Discover the profound impact of the Accounting Career Awareness Program (ACAP) through the experiences of its successful alumni. ACAP is dedicated to fostering accounting career awareness and empowering aspiring professionals to achieve their career goals in the accounting and finance industries. Hear directly from ACAP graduates as they share how the program served as a pivotal stepping stone in their journey to professional success.
Darius L. Thompson, CPA, Senior Manager, Assurance at Ernst & Young LLP, credits ACAP as instrumental in launching his career. He states, “ACAP was extremely beneficial to launching my career as a CPA and accounting professional. ACAP served as my first true exposure to African-American CPAs and business professionals within the accounting industry.” Thompson emphasizes the lasting impact of the program, noting, “The impact of ACAP has lasted long after my participation in the program, as I have been able to leverage relationships and knowledge obtained through ACAP to assist in my professional career.” He further highlights the holistic development provided by ACAP, adding, “My overall experience with ACAP was tremendous as I was able to grow more as a person as well as develop skills outside of just accounting and finance. I would highly recommend any student interested in any aspect of business to participate in an ACAP!”
Sydney Nelson, MPA, CIADirector, Supplier Diversity at Advocate Health, echoes the transformative power of ACAP. Nelson reflects on the program’s comprehensive approach to career validation: “From my perspective, for one to truly validate the path to take, three things are needed: exposure, education, and experience. ACAP provided an opportunity for me to gain all three.” As a participant in NABA Milwaukee’s ACAP in 2007, Nelson experienced firsthand the program’s benefits. “Receiving an introductory education to core accounting and business concepts gave me a leg up when I returned to my high school to complete accounting courses. I secured college internships through NABA. I had the opportunity to experience what ‘A Day in the Life’ would look like.” Nelson concludes by affirming ACAP’s enduring influence and its role in shaping future leaders: “I walked away from ACAP knowing anything is possible. And while my only connection to accounting is through teaching courses part-time at a local university and through my involvement with NABA, I will continue to be an avid supporter of ACAP, its outcomes, and how it truly makes an impact on the future leaders of tomorrow.”
These testimonials underscore the effectiveness of the Accounting Career Awareness Program in providing exposure, education, and experience, thereby equipping participants with the tools and networks necessary for a successful career in accounting and related fields.
