Instructor
Rebekah (Brown) Olson, CPA, is the CEO of the Maryland Association of CPAs and an influential figure in the accounting profession, recognized as one of Accounting Today's Top 100 Most Influential People in Accounting for 2022.
Joining the MACPA in 2012, Rebekah assumed the position of Manager of Membership Development and Engagement in 2014. In 2018, she was appointed Director of Development, where she served on the leadership team steering the association through the complex challenges posed by the Covid-19 pandemic and the departure of longstanding CEO Tom Hood.
Passionate about the future of the accounting profession, Rebekah is a sought-after speaker who frequently shares her insights on professional trends and opportunities. As a certified facilitator, she has guided numerous organizations, both in the United States and Canada, in the strategic planning process.
Rebekah's contributions have garnered recognition from various prestigious entities. CPA Practice Advisor recognized her as a top thought leader under 40 in the CPA profession in 2017, 2019, and 2020. In 2019, she was honored with the President's Award by the National Association of Black Accountants (NABA) Baltimore Chapter for her community service. Additionally, Rebekah was named a Maryland Daily Record Leading Women Honoree in 2020.
Rebekah holds a Bachelor's degree in Business Administration, dual specializing in Accounting and Sports Management, from The Max M. Fisher School of Business at The Ohio State University, which she earned in 2009. She obtained her CPA designation in 2011. After gaining invaluable experience at a Top 100 firm, Rebekah decided to leave public accounting and leverage her talents and experiences to work on behalf of the profession at the Maryland Association of CPAs.
For our legislative efforts to succeed, we need the voice and participation of our members. Our biggest opportunity for member involvement in legislative advocacy is our annual CPA Day during Maryland’s legislative session. On CPA Day, we assemble a policy agenda and then meet with our delegates and senators to discuss the issues that impact our profession.
Join us in Annapolis to create and foster strong relationships with legislators, paving the way for a better future for our profession.
MACPA Legislative Position Papers
This year, our efforts to make the legislative issues affecting our profession known are more important than ever as changes at the legislature’s highest levels are now in place. Read More about the issues we are fighting for and against.
More ways to get involved:
Consider contributing to the Political Action Committee (PAC) to further support Maryland's accounting & finance profession. Your donations empower us to champion favorable legislative outcomes, educate lawmakers about critical CPA matters, and keep MACPA members informed.
Upon completion of this program, participants will be able to:
Brooke Lierman is the 34th Comptroller of the state of Maryland and the first woman to be independently elected to one of our state’s constitutional offices. After running a strong, policy-focused and grassroots-led two-year campaign, she was elected with over 60% of the vote in November 2022. She is an attorney by training, practicing as a civil rights and disability rights lawyer for many years, and prior to her election as Comptroller, she served for 8 years a member of the House of Delegates representing part of Baltimore City.
While in the House, she spent time in leadership roles on both the Appropriations Committee and the Environment and Transportation Committee.
Additionally, she was the House Chair for the Joint Committee on Pensions, sat on the Joint Committee on Ending Homelessness, and founded the Maryland Transit Caucus. Brooke successfully passed landmark legislation to invest in and improve public transit and public schools; prohibit suspension and expulsion of young public school students; fund evidence-based gun violence prevention programs; aid sex trafficking victims; close loopholes in affordable housing laws, and create the office of statewide broadband.
As Comptroller, she is leading an agency of 1,100 dedicated Maryland public servants in 12 offices around the state. Together and under her leadership, the office is working to create a Maryland that is more equitable, more resilient, and more prosperous so that all Marylanders can reach their full potential.
All CPAs interested in an update on the legislative process and upcoming issues.
