MACPA Board Leadership

Guiding our association & championing our services.

The MACPA Board of Directors is made up of industry experts who steer association initiatives and membership services.

MACPA

MACPA has benefited from a rich tradition of Board of Directors leadership and innovation.

Our Board is actively engaged in our association and in determining exactly how we serve members and steward their membership payments as resources. We have a new Board Chairperson every year and most of our board members serve for at least several years. Thank you, Board members, for your service!

Meet the 2022-2023 MACPA Board of Directors

MACPA Officers

Herbert J. Geary III, CPA, CGMA

Chair


UHY Advisors LLC
Managing director

Herbert J. Geary III, CPA, CGMA

Chair


Chair: Herbert J. Geary III, CPA, CGMA

UHY Advisors LLC
Managing director

Notable: An MACPA member since 1988. Has more than 30 years of accounting and auditing experience, specializing in areas that include closely held businesses, manufacturing, wholesalers, distributors, construction contractors, local governments, and non-profits. Has served on the MACPA’s Board of Directors and as a past president of the Eastern Shore Chapter of the MACPA. Past chairman and current board member TidalHealth, a hospital system on Maryland’s lower Eastern Shore. A member of the Greater Salisbury Committee.

Christine Aspell, CPA

Vice Chair


KPMG LLP, Baltimore
Managing partner / Audit partner

Christine Aspell, CPA

Vice Chair


Vice Chair: Christine Aspell, CPA

KPMG LLP, Baltimore
Managing partner / audit partner

Notable: An MACPA member since 1991. Has more than 25 years experience in providing assurance services to clients in the financial services industry and specializes in serving clients in banking, investment services, insurance, and real estate. Partner-in-charge of the Baltimore chapter of KPMG’s Network of Women, where she established the chapter in 2004. A member of KPMG’s Women’s Advisory Board, which helps oversee the advancement of women. Chair of the Loyola Accounting Advisory Board. A member of the Greater Baltimore Committee Board of Directors, the Downtown Partnership Board of Directors, the Center Club Board of Governors, the My Sister’s Place Leadership Council, the Maryland Zoo, the Girl Scouts of Central Maryland, the New America (Better Life Lab), and the St. Ursula School Finance Committee. A “Maryland Top 100 Women” winner in 2012, 2015 and 2018.

Thomas White, CPA, CGMA

Secretary / Treasurer


CareFirst BlueCross BlueShield
Director of Accounting

Thomas White, CPA, CGMA

Secretary / Treasurer


Secretary / Treasurer: Thomas White, CPA, CGMA

CareFirst BlueCross BlueShield
Director of Accounting

Notable: An MACPA member since 2010. Has more than a decade of accounting and audit experience in various industries, currently focusing on health care. Has extensive knowledge of health care finance, internal audit, and compliance. Started his career in public accounting with large firms, focusing on international, public, and non-profit clients. Transitioned into industry at CareFirst. An active MACPA volunteer, including involvement with the association’s mentor program, Scholarship Committee, and Champions Program.

Lexy Kessler, CPA

Immediate Past Chair


Aprio
Lead partner, Government Contract Services Group

Lexy Kessler, CPA

Immediate Past Chair


Past Chair: Lexy Kessler, CPA

Aronson LLC
Lead partner, Government Contract Services Group

Notable: An MACPA member since 1987. Has more than 30 years of experience in assurance, tax, and consulting. Named one of the 20 most powerful women in accounting for 2020 by the AICPA and CPA Practice Advisor. As a leader in her practice area and a former member of Aronson’s Board of Directors, she also helps drive Aronson’s strategic direction and growth objectives. Currently serving as chair of the AICPA’s PCPS Executive Committee. Her reputation as an expert in her field is part of the personal brand that makes her sought-after speaker, and she has provided interviews and expert commentary to such media outlets as The Wall Street Journal, Federal News Radio, Law360, and Federal Times. As the first female chair of Aronson’s Board of Directors, she advocates for women to pursue leadership roles. Named by The Daily Record as one of Maryland’s Top 100 Women for 2018 and 2020. Recipient of the MACPA’s “Women to Watch” award in 2014 and the Montgomery County Chamber of Commerce’s Chairman’s Award in 2013.

MACPA Directors

Karl Ahlrichs, SHRM-SCP, SPHR, CSP


Gregory & Appel
Senior Consultant

Karl Ahlrichs, SHRM-SCP, SPHR, CSP


Karl Ahlrichs, SHRM-SCP, SPHR, CSP

Gregory & Appel
Senior Consultant

Notable: Joined the MACPA’s Board of Directors this year as a public (non-CPA) member. Involved with the MACPA for 15 years as a content provider and thought leader, Ahlrichs is a human capital expert in the people side of finance and accounting and holds the highest certifications of the human capital field. A contributor to the AICPA and the Business Learning Institute’s catalog of continuing education and a contributing author to the Journal of Accountancy. Has direct experience with the strategies accounting and finance professionals need to recover from the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic. One of fewer than 800 speaking professionals who are qualified as a Certified Speaking Professional (CSP) by the National Speakers Association. Routinely presents to business and industry audiences on challenging subjects.

Maxene M. Bardwell, CPA, CIGA, CIA, CFE, CISA, CITP, CRMA


Washington Suburban Sanitary Commission
Assistant Inspector General for Audit, Office of the Inspector General

Maxene M. Bardwell, CPA, CIGA, CIA, CFE, CISA, CITP, CRMA


Maxene M. Bardwell, CPA, CIGA, CIA, CFE, CISA, CITP, CRMA

Washington Suburban Sanitary Commission
Assistant Inspector General for Audit, Office of the Inspector General

Notable: A well-credentialed executive with more than 20 years of experience leading internal audit establishments in the financial services and public utility industries. Earned her master’s degree from Notre Dame of Maryland University and a bachelor’s degree from The Ohio State University. A member of several professional organizations. In addition to her exemplary career and professional achievements, she holds several board and committee positions. Currently serves as a member of the AICPA’s Auditing Standards Board, vice chairman for the City of Laurel Ethics Commission, vice president of the Central Maryland Chapter of ISACA, and board member of the Association of Inspectors General. A volunteer course manager and instructor for the Association of Inspectors General Institute and Mentor for the MACPA’s Mentor Program. Winner of the 2021 AICPA Outstanding CPA in Local Government Impact Award.

Elise Brouillette, CPA


PwC LLP
Senior Manager

Elise Brouillette, CPA


Elise Brouillette, CPA

PwC LLP
Senior Manager

Notable: An MACPA member since 2010. Experienced in providing external audit, internal audit, and data transformation services to a diverse portfolio of clients. Currently resides in internal risk management, where she monitors firm compliance with external laws, regulations, and internal policies. Recognized as an “Emerging Leader” as part of the MACPA’s 2014 Women to Watch program.

Michael Kimbrough, Ph.D., CPA


University of Maryland Robert H. Smith School of Business
Professor and Chair, Department of Accounting and Information Assurance

Michael Kimbrough, Ph.D., CPA


Michael Kimbrough, Ph.D., CPA

University of Maryland Robert H. Smith School of Business
Professor and Chair, Department of Accounting and Information Assurance

Notable: An MACPA member since 2021. Joined the Robert H. Smith School of Business at the University of Maryland in 2010 after spending eight years at Harvard Business School as a faculty member in the Accounting and Management Unit. Earned his B.A. in economics from Washington University in St. Louis and his Ph.D. in accounting from Indiana University in Bloomington. Prior to returning to graduate school for his doctoral studies, he worked as a CPA with Price Waterhouse. His teaching and research focuses on corporate financial reporting, and his research has been published in leading academic journals. A member of the American Accounting Association, Professor Kimbrough has received numerous teaching awards, including the Krowe Award for Teaching Excellence, the highest teaching honor at the University of Maryland’s Smith Business School.

Kimberly Mustard, CPA, CGMA


HCFL
Partner

Kimberly Mustard, CPA, CGMA


Kimberly Mustard, CPA, CGMA

HCFL
Partner

Notable: An MACPA member for more than 20 years. Leads her firm as quality control advisor. Has more than 25 years of audit and accounting experience, including extensive experience with her favorite industry, not-for-profit organizations. Conducts peer reviews and serves on the MACPA’s Peer Review Committee (Coastal Peer Review, Inc.). Has participated and continues to participate on various NFP boards as treasurer, as well as other board positions.

Dave Ryan, Esq., CPA (retired)


CompensationGPS
Managing Director

Dave Ryan, Esq., CPA (retired)


Dave Ryan, Esq., CPA (retired)

CompensationGPS
Managing Director

Notable: An MACPA member since 2011. Has more than 30 years of in-depth consulting and corporate leadership experience in the design and implementation of executive and employee compensation programs for a wide range of for profit and not-for-profit U.S. and global companies across many industries. Since founding his firm in 2010, has served as an expert compensation advisor for Maryland attorneys, CPAs, and their clients. His special expertise is in assisting boards and senior management in the governance, design, and development of impactful total executive reward programs. Prior to founding CompensationGPS, led executive and global compensation and advised the Board Compensation Committees at Black & Decker and Pitney Bowes, and had area leadership responsibility for compensation and benefits consulting services in the Connecticut offices of Ernst & Young, LLP. Currently serves on the Board of Directors of the Community Law Center, and has written and presented for the MACPA on compensation matters.

Brett Sanders, CPA


Bird Global Inc.
Senior Accounting Manager

Brett Sanders, CPA


Brett Sanders, CPA

Bird Global Inc.
Senior Accounting Manager

Notable: An MACPA member since 2014. Has nine years of audit and accounting experience, including experience in financial services, power and utilities, and the new micromobility industry. Has served on Penn State THON supporting fundraising efforts for pediatric cancer research, and on the board for the Academy of Finance of Baltimore County. Recently served on the PwC National Assurance Staff Council and the MACPA Champions Committee. Currently serves on the University of Baltimore Accounting and Advisory Board.

Savedra N. Scott, CPA, CGMA, CrFAC, MSA, MBA


Savvy Financial Solutions
Owner

Savedra N. Scott, CPA, CGMA, CrFAC, MSA, MBA


Savedra N. Scott, CPA, CGMA, CrFAC, MSA, MBA

Savvy Financial Solutions
Owner

Notable: An MACPA member since 2007. An outsourced accountant and owner of Savvy Financial Solutions. Has been in business for 10 years and has 20 years of experience. Earned a master’s degree in accountancy from George Washington University and an MBA from Frostburg University. Loves working with non-profit clients to make their lives easier so they can focus on their work while she focuses on the numbers. When not working, she loves hanging out with family and binging her favorite shows.

Our Legacy

MACPA Chair History

Previous MACPA leaders who have served our association and profession with pride.

Avonette Blanding

2020-2021

Raymond Speciale

2019-2020

Samantha Bowling

2018-2019

Ken Kelly

2017-2018

Lisa Cines

2016-2017

Mike Manspeaker

2015-2016

Marianela del Pino-Rivera

2014-2015

Byron Patrick

2013-2014

Anoop Mehta

2012-2013