AICPA Honors Tommye Barie with the Gold Medal of Distinction

New Orleans, La. (May 20, 2026) - The American Institute of CPAs (AICPA) is pleased to announce that Tommye Barie, CPA, is the 116th recipient of the AICPA Gold Medal Award of Distinction.

The Gold Medal is the highest honor granted by the AICPA. Since 1944, it has been bestowed upon CPAs whose influence on the accounting profession has been especially notable. Carla McCall, Past Chair, AICPA and Past Co-Chair, the Association of International Certified Professional Accountants, presented Barie with the award at the spring meeting of the AICPA governing Council.

"Tommye Barie is a dynamic leader whose service to and influence on the accounting profession are as distinguished as her career achievements," said McCall. "She has made invaluable contributions to the profession from the local to the international level. Above all, Tommye is a servant leader who consistently pays it forward and advances the careers and interests of others without regard to how she will benefit."

During her time as Chair of the Board of the American Institute of CPAs, Barie was part of the leadership team that initiated the joint venture with the Chartered Institute of Management Accountants, resulting in the creation of the Association of International Certified Professional Accountants. She currently supports innovation and technology within the CPA ecosystem as a board member of CPA.com. She also previously served as Chair of the Florida Institute of CPAs and was a board member of the International Federation of Accountants.

A recognized thought leader in culture, strategy and innovation, Barie served as an Audit and Assurance Partner at Mauldin & Jenkins, one of the 100 largest full-service accounting and consulting firms in the U.S. During her tenure, she launched the firm's Client Advisory Services practice and served on both the Audit and Assurance Committee and the Forward and Strategic Thinking Committee. In her current role as Executive Vice President of Leadership Development at the Succession Institute, she mentors and coaches CPA firms and future leaders across the profession.

Barie has earned widespread acclaim for her impact within the profession. She has been named one of Accounting Today's 100 Most Influential People in the profession, received the Michigan Association of CPAs' Outstanding Visionary Award, and has also been honored multiple times as one of CPA Practice Advisor's 25 Most Powerful Women in Accounting.

About the Association of International Certified Professional Accountants, AICPA, and CIMA

The Association of International Certified Professional Accountants (the Association) advances the reputation, employability, and quality of CPAs, CGMA designation holders, and accounting and financial professionals globally. Founded in 2017 by the AICPA and CIMA, it represents 574,000 AICPA and CIMA members, students, and registrants in more than 150 countries and territories, advocating for the public interest and business sustainability on current and emerging issues.

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Contact: Enelda Butler
919-402-4572
[email protected]