June 15, 2017 (Las Vegas, NV) - Laura F. Kucera, chief marketing officer at New York-based Citrin Cooperman, has received the Association for Accounting Marketing's (AAM) 2017 Marketer of the Year award, sponsored by INSIDE Public Accounting (IPA).
The winner was announced by IPA June 14 at AAM's 2017 Summit in Las Vegas. The Marketer of the Year presentation was the highlight of the 23nd annual gala, which also honors winners of dozens of marketing achievement awards.
Kucera leads strategic marketing, communications and business development strategies for Citrin Cooperman, which is ranked among the top 25 largest firms in the country, according to IPA.
Citrin Cooperman CEO Joel Cooperman, who nominated Kucera for the award, praises her "marketing and business acumen, analytical mindset, motivational leadership skills and innate client-focused approach." He says that her leadership has contributed to the firm's significant growth of 17% in 2016, which included the joining of two firms and three new offices in New England, the development of four new consulting practice groups and the restructuring of the firm's advisory services line.
Kucera led integration efforts for the newly joined firms, developed in-depth marketing and business development strategies for the New England market, formed a new international strategy group and launched a global go-to-market plan with Mark Fagan, MP of the firm's Norwalk, Conn., office and board member of Moore Stephens N.A.
Kucera played an important role in pulling together a new technology and risk advisory consulting practice. She created a four-hour cross-selling class with Fagan and taught it to more than 100 staff. Finally, Kucera developed an in-house design team and launched a new visual identity for the firm.
"Citrin Cooperman's brand awareness has grown tremendously under Laura," says IPA Publisher Kelly Platt. "She's a great communicator, mentor and morale-builder who has unified all professionals to do their part to grow the firm. She richly deserves this award."
"I cannot think of a more deserving candidate for this recognition," Fagan says. "Not only does Laura have a full-scale understanding of marketing principles, she has a deep understanding of the firm's business goals and works relentlessly to implement strategies to achieve those goals."
Alan Badey, MP of the Citrin Cooperman White Plains, N.Y., office, says Kucera "gets it." Her knowledge of the profession, the marketplace and what differentiates the firm "has completely changed the look and feel of Citrin Cooperman both internally and externally," he says. "She created our brand, 'Focus on What Counts,' which says everything about us and everything that our clients have come to expect from us."
He adds, "Not only is she running our marketing and sales, she is involved with most significant initiatives in the firm - from mergers, to service line restructuring, to staff mentoring and infrastructure upgrades."
This is the fourth year that IPA has sponsored the Marketer of the Year award. A panel of independent judges, who are themselves leaders in the profession, were selected by IPA to review and score each of the nominees.
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