025 WICPA Excellence Award recipients!

Your achievement is the direct result of dedication to the accounting profession and to the WICPA. Thank you for your commitment to excellence!

Ryan Hanson, CPA, CGMA 2024–2025 WICPA Board Chair

Excellence Award Descriptions Accounting Student Award This award recognizes a college accounting student for their commitment to success in the accounting field. The recipient has demonstrated leadership skills, involvement in an accounting or business club and contributions to the community.

Accounting Educator Award This award recognizes an accounting or business educator for their contributions in academia and the accounting profession.

The recipient has demonstrated innovative techniques in teaching and motivating students.

Young Professional Award This award recognizes an individual age 35 or under who serves as an emerging and dynamic leader in the accounting profession. The recipient has demonstrated involvement within the community, has been engaged in one or more professional organizations, and has served as an example for others entering the profession.

Woman to Watch Award This award recognizes a female accounting professional. The recipient has demonstrated superior leadership, mentored other professionals, and made significant contributions to their workplace and the profession.

CPA in Public Accounting Award This award recognizes an individual who is a CPA working in public practice. The recipient has demonstrated significant achievements that have contributed to the success and growth of a firm.

Community Service Award – Individual This award recognizes an individual for their dedication and commitment to community service activities at the local, regional or state level. The recipient has demonstrated leadership and positively impacted the community.

Business & Management Award This award recognizes an individual working in an accounting role in business and management. The recipient has demonstrated blending information technology, financial decision-making and progressive management techniques that have helped a business move forward.

Distinguished Career Award This award recognizes an individual for outstanding achievements and efforts throughout their career. The recipient has demonstrated exemplary leadership and ongoing commitment of service to advance the accounting profession, the WICPA and the community.

Accounting Student Award Omunazia Hicks

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eceiving this award is a tremendous honor and a reflection of my dedication to the accounting field. Over the past five years, I have worked diligently to excel academically while embracing leadership opportunities. As the graduate assistant for the Accounting Department at UW–Whitewater, I have had the privilege of mentoring students, assisting faculty and fostering a supportive learning environment.

In addition to my role within the department, I have volunteered extensively both on campus and in the broader community. Whether assisting with departmental events or contributing to community initiatives, these experiences have taught me the importance of using my skills to support others and make a positive impact.

This recognition inspires me to continue advocating for student involvement, leadership and professional growth. It also affirms my commitment to advancing the accounting profession and contributing to the business world. I am deeply grateful to my mentors, peers and community for their encouragement and support. Thank you to the WICPA and its leaders for this incredible honor. I will proudly uphold the pride and integrity this award represents as I continue my journey in the field of accounting.

Accounting Educator Award Sara Hansen, M.Ed.

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am deeply honored to receive the Excellence Award for Accounting Educator, and I want to express my heartfelt gratitude to Ryan Hanson and the rest of the WICPA board for this recognition. I also want to thank Mary Helgemoe, a fellow high school educator, for the nomination, and to my mentors, colleagues and family for their unwavering support and encouragement throughout my journey.

This award holds great meaning as it reflects not only the dedication I’ve invested in my work but also the meaningful relationships I’ve built along the way. Working with students and aspiring professionals has been one of the most rewarding aspects of my career, allowing me to share knowledge, inspire curiosity and foster a deeper appreciation for accounting. These connections have shown me the transformative power of education and mentorship.

This recognition strengthens my commitment to supporting the next generation of accounting professionals. By encouraging others to pursue advanced learning and promoting ethical practices, I hope to make a lasting impact in the field. I want this award to remind others that our work is about more than numbers — it’s about building trust, encouraging growth and helping others reach their full potential.

Looking ahead, I am motivated to continue contributing to the profession in meaningful ways.

My focus will be on supporting education and growth within accounting, ensuring it remains a trusted pillar of transparency and ethical standards.

I look forward to the opportunities to shape the future of our field and make a lasting impact.

Young Professional Award David Carbajal, CPA

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inning this Excellence Award is a great honor and an important milestone in my career. It shows the incredible support I’ve received from my mentors, colleagues, clients and family. This recognition reflects my commitment to using technology and data to improve our work, proving that these tools enhance what we do as CPAs. Clients want more from CPAs than compliance work; they want us to be strategic advisors and trusted partners.

Using our financial knowledge and modern technology, we can help clients deliver deeper insights that drive smarter business decisions.

Trust, openness and reliability will remain priorities in the profession.

We must stick to our core values as the industry adopts new technologies and ideas.

This award reminds me of the critical role that the next generation of CPAs plays in shaping the future of accounting. I’m excited to continue driving innovation and advancing our profession, making it more impactful than ever before.

Woman to Watch Award Allyson Hofstede, CPA

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am honored and proud to receive this award. I’ve been blessed and influenced by so many phenomenal and professional women in my life, including my mom, grandma and great-grandma. I also have been fortunate to have mentors within my firm who have played a significant role in my growth and success.

This recognition also allows me to reflect on my CPA journey so far, the opportunities I’ve had, and the professional and personal growth I have experienced. I am grateful to be at a Big 4 firm where vast resources, experiences and opportunities have shaped my career. I enjoy serving clients, leading training sessions, mentoring and being a leader within my teams.

Volunteering and giving back have always been a passion of mine. Being a WICPA member for over 10 years, I’ve embraced serving in a volunteer capacity, including serving on committees and the Educational Foundation board of directors.

Sharing my experiences, mentoring scholarship recipients and new CPAs, and speaking to students about the endless opportunities available to CPAs have been highly rewarding – and a lot of fun.

I am thankful to all the strong, successful women before me who paved the way in this profession. I am grateful and humbled to be recognized for this award.

in Public Accounting Award Darlene Lotz, CPA

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eceiving this award is an incredible honor that signifies the culmination of years of my dedication, hard work and passion for the field of accounting.

This award not only recognizes my professional achievements but also underscores the collective efforts and unwavering support of my exceptional team at 415 CPAs Ltd. in Mount Pleasant. It is through their collaboration, dedication and expertise that we, as a firm, have been able to consistently deliver outstanding results and uphold the highest standards of service for our clients. The encouragement and camaraderie among the staff have been pivotal in fostering an environment where innovation and excellence thrive. Together, we have navigated challenges, celebrated successes and continuously strived to elevate our professional practice. This recognition is not just a personal milestone but a testament to the remarkable accomplishments we have achieved as a unified and committed team.

Ultimately, this WICPA Excellence Award is a reminder that perseverance and a relentless pursuit of excellence can lead to remarkable accomplishments.

Community Service Award – Individual Holly Hoffman, MSA

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eceiving the WICPA’s Community Service Award is an incredible honor that means a great deal to me.

My commitment to leadership and education has always been driven by a desire to serve, uplift and empower others, and this award reinforces the importance of my efforts.

This award inspires me to continue advocating for the value of community involvement and to further my mission of fostering growth and development within the CPA profession. Moreover, this award is a testament to the collaborative spirit that thrives within our community.

It reflects the collective achievements of all those who have supported and partnered with me throughout my journey. Not the least of these are my husband, Ryan, and my children; my mentor and best friend, Janet Abrams; my colleagues here at the WICPA and Wisconsin Department of Revenue; my amazing clients and my professional network.

I am immensely grateful for the opportunities I have had to make a difference and for the recognition of my peers and the WICPA. This award is not just a personal achievement, but a celebration of the power of service, education and leadership.

It motivates me to continue contributing to the betterment of our community and to inspire others to do the same.

Business & Management Award Hope Merry, CPA

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t is an incredible honor to win this award and be recognized for my contributions as well as those of my team at Ascendium Education Group Inc. Over the past 26 years, I have dedicated myself to ensuring the financial stability and growth of our organization, particularly during times of transition and uncertainty.

Serving as CFO during a historically challenging period, I’ve worked to navigate complex industry changes while driving financial strategies that have strengthened our philanthropic impact — allowing us to direct over half a billion dollars to support learners from low-income backgrounds.

This recognition affirms the hard work, resilience and forwardthinking approach that I strive to bring to my leadership every day. It also highlights the importance of innovation, collaboration and ethical decision-making in shaping a financially strong, mission-driven organization.

More than a personal achievement, this award is a testament to my incredible team, whose dedication and expertise have helped us implement efficiencies, embrace change and support those we serve.

Ultimately, receiving this honor reinforces my commitment to our mission to ensure learners from low-income backgrounds have the opportunity for success in whatever path they choose and inspires me to continue finding new ways to create lasting impact in the financial literacy space.

Distinguished Career Award John Heindel, CPA

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y rewarding career includes working for several interesting not-forprofit organizations, ranging from a national membership organization to a museum and a world-class zoo.

Supporting not-for-profits is one way of giving back to my community. I have always enjoyed the challenge of helping organizations grow while making them stronger financially and more efficient.

After passing the CPA Exam, I became a WICPA member because I believed in financially supporting the profession. After attending a WICPA conference in the middle of my career, I decided to get more involved and joined the Not-for-Profit Task Force to help plan the annual conference. I chaired the task force for five years. I later became a board member for the WICPA Educational Foundation and, ultimately, a member of the WICPA board of directors.

One of my daughters is a CPA (and, of course, a WICPA member), and I recruited her for the Not-for-Profit Task Force. She was later elected as a board member of the WICPA Educational Foundation. She is now the CFO of a large not-for-profit senior living community in Milwaukee.

In 2019, I was privileged to receive the WICPA Excellence Award for Business & Management. Every time I was involved with the WICPA, I was honored to be part of a great organization. Receiving this award humbles me. It is rewarding to be recognized by my peers after over 40 years of service to the not-forprofit community. This award was unexpected and a major highlight of my career. Thank you, WICPA.

Winner of the Business & Management Award Hope Merry, CFO Ascendium Education Group

Thank you for your leadership and commitment to helping us elevate opportunities for learners from low-income backgrounds. We’re proud to have you on the Ascendium team.

Your dedication and excellence continue to inspire us all at Lauber! We’re proud to call you a member of our team.

ascendiumeducation.org

2025 WICPA

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View each recipient’s

Excellence Awards video at wicpa.org/youtube and go to wicpa.org/facebook for more photos.

2025 WICPA

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Wisconsin Institute of Certified Public Accountants

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