CPA Day at the State Capital: Advocacy Reimagined (E2410600)

Aiysha (AJ) is the CEO and executive director of the New Jersey Society of CPAs (NJCPA). Previously, she was executive director of BKR International’s Americas Region, overseeing the implementation of all strategic efforts for BKR accounting and business advisory member firms in the United States, Canada, Latin America and the Caribbean. AJ worked for a range of associations including Vizient, the nation's largest healthcare performance improvement company. She has more than 20 years of global experience with nonprofits and professional and trade associations. AJ was elected to the boards of the Commerce and Industry Association of New Jersey (CIANJ) in 2024 and the New Jersey Chamber of Commerce in 2023. She was a member of BKR’s Center of Excellence Advisory Board and is on the boards of the Community Foundation of New Jersey, Together for Youth and Junior Achievement of New Jersey. AJ is a recipient of the New Jersey Business & Industry Association’s (NJBIA) Leonard C. Johnson Award, was recognized among the Top 100 Most Influential People in Accounting by Accounting Today (2023 and 2024), named on the NJBIZ Power 100 (2024) and its Accounting Power 50 lists (#1 2023 and 2024), and cited as a 2023 People to Watch in Finance. She was named to ROI-NJ’s ROI Influencers: Accounting Power List (2024, 2025), Top 50 Women in Business (2024) and People of Color (2023). AJ served on the Alumni Board of the University of Chicago (2021-2023), where she graduated with a Master's in Administration and Policy. She also completed the Senior Management Program in Business Management at University of Chicago/IE School of Business and holds a certificate in Management Accounting for Leaders.

Jeff is the vice president of government relations for the NJCPA. He works with the CEO and the Board of Trustees to create and implement advocacy initiatives that protect and promote the interests of the CPA profession, the business community and the public. Jeff monitors legislative and executive branch activity that impacts CPAs by writing position papers, developing grass roots membership activities to enhance lobbying efforts and raising money for the NJ-CPA-PAC. He is also a liaison to other pro-business groups like the New Jersey Chamber of Commerce, New Jersey Business & Industry Association (NJBIA) and Commerce and Industry Association of New Jersey (CIANJ) to coordinate legislative strategies. Prior to joining the NJCPA, Jeff worked on several political campaigns, worked for former Governor Jim Florio and for Common Cause New York. He previously owned a lobbying and public affairs firm. Jeff belongs to Compassion and Choices, the Humane Society and the American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals.

Elizabeth C. Matto is a Research Professor and teacher-scholar-practitioner of democratic education. On September 1, 2023, she was appointed Director of the Eagleton Institute of Politics. Matto earned her Ph.D. in American Politics from George Washington University and is a recipient of the Harry S. Truman Award (Nevada, 1990). In 2022, Matto was invited to serve on a Presidential Task Force for the American Political Science Association focused on rethinking the political science major. For Rutgers University, Matto serves as President Jonathan Holloway’s delegate on civic learning initiatives organized by the Institute for Citizens and Scholars and co-chair on the Presidential Task Force on Civic Engagement and Public Service. Matto served as the lead editor on the American Political Science Association’s publications Teaching Civic Engagement Across the Disciplines (2017) and Teaching Civic Engagement Globally (2021) and edits the text’s companion website, a resource for educators who want to include political learning techniques in their curriculum. She is the author of the book, Citizen Now: Engaging in Politics and Democracy (Manchester University Press, 2017) and To Keep the Republic: Thinking, Talking, and Acting Like a Democratic Citizen (Rutgers University Press).

Micah is the director of the Rebovich Institute for New Jersey Politics at Rider University. He has contributed to the public affairs of the state for more than two decades and has more than 15 years of experience as an adjunct professor of political science. As Governor James E. McGreevey's press secretary, Micah handled crisis communications during the Governor's historic resignation. He has served as communications director for the New Jersey Department of Transportation, worked in the New Jersey General Assembly and managed several political campaigns. Micah previously served as vice president for executive communications at Chubb, where he wrote speeches for audiences throughout the world. He also served as director of corporate communications for New Jersey Resources and its primary subsidiary, New Jersey Natural Gas. He also runs the New Jersey Model Congress, a civics education program he founded.

David A. Smith is a veteran of the public affairs arena and has expertly managed public affairs campaigns impacting auto insurance, life insurance, financial services, tort reform and environmental legislative initiatives. He has served as a lobbyist for the New Jersey Society of CPAs for 25 years. Dave was awarded a Master of Science in Financial Services (MSFS) Degree from the Richard D. Irwin Graduate School of The American College. He is a Graduate Fellow of the Public Affairs Institute, a three-year educational program of the Public Affairs Council located in Washington, DC. Dave is a graduate of Gettysburg College and currently holds various insurance licenses.

June is a principal at WilkinGuttenplan and is the president of the NJCPA for the 2024/25 term. She has been a member of the NJCPA since 1995 and has served in a variety of capacities, including the Peer Review Executive Committee, Strategic Planning Committee and Volunteer Relations Committee, and was chair of the NJ-CPA-PAC Board of Trustees, chair of the Committee Operations Committee and vice leader of the Business Valuation, Forensic & Litigation Services Interest Group. She is also an active participant in the Accounting & Auditing Standards and Nonprofit interest groups. Before WilkinGuttenplan, June was the managing member of zbt Certified Public Accounting & Consulting, LLC. She is a former treasurer of Garwood Municipal Library; a recipient of NJCPA’s Volunteer Award in 2018 and its Women to Watch Award in 2019; one of New Jersey Monthly’s Leading Women in 2015 and one of NJBIZ Accounting Power 50 from 2020 to 2022.