The Indiana CPA Society celebrated the best and the brightest on May 11, 2018. More than 450 guests attended at the Indiana Roof Ballroom in downtown Indianapolis. Over 80 Successful Exam Candidates were recognized for passing the CPA Exam. CPA Celebration recognizes CPAs who have served their profession and/or communities in an outstanding manner. The contributions these professionals make reflect positively on the individuals as well as the CPA profession. The following 13 major award winners were honored at CPA Celebration.
Advocacy
Susi H. Willis, CPA, CGMA
INCPAS Member Since: 1989
Susi Willis has been a longtime advocate for the CPA profession through numerous INCPAS volunteer roles. She previously served as Board of Directors Chair, Finance Committee Chair, Indiana CPA-PAC Trustee, Leadership Cabinet member, Legislative Key Person, Public Relations member and State/Local Taxation Committee Chair. She is a past recipient of the INCPAS Distinguished Service Award.
Building Bridges to the Profession
Alexander A. Anglin, CPA
Consultant – Manufacturing Finance Division, Eli Lilly & Company
INCPAS Member Since: 2012
Alex Anglin serves as a mentor and guest speaker for the INCPAS Scholars’ and Game On: CPAs in Action programs for high school students. He also is on the INCPAS Diversity Initiatives Council and a member of the Emerging Leaders Alliance. He is a MBA Prep Class of 2018 Fellow for Management Leadership for Tomorrow, an organization that equips high-potential minority professionals with the skills necessary to lead organizations and communities worldwide. He has served on the YMCA of Greater Indianapolis Avondale Meadows Advisory Board and as vice president for the Greater Indianapolis National Association of Black Accountants chapter.
Community Service
Christine A. Lauber, CPA
Owner, Christine A. Lauber, CPA
INCPAS Member Since: 1972
Chris Lauber serves on the INCPAS Knowledge Management Fusion Network. She has previously served on the CPA Ambassadors, Ethics Committee, Future Issues Task Force, Internships Project Team, Job Fairs Project Team, Leadership Cabinet, Management Advisory Services Team, Multidisciplinary Practice & Regulatory Team, Practice Management Advisory Council, Private Company Financial Reporting Team, Small Business Team, Vision Planning Task Force and XYZ Project Team. A few of her many community volunteer organizations include the Community Foundation of St. Joseph County, Indiana State Board of Accountancy, Indiana Vocational Technical College, Institute of Management Accountants: Michiana Chapter, South Bend Civic Theatre, United Way of St. Joseph County, and Women Business Owners of Michiana.
Carrie B. Minnich, CPA, MAcct
Nonprofit Director, Dulin, Ward & DeWald, Inc.
INCPAS Member Since: 2002
Carrie Minnich serves on the INCPAS CPA Learning, Knowledge, Collaboration, Competence & CPE Task Force and Leadership Cabinet. She has previously served on the Not-for-Profit Conference Project Team, Integrated Reporting Assurance Committee and given campus presentations for students. Her community volunteer organizations include the Community Foundation of Fort Wayne, Fort Wayne Children’s Choir, Fort Wayne Rotary Club, Fort Wayne Women’s Bureau, Manchester University, United Way of Allen County, Upstate Alliance of Realtors, and Young Leaders of Northeast Indiana.
CPA Center of Excellence®
Kent Williams, CPA, CGMA
Assistant Professor – Business, Indiana Wesleyan University
INCPAS Member Since: 1991
Kent Williams has been instrumental in advancing the mission to enhance vital business skills for the success of CPAs, professionals and students. As one of INCPAS’ original Knowledge Management Task Force members, his efforts helped lead to the conception and creation of the CPA Center of Excellence®, a wholly-owned INCPAS subsidiary established in 2014. He has been featured as a subject matter expert in several of the competency-based online interactive courses, has used the handbook in his accounting classes, and worked with IWU’s DeVoe School of Business to customize and incorporate the Insight Toolkit for all business students to better assess and build on key soft skills.
Innovation
Crowe Horwath, LLP
Innovation plays a key role in supporting Crowe Horwath LLP’s overall business growth model. Everyone in the firm is encouraged to bring forth their ideas for new products and solutions and Crowe’s innovation team provides guidance and funding to help develop those ideas into innovative services and solutions for their clients. Highlights of Crowe’s innovation initiatives include investing two percent of firm revenue into their New Product Development Plan; Crowe’s Innovation Fast-Track, a new program designed to accelerate the process of turning staff ideas into solutions the firm can take to market; and the Crowe Horwath Idea Portal which provides a means for staff to bring forth ideas to help the firm, including improving workplace efficiencies, people engagement, productivity and quality.
Emerging Leaders
Colby J. Chamberlin
Senior Accountant, Pile CPAs
INCPAS Member Since: 2014
Colby Chamberlin serves on the INCPAS Emerging Leaders Alliance. In his role at Pile CPAs, he leads by recruiting and mentoring first-year staffers, helping lead the CPA Exam Committee, and serving on the “Stressbusters Committee” to plan events for the firm. His community volunteer organizations include Family Development Services and New Hope of Indiana Young Professionals Group.
Joseph G. Edwards, CPA, CVA
Senior Analyst – Business Development, Steel Dynamics, Inc.
INCPAS Member Since: 2014
Joe Edwards serves on the INCPAS Knowledge Management Fusion
Network, and Emerging Leaders Alliance. He previously served as a High School Ambassador and Campus Presenter. In his role at a prior CPA firm, he led by enhancing recruitment efforts, serving as a mentor, spearheading an office renovation and created a documented new hire training. His community volunteer organizations include Phi Gamma Delta Fraternity House Corporation at Ball State University.
Samuel D. Muse, CPA, CFP
Partner, Fi3 Financial Advisors, LLC
INCPAS Member Since: 2014
Sam Muse serves on the INCPAS Business Model Task Force and Emerging Leaders Alliance. In his role at Fi3, he works with families and businesses and leads by researching challenges, then developing and presenting innovative solutions to suit their needs. He has attained his Certified Financial Planner certificate and continues to dedicates time to learn about current and emerging trends in the field. His community volunteer service includes serving in a board role for several youth organizations and as elder and chair for his local church.
Joseph R. Paulson, CPA
Partner, Sherman & Armbruster, LLC
INCPAS Member Since: 2011
Joe Paulson serves as the youngest partner in Sherman & Armbruster’s 35-year history. He began working at the firm while still in high school, working through tax season while studying college accounting courses. After graduating from Taylor University and working at an Indianapolis CPA firm, the firm recruited Joe due to his leadership, drive and technical tax expertise. His community volunteer service includes the Greenwood Chamber of Commerce, Johnson County Community Foundation, United Way of Johnson County, and a Youth Mentoring Initiative in the Hamilton-Southeastern school district.
Courtney L. Watts, CPA
Manager, Kruggel Lawton CPAs
INCPAS Member Since: 2013
Courtney Watts previously served on the INCPAS Emerging Leaders Alliance and as a High School Ambassador. In her role at Kruggel Lawton CPAs, she is actively involved in the recruiting process. Due to her strong ties in the community, she is often invited to present to accounting clubs where she can share insights into life in public accounting. These events also help her identify top candidates and recommendations for the firm’s internship program. In addition to growing staff talent, she has helped grow its Fiduciary Tax Group niche by improving processes, identifying training opportunities and preparing prospect proposals. Her community volunteer service includes Boxing Up Hunger for Salvation Army, Elkhart County Estate Planning Council and
Junior Achievement.
Chair’s Award
Carl R. George, CPA, CGMA
CEO, Carl George Advisory, LLC
INCPAS Member Since: 1975
“Carl is the consummate mentor. His ability to engage people of all ages in various stages of their career, both inside and outside our firm and profession, is a quality few leaders have.” -John Sauder, CPA, CGMA
Leveraging his 40+ years of experience within the CPA profession, Carl George assists professional service firms in reaching accelerated performance levels. He serves as an advisor on firm governance, structure and oversight; strategic planning; succession planning; CEO/partner mentoring; mergers and acquisitions; partner conflict resolution; partner retreat facilitation; and a professional speaker. Previously, he served as partner at Clifton Gunderson from 1976–80 and chief operating officer from 1980–93.
Distinguished Service Award
John P. Kane, CPA, CGMA
Managing Partner, J.P. Kane & Co., LLC
INCPAS Member Since: 1987
John Kane has served the Society in 22 volunteer areas since first becoming involved in 1992. He has been on the INCPAS Advocacy Task Force, AICPA Council, Board of Directors, Business Symposium Project Team, Campus Presenter, Chapter Task Force, CPA Advocate, Ethics Committee, Finance Committee, High School Curriculum Project Team, Internships Project Team, Knowledge Management Fusion Network, Leadership Cabinet, Legislative Key Person, Marketing Seminars & Toolkits Project Team, Practice Management Advisory Council, Public Relations Task Force, Small Firm Network and Workforce Issues Committee. Further, he served the profession on the Indiana State Board of Accountancy from 2010–16 and was chair his final year. He received the INCPAS CPA Advocacy Award in 2017.