The Maryland Association of CPAs is celebrating 125 years of service to Maryland’s accounting and finance professionals, marking a milestone that reflects more than a century of leadership, advocacy, and unwavering commitment to the public interest.

Incorporated on Feb. 12, 1901, the MACPA has spent generations supporting CPAs as trusted advisors to Maryland businesses, families, and communities.

“This anniversary is both a celebration and a promise,” said MACPA CEO Rebekah Olson, CPA. “For 125 years, MACPA has connected leaders across Maryland, protected the integrity of the profession, and helped individuals and organizations adapt and thrive. I am incredibly proud of our history and grateful to the members and volunteer leaders who have built a community that strengthens not only CPAs, but the entire accounting and finance ecosystem that supports Maryland’s economy and communities.”

From its earliest days, the MACPA has helped shape the profession’s story.

• Max Teichmann, Maryland’s first CPA, served as the association’s first president from its day of incorporation in 1901.
  
  
• In 1909, Elsa Doetsch and Florence Hooper became the organization’s first women members, helping open doors for future generations.
  
  
• Benjamin L. King Sr. broke barriers in 1957 as Maryland’s first African-American CPA.
  
  
• More recently, Maryland leaders Kimberly Ellison-Taylor, Anoop Mehta, and Lexy Kessler have chaired the American Institute of CPAs, representing the profession on a national stage.
  
  
• Over the past quarter century alone, the MACPA has helped members navigate extraordinary change, from the fallout of the Enron and WorldCom scandals and the recession of 2008–09 to the rapid rise of social media, artificial intelligence, and other transformative technologies. The association has also supported firms and organizations through persistent talent shortages and the need for new skills to keep the profession innovative, relevant, and resilient.

As it looks ahead, the MACPA is leaning into the future with the same purpose that has guided it since 1901: to Connect, Protect, and help a CPA-led profession Achieve success.

Throughout 2026, the association will mark its 125th anniversary with a series of celebrations and initiatives designed to honor both its history and its members. Plans include updates to the MACPA brand that pay tribute to the milestone, new opportunities for members to share their own stories about the impact they make in the lives of businesses and communities, and anniversary-themed moments woven into the organization’s signature events, including the Mid-Atlantic Coastal Conference (formerly the Beach Retreat), CPA Summit, MACPA Elevate & Celebrate, the association's Women to Watch Awards, and the Newly Licensed CPA Swearing-In Ceremony, among others.

“These celebrations aren’t just about looking back,” Olson said. “They’re about shining a spotlight on the people who make this profession so meaningful — our members — and preparing them for what comes next. The future of accounting is changing fast, and we’re committed to helping our members stay ahead of it.

“If the last 125 years have shown us anything,"  she added, "it’s that professionals are at their best when they’re connected to one another and united around a shared purpose. The road ahead is bright, and we’re honored to serve as a guiding light for Maryland’s leaders for generations to come.”