ABOUT CPA LEADERSHIP INSTITUTE

CPA Leadership Institute is devoted to the enhancement of leadership and management development in CPA firms. Firms need leadership at all levels, not just the top. Everyone can be a leader by taking ownership of his or her job, and when that kind of behavior becomes part of the firm culture, success is assured. We are devoted to this idea—to see leadership become pervasive in CPA firms.

Management is distinctly different from leadership. Managers are the people who see that things get done, while leaders are the people who envision the things that should be done. Or, to quote from Peter Drucker, “Management is doing things right; leadership is doing the right things.”

Our repertoire of tools and reports for helping CPAs develop leadership and management skills and fulfill their potential is described in this Website. Some of these, such as Best Practices Tips, Leadership Forum, and Discussion Forum are accessible free for Standard Members. To learn about Standard membership (and other memberships) and register, click here.

Other tools include our Webinar series on leadership, management, personal development, and niche development are available to Premium and Professional members. CPA Leadership Report is also available to Premium and Professional members. It offers the most comprehensive exploration of new ideas in the accounting world. It is a monthly review of the best management and leadership articles published in the accounting press, and includes electronic links to enable you to read the complete article if you need information beyond the scope of our reviews. The archive of articles published since 2005 is a treasure trove of information. Articles can be accessed through the search function or through the Practice Management Index (by subject).

For information about Premium and Professional membership, click here.

 

OUR TEAM

Joel Shiffrin, President
Joel Shiffrin’s career includes the presidency of a downtown Chicago bank and partner in a top 25 CPA firm. Most recently, he was the founder and CEO of PENCOR LLC, a leading provider of newsletters and niche development services to the accounting profession. Mr. Shiffrin retired from PENCOR on September 30, 2002.

During his many years in CPA firm management and marketing, Mr. Shiffrin gained a wealth of experience that he wants to share with the profession both through the CPA Leadership Report and through personal contact. In preparing CPA Leadership Report, he has enlisted the collaboration of some of the most capable practitioners, consultants, and support organizations that serve the accounting profession.

Mr. Shiffrin is a graduate of New York University (BS) and the University of Chicago (MBA).

 

Daniel Shiffrin, Managing Editor
A former lawyer, Dan has spent the last 19 years as a writer and editor specializing in complex legal and financial subjects. In addition to serving as managing editor of CPA Leadership Report, Dan writes newsletter and magazine articles, Web site content, and other materials for professional service firms and other businesses.

Dan is a graduate of Carleton College (BA) and the Indiana University School of Law (JD). He lives in Chicago with his wife and two daughters.

 

Angela Ruggiero, Director of Operations
Angela Ruggiero, director of operations, has been with CPA Leadership Institute since 2005. She has over 20 years experience in executive office administration and office management. With this experience came a great appreciation of superior customer relations. Angela is also the hostess for the CPA Leadership webinars.

Angela lives in sunny, Florida with her husband and son. She is a native of Buffalo, New York where she earned her Bachelors Degree from the State University College at Buffalo.

 

Stephanie Klug, Director of Customer Service
Stephanie Klug graduated Cum Laude from Texas A&M University in 1998. Upon graduation she managed a restaurant chain before becoming a High School Biology and Environmental Science teacher. She has worked for the CPA Leadership Report for 3 years starting in Sales and moving up as the Director of Customer Service after 6 months. She resides in Savannah GA with her husband and three children.

 

Lisa Keane, Director of Product Development
Lisa Keane joined CPA Leadership Institute in 2007.  Before joining our team, her career included client relationship management for outsourced benefits administration and management of a team of benefit services representative.  As a manager, she was part of a team of managers that developed and implemented a new system of service excellence practices for a 200 person benefits administration call center. In her spare time she enjoys community service leadership opportunities such as PTA President and Chairperson of the Character Development Committee, at her childrens’ schools.

Lisa is a graduate of University of Illinois at Chicago (BS) and Roosevelt University (MBA).

 

Nilla Cooper, Director of Accounting

 

Gary Schweinshaupt, Director of Information Technology
Gary has been an independant Web developer, desktop publisher and entrepreneur for 15 years. Early experience included industrial electronics design and production in the aerospace industry, 10 years in professional outside sales in high-tech microcomputer technology and 15 years in sales management and general management in computer retail businesses. He has an A.S. Degree/Electronics Technology and extensive knowledge in Microsoft-based computer software and peripherals, specifically experienced in graphics/publishing software and Internet/Web operation and design development.

 

Brian Lowe, Director of Design
Brian's focus is on the graphic design and development of the CPA Leadership website. His design experience ranges from rich media user interface and web design to print and identity design. He holds a Bachelor's in Graphic Design with an Art Minor.

 

Teresa Mungo, Account Services Manager
Teresa joined CPA Leadership in 2009. As an architect, she has 20 years experience with an Architecture degree from the University of Illinois. At CPA Leadership her responsibilities include: management of CPE administration, hosting Webinars, and membership retention.

Teresa lives in Dallas with her husband and two children. She is a native of Chicago and speaks fluent Italian.