The AICPA announced that Carl Peterson, VP of small firm interests, will retire June 30. Peterson’s retirement caps a successful tenure at AICPA and a broader career defined by advocacy and an unwavering commitment to elevating the voices of small firms across the accounting profession.
“Carl’s ability to connect with small firm practitioners, understand their realities and elevate their perspectives made him an invaluable advisor to me,” said Susan Coffey, the AICPA’s CEO of public accounting. “He made sure our strategies and policies never lost sight of what matters most to our members operating smaller firms. Carl’s personal investment in building relationships — often through Sunday night phone calls or midweek check-ins — demonstrated his unmatched dedication to the profession.”
Since joining the AICPA in 2014, Peterson has been instrumental in reshaping and enriching the organization’s relationship with many groups focused on issues impacting small firms, often being asked to participate in board meetings and strategic retreats. Peterson also served as a key liaison with state CPA societies and facilitated small firm roundtables nationwide
“Carl has always understood that success in public accounting isn’t one-size-fits-all,” said Mark Koziel, CEO of the AICPA. “His empathy, candor and deep experience gave small firms a trusted voice and brought tremendous credibility to our advocacy and resources. He made the AICPA feel personal.”
