By Jessica Salerno, OSCPA senior content manager

Being a leader means a lot of things, and determination is one of them. That’s something Andrew Somich, CPA, understands, especially when it comes to his recent acceptance into the prestigious AICPA Leadership Academy.

“I applied last year, too. This has always been on my radar,” he said. “I talked to a few people who went through the program and learned how it has impacted them professionally and personally. It has been a goal of mine to be selected into the program.”

Somich said this year he applied as soon as applications were open and was thrilled to learn he had been chosen to travel to Durham, N.C., this October for the program. Over the course of four days, the young accounting professionals in attendance will have an opportunity to examine their own leadership process and how it impacts different areas of their life, including their work as a CPA.

Somich works at the Mentor office of Rea & Associates – where he also is a participant of the firm’s internal leadership program – and the team there has been excited and supportive of him attending the program, he said.

“This means I’m doing something right,” he said. “My peers see me as a real leader for the community and for the profession. Acceptance into the AICPA Leadership Academy will provide me with valuable knowledge and experience.”

Somich described his own leadership style as communicative. He said he’s looking forward to learning from others and strengthening his own skillset.

“I think leadership is putting yourself out there and building trust with your clients and your team,” he said. “One thing I want everyone to know is I’m always accessible.”

And his leadership doesn’t stop with the profession. Somich is a member of the Cleveland Young CPAs and is also involved with Big Brothers Big Sisters as a volunteer and board member. He said that stepping up as a leader and being a person of influence also has had a major impact on the children. Big leadership lessons are impactful, but so are smaller ones, such as holding the door open for someone behind you.

This isn’t the first time an OSCPA member has been recognized: Last year, Jessie Wright, CPA, and now an OSCPA Executive Board member, attended the Academy.

“This is a really great honor,” Somich said. “I hope to bring what I learn from this experience to the society, to my firm and to the profession, in general.”