John C. Maxwell, Co-Founder
For over 50 years, John C. Maxwell has studied and taught leadership at the highest levels, training more than 10 million leaders worldwide and equipping tens of millions of people through his speaking, writing, and global influence.
Named the #1 Leadership Expert by Inc. Magazine, his work has shaped Fortune 500 CEOs, executive teams, and organizations navigating growth, complexity, and change.
A New York Times bestselling author of more than 80+ books, with over 40 million copies sold, John has written more leadership content than any other individual, impacting leaders across business, government, and nonprofits around the world. What distinguishes his work is not just its reach, but its results.
His principles are applied where leadership matters most, aligning teams, strengthening culture, and developing leaders who multiply their impact and sustain performance over time. As Co-Founder of CPA Leadership Group, John brings a level of leadership authority and practical application rarely accessible within the accounting profession, helping firms build the leadership infrastructure required to grow, scale, and endure.
Mark Cole, Co-Founder & Chairman
For more than two decades, Mark Cole, Successor to John C. Maxwell, has operated at the highest levels of leadership development, helping shape how leadership is applied, scaled, and sustained inside organizations around the world.
As CEO of Maxwell Leadership, he has led the global expansion of one of the most influential leadership organizations, impacting leaders across more than 160 countries.
No one in the world has spent more time in direct proximity to John C. Maxwell over the past 25 years. Personally mentored by John and working side-by-side with him for decades, Mark has uniquely translated timeless leadership principles into real-world execution at the highest levels of business and organizational leadership.
Mark’s strength lies in bringing clarity to direction in moments that matter most, because anyone can steer the ship, but it takes a leader to chart the course. He has worked closely with Fortune 500 CEOs, executive teams, and global organizations, guiding them through growth, complexity, and high-stakes transitions with confidence and precision.
What distinguishes Mark is his ability to move beyond inspiration into disciplined execution, ensuring that leadership is not just understood, but operationalized in a way that drives measurable, lasting results.
As Co-Founder and Chairman of CPA Leadership Group, Mark brings unparalleled access, experience, and executional insight, helping firms chart a clear path forward and build the leadership capacity required to grow, scale, and endure.
Philip J. Whitman, CPA & Co-Founder
For decades, Philip J. Whitman has been a trusted advisor to some of the most respected CPA firms in the country, guiding leaders through their most consequential decisions around growth, succession, mergers, and long-term value creation.
His work has shaped the trajectory of firms at pivotal moments, where clarity, experience, and trust matter most.
As a co-founder of Whitman Advisory, Phil has built a reputation as one of the profession’s leading voices, known for his ability to bring insight, structure, and confidence to complex situations.
His counsel is sought by managing partners and leadership teams navigating transition, expansion, and the evolving demands of the industry. Phil’s strength lies in seeing what others miss, connecting strategy, leadership, and execution in a way that positions firms not just to grow, but to grow with intention and sustainability.
As Co-Founder of CPA Leadership Group, Phil brings unmatched industry expertise and credibility, ensuring that every solution is grounded in the realities of the profession and aligned with what it truly takes to build enduring, high-performing firms.
David Wolfshekl, Co-Founder
David Wolfskehl brings a respected and influential voice to the CPA profession, shaped by years of advising firms alongside Whitman Advisory.
His work has supported and impacted firms across the country as they navigate growth, succession, and the increasingly complex demands of the profession.
Working closely with managing partners and leadership teams, David has played a key role in helping firms think more strategically, align more effectively, and execute with greater clarity.
His influence extends beyond individual engagements, contributing to how firms approach leadership, decision-making, and long-term value creation across the industry. He brings a steady, trusted presence in moments that matter most, helping leaders bring clarity to complexity, align around what matters, and move forward with confidence. His ability to connect strategy with execution ensures that leadership is not just discussed, but consistently reflected in how firms operate.
As Co-Founder, David strengthens the application of leadership across CPA Leadership Group, helping firms build alignment, reinforce culture, and position themselves for sustainable, long-term growth.
Chad L. Reyes, Co-Founder & Chief Executive Officer
Chad L. Reyes is the driving force behind CPA Leadership Group, bringing together world-class leadership, industry expertise, and proven systems to help firms strengthen and scale their leadership capacity.
With nearly two decades of experience working in and alongside the CPA profession, he brings a deep understanding of the opportunities and challenges firms face as they grow, evolve, and prepare for the future.
Also as co-founder and strategic architect of Lions Pride Leadership, he brings a results-driven mindset that aligns vision, leadership, and execution around a shared vision. As co-founder and strategic architect of Lions Pride Leadership, he brings a results-driven mindset that aligns vision, leadership, and execution around a shared vision.
Personally mentored by John C. Maxwell, Chad has been shaped by some of the most trusted leadership principles in the world, translating them into practical, real-world applications for firms and leadership teams.
His work focuses on helping organizations move from intention to execution, aligning leadership, strengthening culture, and increasing the capacity of their people.
Chad’s strength lies in his ability to bring clarity to complexity, helping CEOs and leadership teams step back, see the full picture, and move forward with confidence and alignment. He operates as a trusted partner in the moments that matter most, when growth is accelerating, decisions carry greater weight, and leadership must rise to meet the demands of the future.
He brings together people, process, and strategy into a cohesive approach that empowers teams to lead with consistency, communicate with clarity, and execute with discipline. As CEO, Chad is leading CPA Leadership Group with a vision to come alongside firms as a trusted partner, helping them develop leaders who not only perform at a high level but also multiply their impact, strengthen the organization, and build something that endures.
Danielle Reyes, Co-Founder & Chief Relationship Officer
Danielle Reyes is a relational leader, visionary connector, and culture builder who strengthens alignment between leadership, communication, and client experience across CPA Leadership Group. Through intentional connection and strategic collaboration, she fosters trust, consistency, and meaningful engagement across the organization and profession. She also plays a key role in cultivating a culture that reflects the values, standards, and relational excellence CPA Leadership Group is built upon.
As co-founder and co-visionary of Lions Pride Leadership, Danielle brings an entrepreneurial and people-centered leadership approach that unites communication, collaboration, and vision to create momentum and impact.
Known as a catalyst for connection and forward movement, Danielle has a unique ability to influence, inspire, and mobilize others around a shared mission. With strengths in relationship-building, communication strategy, marketing alignment, and organizational collaboration, she brings energy, cohesion, and clarity to both internal culture and external engagement.
Personally mentored by John C. Maxwell, Danielle has been shaped by some of the world’s most trusted leadership principles. She brings those principles to life through her relational leadership style, collaborative approach, and passion for developing people, partnerships, and purpose-driven growth. As Chief Relationship Officer and Co-Founder, Danielle is passionate about helping fulfill the vision of CPA Leadership Group by ensuring every interaction reflects trust, consistency, and genuine partnership.
Through strengthening connections, deepening collaboration, and helping organizations awaken their potential, she is committed to creating meaningful, lasting impact across the profession.
Jason McKeever, President
Jason McKeever serves as President of CPA Leadership Group, leading execution across the organization with clarity, discipline, and accountability.
With extensive experience alongside Whitman Advisory, he has supported CPA firms through growth, succession, and strategic transitions, bringing a practical understanding of what it takes to execute at a high level.
Jason has led and developed learning and development initiatives within the CPA profession, bringing significant experience in building programs that strengthen leadership capability across firms.
He understands how leaders are developed in practice, ensuring that development efforts translate into real performance and organizational impact. A key part of his role is working directly with Heads of Learning & Development across the Top 100 CPA firms, aligning programs to their firm’s priorities and ensuring initiatives support both leadership growth and business outcomes.
He works closely with the leadership team to ensure that strategy is translated into consistent, measurable action. Jason ensures that program delivery drives meaningful results for firms while directly supporting their leadership development goals.
At CPA Leadership Group, Jason ensures that vision becomes reality, connecting strategy, execution, and development to drive sustained performance and growth.
Interested in connecting with us to discuss the future?
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