Marne W. Babich, was recognized by the Pennsylvania Institute of Certified Public Accountants (PICPA), being named as one of the organization’s 2022 Women to Watch.
Four female CPAs from across the State of Pennsylvania were honored with this award, which is given to PICPA members who exemplify leadership and invest in mentorship and development of their peers inside and outside of the accounting profession. With the Women to Watch Awards, the PICPA honors the women who enhance the profession through personal growth and the leadership development of colleagues. The winners were recognized at the PICPA Women’s Leadership Conference.
Though the recognition from the PICPA is recent, Marne’s contributions have been appreciated at GYF since she joined the firm as a Senior Manager in the Tax Services Group in 2020.
Don Johnston, a Partner in the Tax Services Group, notes that Marne has been a valuable addition to the firm. “With 25 years of experience, Marne is able to bring a great deal of experience and leadership skills to the group. Marne frequently brings new ideas and suggestions to the firm’s leadership team and she looks for ways to innovate and improve how we serve our clients.”
Dan Oberst, who was recently promoted to a Manager position in the Tax Services Group and works closely with Marne, notes, “Marne brought a fresh perspective to the firm. Her new viewpoint helped us to change the way we handle some of the administrative tasks, and her ideas ultimately made the projects more efficient for us and easier for the clients.”
Not only has Marne had a significant positive impact on the firm’s operations, but has also strategically influenced the growth and development of the professional staff, serving as a coach and mentor. Marne applies lessons she has learned as a parent to her leadership role in the firm. She is a patient teacher who utilizes a nurturing approach to helping other professionals grow in their careers.
Joe Rys, who was recently promoted to a Manager position in the Tax Services Group, notes, “Marne is the kind of person who will take time out of her busy schedule to meet with you and acknowledge individual as well as team accomplishments. These type of efforts are extremely well-received and exemplify the kind of leadership instilled by Marne into the group.”
RaeAnna Palmer, a Senior Associate in the Tax Services Group, greatly appreciates Marne’s mentorship, “She demonstrates such poise and has provided a real learning opportunity for us younger professionals. Marne gives helpful feedback based on her experiences, but also challenges us to really think about why we did what we did and to learn from the process.”
Leading by example, Marne makes it a point to teach other members of the team is by bringing them with her to meetings encourages others to join her at networking events to improve their business development skills and help them to step out of their comfort zones.
“Marne’s efforts to include me in client interactions have been very beneficial to my development as leader and has helped me think of how I can include staff and seniors to help them learn and grow too,” says Dan Oberst.
Marne serves as a role model, especially to the women in her department. She sets an example that the younger professionals in the firm can aspire to, having both a successful career as a CPA and a fulfilling role as a wife and mother.
Madelyn Plummer, a Senior Associate in the Tax Services Group, appreciates having Marne as her coach. “Getting to observe how she works and communicates has made me a more confident woman. I see someone in the manager role to look up to and to model. As a working mom, I can see myself in her shoes, and the best part about Marne is that she’s willing to show me how to put them on!”
RaeAnna Palmer especially values the encouragement and advice that Marne has given her as she works to obtain her CPA license. She notes, “When I asked Marne for her insight, her words stuck with me. ‘It doesn’t matter how many times you fail, no one sees that ‒ they only see the end result. It doesn’t define you as a professional in our field of work. All that matters is that you don’t give up.’ Having a woman in leadership that cares about you enough to support you on both your professional and personal goals and is willing to help you get there is why Marne is so great.”
Marne also values opportunities to improve her own leadership skills and to serve the community. She is a graduate of Leadership Washington County (LWC), and supports the organization and future leaders by serving on the LWC Board. She previously served as an Advisory Board Member for Allegheny YMCA.
William Pricener, Executive Director of the YMCA, wrote in his letter of recommendation for Marne, “I cannot think of a person more deserving of this award. Marne is the epitome of selflessness and community service!”
About the PICPA
The PICPA is a premiere statewide association of more than 20,000 members working in public accounting, industry, government, and education. Founded in 1897, the PICPA is the second-oldest state CPA organization in the United States. To learn more about the PICPA visit www.picpa.org.
