NJCPA Women of Influence Luncheon a Success

The NJCPA held its inaugural Women of Influence Luncheon on July 25 at the Park Avenue Club in Florham Park. More than 50 accounting, human resources and client servicing professionals were on hand to hear discussions about career opportunities, share personal journeys and network.

In what is expected to be a recurring event, the Women of Influence Luncheon was created to bring together female executives from the NJCPA accounting community to enlighten and inspire others. The luncheon was sponsored by Bernstein Private Wealth and TriNet Group.

Aiysha (AJ) Johnson, MA, IOM, CEO and executive director at the NJCPA and host of the event, noted that, “The strength of any organization lies not in its technical expertise but in connecting.” She reminded attendees that social capital is the gain obtained through social connections, which is what the NJCPA strives to excel at. According to Johnson, accounting is a great profession for female executives and called on those in attendance to “invite another woman to have a seat at the table.”

June M. Toth, CPA, CGMA, CFF, partner at WilkinGuttenplan and 2024/25 NJCPA president, told attendees that events like this are needed to reinvigorate accounting professionals amid changing dynamics in the profession. “This is where relationships are built and strengthened. The NJCPA provides a great sense of community.”

Jennifer Shimek, managing partner of the Short Hills office of KPMG US and its advisory markets leader, told attendees the biggest challenge professionals face in the job market today is the “ever-changing landscape.” She explained, “We’ve seen so much on the innovation front.”

Shimek noted the importance of perseverance and building relationships in one’s career. “We’ve all encountered speed bumps in our journeys. You’re going to have twists,” she said. “Continuous learning is super important,” she added, reminding attendees not to shrink from challenges and to create one’s own personal board of directors.