AICPA Recognizes Three Individuals with 2026 Emerging Leaders Award

The AICPA & CIMA recognizes three practicing CPAs with the 2026 AICPA Emerging Leaders Award. Every year, these awards are given in memory of Maximo Mukelabai, a member of the inaugural class of the AICPA Leadership Academy whose life was tragically cut short in 2011 at age 36.

Honorees are selected annually for exemplifying the passion, intellect and inspiration demonstrated during Maximo’s career. Shortly before his passing, he became the first African American and youngest chair of the North Carolina Association of CPAs board of directors. Maximo's influence and leadership were felt by many, and the Emerging Leaders Award (formerly Outstanding Young CPA Award) is one way his legacy is carried on.

“The accounting and finance profession continues to evolve in exciting ways, creating meaningful opportunities for emerging leaders to make an impact in their organizations, communities and the profession at large. This year’s honorees reflect the energy, purpose and leadership that will help shape what’s next,” said AICPA Emerging Professionals Initiatives Senior Manager, Lexi Weber. “Each application offered a powerful reminder of the talent, service and commitment across our profession. The future is bright, and these leaders are helping light the way.”

To be considered for the award, candidates submitted applications and details on their volunteer history. They shared why giving back is important to the profession, how their efforts have positively impacted the community, and the ways they have demonstrated leadership through professional or service activities. Applicants also provided professional references from peers, employers, and/or state CPA societies. The AICPA’s Emerging Professionals Initiative Committee (EPIC), along with past recipients, then reviewed all qualified nominations to determine this year’s honorees. Explore the complete eligibility criteria.

EPIC’s mission is to actively promote and enhance the emerging professional experience in the accounting and finance profession by providing targeted leadership programs and networking opportunities to the next generation of leaders. To learn more about how the AICPA supports these emerging professionals, visit the AICPA Emerging Professionals Network.

Congratulations to the following Recipients of the 2026 Emerging Leaders Award:

Holly Hawk, Ph.D., CPA, CGMA | Clinical Assistant Professor – Clemson University
Clemson, SC

What receiving this award means to Holly: “Receiving this award is incredibly meaningful to me. I’m grateful to be recognized alongside leaders who care deeply about giving back and moving the profession forward. It’s a reminder to keep learning, keep showing up for others, and use every opportunity I have to make a positive impact.”

Professional Biography:
Holly Hawk, Ph.D., CPA, CGMA, is a Clinical Assistant Professor at Clemson University, where she teaches accounting analytics, information systems, and emerging technologies. Before entering academia, Holly worked in risk assurance at PwC and internal audit at TD Bank.

Holly is passionate about student learning and helping faculty create engaging, effective classroom experiences. Her teaching and research focus on instructional methods, curriculum development, teaching effectiveness, and preparing faculty and students for changes in the profession, with a growing emphasis on data analytics, artificial intelligence, and emerging technologies. She has received multiple teaching awards, including Clemson University’s Provost Junior Teaching Excellence Award and has been named a CPA Practice Advisor “40 Under 40” honoree three times.

Holly is deeply involved in professional service through the AICPA and American Accounting Association. She is an AICPA Academic Champion, chaired the AICPA Academic Executive Committee and Student Recruitment Committee and is a graduate of the AICPA Leadership Academy. Outside of academia, Holly enjoys spending time with her family and being involved in her church, coaching youth sports, and volunteering with Junior Achievement. When she’s not in the classroom, there’s a good chance you’ll find her on a baseball, softball, soccer, or football field.

Darius Hinton, CPA, CGMA | Business Operations Program Manager - Google
Reston, VA

What receiving this award means to Darius: "I am deeply humbled to be selected for this award. In honor of its namesake, I believe that leadership is not about who serves you, but about who you serve. As a student of servant leadership, I learned early on that the true measure of a leader is how many other leaders they develop. I want to thank those who trusted my influence and entrusted me with leading; I will continue to support and champion their journeys. Finally, thank you to the AICPA for providing a platform where emerging professionals can hone their skills, elevate the profession, and give back. It is an incredible honor to be recognized by the Association that has given me so much."

Professional Biography:
Darius R. Hinton, CPA, CGMA, CMA, CDFM, is a strategic finance leader operating across commercial technology, enterprise governance, and national defense. He serves as a Business Operations Program Manager within Google’s Cloud Supply Chain, optimizing cost and performance for global server infrastructure deployments.

As an Army Reserve Finance Major, he leads military financial management technicians under the principles of adherence to fiscal law, timeliness, audit readiness, consistency, and accuracy. Darius previously served on active duty at the National Guard Bureau as a Data Analytics Lead and Financial Manager. There, he directed enterprise data analytics for a $20 billion federal appropriations portfolio, advising military general officers and federal executives on resource allocation and program execution across a multi-state and territory entity of over half a million soldiers and civilian employees.

An ROTC graduate from NC State University with a Bachelor’s in Natural Resources Economics, Darius holds graduate degrees from East Carolina University, NC A&T State University, and Duke University. A dedicated servant leader, he serves on the AICPA Joint Trial Board, the Board of Directors for the National Society of Black CPAs, the NC State Student Success Advisory Board, and as Treasurer for Fly Minds, Inc., a local nonprofit that introduces children to science, technology, engineering, and math disciplines. Darius resides in Fort Washington, Maryland, with his wife, Briana, and their son.

Dez Magelssen, CFE, CPA | Founder - Alpine Ridge Accounting
Bozeman, MT

What receiving this award means to Dez: “Receiving the 2026 Emerging Leaders Award leaves me speechless. This past year challenged me in ways I never could have imagined, both personally and professionally. There were moments when simply continuing to move forward felt like an accomplishment. Receiving this recognition after those moments is incredibly meaningful. It reminds me that hardship and success can exist in the same chapter and that even during some of life's hardest seasons, we are still capable of doing great, meaningful things for our profession. I’m incredibly honored, humbled, and honestly still a little shocked. More than anything, I’m proud that I continue to push forward.”

Professional Biography:
Dez Magelssen is the Founder of Alpine Ridge Accounting, where she leads accounting and advisory services focused on empowering women-led professional service firms through tailored, technology-enabled financial solutions. Grounded in trust, compassion, and authenticity, Dez helps business owners simplify their financial operations, better understand their numbers, and make confident, strategic decisions about the future of their business or organization.

Before founding Alpine Ridge Accounting, Dez began her career in public accounting as an auditor with Wipfli LLP before moving into private accounting at Oracle. Those experiences gave her a strong foundation in financial operations, internal controls, and the systems businesses need as they grow. Today, she brings that experience to her clients in a way that is practical, approachable, and tailored to the realities of running a small business.

Dez is a licensed CPA and earned both her Bachelor of Science in Accounting and Master of Professional Accountancy (MPAc) from Montana State University. She lives in Bozeman, Montana, with her husband and German Shepherd.

Emerging Professional Initiatives Contact:
Lexi Weber, CPA
EmergingProfessionals@aicpa-cima.com