TXCPA’s 2024-2025 Outstanding Chapter Awards Recognize Leadership, Service and Impact

To inspire and celebrate excellence in member service, TXCPA presents the Outstanding Chapter Awards each year to recognize the remarkable efforts of our small and medium-sized chapters. Chosen by a panel of past chapter presidents – leaders who know firsthand the dedication it takes to mobilize volunteers – these awards shine a spotlight on chapters that went above and beyond in 2024-2025. Here’s a look at the exceptional work that earned them this well-deserved recognition.

Small Chapter – San Angelo

Paige Smith, President

TXCPA San Angelo stood out this year with strong member engagement and impactful community outreach. The chapter hosted six high-quality, well-attended professional meetings on hot topics like AI and tax updates, keeping members connected and informed.

On the accounting profession pipeline front, they energized student outreach – from their annual Meet the Firms career fair to the revitalized 24 Challenge math competition that welcomed 77 elementary students. They even brought financial literacy to life at the Concho Valley SPARK Career Expo, guiding high schoolers through a mock tax return inspired by the game of LIFE.

Congratulations, TXCPA San Angelo!

Medium Chapter – East Texas

AJ Evans, President

TXCPA East Texas had a banner year. From the CPA2B Bootcamp at SFASU to raising over $39,000 in scholarships at the Tal Glenn Memorial Golf Tournament, the chapter invested in future CPAs and their communities. The chapter’s Leadership Day helped cultivate rising professionals, while a Toys for Tots drive delivered financial literacy-themed toys to kids across East Texas.

Members stayed sharp with 100+ hours of CPE, while brewery tours built meaningful connections. With outreach to over 1,000 students, the Pipeline Committee helped spark the next generation of accounting professionals, one classroom at a time.

Congratulations, TXCPA East Texas!

Most Improved Chapter – TXCPA Rio Grande Valley

Maria Cecilia Garcia, President

This year, TXCPA Rio Grande Valley received the Most Improved Chapter award, an honor given at the committee’s discretion to a chapter that has made impressive strides in growth, membership engagement and pipeline development. TXCPA Rio Grande Valley board members, families and UTRGV student volunteers came together for service events like walking dogs at the Palm Valley Animal Shelter and sponsoring the Mujeres Unidas “Walk in Her Shoes” event.

The chapter also participated in career fairs, spoke to accounting clubs and awarded scholarships. On the professional development side, they delivered 40 hours of live CPE, providing members with valuable opportunities to learn and grow.

Congratulations, TXCPA Rio Grande Valley!

 

Thanks to the Sponsors of Today's CPA Magazine

This content was made possible by the sponsors of this issue of Today's CPA Magazine:

Accounting Biz Brokers

Accounting Practice Sales

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CHAIR
Mohan Kuruvilla, Ph.D., CPA

PRESIDENT/CEO
Jodi Ann Ray, CAE, CCE, IOM

CHIEF OPERATING OFFICER
Melinda Bentley, CAE

EDITORIAL BOARD CHAIR
Jennifer Johnson, CPA

MANAGER, MARKETING AND COMMUNICATIONS
Peggy Foley
pfoley@tx.cpa

MANAGING EDITOR
DeLynn Deakins
ddeakins@tx.cpa

COLUMN EDITOR
Don Carpenter, MSAcc/CPA

DIGITAL MARKETING SPECIALIST
Wayne Hardin, CDMP, PCM®

CLASSIFIEDS
DeLynn Deakins

Texas Society of CPAs
14131 Midway Rd., Suite 850
Addison, TX 75001
972-687-8550
ddeakins@tx.cpa

 

Editorial Board
Derrick Bonyuet-Lee, CPA-Austin;
Aaron Borden, CPA-Dallas;
Don Carpenter, CPA-Central Texas;
Rhonda Fronk, CPA-Houston;
Aaron Harris, CPA-Dallas;
Baria Jaroudi, CPA-Houston;
Elle Kathryn Johnson, CPA-Houston;
Jennifer Johnson, CPA-Dallas;
Lucas LaChance, CPA-Dallas, CIA;
Nicholas Larson, CPA-Fort Worth;
Anne-Marie Lelkes, CPA-Corpus Christi;
Bryan Morgan, Jr, CPA-Austin;
Stephanie Morgan, CPA-East Texas;
Kamala Raghavan, CPA-Houston;
Amber Louise Rourke, CPA-Brazos Valley;
Shilpa Boggram Sathyamurthy, CPA-Houston, CA
Nikki Lee Shoemaker, CPA-East Texas, CGMA;
Natasha Winn, CPA-Houston.

CONTRIBUTORS
Melinda Bentley; Kenneth Besserman; Kristie Estrada; Holly McCauley; Craig Nauta; Kari Owen; John Ross; Lani Shepherd; April Twaddle; Patty Wyatt