OSCPA June Town Hall and Annual Meeting recap

Written on Jun 26, 2025

By Jessica Barboza, OSCPA content specialist   

Today, OSCPA members gathered for the June Town Hall and the 2025–2026 Annual Meeting. Hosted by President & CEO Laura A. Hay, CPA, CAE, the agenda highlighted a new Board of Directors, a look at our annual State of the Society Report and the latest from the Statehouse. 

Additionally, special guest Denise Bartick, president and CEO of MAX Technical Training, presented “Ohio TechCred: The $100 million promise” and sharinged how the TechCred program is helping Ohio employers and professionals thrive in today’s tech-infused economy by building critical, in-demand skills.   

 

Ohio TechCred: The $100 million promise 

The Ohio TechCred Program is a state-funded initiative that reimburses employers for training employees in short-term, technology-focused credentials, and has helped hundreds of Ohioans transition into new careers through its IT bootcamps and workforce partnerships. 

Bartick walked attendees through the program’s eligibility requirements, application process and the types of credentials covered.  

Regarding eligibility requirements for the program, Bartick said the company must have a physical address in Ohio, be registered with the Secretary of State, their employees must be residents or prospective residents of the state of Ohio and the employer must be able to invest upfront. 

“The application itself takes about 30 to 45 minutes; the approval takes 45 to 60 days to hear back from the state. Once you get your approval, you have up to 12 months to have your employees attend those classes, and then reimbursement,” Bartick said. “Once you apply for reimbursement, it’s a very quick, 15 to 20 days.” 

The steps for applying for the program are as follows: 

  • Create Ohio ID 

  • Apply during an application period (the next one is July 1) 

  • Have your employees take a class 

  • Apply for reimbursement 

“The beauty of this is that these classes, not only can CPAs in Ohio now get CPE for attending a technology class, but they can also get these classes reimbursed,” Bartick said. 

OSCPA members can register for TechCred courses here. 

 

The New OSCPA Board of Directors 

Hay announced that the Nominating Committee unanimously recommended Angela Lewis, CPA, of Crowe LLP, as the next chair-elect of the Board of Directors. Lewis will serve as Chair in 2026–2027 and Past Chair the following year. 

Courtney Clark, CPA, Managing Partner for Multistate Tax Services at Deloitte, begins her term as Chair this year, with Richard Fedorovich, CPA, of Bober Markey Fedorovich, transitioning to Past Chair, Hay said. 

 “I am thrilled to step into the role of Chair of the board, to continue to make the Ohio Society known for all the right things in our state,” Clark said. “Our organization stands on a strong foundation, and it’s due to the dedication and the ingenuity of our members.” 

 

Serving alongside Courtney will be Gregory Jonovich, CPA, at Materion, who will continue as Vice Chair, Finance.  

 

The new board directors for 2025-2026 include:  

  • Darci Congrove, CPA, Managing Director, GBQ   

  • Robert Fay, CPA , State Regulatory and Response Committee, NASBA     

  • Tracey Holecek, CPA, Senior Managing Director + Shareholder, Acclarity    

  • Dan Perschke, CPA, Senior Vice President & Controller, E.W. Scripps    

 

 Continuing board directors for 2025-2026 include:  

  • Brandi Carson, CPA, La-Z-Boy Incorporated   

  • Mark McKinley, CPA, Rea   

  • Jacob Nix, CPA, RISCPoint   

  • Kerry Roe, CPA, Clark Schaefer Hackett   

  • Jon Ruple, CPA, Maloney + Novotny   

  • Carolyn Smith, CPA, Governmental Accounting Standards Board   

  • Mark Welp, CPA, Holbrook & Manter   

“The strength of our Board lies in the diversity of experience, perspective, and passion each leader brings to the table,” said Hay. “Together, their commitment moves the profession – and OSCPA – forward. I am so thankful for each of their unwavering support and service to our shared mission and look forward to working with, and learning from, each of them.” 

 

Annual State of the Society Report 

"The Board of Directors oversees the work we do here at the Society, but truly, our real bosses are you– our members,” Hay said. “This is why each year during the June Town Hall, we share the State of the Society Report. It is at this time that we stop and reflect on all that we have accomplished in the last year and all that we still have yet to do in the months and years to come.” 

One of the most significant accomplishments, she said, was the passage of House Bill 238, which made Ohio the first state in the nation to modernize the educational pathways to CPA licensure.  

Since the bill’s signing in January, OSCPA has led implementation efforts in Ohio and supported similar legislation in other states, Hay said. 

“To date, we are now at 19 states. Together, state societies are working to solve the national shortage of accountants and expand interstate mobility,” Hay said. 

She also highlighted the record-breaking impact of The Ohio CPA Foundation. 

“The Foundation has been making an impact for more than 70 years, but never has its work been more critical than it is today,” Hay said. “Last year, 950-plus high school students participated in 10 Accounting Career Days across the state, and we hosted five CPA Camps for nearly 225 high school students to spend a day learning about Accounting.” 

The Foundation also broke a record, granting $123,000 in scholarships for 2024. 

OSCPA’s new Solutions Hub was introduced as a curated resource for members seeking trusted partners in areas like automation, cybersecurity and hiring.  

“[The Solutions Hub] is a curated ecosystem of trusted partners aligned with our strategic priorities,” Hay said. “Whether members need guidance on automation, cybersecurity, hiring or upskilling, the Solutions Hub connects you with vetted providers who understand the CPA profession and are committed to its future.” 

On the learning front, OSCPA doubled its webcast offerings in 2024-25, introduced new speakers at conferences and made Town Halls a monthly fixture, she said.  

Hay said the Society is also considering revisiting in-person events based on member feedback, with this year's Spring Education & Workforce Partnership Event exceeding participation goals. 

Looking ahead, Hay emphasized the importance of collaboration and long-term thinking. “We’re calling on you to join us to be a voice, an advocate and a champion for the future of your profession. There are so many ways to give back, through donations to the Foundation or the PAC, speaking at an OSCPA event, writing an article for CPA Voice magazine or the weekly newsletter CPA Takeaways and collaborating on workforce initiatives.” 

Hay also encouraged members to join the Ohio Accounting Talent Coalition. Modeled after successful efforts in healthcare and IT, the coalition gives OSCPA access to state funding to support key initiatives, like the Look Beyond campaign and rethinking accounting education.  

Visit our workforce development page to join the coalition. 

 

Government Relations Update 

In the Government Relations update, Hay highlighted OSCPA’s recent advocacy wins at both the state and federal levels, including key provisions in Ohio’s biennial budget and ongoing efforts to protect pass-through entity (PTE) tax benefits. 

At the state level, OSCPA played a pivotal role in shaping House Bill 96, which passed both chambers of the Ohio General Assembly on June 25. The bill includes several OSCPA-backed provisions, such as clarifying ownership rules for public accounting firms operating under alternative practice structures, phasing in a flat 2.75% tax on nonbusiness income and preserving the Business Income Deduction. It also expands the PTE tax credit to multi-tiered entities and aligns nonprofit municipal tax deadlines with federal due dates. 

On the federal front, OSCPA continues to advocate for fair treatment of PTEs under the SALT deduction rules.. OSCPA is urging members to contact their federal representatives before the U.S. Treasury’s comment period closes on June 30. 

 “We encourage everyone to please use your voice and take action now,” Hay said. “Contact your federally elected officials to ensure that these state legislative vistories do not become futile. It will only take you a couple of minutes, and we have a template message already written for you.”