Announcing our 2024 Life and Honorary Members

The Arizona Society of Certified Public Accountants is pleased to recognize Michael David Lemme, CPA, as our 2024 Life Member and introduce two new Honorary Members, Bob Kilpatrick and Nancy Wilburn.

Life Members, like Lemme, are CPAs selected for their longtime membership combined with dedicated work to the organization and profession as a whole. Honorary Members have made significant contributions to the profession but are not from within the industry. 

Michael David Lemme, CPA

Lemme first joined the ASCPA in 1992, where he was instrumental in the early days of the ASCPA's advocacy efforts, including the Tax Legislation Review Committee (TLRC). Since then, he has been an unwavering support to CPAs across Arizona through reviewing tax legislation and speaking with policymakers. Throughout his career, he has been an advocate for his clients at Hunter, Hagan & Company and to the profession as a whole. 

Lemme is being honored as a Life Member. Click here to read his story. 

"We’ve all benefited from Mike's sage input on the TLRC. By ‘all,’ I mean every resident of the state of Arizona. He, along with the rest of the TLRC, has provided insights that have helped the legislature craft better tax laws that work as intended."

- David K. Walser, CPA | ASCPA Member

Bob Kilpatrick & Nancy Wilburn

Kilpatrick and Wilburn are emeritus professors at Northern Arizona University, where they taught accounting courses for 30 years. They have served on the ASCPA's Scholarship Selection Committee and are past award recipients from the ASCPA for their innovation in the classroom. 

The couple has inspired thousands of young accountants throughout their careers. This year, they are being recognized as Honorary Members. 

Click here to read their stories. 

“Bob and Nancy always impressed me with their focus on student preparation and success. The students in our program always had good CPA pass rates and were hired into great positions. Bob and Nancy never rested on their (and our) laurels. They were constantly looking for ways to improve accounting education and to prepare students even better for successful careers.”

- Eric Yordy, Accounting Department Chair, Northern Arizona University

Excellence in Teaching Award Recipient

Finally, we are pleased to announce the recipient of our annual Excellence in Teaching Award, which recognizes an outstanding professor of accounting at one of Arizona's universities. Janeé Johnson, CPA, a senior lecturer and associate director for the Dhaliwal-Reidy School of Accountancy at the University of Arizona, has been selected for her hands-on work with the Master of Accountancy program, her stellar student course survey ratings and her leadership on School of Accountancy events. 

Johnson strives to create a culture in accounting education that does not exclude students, but instead mentors them into the program. The ASCPA is grateful for her inclusivity and continuous growth mindset, both of which are core values of our organization. 

"While Janeé always demonstrates excellence in the classroom, she is equally committed to student development outside the classroom. She has taken the initiative to create new events which will be launched next semester and will be aimed primarily at Sophomores and Juniors. Janeé is looking forward to connecting with undergraduate students, and I look forward to seeing the positive impact that this new event will have on our students."

- Dr. Shyam V. Sunder, Director, Dhaliwal-Reidy School of Accountancy

Lemme, Kilpatrick, Wilburn and Johnson will be celebrated at the ASCPA's Annual Meeting & Awards Luncheon on May 9, 2024, in Scottsdale. Tables and individual seats are available for purchase to this signature event. 

About the Arizona Society of Certified Public Accountants

As the leading organization for CPAs in Arizona since 1933, the Arizona Society of Certified Public Accountants (ASCPA) creates opportunities for members to maximize their potential through advocacy, connections and education.