SALT LAKE CITY — The Utah Association of Certified Public Accountants (UACPA) honored nine professionals Friday for outstanding service, professional excellence and leadership.
The award winners were recognized at the UACPA's annual meeting. They are:
Paul Mendenhall received the Distinguished Service Award. He works as the team leader for Wells Fargo's Real Estate Banking Group. He has been a member of UACPA for 34 years and has helped further such things as accounting education and financial literacy.
Bryan Bolander got the Outstanding CPA in Public Practice Award. A partner in Van Tienderen, Carter and Bolander, he is a 31-year member of the UACPA and has been active in financial literacy efforts.
Kent Thomas was presented the Outstanding CPA in Business and Management Award. He is founder and CEO of CFO Solutions, and has been a member of UACPA for 29 years.
Sheldon Smith was given the Outstanding Educator Award. Smith is a professor of accounting at Utah Valley State University and previously was chair of the accounting department and then dean of the School of Business at BYU-Hawaii.
Kandice Lambert, who recently graduated from the University of Utah's master of accountancy program, received the Rising Star Award. A one-year UACPA member, she was the student campus ambassador in 2009.
Sidney Gilbert was honored with a Lifetime Membership Award for his longstanding efforts on behalf of the accounting profession and his efforts in the UACPA for the past 52 years. He founded Gilbert & Stewart in 1974. In 1979, he headed the association's State and Local Government Task Force. He also has served on the Utah State Board of Accountancy.
Charles Johnson also received a Lifetime Membership Award. A 46-year UACPA member, Johnson was honored for leadership, including service as president of the Huntsman Cancer Foundation, acting secretary for the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, and assistant secretary for resources and technology for the U.S. Department of Health.
Lori Reay was recognized with an Emerging Leader Award as someone to watch in the profession. She works with the nonprofit Kids on the Move and the Utah Chapter of Women in Insurance and Financial Services.
Susan Speirs was given the Experienced Leader Award for women in the profession. She has been involved with UACPA for 22 years, developed the Financial Literacy Task Force and served on the Council for the American Institute of CPAs.
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