PROFESSIONAL NEWS
Meet the Young Professionals on the NYPN-10 Task Force
An audit manager who used to be an operating room technician in the Army Reserves. Another with a passion for Boston sports who wants to help create networking events for young professionals.
These are samples of the enthusiastic, young and diverse Rhode Island CPAs who make up the New Young Professionals Networking task force (known as the NYPN-10). The group is charged with finding ways to engage the under-40 crowd in the RISCPA.
The newly named members of the NYPN-10 come from the top 10 firms with 100% membership participation in the Society. Here’s a snapshot of some of the members who will be part of laying that crucial foundation.
Jennifer Freitas
Piccerelli, Gilstein & Company, LLP
Chairwoman, NYPN-10 task force
Freitas, who chairs the NYPN-10 task force, has been working in public accounting for 15 years, and now works as a manager at Piccerelli, Gilstein & Company, LLP.
“My goal for NYPN-10 is to reach out to the new and young professionals, and provide them with resources that will enhance their careers, increase membership in the Rhode Island Society and involvement on committees, which in turn will provide the profession with our future leaders,” Freitas says.
Freitas was first introduced to accounting at a community college, where she was enrolled after working as an operating room technician for the Army Reserves. She liked the medical world, but didn’t see it as a long-term career possibility for her. Taking Accounting 101, however, opened her eyes to the field that would eventually grasp her attention for years to come.
In her free time, Freitas likes vacationing and being with family. She is also on the board of a volunteer organization called Homes for our Troops. “I enjoy giving back to members of the military who have given up so much,” she says.
John Teixeira, Sansiveri, Kimball & Co., LLP.
Vice Chairman, NYPN-10 task force
Teixeira, the vice chairman of the task force, comes to NYPN-10 from Sansiveri, Kimball & Co., where he works as a tax manager with a focus on international taxation.
“My hope for NYPN-10 is to achieve the overall objective of spreading awareness about the Society to young professionals in the accounting/finance industry and to all college students,” Teixeira says. “Also, to let young professionals know that their input and involvement are welcomed and key to the future success not only of the RISCPA, but also to their individual careers and, in some circumstances, the state of Rhode Island.”
A 2000 graduate of Bryant University, Teixeira has since held positions with a Big Four accounting firm and a Fortune 500 company. For six of the last 10 years, he has been working at Sansiveri, Kimball & Co., where he would like to see himself eventually working as a tax partner.
In his free time, he enjoys spending time with his wife, Jill, and two daughters, Joy and Hope. 
Brendan Donovan, CBIZ Tofias
Member, NYPN-10 task force
As an audit manager at CBIZ Tofias, Donovan works to serve clients in several different industries, including private equity, manufacturing, and not-for-profits, focusing mainly on private schools and colleges.
“I’d like to help initiate events designed around business development and networking, so as to better prepare young professionals for future leadership roles, both within the Society, as well as within their own firms,” Donovan says of his participation on the NYPN-10 task force.
“In addition, I’d like the task force to bring newer members of the profession together with more seasoned members to enhance communication as well as open doors at the Society for younger members who may not feel they have a place,” he said.
Donovan earned his Bachelor’s degree in accounting from Assumption College, and his Master’s of Science in Accounting from Suffolk University. Before Tofias, he worked for three years at Wolf & Company P.C. in Boston. While not in the office, he enjoys spending time with his wife and daughter. He also avidly follows the Red Sox, Patriots and Bruins.
The other NYPN-10 members include:
- Michelle Cullion, DiSanto Priest & Co.
- Erica Olobri, Braver PC
- Aaron Holzinger, KPMG
- Andy Hayes, Kahn, KLR
- Molly O'Marra, LGC&D
- Julie Steffes, CCRLLP
- Mariann Lackey, YKSM
An 11th member will be named shortly from Sullivan & Company, the most recent firm to achieve 100% attendance.
