Chief Executive Officer
Jim Ahler, CAE

(919) 469-1040 Ext. 130
jtahler@ncacpa.org

Jim is the chief staff executive and answers
to the board of directors. A registered lobbyist, Jim directs the lobbying team at the General Assembly and represents the association with the State Board of CPA Examiners. He serves as liaison director for the Accounting and Attestation, Litigation Services, Long Range Planning, and Taxation Committees as well as the Government Relations and Professional Ethics Advisory Groups. A true blue Kentucky Wildcat fan, Jim knows his basketball. Just ask him.

Chief Operating Officer
Sharon Bryson, M.Ed.

(919) 469-1040 Ext. 143
shbryson@ncacpa.org

Sharon is responsible for overall NCACPA operations and human resource oversight. She serves as liaison to the Executive Committee, board of directors, and Nominating Committee. Having received both her undergrad and graduate degrees from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, it’s no surprise Sharon’s an avid Tar Heel fan. A certified member of Jimmy Buffet’s Parrot Head Club, Sharon also enjoys volunteer work focusing on adoption. However, her favorite thing…hands down…is spending time with her husband, Keith, and their
son, Matthew.

Executive Secretary
Fran Wilson

(919) 469-1040 Ext. 139
frwilson@ncacpa.org

Fran provides administrative support for the CEO and COO. She plans meetings for the association Board of Directors and serves as liaison to the Foundation Board of Directors and the Work/Life Issues Committee. She also is the facility/ landscape manager for the association and receptionist back-up. A UNC-CH alumna, Fran’s sports soul is dyed baby-blue. Her other passions are art, jazz, and woodland treks.

Communications

Director of
Communications
Lorrie Leonhardt

(919) 469-1040 Ext. 159
lleonhardt@ncacpa.org

Lorrie oversees the marketing, membership, and chapter initiatives of NCACPA and is co-liaison to the Financial Literacy Council. Lorrie graduated from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill with a degree in Communication Studies (Go Heels!). In her spare time, Lorrie enjoys spending time with her husband and two daughters—and watching her favorite sport, UNC basketball.

Membership
Manager
Sonya Pittman Guthrie

(919) 469-1040 Ext. 157

Sonya is responsible for member recruitment and retention, as well as manages the Member Service Center. She joined NCACPA in August 2003 and is one of the two Wolfpack alumni on staff. She has been termed a “Follow-Up Fanatic” and loves to spend time with the greatest dog in the world—her Golden Retriever, Maggie.

Graphic
Designer
Ashley Babb

(919) 469-1040 Ext. 161
ababb@ncacpa.org

As the Graphic Designer for NCACPA, Ashley contributes a fresh and innovative perspective. She graduated from East Carolina University with a BFA in Graphic Design and from Meredith College with a degree in Interior Design. Ashley has a sharp eye for detail, a knack for multi-tasking, and a passion for typography and photography. A lover of travel and the great outdoors, she is always planning her next adventure and never forgets to stop and soak in the view.

Community Outreach
Specialist
Kenia Caze

(919) 469-1040 Ext. 153
kcaze@ncacpa.org

Kenia handles media relations and is directly responsible for member interviews in print, radio, and TV. She also serves as the staff liaison for the Financial Literacy Council and coordinates financial literacy sessions for members as well as council meetings. Additionally, she provides assistance with student recruitment activities. She is a graduate from Peace College with a B.A. in Broadcast Journalism and an M.A. from Jones University in Business Communication. In her spare time, you can find her playing her violin or capturing precious moments as a photographer.

Marketing
Specialist
Heather Hinson

(919) 469-1040 Ext. 160
hhinson@ncacpa.org

Heather is responsible for writing, proofing, and/or editing several of NCACPA's written pieces, including brochures, newsletters, and emails. She also manages the production of these pieces, and handles all advertising and sponsorship relationships.  Heather graduated from Campbell University with a degree in Mass Communication/Public Relations. Whenever she gets the chance, she enjoys traveling and watching movies with her husband.

Member Service Representative
Amelia Hodges

(919) 469-1040 Ext. 120
ahodges@ncacpa.org

Amelia is a Member Service Center Representative and is likely the first voice you hear when calling the association. She graduated from East Carolina University with a degree in Political Science and Communication Studies. A member of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority Inc., Amelia spends her free time doing community service. However, her absolute favorite thing is spending time with her parents and sister Nicole.

Chapter Meeting
Planner
Jennifer Rowell

Jennifer is the meeting planner for six chapters in the western part of our state. She has over three years of experience working with volunteer and community programs. She graduated from East Carolina University as a Pirate, but is also a huge Tar Heel fan. Jennifer enjoys spending time with her husband and their two children.

Member Service Representative
Angel Sutton

(919) 469-1040 Ext. 164
asutton@ncacpa.org

Angel is a Member Service Representative with the association. She also works with the Membership Manager on various projects in the Member Service Center. Angel is from the Pacific Northwest, but loves living in North Carolina with her husband, who is a native North Carolinian. Angel enjoys reading good books, writing poetry and spending quality time with her family.

Member Service Representative
Sandra Taylor

(919) 469-1040 Ext. 162
staylor@ncacpa.org

Finance & Administration

Director of Finance & Administration
Nikki Vann, CPA

(919) 469-1040 Ext. 126
nvann@ncacpa.org

A graduate of William and Mary and a CPA for 11 years, Nikki made several stops around the U.S., working in primarily small and regional CPA firms, before deciding to make Cary her home. Away from work, Nikki can be found trying out new recipes on her husband Jeff and reading a good book on the Carolina beaches as often as she can.

Operations
Coordinator
David Floyd

(919) 469-1040 Ext. 132
dwfloyd@ncacpa.org

In his 23^rd year with NCACPA, David is responsible for the shipping and receiving of all mail and UPS packages, helps with all large outgoing mailings and data entry projects, and maintains the copiers and mailing equipment. David is a native of Cary where he still lives. He is the proud uncle of two nephews, and is active with his Sunday school class
at Greenwood Forest
Baptist Church.

Peer Review
Coordinator
Mary Kelly

(919) 469-1040 Ext. 136
mckelly@ncacpa.org

Also known as the "Lifeguard of the Stars," Mary is responsible for coordinating the scheduling of peer reviews and serves as the liaison to the Peer Review Committee. This Raleigh native and Meredith College graduate is, surprisingly, a NASCAR and Carolina Panthers fan.

Staff Accountant
Frances Powers

(919) 469-1040 Ext. 154
fwpowers@ncacpa.org

Frances is responsible for processing all of the association’s accounts payable, month-end accounting, and system operating reports to assist with the preparation of the monthly financial statements. She enjoys spending time with her family, friends, and especially her grandchildren who keep her quite busy. Born on Halloween (we won’t say which year) her co-workers often “dress up” for her special day.

Administrator
Linda Prashaw

(919) 469-1040 Ext. 131

Linda is the new systems administrator for NCACPA. Arriving in this department from nearly 10 years of service to the meeting planning arena, Linda now keeps anything that's plugged in, under control! In her spare time, Linda works a part-time job at the RBC Center in Raleigh so she can root on her favorite sports team, the Carolina Hurricanes.

Seminar Manager
Amy Kirk

(919) 469-1040 Ext. 129
akirk@ncacpa.org

Amy oversees the NCACPA seminar curriculum in terms of planning through execution of each program. She is the liaison to the Accounting and Attestation and Professional Development committees. Amy is a graduate of West Virginia University and has been a “transplant” in the area since 2000.

Conference Manager
Ashley Squier

(919) 469-1040 Ext. 158
asquier@ncacpa.org

Ashley works with the conference team on the development and delivery of NCACPA’s 13 annual conferences and other special events. She is a staff liaison to the Not-For-Profit, Members in Business and Industry, and Symposium Committees, and the newly formed Trends Team.

Meeting Planner
Jackie Asekhauno

(919) 469-1040 Ext. 141
jasekhauno@ncacpa.org

Jackie is the lead planner for the Leadership Summit, Local Government Conferences, Accounting Education Forum, and the Fraud Conference. Originally from the DC area, Jackie brought six years of association meeting planning experience with her when she moved to Raleigh in 2005. Jackie also enjoys camping, traveling, and watching any movie starring Matt Damon.

(919) 469-1040 Ext. 135
kgrissom@ncacpa.org

With 13 years of association management and meeting planning experience under her belt, Kim has happily found her way to NCACPA, where she is responsible for seminar planning, onsite seminar coordination and ethics. A bona fide native of Raleigh and a graduate of UNC-Chapel Hill, Kim is a passionate fan of all things Tar Heel Blue. In her spare time, Kim tries her best to keep up with her precocious third-grader and her equally precocious husband.

Education Center Coordinator
Lisa Harrison

(919) 469-1040 Ext. 133
lisaharrison@ncacpa.org

Lisa administers seminar programs held at the NCACPA Education Center. She works with program administrators and the onsite registration process, as well as processing the attendance verification forms. While most of her spare time is volunteering at her church, she also enjoys quiet evenings with her husband and the kitty.

Meeting
Planner
Beth Hastings

(919) 469-1040 Ext. 123
bhastings@ncacpa.org