Denise Froemming on Breaking Boundaries and Building Careers: From Wisconsin Roots to Leading the Largest State CPA Society in the U.S.

How do you go from assisting your parents with residential construction in rural Wisconsin to the top executive role at the largest state CPA society in the country?In this episode of No Boxes, Just Verses, I sit down with Denise Froemming. We discuss her pivot from healthcare aspirations to accounting, the realities of family obligations early in a career, and the reasons she views the CPA credential as the ultimate career accelerator.About Our Guest: Denise FroemmingDenise is a CPA and the CEO and President of CalCPA. She built her career around organizational expansion, community outreach, and leadership development. She currently focuses on the future of accounting: talent, innovation, advocacy, and the strategies required so the profession stays essential and relevant in a dynamic world.Denise has a strong passion for the mentorship of the next generation of accounting and finance leaders. She believes that lasting impact comes not just from our achievements, but from how we uplift and inspire others. This belief reflects a famous sentiment from Maya Angelou, which states that people will forget what you said, people will forget what you did, but people will never forget how you made them feel.Key Takeaways:The Wisconsin Work Ethic: In her youth, Denise assisted her parents with the construction and finishing work of rough houses on the weekends. This instilled a foundational belief that you simply work through any emotion or circumstance.The Accidental CPA: As a first-generation college student, she initially wanted to study healthcare. When the program was full, her mother suggested accounting because of her strong math skills.Family Support Pivots: Early in her career, she stepped away from a traditional firm to run her mother's business after her father was diagnosed with cancer.The Executive Hustle: Despite a finance degree and an MBA, she pursued her CPA credential while on the job for 70 to 80 hours a week and while she raised a newborn. This dedication secured her path to the C-Suite.Support Through Loss: During the simultaneous grief of her father's passing and a divorce, she learned the critical importance of support and acceptance from unexpected places within her community.The Future of CalCPA: As CEO, she advocates for the evolving role of CPAs in the digital age, and emphasizes their necessity for the verification of AI outputs and the guidance of businesses through complex market noise.Thank you for listening! If you enjoyed this episode, please follow, rate, and review the podcast! CONNECT WITH DENISE FROEMMING:LinkedInCalCPAPlaylistCONNECT WITH SHANNON:FacebookInstagramLinkedIn Shannon | LinkedIn NBJVTheme Song: No Boxes Just Verses by Thane Kreiner (Suno)