Congratulations to Mackenzie McVay, recognized as the February 2025 R.I.K.I. Spotlight Award winner! 

 

For years, the accounting industry’s skilled workforce was steadily declining, with many experienced accountants nearing retirement and the industry shifting from technical accounting to client advisory and strategic business consulting. In recent years, the accounting industry has been proactive to develop the future workforce, including collaboration with practitioners.  When the Indiana CPA Society (INCPAS) invited CLH, CPAs & Consultants (CLH) to become a partner to implement programming for pipeline development, CLH enthusiastically embraced the opportunity.

Having been impacted by the declining workforce, CLH had already initiated a long-term strategy over the last five years to educate young people about career possibilities in accounting. After becoming a pipeline partner with INCPAS in 2024, members of the firm ramped up their reach to bridge the gap between the classroom and the real world of accounting.

“These efforts in reaching our youth are not for immediate gain or reward for our firm and are not recruiting efforts to build our own company’s workforce,” said Stephanie Russell, CLH Director of Operations. Russell spearheads the firm’s pipeline development goals. She continued, “This is about bringing awareness to the accounting industry, even to those at very young ages. It’s about breaking stereotypes and sharing the potential benefits of a career in accounting.”

The firm’s outreach was in response to the waning interest nationwide in the accounting field over the last several years. In a trends report issued in 2023, the Association of International Certified Professional Accountants (AICPA) reported that bachelor degree completions in accounting decreased by 7.8% in 2021-2022 following a steady decline of 1-3% since 2015.

Ali Tonini, Vice President for Pipeline and Outreach for INCPAS, said the accounting industry workforce has been decreasing due to a combination of factors, including a reduction in the overall population, increasing competition among available majors, more demanding educational and work experience requirements to be licensed, and higher college costs.

“It is so important that firms like CLH are coming to the table with us and working collectively to solve this workforce issue,” said Tonini. “Even though their dollars are not coming back to them by having a new employee for their efforts right now, they are working to help the profession grow for the future. Pipeline partners play a role in ushering people into a long-term path to becoming a CPA.”

Those efforts are paying off, according to new data from the National Student Clearinghouse Research Center, which shows that undergraduate accounting enrollments saw an increase in collegiate accounting enrollment in 2024, up 12% from 2023.

Building Tomorrow

Throughout 2024, CLH team members were active in many events, including a career fair and expo for sixth-grade students from Michigan City Area Schools. Russell, along with Colin Flanigan and Matthew Flanigan, who were interns at the time and have since accepted full-time positions with CLH, spoke to students about opportunities in accounting, including job duties, pay rates, and technology. The event was organized by Kristi Davis, K-12 Coordinator for Counseling Support Services for Michigan City Area Schools.

In the Duneland School Corporation, CLH team members Edward Simokaitis, Jordan Sheets, Wyatt Stacy, and Victor Hernandez volunteered their time during the Duneland Chamber of Commerce’s annual 8^th Grade Reality Check. The event seeks to prepare students for success after graduation by helping students navigate real-life circumstances such as taxes, housing, and childcare based on a set salary in their chosen profession.

CLH members also educated high school students, including a career fair at Chesterton High School, which was attended by Russell and CLH team member Ryin Ott. As part of the firm’s Pipeline Partnership with INCPAS, Simokaitis and Hernandez presented information about various careers in accounting to three groups of students at Hammond Central High School during the organization’s CPA Week. Russell and CLH team member Jessica Mitchell partnered again with Davis for the Find Your Inspiration career fair at Michigan City High School.

At the collegiate level, Russell indicated CLH’s approach blended pipeline development with some recruitment. Team members Hernandez and Ryan Cetnar took part in Purdue Northwest’s Accounting mixer for students in the school’s College of Business. Additionally, CLH’s Jeffrey Whittler, Allison Leffert, and Reid Schroeder met with students at Ball State University during the university’s Accounting Career Fair.

Ivy Tech Community College students received an up-close-and-personal look at CLH with a trip to the firm’s Valparaiso office. The day-in-the-life of an accountant event included a presentation, personal career story-sharing time, and job shadowing opportunities. In addition, Russell said CLH continued the firm’s paid internship programs throughout the year.

“It was certainly an exciting year for us as we had an opportunity to share all of the wonderful things about our industry. We are already looking forward to what we have in store for 2025, including virtual discussions with students through INCPAS and regional career fairs,” said Russell. “It is extremely important to us at CLH that we continue to invest this time now to reap the benefits of a flourishing accounting workforce in the future.”

CLH, CPAs & Consultants is pleased to announce the promotion of long-time firm member Stephanie Russell to the position of Director of Operations for CLH.

In a career that spans nearly 25 years, Russell joined CLH in 2000 through the Michigan City High School inter-cooperative work program. She started at the firm as a file clerk and advanced through every administrative position within CLH, including Front Desk Coordinator, Personal Administrative Assistant, Administrative Team Manager, Human Resources Assistant, and her most recent position, Office and Human Resources Manager.

In her new role, Russell is responsible for overseeing the daily operations of the firm, developing and improving business, recruiting and pipeline growth strategies, fostering strong relationships internally, and assisting staff in providing outstanding client services. Other primary responsibilities include managing budget and resource allocations as well as reviewing and ensuring that all of CLH’s processes and practices remain at optimal efficiency.

“Stephanie has been an integral part of our team for many years, and we are confident that in her new role as Director of Operations, she will continue to make significant contributions to the growth and performance of CLH,” said Tony Gillisse, CPA, and Partner at CLH.

Russell earned her Society of Human Resource Management (SHRM) Certified Professional accreditation from the in 2015. She is active with several professional organizations, including the Lakeshore SHRM and International SHRM. She is a member of the Michigan City Chamber of Commerce’s Education Committee, which works to bridge relationships between employers and educators to build a stronger future workforce. At CLH, Russell leads the firm’s Pipeline Partnership with the Indiana CPA Society, an initiative dedicated to positioning accounting as a diverse, advantageous career opportunity for high school and college students.

Excited to lead CLH’s operations, Russell says, “I have always been proud to work in such a unique, specialized, challenging, and ever-changing industry. There is never a boring day at CLH. What I enjoy the most is working with such talented individuals and seeing how CLH can positively impact clients and the communities in which we live and work.”

 

Congratulations to Seth Bedwell, recognized as the January 2025 R.I.K.I. Spotlight Award winner! 

 

The R.I.K.I. Spotlight is a monthly, team member-nominated recognition program to honor staff members who emulate CLH’s core values (relationships, integrity, knowledge, and innovation).  We’re proud to celebrate our team members who exemplify the values that keep our organization grounded and centered.

 

Congratulations to Wyatt Stacy, recognized as the December 2024 R.I.K.I. Spotlight Award winner! 

 

The R.I.K.I. Spotlight is a monthly, team member-nominated recognition program to honor staff members who emulate CLH’s core values (relationships, integrity, knowledge, and innovation).  We’re proud to celebrate our team members who exemplify the values that keep our organization grounded and centered.

CLH, CPAs & Consultants is pleased to announce that Kayla Gentry joined their firm as a staff accountant this year. Gentry began her professional career in 2021, working in public accounting before joining CLH.

In her new position with the firm, Gentry will draw from her prior experience to execute her responsibilities in preparing tax returns, conducting bookkeeping, and providing general accounting support for clients.

“We are thrilled to have Kayla join our team,” said Tony Gillisse, CPA and Partner. “Her approachable and friendly demeanor will be an asset as she works with colleagues and clients. Her drive to seek professional growth opportunities to develop her skills make her a great fit for the culture and standards we strive for here at CLH.”

Gentry added, “I’m excited about my role with CLH and look forward to growing my career with them.  It’s been great to see how supportive the firm is of professional development.  I see many opportunities to expand my technical skills and broaden my horizons in the coming years.”

Having grown up in the south suburbs of Chicago, Gentry later moved to Northwest Indiana. She excelled academically through high school and college and developed a natural aptitude for analytical skills and attention to detail. She combined those talents with a strong work ethic to pursue a career in accounting. She earned a Bachelor of Science in Accounting from Purdue Northwest in 2022 and her Master of Business Administration from the same university in 2024. She is currently pursuing her certified public accountant (CPA) credential.

Outside of work, Gentry has volunteered with the Hobart Humane Society, where she spent time exercising dogs and maintaining their spaces.

Congratulations to Cathy Homan, recognized as the November 2024 R.I.K.I. Spotlight Award winner! 

The R.I.K.I. Spotlight is a monthly, team member-nominated recognition program to honor staff members who emulate CLH’s core values (relationships, integrity, knowledge, and innovation).  We’re proud to celebrate our team members who exemplify the values that keep our organization grounded and centered.

 

Congratulations to Ry Womack, recognized as the October 2024 R.I.K.I. Spotlight Award winner! 

The R.I.K.I. Spotlight is a monthly, team member-nominated recognition program to honor staff members who emulate CLH’s core values (relationships, integrity, knowledge, and innovation).  We’re proud to celebrate our team members who exemplify the values that keep our organization grounded and centered.

 

Congratulations to Victor Hernandez, recognized as September’s 2024 R.I.K.I. Spotlight Award winner! 

The R.I.K.I. Spotlight is a monthly, team member-nominated recognition program to honor staff members who emulate CLH’s core values (relationships, integrity, knowledge, and innovation).  We’re proud to celebrate our team members who exemplify the values that keep our organization grounded and centered.

Congratulations to Allison Leffert, CPA, recognized as August’s 2024 R.I.K.I. Spotlight Award winner! 

The R.I.K.I. Spotlight is a monthly, team member-nominated recognition program to honor staff members who emulate CLH’s core values (relationships, integrity, knowledge, and innovation).  We’re proud to celebrate our team members who exemplify the values that keep our organization grounded and centered.