Neil Fauerbach, partner and director of business development and marketing at Smith & Gesteland in Middleton, Wisconsin, was inducted into the Association for Accounting Marketing (AAM) Hall of Fame. Fauerbach was selected by the Board of Directors for his dedication to, and promotion of, the accounting marketing profession and the accounting industry as a whole.

Fauerbach primarily has worked in professional services marketing including previous positions at regional accounting firm Virchow Krause & Company and architectural firm Flad & Associates. As a partner and director of business development and marketing at Smith & Gesteland, Fauerbach uses his knowledge of the accounting industry, professional services marketing techniques, and familiarity with the Madison market to achieve firm goals.

He has been involved in his industry through the Association for Accounting Marketing, where he served as Board President from 2007-2008.

Brenda Sleeper named AAM Volunteer of the Year

Brenda Sleeper, business development director at BizActions in Northboro, Massachusetts, was honored as the 2010 AAM Volunteer of the Year. She was recognized for her commitment to promoting the accounting marketing profession along with her service to AAM.

"We are so appreciative of our volunteers," said Pete Pomilio, executive director of AAM. "We understand that our volunteers give so of their time while still maintaining a full-time job. The experience and ideas that they bring to AAM projects are what drives the success of the organization."

Sleeper, a member since 2001, is extremely active in the association and serves as a co-chair of the membership committee.

She has more than ten years experience in sales and business development working at regional and large accounting firms. In her role at BizActions she is responsible for the implementation of all sales programs, partnership campaigns, trade shows, special events and alliance opportunities.

Leslie Leach honored as Rookie of the Year

Leslie Leach, manager of marketing and business development for Armanino McKenna, LLP, in San Ramon, California, was named Rookie of the Year by the AAM for going the extra mile to contribute to the firm's success within the first two years of her marketing role.

Leach joined Armanino McKenna in August 2009 as a senior staff member in marketing and business development and was quickly promoted to manager less than five months after her start date. She is responsible for driving marketing initiatives and generating business opportunities for the consulting department at Armanino McKenna. Leach came to Armanino McKenna after running her own catering business for four years managing all aspects of the business including sales and marketing. She spent four years with the Clorox Company in brand management and other marketing positions where she led a $40 million dollar new product project. In addition, she held business analyst positions prior to Clorox. Leach earned her MBA at The Anderson School at UCLA and her undergraduate degree at The University of Pennsylvania.

Leach has made an impact at Armanino McKenna in a short period of time. She developed a department wide marketing plan and calendar for their Consulting department, and she worked individually with Partners and Managers to help them be productive business developers. She conceived and executed the idea of a call-a-thon to follow up on a marketing campaign, in which she brought together more than 50 of the firm's Partners and Managers, trained them in cold calls, provided incentives and motivation, and delivered more than 20 prospective client meetings for the firm. As a result of Leach's marketing programs, coaching of their team, and her individual prospecting efforts, Armanino McKenna has nearly doubled the size of their Consulting department pipeline in the eight months that she has been with them.

Fauerbach, Sleeper, and Leach were honored at the 21st Annual AAM Summit on June 24, 2010, in Washington, D.C.