June 23 - September 17, 2026
SUBMIT YOUR APPLICATION

What is LeadFit?

Build the skills, confidence, and network needed to transition from high performer to effective leader, supported by a mentor from your organization.

The COCPA member fee is $1,499; nonmember fee is $1,799. The COCPA will bill for the program fee, payable by June 12, 2026.

LeadFit is a cohort-based leadership development program for emerging professionals who are ready to grow beyond technical expertise and into leadership.

Participants gain practical leadership skills, connect with peers navigating similar career transitions, and receive guidance from a mentor within their organization who supports their development throughout the program.

Program Highlights for Emerging Professionals

  • Leadership skill development tailored for CPAs
  • Structured guidance from an internal mentor
  • Peer connections with professionals on a similar leadership journey
  • 1-hour complimentary leadership coaching session
  • In-person leadership workshop and graduation celebration
  • A lasting professional network across the profession

LeadFit helps high-potential professionals develop the leadership skills your organization needs—communication, confidence, and the ability to lead people, not just projects.

Designed for Emerging Leaders and the Organizations That Support Them

Looking to take the next leap in your career?

Through professional development, mentorship, coaching, and peer collaboration, LeadFit helps emerging professionals build the confidence and network needed to lead.

LEARN MORE & APPLY

Do you know an emerging leader worth investing in?

Invest in the people you want leading your organization tomorrow. Encourage and support them through this program as a mentor and advocate while building leadership capability, strengthening commitment, and retaining your best talent.

LEARN MORE & APPLY

LeadFit is Lead By:

Alicia Gelinas, CPA

President & CEO, COCPA

Alicia Gelinas, CPA

President & CEO, COCPA

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Lorrie Tietze

Owner, Interface Consulting, LLC,

Lorrie Tietze

Owner, Interface Consulting, LLC,

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Advocacy Team

Looking to take the next leap in your career?

LeadFit helps emerging professionals build the skills, confidence, and mindset to lead— right now and long-term.

Through interactive sessions, peer discussion, and real-world application, participants strengthen the skills that matter most as responsibilities expand—communication, influence, decision-making, and self-awareness.

Through the program format and social experiences, participants also build meaningful relationships with peers who are on a similar leadership journey. These connections create a supportive professional network that extends beyond the program itself, fostering collaboration, expanding professional networks, and supporting continued leadership growth for years to come.

This is not a lecture series. LeadFit is built for people who want to practice leadership, not just talk about it.

The 2026 session dates are as follows:

  • Tuesday, June 23rd, 2026, 8:30am - 4:30pm (in-person) - followed by Rockies Game Social - 5 pm-9 pm
  • Friday, July 24th, 2026, 8:30am - 12:30pm (in-person)
  • Thursday, August 20th, 2026, 8:30am - 12:30pm (virtual)
  • Thursday, September 17th, 2026, 8:30am - 4:30pm (in-person) - followed by graduation reception 4:30pm - 6:30pm (Mentors invited)

To apply, please complete the application by May 22, 2026. Participants will be notified by June 1.

COMPLETE THE APPLICATION

What Emerging Professionals are Saying About LeadFit

The people and quality of the sessions was incredible. Cannot recommend this enough to others and so excited for implementing what I have learned."

LeadFit Participant

Insightful information and questioning how we look at others and at ourselves."

LeadFit Participant

Connecting with other CPAs in a similar stage of their career, working through similar issues as me. Pairing that connection with the leadership of Lorrie and Alicia was very helpful."

LeadFit Participant

The Role of the Mentor

Each LeadFit participant identifies a mentor within their organization as part of the application process. This mentor supports the participant’s leadership development throughout the program, serving as an advocate and sounding board as new skills are applied in day-to-day work.

Mentors participate in the program kickoff and help reinforce learning as participants work through the experience. They are also invited to attend the graduation reception to celebrate participants’ progress and continued leadership journey.

Advocacy Team

Do you know an emerging leader worth investing in?

LeadFit develops the leadership capacity your organization needs next.

Invest in Your Team: Employers, this is the perfect opportunity to demonstrate your commitment to team members that you want to retain and develop into effective managers and future leaders. You will be your mentee's advocate and support throughout this leadership development process. This initiative is designed to strengthen employer–employee commitment, build leadership capability, and increase retention of your best talent.

Major Topics:

  • Relationship building – Listening and presence; professional and personal
  • Managing a team vs. leading a team – Goal setting; conflict resolution
  • Performance evaluation and feedback – Acknowledgement; confrontation; resolution; rewards
  • Negotiation – Message tailoring; requesting
  • Rainmaking – Thinking styles; generational styles
  • Role definition – Qualitative and quantitative
  • Defining your “best work” – Linking to purpose, commitment, and boundaries

Encourage your emerging leaders to apply today. Applications must be complete by May 22, 2026. Participants will be notified by June 1.

CLICK HERE FOR THE APPLICATION

LeadFit Alumni

This is the 13th year that LeadFit has been offered through the COCPA. Previous attendees include:

2025

YearNameOrganization
2025Jeremy ArsementSM Energy Company
2025Laiza Ashraf—
2025Krystal BettsPureWest Resources, Inc.
2025Taylor HobbyCrossroads Turning Points
2025Melvin KasoziSM Energy Company
2025Christina Liggett—
2025Emily NewtonBiggsKofford, LLP
2025Brittany PekaraSoukup Bush & Associates CPAs PC
2025Amber Vaught—
2025Ryan We
YearNameOrganization
2025Jeremy ArsementSM Energy Company
2025Laiza Ashraf—
2025Krystal BettsPureWest Resources, Inc.
2025Taylor HobbyCrossroads Turning Points
2025Melvin KasoziSM Energy Company
2025Christina Liggett—
2025Emily NewtonBiggsKofford, LLP
2025Brittany PekaraSoukup Bush & Associates CPAs PC
2025Amber Vaught—
2025Ryan We

2024

YearNameOrganization
2024Laiza Ashraf—
2024Kacey HertelWhippleWood CPAs, PC
2024Connor HowardBiggsKofford, LLP
2024Melissa JimenezBiggsKofford, LLP
2024Miroslav KasljevicPureWest Resources, Inc.
2024Jeremy KlineSM Energy Company
2024Trevor NeillSoukup Bush & Associates CPAs PC
2024Nicholas PhillipsBiggsKofford, LLP
2024Jill RobinsonPureWest Resources, Inc.
YearNameOrganization
2024Laiza Ashraf—
2024Kacey HertelWhippleWood CPAs, PC
2024Connor HowardBiggsKofford, LLP
2024Melissa JimenezBiggsKofford, LLP
2024Miroslav KasljevicPureWest Resources, Inc.
2024Jeremy KlineSM Energy Company
2024Trevor NeillSoukup Bush & Associates CPAs PC
2024Nicholas PhillipsBiggsKofford, LLP
2024Jill RobinsonPureWest Resources, Inc.

2023

YearNameOrganization
2023Tyler AdamsBaker Tilly (formerly Moss Adams LLP)
2023Lance AlbrandtSM Energy Company
2023Adam ClaytonBaker Tilly (formerly Moss Adams LLP)
2023Emily LudtkePwC
2023Joe NasserPureWest Resources, Inc.
2023Skylar OlmertSoukup Bush & Associates CPAs PC
2023Lauren StolzCamp Cavanaugh CPA LLC
2023Grant Van Dyke—
2023Mike WhalenCRA Online
2023William ZacekSM Energy Company
YearNameOrganization
2023Tyler AdamsBaker Tilly (formerly Moss Adams LLP)
2023Lance AlbrandtSM Energy Company
2023Adam ClaytonBaker Tilly (formerly Moss Adams LLP)
2023Emily LudtkePwC
2023Joe NasserPureWest Resources, Inc.
2023Skylar OlmertSoukup Bush & Associates CPAs PC
2023Lauren StolzCamp Cavanaugh CPA LLC
2023Grant Van Dyke—
2023Mike WhalenCRA Online
2023William ZacekSM Energy Company

2022

YearNameOrganization
2022Loren BrandonPureWest Resources, Inc.
2022Tiffany DavisDiscovery Accounting, LLC
2022Pam FisherWhippleWood CPAs
2022Amanda GoodKundinger, Corder & Montoya PC
2022Ashley Nebelsick-Gullett—
2022Stacy PonsEl Pomar Foundation
2022Jennifer RehmSM Energy Company
2022Qing "Sunny" SuRubinBrown LLP – Denver
2022Kara Van HornBKV Corporation
YearNameOrganization
2022Loren BrandonPureWest Resources, Inc.
2022Tiffany DavisDiscovery Accounting, LLC
2022Pam FisherWhippleWood CPAs
2022Amanda GoodKundinger, Corder & Montoya PC
2022Ashley Nebelsick-Gullett—
2022Stacy PonsEl Pomar Foundation
2022Jennifer RehmSM Energy Company
2022Qing "Sunny" SuRubinBrown LLP – Denver
2022Kara Van HornBKV Corporation

2021

YearNameOrganization
2021Carolyn BernardSM Energy Company
2021Emma BodineKundinger, Corder & Montoya PC
2021Edward FreemanMesa County Valley School District 51
2021Judith "Judy" HartmanKundinger, Corder & Montoya PC
2021Jacob LinstromPureWest Resources, Inc.
2021Kristin Mauer—
2021Michelle MonroeMiller Walls & Company
2021Alexandria RomeroGalasso Learning Solutions
2021Katie WattSM Energy Company
2021Kimberly "Kim" ZingaleBreakthrough T1D
YearNameOrganization
2021Carolyn BernardSM Energy Company
2021Emma BodineKundinger, Corder & Montoya PC
2021Edward FreemanMesa County Valley School District 51
2021Judith "Judy" HartmanKundinger, Corder & Montoya PC
2021Jacob LinstromPureWest Resources, Inc.
2021Kristin Mauer—
2021Michelle MonroeMiller Walls & Company
2021Alexandria RomeroGalasso Learning Solutions
2021Katie WattSM Energy Company
2021Kimberly "Kim" ZingaleBreakthrough T1D

2019

YearNameOrganization
2019Kenneth "Ken" FichterKundinger, Corder & Montoya PC
2019Evelyn KelleyErnst & Young (EY)
2019Jeffrey "Jeff" KoskiSM Energy Company
2019Tiffany OsburnSM Energy Company
2019Anna OverleeSeigneur Gustafson LLP
2019Lacey PulsEide Bailly
2019Sarah RaySM Energy Company
2019Amy ShawSoukup Bush & Associates CPAs PC
2019Heidi SpeichingerCBIZ
YearNameOrganization
2019Kenneth "Ken" FichterKundinger, Corder & Montoya PC
2019Evelyn KelleyErnst & Young (EY)
2019Jeffrey "Jeff" KoskiSM Energy Company
2019Tiffany OsburnSM Energy Company
2019Anna OverleeSeigneur Gustafson LLP
2019Lacey PulsEide Bailly
2019Sarah RaySM Energy Company
2019Amy ShawSoukup Bush & Associates CPAs PC
2019Heidi SpeichingerCBIZ

2018

YearNameOrganization
2018Haleigh GonzalezSoukup Bush & Associates CPAs PC
2018Meghan HendershotSM Energy Company
2018Hans HenschenJanus Henderson Investors
2018Shawna JewellConsolidated Investment Group
2018Kelsey MohrFORVIS
2018Maria MontoyaKundinger, Corder & Montoya PC
2018Michael MorrisSmith Brooks Bolshoun & Co LLP
2018Elizabeth "Chris" NickelsWellstar Corporation
2018Charlotte VangsnesSM Energy Company
2018Traci WollerSM Energy Company
YearNameOrganization
2018Haleigh GonzalezSoukup Bush & Associates CPAs PC
2018Meghan HendershotSM Energy Company
2018Hans HenschenJanus Henderson Investors
2018Shawna JewellConsolidated Investment Group
2018Kelsey MohrFORVIS
2018Maria MontoyaKundinger, Corder & Montoya PC
2018Michael MorrisSmith Brooks Bolshoun & Co LLP
2018Elizabeth "Chris" NickelsWellstar Corporation
2018Charlotte VangsnesSM Energy Company
2018Traci WollerSM Energy Company