National Association of Black Accountants Honors Top-Archivers

The awards program, which concluded NABA's 35th Annual National Convention & Diversity Expo in Hollywood, Fla., recognizes and honors the creativity, dedication and vision of individuals and businesses that contribute to their profession and help to support the goals and vision of NABA. A long-standing tradition of the organization, the awards banquet was the convention's most popular event, with more than 2,000 attendees.

As part of the program, NABA presented the Corporate Diversity award to an organizational partner that has demonstrated commitment to workplace inclusion, and this year, "Big Four" accounting firm PricewaterhouseCoopers (PwC) was acknowledged for its ongoing development and support of programs that contribute to the advancement of black accountants. Other awards were presented in the following categories:

Outstanding Member
Mr. Wayne Lee, CPA
President, Lazarus Group Consulting Inc. (Richmond, Va.)

National Achievement - Government
Ms. Gwendolyn Sykes
CFO, National Aeronautics and Space Administration/NASA (Washington, D.C.)

National Achievement - Industry
Mr. Gregory C. Redmond
General Manager, Corporate Internal Audit Dept., Chevron (Concord, Calif.)

National Achievement - Public Accounting
Mr. Lester H. McKeever, Jr., CPA
Managing Principal, Washington, Pittman & McKeener LLC (Washington, D.C.)

National Achievement - Public Accounting
Mr. Donald Christian, CPA
Partner, PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP (Washington, D.C.)

National Achievement - Education
Ms. Sharon Simmons, Esq., CPA
Assistant professor of business, University of the Virgin Islands/UVI (St. Thomas, U.S. Virgin Islands)

National Achievement - Education
Mr. Francisco Depusoir, MBA, CPA
Managing Partner, Francisco Depusoir CPA (St. Thomas, U.S. Virgin Islands)

Community Service Award
Mr. Tommie L. Williams
Comptroller, Community Mental Health Council Inc. (Chicago)

Corporate Diversity
PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP

Walking the Road Less Traveled
Ms. Olivia C. Brown, CPA
Manager, InterContinental Suite Hotel Cleveland and Cleveland Clinic Guesthouse (Cleveland)

CEO of the Year
Mr. Bert N. Mitchell, CPA, MBA
Mitchell & Titus LLP (New York)

Rising Star Award
Ms. Natara Holloway, CIA, CFE
Director of Internal Audit Group, National Football League/NFL (New York)

Division of Firms (DOF) Member of the Year
Mr. Kola Isiaq, MBA, CPA, CISA
Partner-in-Charge, Williams, Adley & Company LLP (Washington, D.C.)

Unsung Heroine of the DOF
Ms. Doris M. Barnes
Special Projects Coordinator and Recruiter, Walker & Company LLP (Washington, D.C.)

Ms. Marion Mickens
Director of Administration, Bert Smith & Co. (Washington, D.C.)

Ms. Monica H. Ashery
Special Assistant to the President, Coleman & Williams Ltd. (Milwaukee)

Chapter President Regional Award - Central
Ms. Karen Lasley, MBA
Vice President - Risk Manager, JPMorganChase (Cleveland)

Chapter President Regional Award - Eastern
Mr. L. Matthew Perry
Senior Analyst, Goldman Sachs (New York)

Chapter President Regional Award - Southern
Mr. Derrick A. Pitts
Senior Financial Analyst, Wachovia (Charlotte, N.C.)

Chapter President Regional Award - Western
Ms. Shelia Taylor Clark
President - AFAM, Deloitte (Dallas)

Nominated by their NABA peers, these honorees have made significant and lasting contributions in the accounting and finance industries, and their advocacy and ingenuity is evidenced throughout the public accounting, education, consulting, finance and government fields, among others.