According to the 2022 Accounting MOVE Project, women now comprise 38% of management committee seats at MOVE firms. They revised the rules that were limiting opportunities for women and other minorities, and the result is more diverse leadership that better represents the firm’s population. This year’s Women’s History Month theme is “Celebrating Women Who Tell Our Stories.” As one of PKF Texas’ marketers, it is my pleasure to tell the stories of our leading ladies who tell the firm’s story of uplifting women.
PKF Texas comprises about 50% women, so keep in mind this blog post only captures a sampling of the amazing things our women do.
Table of contents
- Sonia Freeman, CPA, CGMA – Chief Culture Officer, Audit Director
- Nikki Homratsamy, CPA – International Tax Director
- Nicole Riley, CPA, CFE – Audit Director
- Emily Smikal, CPA – Tax Director
- Jen Edmiston, CPA, CVA – Audit Senior Manager
- Valerie Frey, CPA – Audit Senior Manager
- Kimberly Henry, CPA, CEPA – Audit Senior Manager
- Renee Kroesch, CPA – Tax Senior Manager
- Jen Lemanski – Practice Growth Senior Manager
- Gloria Christiansen, CPA – Audit Manager
- Emily Marsh – Talent Acquisition Specialist
- Kelly McDonald, CPA – Audit Manager
- Gloria Singh, CPA – Tax Manager
Sonia Freeman, CPA, CGMA – Chief Culture Officer, Audit Director
In addition to client responsibilities as Audit Director, Sonia is also the firm’s Chief Culture Officer. She helps lead the firm with her fellow leadership team, as well as the Human Capital, Recruiting and Retention initiatives, ensuring PKF Texas is a great place to work. Outside of PKF Texas, she is involved with Greater Houston Partnership Executive Women’s Partnership, Women’s Finance Exchange, Women’s Presidents Organization, and YWCA Houston. Fun fact: she was honored by the Houston Business Journal as a “Woman Who Means Business” in 2018.
Nikki Homratsamy, CPA – International Tax Director
When Nikki isn’t serving clients as an International Tax Director, she’s actively mentoring PKF Texas team members and marketplace audiences. She’s heavily involved with the Greater Houston Women’s Chamber of Commerce as a Board Member and a past Vice Chair, and she enjoys hosting charity activities for the Houston Area Women’s Center. Fun fact: she was a role model in 2018 for the Greater Houston Women’s Chamber of Commerce STEAM luncheon.
Nicole Riley, CPA, CFE – Audit Director
Nicole is not only an Audit Director, but she’s also one of our leaders of the PKF Texas not-for-profit niche. She’s active in the marketplace, presenting at conferences, seminars, and webinars, and attending events to network and connect with people. Outside of PKF Texas, she serves as a Board Member to the Houston Community College Foundation. Fun fact: she was a 2020 role model for the Greater Houston Women’s Chamber of Commerce STEAM luncheon.
Emily Smikal, CPA – Tax Director
Another one of PKF Texas’ not-for-profit superstars is Tax Director Emily Smikal. Every year, she presents with Nicole on tax updates for not-for-profit organizations and has been invited by the Houston Business Journal to speak at its annual State of Giving & Nonprofits event. In addition to client responsibilities, she is the leader of our internal Aggie 100 Ag Squad, which work with Aggie-owned and -led businesses. Stay tuned for a “Career Conversations” video featuring Emily!
Jen Edmiston, CPA, CVA – Audit Senior Manager
Jen Edmiston may live outside of Texas, but she’s still an integral part of the Audit team. She is a great example of remote work at its best because she was already doing it before the 2020 pandemic, so the transition was a piece of cake for her! Even though she’s out of state, she has made time for periodic visits, as well as provided content for the firm’s marketing strategy. Fun fact: her most recent accomplishment was becoming a Certified Valuation Analyst (CVA).
Valerie Frey, CPA – Audit Senior Manager
A fellow Aggie 100 Ag Squad member is Audit Senior Manager Valerie Frey. In addition to client responsibilities, she leads the training of Audit team members when they join PKF Texas, as well as provides her valuable insights for CPE seminars that we host at the firm. Fun fact: she was a 2022 role model for the Greater Houston Women’s Chamber of Commerce STEAM luncheon. Stay tuned for a “Career Conversations” video featuring Valerie!
Kimberly Henry, CPA, CEPA – Audit Senior Manager
Kimberly is a Texas State University Bobcat who has been at PKF Texas for 10 years! She started her career in Audit and now specializes in Transaction Advisory Services, and she provides her knowledge and expertise in various episodes of PKF Texas – The Entrepreneur’s Playbook®. To further her career development, she became a Certified Exit Planning Advisor (CEPA) in the last few years.
Renee Kroesch, CPA – Tax Senior Manager
Renee is one of many Approachable Advisors™ who has grown at PKF Texas, starting her career as an Associate and is now a seasoned Senior Manager. She’s involved with internal training and recruiting and enjoys spending time with her teams at firm events and happy hours. Fun fact: she is also a member of the Aggie 100 Ag Squad!
Jen Lemanski – Practice Growth Senior Manager
Jen Lemanski is an award-winning marketer, who leads PKF Texas’ marketing strategy, initiatives, and outreach. In addition to her daily responsibilities, she’s heavily involved with the Association for Accounting Marketing where she served as Past President, 2022 Summit Content Chair, Board Member, and CEO Leadership Circle. Some of her accomplishments include 2021 role model for the Greater Houston Women’s Chamber of Commerce STEAM luncheon, 2017 Houston Business Journal 40 Under 40 honoree, American Marketing Association Marketer of the Year winner for multiple years, and more. Fun fact: she graduated from high school in Jakarta, Indonesia!
Gloria Christiansen, CPA – Audit Manager
Gloria Christiansen is a University of Houston Coog and another Approachable Advisor™ who started their career at PKF Texas! She’s shared with us that she appreciates working in a flexible environment so she can serve clients, as well as take care of herself and her family. In the past she was a contributor to PKF Texas’ Journalism Advisory Group (JAG), writing articles with our internal Cubester® Chat. Topics included: “Self-Care Tips to Manage Stress,” “The Impact of Mergers and Acquisitions on Young Professionals,” and “Why Young Professionals Chase Job Titles.”
Emily Marsh – Talent Acquisition Specialist
If you haven’t had a chance to meet Talent Acquisition Specialist Emily Marsh, now’s your chance! She’s the head of our recruiting efforts, so you’ll catch her at various college university campuses in Texas and surfing the web on LinkedIn meeting candidates virtually. Obviously, she’s heavily involved in recruiting, but she also oversees the PKF Texas internship program to ensure interns have an enjoyable experience working with our Approachable Advisors™.
Kelly McDonald, CPA – Audit Manager
Here’s another Aggie 100 Ag Squad team member! Kelly has been an Approachable Advisor™ at PKF Texas since the start of her accounting career. Though she works in Audit, she also has specialties in the Employee Benefit Audit space.
Gloria Singh, CPA – Tax Manager
Gloria Singh is one of our newer Tax Managers, and we love her spirit and enthusiasm. In addition to her client responsibilities, she was elected to the PKF Texas Staff Advisory Committee, where she meets with department representatives to discuss and implement new firm initiatives. Stay tuned for her full bio coming soon! For now, catch her as the lady in red and glasses in our Recruiting Story video!
As mentioned earlier, this is only a small percentage of the amazing women who work at PKF Texas! For many years, PKF Texas kept women’s initiatives at the forefront, not only for clients but for our leading women as well. Meet some more of our Approachable Advisors™ throughout our website!