June Newsletter

Join us for our June monthly Meeting with speaker Joanie Sompayrac on Tuesday, June 23rd.

"Beyond The Ledger: How UTC is Pivoting to Meet the Accounting Talent Shortage" Discussing statistics on the declining number of accounting majors, the perceived causes, steps being taken to reverse the trend and the initial results.

CPE Topic: Accounting - General (1 hour)

About our Speaker:

Dr. Joanie Sompayrac is an accomplished academic, legal professional, and CPA who serves as the Judith Finley Stone Alliance Professor of Accounting at the University of Tennessee at Chattanooga (UTC). Over a career at UTC spanning more than three decades, she has also served as a UC Foundation Professor of Accounting, Faculty Ombudsperson, and Faculty Assistant Director of the Honors College. Her exceptional dedication to the university community was recently recognized with the 2026 Rollins College of Business Faculty Service Award as well as the 2026 UTC Lifetime Service Award.

Dr. Sompayrac brings a wealth of practical industry experience to the classroom, having previously worked as a tax consultant for Big 4 firms including Arthur Andersen, Coopers & Lybrand (now PwC), and Ernst & Young. In addition to her academic role, she is also a licensed realtor in Tennessee, Alabama, and Georgia.

An active researcher and presenter, Dr. Sompayrac frequently publishes and speaks on a wide range of topics, including estate planning, tax law, workplace ethics, and gender equity. She is deeply committed to mentorship, having guided numerous students through undergraduate honors theses on contemporary business and financial issues. Beyond her professional achievements, she serves her community through leadership roles as the Treasurer for both Legal Aid of East Tennessee and PFLAG of Chattanooga,  as well as chairing her local church finance committee.

Dr. Sompayrac holds a B.S. and Masters in Accounting from UT-Chattanooga , alongside a Juris Doctor specializing in Tax Law from the University of Cincinnati.

AFWA is registered with the National Association of State Board of Accountancy (NASBA) as a sponsor of Continuing Professional Education (CPE) on the National Registry of CPE Sponsors. State Boards of Accountancy have final authority in the acceptance of individual courses of CPE credit. Complaints regarding registered sponsors may be submitted to the National Registry of Sponsors through its website: www.learningmarket.org.

Tickets

$30.00 Member Reservation

$35.00 Non Member Reservation

$0.00 First Time Guest Reservation

$15.00 Student Member Ticket