Lexy Kessler is the Mid-Atlantic Regional Leader for Aprio, serves on the Aprio Board of Directors, and is the Chair of the firm's Diversity, Equity, Inclusion and Belonging (DEIB) Council. She previously led the firm's Government Contracting segment and has over 35 years of experience in the public accounting industry. She is a trusted advisor to business leaders and changemakers in the Mid-Atlantic region, helping clients balance the challenges and opportunities inherent to operating successfully and mentoring young professionals to create a positive impact in the profession. With her experience in assurance, tax and consulting, she is able to constantly seek out new ways to reinvent and improve upon the way her team serves clients. Lexy is passionate about helping clients adapt to the quickly-changing market, transforming challenges into opportunities. She achieves this by taking a proactive role in addressing their needs and helping them rethink their approach to doing business. Lexy frequently spends time meeting with clients to discuss strategy for their long-term business needs, as well as collaborating with regional leaders in the business community to discuss new ideas for strengthening the Mid-Atlantic business ecosystem. Lexy earned her Bachelor of Science in Accounting from the University of Maryland. She serves on numerous boards, including the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants (AICPA) and Marymount University. She is a former Chairman of the board of the Maryland Association of CPAs (MACPA) and the Choral Arts Society of D.C., and currently serves as Treasurer for the Professional Services Council. Lexy is also currently serving as the Chairman of the National Pipeline Advisory Group, focusing on the development of an inclusive national pipeline strategy for the accounting profession and modernization of the licensure for CPAs. These roles allow her to contribute to the growth and development of the accounting profession and broader community. Lexy has earned several accolades, including AICPA's "Most Powerful Women in Accounting" for three consecutive years, "Maryland's Top 100 Women," which led to her induction as a "Circle of Excellence" member, MACPA's "Women to Watch," and the Washington Business Journal's "Women Who Mean Business."