FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Contact: Katie Migliazzo
kmigliazzo@accountingaidsociety.org
(Detroit, Michigan) June 30, 2021 - Accounting Aid Society, the largest provider of volunteer-driven tax services in southeast Michigan, today announced the appointment of Lisa Howze as Chairperson of the Board of Directors. Howze, who has served on the board since 2015 and as vice chair in 2017, succeeds Robert Zalewski, who was appointed board chair in July of 2019.
“It is my distinct honor and pleasure to serve as Chair of the Accounting Aid Society Board of Directors. The Accounting Aid Society is a trusted partner in the community, doing the work and delivering results on behalf of families in need of tax assistance. I am grateful to serve alongside a talented group of board members who are committed to changing lives every single day,” states Lisa Howze.
In prior leadership roles, Lisa served as a state representative in Michigan's 96th Legislature and chief of staff and chief government affairs officer for Detroit Mayor Mike Duggan. Later, at Davenport University, Lisa was vice president for Detroit campuses and strategic partnerships, where she focused on student success, operational oversight, and market expansion through strategic alliances.
Howze is known as a career transformation specialist. In her upcoming book entitled, “Candy Girl Mentality: Keys to Turning Bitter Moments into Sweet Success,” Lisa shares key insights that help young professionals gain the perspective they need to access the life and career they want. As founder and CEO of The Lisa Howze Experience (TLHE), LLC, Lisa high-energy, thought-provoking, and inspirational keynote and workshop presentations offer audiences tangible tools that they can apply immediately to their personal and professional lives.
The native Detroiter is a certified public accountant and graduate of the Ross School of Business at the University of Michigan, where she earned a Bachelor of Business Administration. She also has a Master of Science in Finance from Walsh College. A lifetime member of the National Association of Black Accountants, Inc., Lisa believes in giving back and currently serves on one other board, the Michigan Association of Certified Public Accountants (MICPA). To recognize her professional and civic contributions, Lisa has received numerous awards and accolades, including Crain’s 2019 Notable Women in Education Leadership Award, and the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants (AICPA) and MICPA’s 2020 Women to Watch Experienced Leader Award.
Lisa’s appointment comes during a transformational time for our community and a significant moment in the agency’s history, as Accounting Aid is helping to lift thousands of children out of poverty by connecting them to the 2021 expanded Child Tax Credit (CTC). As part of the 2021 American Rescue Plan, the historic expansions and improvements to the credit remove earning requirements, increase the qualifying age from 16 to 17, increase the dollar amount of the credit and provide monthly advance payments starting this July.
As the region’s leading subject matter expert in tax, Accounting Aid Society is implementing a comprehensive, regional outreach and education campaign to help as many families as possible take advantage of the expansion, especially those who will benefit most from the expansions, but have historically been left behind by the system. The agency is also part of a coordinated outreach and engagement campaign with the City of Detroit, a coalition of other nonprofits, foundations, and other education partners to ensure parents, grandparents, stepparents, siblings, and others raising children have access to the newly expanded CTC.
"This is a significant moment in the history of the organization and our communities,” said Kathleen Aro, Accounting Aid Society president. “Lisa's leadership, passion and wealth of knowledge will be critical in the agency's ability to scale and meet the growing demand for our services, and we're excited to channel her experience and talent into furthering our mission. Many thanks to Lisa's predecessor, Robert Zalewski, for his leadership and steadfast commitment to creating an economy that works for everyone."