Ellison-Taylor, Dodaro receive AICPA’s highest honors

The AICPA awarded its highest honors to a pioneering former chair and to a former head of the U.S. Government Accountability Office (GAO).

Kimberly Ellison-Taylor, CPA/CITP, CGMA, was awarded the Gold Medal Award of Distinction at AICPA Council in Nashville, Tenn. The Honorary Gold Medal was awarded to Gene Dodaro, a “leading advocate for accountability, transparency, and effective government stewardship,” according to a news release.

Ellison-Taylor, the founder and CEO of KET Solutions LLC, is recognized as a leading voice on innovation, technology, and the future of the profession. In a career spanning more than three decades, she has helped organizations embrace emerging technologies, navigate change, and prepare for a rapidly evolving business environment.

Ellison-Taylor served as chair of the AICPA and the Association of International Certified Professional Accountants in 2016–2017. She helped guide the profession through a period of significant technological and societal change, according to the release. As one of the youngest leaders, the first person of color, and the first African American woman to serve as AICPA chair, she also expanded pathways for future generations of professionals.

“Kimberly has left an indelible mark on the profession by challenging us to think bigger, look forward, and recognize incredible possibilities in a changing world,” Carla McCall, CPA, CGMA, past AICPA chair, said in the release. “Her leadership, mentorship, and advocacy resulted in impact that goes far beyond ideas — she has inspired countless people to believe they belong, to use their voices, and to see themselves as part of shaping the future of the profession.”

Dodaro served as the eighth Comptroller General of the United States. As comptroller general and head of the GAO, “he has strengthened public-sector financial oversight and helped policymakers address some of the nation’s most significant fiscal and operational challenges,” the release said.

Dodaro directed the first audit of the U.S. government’s consolidated financial statements and advanced reforms that continue to improve government effectiveness. His contributions “have strengthened public trust and elevated standards across the federal sector,” the release said.

The Gold Medal Award of Distinction has honored the profession’s most influential leaders since 1944. The Honorary Gold Medal was established in 1980 to recognize individuals who are not CPAs whose work has had a significant impact on the profession.

“This year’s recipients exemplify values at the heart of the profession: integrity, accountability, service, and a commitment to the public interest,” the release said.

— To comment on this article or to suggest an idea for another article, contact Neil Amato at Neil.Amato@aicpa-cima.com.