2026 Association CFOs of the Year
CFO of a large association (annual revenue over $25M)
Zerihun Haile-Selassie, CAE
Chief Financial Officer
Endocrine Society
Zerihun Haile-Selassie, CAE, is the Chief Financial Officer for the Endocrine Society, where he provides strategic leadership and oversight of the Society’s Finance and Accounting, Information Technology, Publications & Journals, and Innovative Business Development initiatives. He previously served as the CFO of Inteleos and as Chief Operating and Financial Officer at ACTFL. Beyond his executive role, Zerihun is deeply engaged in the broader nonprofit community. He currently serves as Vice Chair of FAR (Finance Administration Roundtable), a member of the Board of Directors at GWSCPA (Greater Washington Society of CPAs), a member of the ASAE ForesightWorks Advisory Group, and a member of the Sage Intacct Nonprofit Advisory Council. Zerihun is the 2022–2024 ASAE DELP Scholar, was recognized as a Rising Star for the 2018 Nonprofit CFO Award, and was named one of the top 25 CFOs in Maryland for 2023.
He is proudly committed to advancing the Endocrine Society’s mission and is a strong advocate for the broader nonprofit community.
He is a PhD candidate at the University of the Cumberlands and earned his graduate degree from the University of Maryland Global Campus. He is a Certified Association Executive (CAE) and a Certified Corporate Board Director (BCBR) from Santa Clara University Leavey School of Business.
CFO of a mid-sized association (annual revenue under $25M)
Marta Sokol
Chief Financial Officer
Wireless Infrastructure Association
Marta Sokol serves as Chief Financial Officer of the Wireless Infrastructure Association (WIA), where she leads the organization’s financial strategy, planning, and operations. As a member of WIA’s executive leadership team, she ensures the Association is positioned financially to deliver on its mission of enabling connectivity and innovation across the United States.
After immigrating from Poland, Marta built a successful career in the United States through determination, continuous learning, and a passion for helping organizations succeed. With more than two decades of experience in finance, accounting, and operational leadership, she is known for combining financial discipline with a collaborative, forward-looking approach to growth. During her 11-year tenure at WIA, she has helped guide the organization through a period of significant expansion, strengthening its financial foundation while supporting strategic investments that have more than doubled the association’s scale and positioned it for continued success.
Beyond her executive responsibilities, Marta is actively engaged in the nonprofit and association community. She serves as Treasurer and Executive Committee member of FAR: The Nonprofit Business Leaders’ Network and was recently appointed to the Board of Directors of the Greater Washington Society of CPAs (GWSCPA).
Known for her energy, curiosity, and people-centered leadership style, Marta believes organizational success is built on three fundamentals: people, process, and proactive engagement. Throughout her career, she has been passionate about helping others succeed, empowering colleagues to grow, and building teams grounded in trust, collaboration, and continuous improvement. She views the role of a finance leader not only as a steward of resources but also as a catalyst for innovation and organizational impact.
PAST HONOREES
2025
- CFO of the Year: Jennifer Brearey, AdvaMed
- Association CFO of the Year: Susan Medick, American Association of Immunologists
- Philanthropic CFO of the Year: Kristin Junkin, ShoreRivers, Inc.
2024
- CFO of the Year: Carmel Darcy, American Red Cross
- Association CFO of the Year: Yvonne Bull, International Fresh Produce Association
- Philanthropic CFO of the Year: Karen Smith, The Ministry of Caring Inc.
- Rising Stars:
Joy Hickey, Federation of State Humanities Councils
Ciarra Smith, The Hands and Feet
2023
- COO of the Year: Justin Waller, US Chamber of Commerce
- Association CFO of the Year: Ann Bittman, Healthcare Distribution Alliance
- Philanthropic Organization CFO of the Year: Rick Robinson, Independent Sector
- Rising Stars:
Jessica Mclain, Girl Scout Council Nation’s Capital
Chase Warden, Land Trust Alliance
Faides Zilemba, BOMA International
2022
- CFO of the Year: Yvonne Kankam-Boadu, American Speech-Language Hearing Association
- Association CFO of the Year: Brian Green, CPA, CAE, Consumer Healthcare Products Association
- Philanthropic Organization CFO of the Year: Mahomed Ouedraogo, Access Community Health Network
- Rising Stars:
Christina Hadden, Global Impact
Zarina Manapova, Airports Council International North America
2021
- CFO of the Year: Eileen Ramage, National Association of Home Builders
- Association CFO of the Year: Dave Fitzsimmons, National Association of Chain Drug Stores, Inc.
- Philanthropic Organization CFO of the Year: John Robertson, Capital Area Food Bank
- Rising Stars:
Leila Green, Conference of State Bank Supervisors
Brice Hadden, Managed Funds Association
Tanisha Lewis, American Association for the Advancement of Science
2019
- CFO of the Year: Joseph Budzynski, Volunteers of America
- Association CFO of the Year: Lisa Haynes, Mortgage Bankers Association
- Philanthropic Organization CFO of the Year: Steve Barker, World Resources Institute
- Rising Stars:
Zahilys Hernandez, National Retail Federation
Randy Marsh, Horton’s Kids
Jessica Sherry, Share Our Strength
2018
- CFO of the Year: Joe Janela, American Pharmacists Association
- Association CFO of the Year: Margie Erinle, Institute of Scrap Recycling Industries
- Philanthropic Organization CFO of the Year: Mary Jane Morrow, Catholic Charities of the Archdiocese of Washington
- Rising Stars:
Rick Cohen, National Council of Nonprofits
Tea Gennaro, Associated Builders & Contractors, Inc
Zerihun Haile-Selassie, American Council on the Teaching of Foreign Languages
Dave Jackson, American Counseling Association
Warren Sander, Society for Conservation Biology
2017
- CFO of the Year: Guy Sheetz, Futures Industry Association
- Association CFO of the Year: Allison Ingram, Society of Military Engineers
- Philanthropic Organization CFO of the Year: Jim Thomasell, National Parent Teacher Association
- Rising Star: Mark Hornby, Family Career and Community Leaders of America
2016
- CFO of the Year: Deborah Cowan, NPR
- Nonprofit Transformational Leader: Paul Archambeault, Airlines for America
- Rising Star: Carolyn Mollen, Independent Sector
2015
- CFO of the Year: Philip Parisi, United Service Organizations
- Nonprofit Transformational Leaders:
Paul Vitale, Toy Industry Association
Tom Tepper, Wilderness Society
- Rising Star: Don Miller, Meals on Wheels America
2014
- CFO of the Year: Stewart Uretsky, Brookings
- Nonprofit Transformational Leaders:
James Lum, Guide Star
Sam DiCario, Food Marketing Insitute
- Rising Star: Sara Bannon, American Society of International Law
2013
- CFO of the Year: Marvin Irby, National Restaurant Association
- Nonprofit Transformational Leaders:
Samantha Barbee, International Youth Foundation
Forrest Cason, Mental Health Center of Denver
- Rising Star: John Lozitio, Academy of Management
2012
- CFO of the Year: Stanley Berman, Global Impact
- Nonprofit Transformational Leaders: Kimberly McKinnish, National Beer Wholesalers Association
- Rising Star: Jason Daisey, Associated Builders & Contractors, Inc
2010
- Nonprofit CFO Lifetime Achievement Award: Kevin Hardardt, American Gas Association
- Nonprofit CFO Innovator of the Year Award: David Keen, National Association of Counties (NACo)
- Rising Star: Lisa Stewart, Institute for Higher Education Policy
2009
- Nonprofit CFO Lifetime Achievement Award: Moira Fathy Baker, National Science Teachers Association
- Nonprofit CFO Innovator of the Year Award: Christopher Liedel, National Geographic Society
- Rising Star: Alexis George, Bob Woodruff Foundation
2008
- Nonprofit CFO Lifetime Achievement Award: Eileen Frazier, The Jewish Federation of Greater Washington
- Nonprofit CFO Innovator of the Year Award: Jack Deeds, Search for Common Ground
- Rising Star: Stephanie Murphy, Air-conditioning, Heating and Refrigeration Institute
2007
- Nonprofit CFO Lifetime Achievement Award: Kristen Conte, Eugene and Agnes E. Meyer Foundation
- Nonprofit CFO Innovator of the Year Award: Usha Chaudhary, United Way of America
- Rising Star: Abigail Gorman, American Dental Education Association
2006
- Nonprofit CFO Lifetime Achievement Award: Brenda Hargett, American Academy of Otolaryngology – Head and Neck Surgery
