The Colorado Society of CPAs' (COCPA) annual CPAs Make a Difference Gala is a tradition beloved by members for over 20 years, honoring the dedication, service, and leadership of Colorado's accounting professionals. This year, the gala will be held on November 13, 2025, at the Embassy Suites Denver Downtown, and will serve as the culminating event for the inaugural PEAK: The Colorado Accounting & Finance Summit. It is a night to celebrate the profession and welcome the future, with several special elements that make it a truly memorable experience.

Honoring Our Peers

A key part of the evening is the recognition of outstanding professionals through two sets of awards: the Women to Watch Awards and the Everyday Heroes & Heroines Awards.

• Women to Watch Awards: This award honors women who have made significant contributions to the accounting profession or have demonstrated characteristics that have made them leaders. Nominees can be leaders in any industry and at any career stage. The award has two categories:
  • Emerging Leaders: This category recognizes up-and-coming female professionals who have made a significant contribution to their community and the profession.
  • Leaders of Note: Recipients demonstrate excellence through authorship, unique contributions, public service, mentoring, and workplace improvements. 

• Everyday Heroes & Heroines Awards: This award is for accounting professionals who are nominated for their community impact. The award celebrates CPAs in Colorado who "silently change businesses and lives" through their service and positive impact.

Nominations for these awards are made by peers, and a committee selects the winners. The initial application deadline for nominations is September 14, 2025.

Welcoming the Next Generation

CPAs Make a Difference is a chance to welcome newly licensed CPAs into the professional community with a special tunnel for them to run through, cheered on by current and former members of the profession. It's a powerful moment of support and guidance for the next generation of accounting leaders.

The Battle of the Brains

Adding to the fun and friendly competition of the night is the "Battle of the Brains." This is a friendly showdown of school spirit where tax-deductible donations to the Educational Foundation of the Colorado Society of CPAs act as votes for your favorite Colorado school's alumni. The money raised supports scholarships for the next generation of accounting professionals. The community raised over $50,000 for the Educational Foundation of the Colorado Society of CPAs between November and December of 2024. More than $10,000 of that was raised during the Battle of the Brains in 2024.

Join Us!

The CPAs Make a Difference event, a signature event of the COCPA, is an evening for all CPAs and their families to celebrate our profession and our successes. You can register for the gala, with individual, guest, and table registration options available. If you register for the PEAK Summit, you'll receive a 10% discount on your individual or table registration for CPAs a Make a Difference. Sponsorships are also available for the event.

We hope to see you there to honor the profession, celebrate success, and welcome the future.