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Together, We Thrived in 2025

January 08, 2026

As a new year begins, one thing is clear: we are stronger when we’re together. Fueled by the passion of our members, the dedication of our volunteers, and leadership from across the state, last year delivered milestones that advanced the profession, strengthened our community, and created lasting impact for future CPAs.

From advocacy and award-winning initiatives to record-breaking service and scholarship support, 2025 reminded us what is possible when the CPA community comes together around a shared purpose.

New Leadership, Shared Vision

We proudly welcomed the 2025–2026 OSCPA Board of Directors, led by Chair Josh Elder, CPA, of HoganTaylor. Under Josh’s leadership and alongside a talented board representing every corner of the profession and state, the OSCPA continued its commitment to strategic growth, member engagement, and advancing the future of the CPA certification. Their vision reinforces what has always made this organization special: leadership rooted in service, collaboration and a deep belief in the importance of our profession.

Investing in the Next Generation of CPAs

Supporting students remained a cornerstone of the OSCPA’s mission in 2025. Through the OSCPA Educational Foundation, we awarded more than $65,000 in scholarships to 41 accounting students across Oklahoma, helping ease financial barriers and empower future CPAs to pursue their goals with confidence.

Beyond scholarship dollars, OSCPA members showed up in classrooms, career fairs, and community programs statewide, connecting with more than 1,115 students, ranging in age from middle school through graduate school. These conversations created awareness of accounting as a dynamic, flexible, and impactful career path, and helped students see themselves in the profession.

Purpose Meets Community

For the second year in a row, the CPA Classic Golf Tournament benefiting the OSCPA Educational Foundation proved that connection and purpose go hand in hand. With over 100 golfers and OSCPA members participating, the 2025 CPA Classic raised more than $25,000 for student scholarships, a powerful testament to what happens when competition, camaraderie, and generosity come together for a cause that matters.

More than a single day on the course, the CPA Classic has quickly become a signature event that connects us and directly supports accounting students.

Celebrating Excellence in the Profession

In June 2025, we honored the individuals who exemplify leadership, service, and excellence in Oklahoma’s CPA community. The OSCPA Annual Awards Ceremony and Annual Members Meeting welcomed a sold-out crowd of more than 200 members, family, and friends, creating an unforgettable day of  learning and celebration.

The highlight was the induction of Randy Thurman, CPA, into the OSCPA Accounting Hall of Fame—an honor that recognizes a lifetime of service and impact. Together, we celebrated rising leaders, trailblazers, and those whose careers have helped shape the profession in our state.

Delivering Exceptional CPE Experiences

Education is at the heart of professional excellence, and in 2025, OSCPA delivered standout learning opportunities, including:

  • The Governmental Accounting & Auditing Conference in May brought together CPAs from across Oklahoma and featured high-impact speakers, including State Auditor Cindy Byrd and Attorney General Gentner Drummond.
  • The Annual Members Meeting at The National in Oklahoma City featured State Treasurer Todd Russ and AICPA Chair Lexy Kessler, CPA, alongside national experts.
  • Various One Big Beautiful Bill Act (H.R. 1) courses were coordinated by the OSCPA to provide timely, helpful information on key federal changes and deep dives into the details.
  • The Oklahoma Tax Institute in December, hosted by the Tax Committee, welcomed more than 250 CPAs, delivering timely insights ahead of a pivotal tax season.

These events didn’t just provide educational opportunities; They created shared learning experiences that strengthened professional expertise and peer-to-peer connections statewide.

Giving Back to Our Communities

2025 was a record-breaking year for service. The CPA Day of Service saw more than 230 members and volunteers participate, making it the largest Day of Service in OSCPA history. CPAs served at nonprofit partners across Oklahoma, organizing donations, supporting families, and demonstrating what it truly means to lead through service.

Throughout the year, members also connected through a variety of Mix & Mingle events, gatherings, and committee roundtables, creating meaningful relationships and conversations beyond the workplace. The year concluded with a heartwarming Toy Drive Wrapping Party, uniting CPAs around a shared mission to serve children and families across the state during the holiday season.

Award-Winning Committee Work and Resources

OSCPA committees continued to innovate in 2025, launching projects that support the profession today and into the future:

  • The Financial Literacy Committee unveiled a new Financial Fitness Kit in April, designed to help teach foundational money concepts, with various free tools available to download. The project earned an Award of Merit from the American Marketing Association of Oklahoma, showcasing the creativity and impact of our members’ work beyond accounting.
  • The Tax Committee refreshed its Annual Tax Guide for Oklahoma Legislators, helping policymakers better understand tax-related issues affecting the state.
  • The Tax Committee and Small Firm Practitioners Committee both added new, member-focused resource checklists, supporting members at key stages of their careers with practical, actionable tools.

These projects reflect a growing body of member-created resources designed to strengthen the CPA experience and our communities at every level.

Advocacy That Moves the Profession Forward

More than 30 members gathered at the Oklahoma State Capitol for CPA Advocacy Day in May 2025, meeting directly with legislative leaders and hearing from:

  • State Auditor Cindy Byrd, CPA
  • Sen. Dave Rader
  • House Speaker Pro Tempore Anthony Moore
  • Rep. Gerrid Kendrix, CPA
  • Rep. Cody Maynard, CPA

Together, we didn’t just educate policymakers, we built relationships to help protect and elevate our profession.

Additionally, OSCPA took bold steps to expand access to licensure. By surveying members and aligning with updates to the Universal Accountancy Act (UAA) developed by NASBA and the AICPA, and in coordination with the Oklahoma Accountancy Board, the OSCPA helped open the door to new pathways to CPA licensure. The OSCPA and OAB have since begun the legislative process through a bill to help modernize the profession and widen the doorway for future CPAs.

Stronger Together

The story of 2025 is powerful not because of any one initiative, but because of what happens when thousands of professionals unite behind shared the values of service, excellence, education, and community.

Every scholarship awarded, every student reached, every volunteer hour given, every conversation at the Capitol, and every connection made reinforces a simple truth: the OSCPA is strongest when our members move forward together.

As we look ahead, we do so with momentum and a renewed commitment to one another. Your involvement—whether through leadership, advocacy, committees, education, or service—is what makes this organization thrive.

Thank you for making 2025 a year of importance. Together, we are building the future of the CPA profession in Oklahoma, and making it stronger than ever.