Sherrill Rude, CAE
VP – Advocacy, Indiana CPA Society
7 a.m.: Two alarms wake me up for a Board of Accountancy (BOA) meeting. Mornings are not my thing, but a hot shower is! I check emails and review the legislative update from our lobbyist. I’ll prep to share with CPA Advocates and leadership later today.
7:45 a.m.: Skip yoga, coffee infusion in hand and head downtown to update the Board on the National Association of State Boards of Accountancy’s (NASBA) annual meeting last week and the regulatory trends discussed.
8:30 a.m.: Park, clear security and join the committee meeting where board members review applications and paperwork for the public meeting.
Advocacy Insider: Indiana’s BOA is made up of five Governor-appointed volunteer members: four CPAs and one consumer member. They oversee licensure and are responsible for enforcing the Accountancy Act, promulgating rules and protecting the public.
“Member input is critical to shaping regulation of the profession and our advocacy with BOA.”
9 a.m.: Our Government Relations Advisory Council (GRAC) chair, Laura Rakaska, and other members arrive (some virtually from Wyoming!). Member input is critical to shaping regulation of the profession and our advocacy with BOA. Our newest staff member, Braylon Myers, early career and leadership manager, joins us with our CEO Courtney Kincaid and other executive staff. It’s important our staff understand how the profession is regulated and have relationships with the staff at the Indiana Professional Licensing Agency. It’s especially important for Braylon as he will be guiding members from middle school through college and into their careers as CPAs, helping them navigate the CPA Exam, complex rules and licensure.
Advocacy Insider: Attorney General counsel advises the board on procedural and statutory matters and Indiana Professional Licensing Agency staff serve as their administrative arm.
10 a.m.: The public meeting includes a lapsed license probation withdrawal hearing, several license suspensions due to no response to the CPE audit and a 60-day suspension with civil penalty. The board approves the proposed rule which will align the experience requirement for the new baccalaureate degree pathway statute passed in the 2025 legislative session (HEA 1143). The goal is to have the rule promulgated and effective by 1/1/27.
10:45 a.m.: I share hot topics discussed at the recent NASBA meeting: deregulation, private equity and alternative practice structures in accounting firms, use of the CPA title, and changes to the Uniform Accountancy Act.
11 a.m.: Surprise! The meeting ends early.
Noon: Back at the office for emails, weekly project updates and collaboration with my counterparts in Kentucky and Ohio for a tri-state webinar about pathways legislation.
12:30 p.m.: Quick member recruitment call for a tax working group. Then it’s an email check-in to set up a discussion with members and DOR about Schedule C deduction concerns. Check my list of members who have reached out to me with various issues this week to ensure they have been resolved or are on the way to being resolved.
1:30 p.m.: A dash of newsletter creativity (thanks, Copilot!) and lunch. This year, our staff’s Wildly Important Goal (WIG) focuses on leveraging AI to boost efficiency, save time and enable new possibilities. It’s exciting and a bit daunting.
2:30 p.m.: Plan for next week’s meetings and schedule two communications from DOR for our all-member Open Forum community. They were a result of recent discussions between DOR and our Tax Resource Advisory Council members.
3:30 p.m.: Pick up my five-year-old granddaughter from school; “Okay just a few minutes on the playground;” then the youngest from daycare. Make your own pizza night proves to be more cheese than pizza and a princess movie marathon follows. Mom and dad (my daughter and son-in-law) have an anniversary dinner date. Hard to believe it’s been eight years!
7:30 p.m.: Bathtime, movie cuddles and “just one more” book reading.
9:30 p.m.: Lights out, which leaves a little belly-rub time for the grand puppy Finn.
11 p.m.: Mom and dad return, Grammy delivers the “cutest grandbabies” report and I head home to start the weekend!
GRAC Chair Laura Rakaska and Sherrill at a Board of Accountancy meeting
Sherrill with her daughter Courtney and two granddaughters
Enjoying CPA Celebration with past chair Carrie Minnich, Courtney Kincaid, Ali Tonini and past chair Diane Sturek
Spending time with granddaughter Alex
About Me
Name: Sherrill Rude, CAE
Job Title: VP – Advocacy
Company: Indiana CPA Society
Company Size: Nearly 6,000 current and aspiring CPAs and related professionals and 14 staff
Most Interesting Thing About What You Do: Every day is different, and surprising things happen no matter what the plan is, but it all comes down to solving problems for members.
Previous Positions: Prior to my 18 years with INCPAS, I’ve worked in a city court, law library, historical society museum, funeral home, taught 3rd and 6th grade, managed a chain of Ben & Jerry’s franchises with over 100 high school staff, sold real estate and worked for Indiana Pork producers for 14 years. All those adventures, learning experiences and life choices prepared me for every day in my present career.
Alma Mater: College of St. Rose, Albany, NY
When I’m Not at Work
Family: I’ve lived almost 40 years in Indiana and am blessed with two grown children whom I couldn’t be more proud of: my favorite daughter Courtney, best son-in-law ever Grant, my two favorite heartbeats, my granddaughters, Alex and Skylar, and my favorite son, Justin, who is recently engaged to Hannah (aka “we love her”).
Pets: None at present, but I enjoy pet sitting my German Shepherd grand puppy Finn and his crazy orange cat sibling George.
Hobbies: Gardening, reading, weekly dinners with friends, time with my granddaughters, walks in nature and yoga on a good day.
Community Involvement: Volunteering at a therapeutic horse-riding facility.
Advice
Advice for Students Considering the Profession: Take full advantage of our resources throughout your career, especially our awesome staff. Also, stay involved in the profession — it’s your profession to change.
Best Advice You’ve Ever Received: Do the right thing and learn something new about yourself every day.
Do you think a day in your life would make a good addition to our series? Contact Katie Kirkton at [email protected] to find out how you can share your story.
