Instructor
Executive Vice President, Business Growth and Engagement, AICPA
"Hood uniquely combines three vital traits: He sees the future of the profession clearly; he discovers or creates supremely practical ways to move the profession toward that future; and he generates tremendous enthusiasm for the move in everyone he meets.” - Accounting Today Magazine
Tom is one of the most influential leaders in the Accounting Profession. He has been named the Second Most Influential Person in Accounting since 2011 by Accounting Today Magazine (His fifteenth year on the Top 100). He was also one of the first five thought leaders inducted into the Accounting Hall of Fame (2015) by CPA Practice Advisor.
Linked-in recruited Tom as one of their Top 100 Influencers and he was named to the Top 25 Influencers in Learning by HR Examiner. He is known for his prolific digital footprint and now has over 780,000 followers on Linked-in, Twitter and other social accounts.
Tom is on a mission to help CPAs, Finance and Accounting Professionals thrive in these times of exponential change. He firmly believes that what got us here, won’t get us there as the Profession faces unprecedented changes and opportunities.
Tom's recognition and awards reflect his leadership in helping CPAs be more #FutureReady through his work at the Maryland Association of CPAs and the Business Learning Institute (BLI), a center for the development of leadership, strategic thinking, and collaboration skills for CPAs. BLI has a catalog of over 600 programs and 30 ‘top gun’ instructors who provide state of the art learning and curriculum for the Top 500 CPA Firms, Fortune 500 corporations, non-profits, State CPA Societies and even internationally.
He is a graduate of Loyola College (B.A. in Accounting) and has a Master’s in Finance (Real Estate) from Johns Hopkins University. He also obtained the Certified Information Technology Professional (CITP) certification and the Certified Global Management Accountant (CGMA) certification from the AICPA.
Instructor
Rebekah (Brown) Olson, CPA, is the CEO of the Maryland Association of CPAs and an influential figure in the accounting profession, recognized as one of Accounting Today's Top 100 Most Influential People in Accounting for 2022.
Joining the MACPA in 2012, Rebekah assumed the position of Manager of Membership Development and Engagement in 2014. In 2018, she was appointed Director of Development, where she served on the leadership team steering the association through the complex challenges posed by the Covid-19 pandemic and the departure of longstanding CEO Tom Hood.
Passionate about the future of the accounting profession, Rebekah is a sought-after speaker who frequently shares her insights on professional trends and opportunities. As a certified facilitator, she has guided numerous organizations, both in the United States and Canada, in the strategic planning process.
Rebekah's contributions have garnered recognition from various prestigious entities. CPA Practice Advisor recognized her as a top thought leader under 40 in the CPA profession in 2017, 2019, and 2020. In 2019, she was honored with the President's Award by the National Association of Black Accountants (NABA) Baltimore Chapter for her community service. Additionally, Rebekah was named a Maryland Daily Record Leading Women Honoree in 2020.
Rebekah holds a Bachelor's degree in Business Administration, dual specializing in Accounting and Sports Management, from The Max M. Fisher School of Business at The Ohio State University, which she earned in 2009. She obtained her CPA designation in 2011. After gaining invaluable experience at a Top 100 firm, Rebekah decided to leave public accounting and leverage her talents and experiences to work on behalf of the profession at the Maryland Association of CPAs.
Instructor
Bill Sheridan is a knowledge hunter, content curator and lifelong learner. As chief communications officer for the Maryland Association of CPAs, he created and co-authors the association’s acclaimed blog; he created and hosts the MACPA’s weekly “Future-Proof” podcast; and he manages the association’s member communications and numerous social networks. He was named one of Accounting Today’s “100 Most Influential People in Accounting” for 2016.
Specifically designed for emerging leaders with 5+ years of experience to help them navigate from an individual contributor to a leader in their organization, this three-day event is cited by past participants as an invaluable boost to their careers.
LEADING YOURSELF
LEADING OTHERS
LEADING ORGANIZATIONS
The BLI Leadership Academy is built around teaching participants to gather information and turn it into an actionable plan.
Tom Hood, CPA, CITP, CGMA
Executive Vice President, Business Growth and Engagement, Association of International Certified Professional Accountants
Tom is the founding CEO of The Business Learning Institute and co-developer of Leadership Academy. Prior to and during his leadership at BLI, he served as President and CEO of the Maryland Association of CPAs, and was instrumental in a national effort to identify key future-ready skillsets as part of the CPA Vision Project. Tom is a nationally recognized author, speaker, and consultant, and has been recognized by Accounting Today magazine as the second most influential leader in the accounting profession.
Rebekah J. Brown, CPA
Director of Development, MACPA
As a Director at the Maryland Association of CPAs, Rebekah Brown is a CPA who is passionate about the bright future of the accounting profession. From 5th grade classrooms to the Standing Advisory Group and Board of the PCAOB, Rebekah frequently presents on the accounting profession and it’s future. She is a certified facilitator, having guided firms, non-profits and accounting professionals in the United States and Canada in the strategic planning process. In 2017, 2019 and 2020 Rebekah was recognized by CPA Practice Advisor as a top thought leader under 40 in the profession. In 2020, Rebekah was a Maryland Daily Record Leading Women Honoree.
Bill Sheridan, CAE
Chief Communications Officer, MACPA
Bill Sheridan is a knowledge hunter, content curator, and lifelong learner. As chief communications officer for the Maryland Association of CPAs, he created and co-authors the association’s acclaimed blog; he created and hosts the MACPA’s weekly “Future-Proof” podcast; and he manages the association’s member communications and numerous social networks. He was named one of Accounting Today’s “100 Most Influential People in Accounting” for 2016.
This program is brought to you by the MACPA Foundation. Scholarships are available, please contact Lauren@macpa.org
Hotel accommodations can be booked at https://www.marriott.com/event-reservations/reservation-link.mi?id=1559163197698&key=CORP&app=resvlink
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