COCPA is proud to sponsor Stephanie Simon, CPA, and Kacey Lynn Weberg Hertel, CPA, for this year's AICPA Leadership Academy.

The Colorado Society of CPAs is pleased to announce that two of its members, Stephanie Simon, CPA, and Kacey Lynn Weberg Hertel, CPA, have been selected to attend the American Institute of CPAs (AICPA) 2026 Leadership Academy. They are among only 36 professionals nationwide chosen for the Leadership Academy's 18th graduating class, selected on the strength of their leadership skills and professional experience. The four-day program will be held December 1–4, 2026.

COCPA is sponsoring both members' participation as part of the Society's ongoing commitment to developing the next generation of leaders in Colorado's accounting profession.

Stephanie Simon, CPA

Stephanie is an Assurance Manager in RubinBrown LLP's Denver office. Since joining the firm in 2015, she has focused on providing audit and attest services primarily to governmental and not-for-profit organizations. She earned her CPA license in 2017 and holds a Bachelor of Science in Accounting and Finance from Indiana University–Purdue University Indianapolis.

Stephanie is actively involved in advancing the profession and currently serves as Chair of COCPA's Emerging Professionals Initiative Committee (EPIC), where she works to create engagement and professional development opportunities for emerging CPAs.

Kacey Lynn Weberg Hertel, CPA

Kacey is an Assurance Manager at Whipplewood CPAs, where she oversees assurance engagements and supports the professional development of her team members. She earned a Bachelor of Science in Business Administration with an emphasis in Accounting from the University of Northern Colorado.

In 2024, Kacey graduated from COCPA's LeadFit program, a leadership development program designed to strengthen leadership skills within the accounting profession. She also volunteers as the Financial Advisor for Alpha Sigma Alpha's Beta Beta Chapter, providing financial guidance and support to the chapter.

About the AICPA Leadership Academy

The AICPA Leadership Academy was designed to strengthen and expand the leadership skills of promising emerging professionals while they network with a peer group of talented and motivated CPAs. The program features career-development workshops and sessions with some of the accounting profession's most prominent influencers. Participants were selected from public accounting firms of all sizes, corporate finance, non-profit, academia, wealth management, and consulting.

To date, more than 550 professionals have participated in the AICPA Leadership Academy, many of whom have gone on to take on leadership positions in their firms, businesses, and organizations.