Investing in the Future of Accounting

About the Foundation (NEW PAGE)

Since 1984, the NC CPA Foundation has partnered with NCACPA to support aspiring accountants in North Carolina. Our mission is to ensure a strong pipeline of talented professionals entering the accounting field and attaining the CPA license. 

Through the Foundation’s scholarship programs, we have impacted the lives of over 2,000 accounting students across the state, awarding over $3 million in financial assistance. However, as the costs of higher education continue to rise, students face mounting debt, and the accounting industry grapples with a shortage of new talent. 

To address these challenges and secure the future of our profession, we are committed to increasing our investment in the accounting pipeline to $250,000 annually. Our goal is to establish a $3 million endowment, providing sustainable funding for strategic initiatives that foster growth and diversity within the profession. 

Your generous contributions open doors of opportunity for aspiring accountants across North Carolina, positioning our profession for a brighter, more inclusive future. Please consider joining us in nurturing the next generation of financial leaders and ensuring the continued excellence of the accounting profession. 

Nurturing a Robust CPA Talent Pipeline for North Carolina

The path to becoming a CPA is increasingly challenging due to factors like reduced STEM education in high schools and rising college costs. Attracting and supporting a diverse pool of promising students is crucial to overcoming this challenge. Without a robust pipeline of aspiring CPAs, firms and organizations may struggle to find qualified professionals, making the Foundation’s work vital. 

In partnership with NCACPA, the Foundation is broadening its impact through initiatives designed to engage students at key junctures in their journey to becoming a CPA.

From cultivating early interest in accounting to supporting students through the CPA exam, NCACPA and the Foundation are nurturing a diverse workforce of future CPAs prepared to lead the profession forward.

Meet the Foundation’s Board of Directors

The NC CPA Foundation is governed by a Board of Directors, comprised of NCACPA members, who are responsible for upholding the Foundation’s mission, spearheading fundraising initiatives, ensuring financial stewardship, and overseeing the scholarship review process. Board members serve as ambassadors, advocating for the Foundation’s vital work in supporting accounting students and the accounting profession across the state.

President
Rachel Annelise Chaney, CPA

Vice President
Antonette Lockett, CPA

Treasurer
Jennifer Shoffner, CPA

Immediate Past President
Michelle Tracz, CPA 

Class of 2023–2026 

Dan Lavelle

Dan Lavelle, CPA

Class of 2024–2027 

Malissa Davis

Dr. Malissa Davis, CPA

Christina Howard

Christina Howard, CPA

Jeanette Franzel

Jeanette Franzel, CPA

Kingsley Ifedi

Kingsley Ifedi, CPA

Class of 2025–2028

Amethia-Clay-200x200

Amethia Clay

Kelli Roberts

Kelli Roberts, CPA

Roby Sawyers

Dr. Roby Sawyers, CPA

Madison Williams

Madison Williams, CPA

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Katie Patterson, CPA, Young Professionals Cabinet liaison (2025-2026)