Awards
MTCPA Awards
Every year, the MTCPA honors individuals that have demonstrated their commitment to supporting the Society and maintaining the CPA's trusted and respected place in the state's professional community.
Help us recognize exceptional CPAs who make a difference in Montana’s accounting profession. Nominate a colleague who has shown leadership, innovation, or outstanding service for one of the MTCPA’s prestigious awards. Celebrate their achievements and contributions to the profession! The Awards are presented at the Annual Conference each June. Nominations will be retained for consideration for 3 years.
Nomination deadline for all awards is December 15th, each year.
2025 Award Winners
Distinguished Service Award:
Ronald Yates Jr., CPA
Inspire Empower Impact Award:
Madelyn Miller, CPA
Honorary Life:
(present)
Gary Staudinger, CPA, CGMA Ret.
Margaret Lehman
[full list here]
Medallion Award:
(present)
Savannah Rydalch - Carroll College
Dani Bartsch - U of M
Renzie Pond - MSU Billings
[full list here]
MTCPA Awards
George D. Anderson
Distinguished Service Award
The Distinguished Service Award (DSA) is the Montana Society of CPAs’ highest honor, recognizing a member whose career reflects exceptional service to the accounting profession and/or the public. This award celebrates CPAs who have demonstrated sustained leadership, integrity, and a deep commitment to advancing the profession at the local, state, national, or even international level. Recipients of the DSA are individuals whose contributions have elevated the stature of the profession while also making a meaningful impact on the communities they serve.
In considering nominees, the MTCPA Board of Directors evaluates a broad range of professional and civic accomplishments. These may include significant service to the Montana Society of CPAs through leadership roles such as officer, Board or committee member, legislative advocate, CPE speaker, researcher, or contributor to professional publications. Consideration is also given to involvement with the American Institute of CPAs (AICPA), including service as an officer, committee member, speaker, researcher, or contributor to the CPA Exam. Additionally, nominees may have contributed to other influential national or international organizations that strengthen the profession, such as standard-setting bodies, academic associations, or global accounting groups.
Beyond professional service, the award also recognizes individuals who have demonstrated outstanding dedication to their communities through civic engagement, charitable involvement, or public service, including elected or appointed roles. Nominees may also be distinguished by thought leadership—such as delivering presentations or publishing articles that encourage participation in and support of community, civic, or charitable initiatives. Collectively, these contributions reflect a career defined by impact, leadership, and a lasting commitment to both the profession and the public good.
Inspire Empower Impact Award
This award celebrates the meaningful ways CPAs influence the profession and their communities. It recognizes individuals whose actions empower others, advance educational innovation, and contribute to the accounting profession in ways that motivate and inspire students and peers alike. This award also honors those who give back through volunteer service within the Society and their local communities.
Nominees may come from a variety of backgrounds—a rising Young CPA making an early impact in the field; a CPA in industry driving innovation and leadership; a university professor inspiring the next generation through their passion for the profession; or a CPA dedicated to volunteerism across organizations and committees. The possibilities are broad, reflecting the many ways CPAs make a difference.
This award category has evolved to encompass several legacy honors, including the Outstanding CPA in Industry Award, the Jack Kempner Outstanding Educator Award, the Outstanding Young CPA Award, and the Community Service and Outstanding Volunteer Awards.
Medallion Award
The Medallion Award is presented annually to an outstanding upper-level accounting student enrolled in a four- or five-year program at one of Montana’s universities. Each institution’s accounting faculty selects a recipient who exemplifies excellence in academic achievement within the accounting curriculum, as well as a strong commitment to the profession. This honor recognizes not only scholastic performance, but also the dedication, integrity, and potential these students demonstrate as future leaders in accounting. By highlighting these individuals, the MTCPA celebrates the next generation of professionals who will contribute to the strength and integrity of the accounting community across Montana.
Honorary Life
Honorary Life Membership is a distinguished recognition awarded by the MTCPA Board of Directors to members who have demonstrated long-standing commitment to the profession and the organization. Members in good standing who have maintained at least 20 years of membership are eligible beginning in the fiscal year following their 70th birthday.
This designation honors not only longevity, but also the meaningful contributions these individuals have made throughout their careers—whether through service to clients, mentorship of future professionals, or involvement in the Society and the broader accounting community. Honorary Life members continue to enjoy full membership benefits without the obligation of fees, dues, or assessments.
Each year, these members are formally recognized at the MTCPA Annual Conference in June, where we celebrate their careers, their impact on the profession, and their lasting legacy within Montana’s accounting community.
OUTSTANDING CPA IN INDUSTRY AWARD
The MTCPA Outstanding CPA in Business and Industry Award recognizes the achievements of individual CPAs employed in business, industry, nonprofit and government (BING). The nominee must be a member of the MTCPA in good standing, be employed in business or industry and be nominated based on achievements, such as: Making a significant contribution to the growth and enhancement of the profession; Making a significant contribution to the growth and success of his/her employer organization or a notable entrepreneurial achievement; Providing leadership-by-example and commitment within their organization, community and profession; Inspiring and motivating others for growth and development, while emphasizing the ethical and excellence values of the CPA profession.
JACK KEMPNER OUTSTANDING EDUCATOR AWARD
The recipient of this award is one who is distinguished for excellence in classroom teaching, motivating students and educational innovation and contributions to the accounting profession, as demonstrated by active involvement in professional activities such as participation in professional accounting organizations. Educators noted for their teaching abilities but currently are predominantly involved in administration or research are eligible. The nominee need not be a CPA nor hold a doctoral degree.
OUTSTANDING YOUNG CPA AWARD
Up-and-coming CPAs are the heart of the profession, and absolutely imperative in the growth of the profession as a whole. The Outstanding Young CPA Award is to recognize the talent of young Montana CPAs and for their growth potential in the accounting profession. Qualifications: Be a CPA member of MTCPA; Be 35 years old or younger at the end of the current fiscal year (January 31); Display significant accomplishments within MTCPA or a local MTCPA Chapter; Shown community and/or professional contributions/significant achievements; Have at least three years of professional accounting experience
COMMUNITY SERVICE AWARD
Community Service is a vital part of any thriving community. MTPA is proud to have members who provide their time, expertise, and man power to help people and organizations around our community - and in turn, making Montana a better place to live. This award recognizes a CPA who volunteers their time to organization(s) in their community.
OUTSTANDING VOLUNTEER AWARD
The Outstanding Volunteer Award represents an important opportunity to focus recognition on volunteers who achieve excellence in leading MTCPA committees, task forces and working groups. The support for these awards comes from the Society’s tradition of serving the profession and is intended to recognize outstanding examples of leadership and achievement. Attributes: Committee leadership recognizes and supports good ideas, inspires a vision, steers projects, enables others to act, encourages others; Committee productivity develops and attains committee goals, promotes quality work, meets deadlines, accepts responsibility and performs consistently, makes a major contribution to the committee’s success; Advancing morale shows initiative, is enthusiastic and effective, fosters collaboration, strengthens others, leads by example.