Black History and the Global CPA Profession - MACPA & KET
Originally published by Tom Hood, CPA,CITP,CGMA on LinkedIn: Black History and the Global CPA Profession - MACPA & KET
As Black History month draws to a close, I want to recognize and put an exclamation mark on Maryland's contribution to the global accounting profession by honoring our past Chair, Kimberly Ellison-Taylor as she continues her term as Chair of the Association of International Certified Professional Accountants. That’s the global accounting organization formed by the joint venture between the AICPA and the Chartered Institute of Management Accountants.
Kimberly made history in the CPA Profession when she became Chair of the AICPA in October, 2016. She is the first African-American Chair of the AICPA in its 128 year history. Now she is the volunteer leader of the global accounting profession as chairwoman of the international association representing more 650,000 CPAs and management accountants worldwide. She was also named the third most influential person in the accounting profession by Accounting Today Magazine in 2017. She was recognized by Maryland Governor Larry Hogan and Baltimore Mayor Catherine Pugh for her accomplishments.
Kimberly has held leadership positions at some of the nation’s most prominent organizations, including NASA’s Goddard Space Flight Center, Motorola, KPMG, and most recently as Oracle’s global accounting strategy director. She completed her term as the AICPA's Chair this past January and now is chair of the Association of International Certified Professional Accountants.
Kimberly would say that all of her success is because she stands on the strong shoulders of those who came before her and that includes MACPA's legacy of African-American leadership in the profession.
One of those pathfinders is the first African-American CPA in Maryland and the 45th in the United States, Benjamin L. King, Sr.
Mr. King started his firm in 1957 and would also become the first African-American appointed to the Maryland State Board of Public Accountancy and the first African-American to Chair the Board. His legacy lives on in his children, all CPAs active in the Profession. Ben's son and daughters, pictured above with Kimberly, are all partners in the firm King, King and Associates located in Baltimore, Maryland. Kara King Bess was a member of MACPA's Board of Directors and Tony King was on the AICPA nomination committee that made history by nominating Kimberly as Chair-elect in 2015.
Other pathfinders include MACPA;s first African-American Chair, Graylin Smith and many MACPA and State Board of Accountancy member/volunteers.
Maryland and the MACPA are proud to celebrate Black History Month and recognize all of the African-American CPAs who have been involved with us as leaders and volunteers and who make our Profession strong.
Dr. Freeman Hrabowski opened the video about Kimberly story by saying, "People will aspire to be what they know is possible." Kimberly has showed the world what CPAs can be and inspired hundreds of students about the possibilities of a CPA career.
Thank you and congratulations Kimberly!
Baltimore mayor honors Maryland’s Kimberly Ellison-Taylor with ‘Citizen Success Citation
Maryland Governor Honors CPA Kimberly Ellison-Taylor
TOM HOOD, CPA, CITP, CGMA is considered one of the most influential thinkers in the CPA Profession. He was named to the Accounting Hall of Fame by CPA Practice Advisor and the Second Most Influential Person in Accounting by Accounting Today Magazine for the past five years. He is the CEO of the Maryland Association of CPAs (MACPA) and CEO of the Business Learning Institute, the innovation, strategy, and learning affiliate of the MACPA, a leading strategic planning and talent development organization for CPAs, finance and accounting professionals in the world.
