Illinois CPA Society Names 2010 "Women to Watch"

CHICAGO, Nov. 15, 2010 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- The Illinois CPA Society has named the recipients of their sixth annual "Women to Watch" awards which recognize notable contributions to the accounting profession, their organizations and the development of women as leaders.  

Chosen from nominations by their peers, the Illinois CPA Society's Women's Executive Committee and American Institute of Certified Public Accountants Work/Life and Women's Initiative Executive Committee selected the following six leaders from throughout the state as their 2010 "Women to Watch:"

Experienced Leaders:

• Lindy Antonelli, CPA, is Founder and CEO of AccessTek, Inc., which has focused on meeting the technology needs of companies ranging from start-ups to international Fortune 100 firms since 1989.  Ms. Antonelli's volunteer activities have included serving on the Illinois CPA Society Board, chairing the technology committee of the National Association of Women Business Owners and participating in several business groups within the Naperville Chamber of Commerce.
• Wendy Hambleton, CPA, is a Partner and the National SEC Director for BDO USA, LLP, and is the second woman in the firm's history to be elected to the Board of Directors.  She leads the firm's international two-year SEC rotational program where she facilitates identifying and mentoring top performers, and she is also a member of BDO's corporate governance committee.  In her community, Ms. Hambleton currently serves on the finance committee of St. Mary's Church and volunteers with Ladder Up, a tax assistance program that helps prepare tax returns for low income families.
• Jo Ellen Helmer, CPA, is a Partner with Ernst & Young LLP, where she serves as the firm's Midwest Health Sciences Industry Leader.  She is heavily involved in advancing inclusiveness and diversity at EY as a member of the firm's Advisory Council for the Americas, the Midwest Inclusiveness Steering Committee and the Professional Women's Network.  Ms. Helmer is an active mentor with CareerWatch; serves on the board, audit committee and executive committee of the Illinois Biotechnology Industry Organization, and is also a volunteer at her church, St. Thomas More, and its school, as well as with the Girl Scouts of America.

Emerging Leaders:

• Jennifer Oinounou, CPA, is a Manager at Baker Tilly Virchow Krause, LLP, specializing in the manufacturing and distribution services industry.  She leads the firm's Illinois-region activities for GROW@BakerTilly, enhancing the recruitment, retention, development and advancement of women, and is actively engaged in Baker Tilly's campus recruiting efforts at her alma mater, the University of Illinois. Ms. Oinounou serves as a board member of the America-Israel Chamber of Commerce and is a member of The Jewish United Fund/Jewish Federation of Metropolitan Chicago.
• Heidi Verbiscer, CPA, is a Senior Manager in the Tax Services Group of Crowe Horwath LLP, where she plays a significant role in the Women's People Resource Network and is currently the network leader in the firm's Oak Brook office. Ms. Verbiscer is actively involved in various professional and charitable organizations, including the AICPA, Chicago Tax Club, Avon Walk for Breast Cancer in Chicago and the University of Illinois at Chicago, her alma mater.

Commenting on the annual award, Illinois CPA Society President and CEO Elaine Weiss said, "Too often we wait to recognize people with honorary awards at the end of their careers. Our "Women to Watch" awards celebrate women leaders at the height of their careers and as they're still making the career climb. The awards are also a bridge between generations of women in the workplace showing there's much to be learned from each other and our personal experiences."

Recipients are being honored at a breakfast on Thursday, November 18 at the Standard Club in Chicago.  More information on the winners and the event is available on the Illinois CPA Society website (www.icpas.org).

About the Illinois CPA Society

The Illinois CPA Society, founded in 1903, is the fifth largest state CPA Society in the nation, with more than 24,000 members. It is the premier professional organization that represents CPAs in Illinois. During its over 100 years of existence, the Society has advanced the highest ethical and financial standards of the profession, and has been a leader in educating the public on financial issues.

SOURCE Illinois CPA Society

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