Statewide NextGen Committee Presents
NextGen Emerging Professional Summer Skill-Building Series
Join the Statewide NextGen Committee for an interactive session designed to help emerging professionals network with confidence and purpose.
Whether you're attending your first networking event or looking to strengthen your professional presence, this session will provide simple, actionable techniques to help you expand your network and maximize the value of your NYCPA membership.
You'll Learn:
- What networking really is—and why it matters
- How to identify and build a strong professional network
- Tips for preparing before networking events
- Conversation starters that feel natural and authentic
- Effective follow-up strategies that help relationships grow
- NYCPA resources that can help you connect with mentors, committees, and leadership opportunities
- A simple networking system you can use throughout your career
Who Should Attend:
Whether you're just beginning your career or looking to expand your professional circle, this session will equip you with practical tools and resources to build authentic relationships that can lead to mentorship, career opportunities, referrals, and long-term success.
Session Speakers:
- Jennie Wallace is the Founder & Principal of Melody Advisory, a boutique consulting firm that helps mission-driven organizations untangle financial and operational challenges, from small process snags to full-scale transformations. Her focus is building sustainable, well-structured, and efficient processes that actually work in the real world. Known for her practical approach, she blends her deep technical expertise with humor, helping teams stay grounded while navigating real change. Most recently, she led a full finance transformation for a Brooklyn nonprofit, rebuilding systems and processes to create lasting clarity and structure, setting the foundation for the organization’s long-term success.
- David Z. Jacome, Ed.D., MBA, M.S., is Lecturer and Accounting Coordinator at SUNY Brockport's School of Business and Management and Founder of AI Enterprise Solutions. With more than twenty years of teaching across twenty-plus institutions, he bridges accounting education, AI strategy, and professional development. He serves as NYCPA Campus Liaison for 2026-2027 and coordinates SUNY Brockport's CASH/VITA tax preparation program. A published researcher with work appearing in Nature, Dr. Jacome is also a founding board member of the MBA Leaders Forum and a member of the Rochester Rotary Club.
- Gabriel Suleymanov is a graduating accounting and Information Systems student at Queens College who plans to begin pursuing his CPA after graduation. Through the NYSSCPA NextGen program series and Queens/Brooklyn Chapter events, he has developed a strong interest in networking, professional development, and the accounting profession.
