Volunteer: Leslie Murphy

Vital Stats: Leslie Murphy is an accountant and group managing partner at Plante & Moran. Leslie speaks nationwide on the CPA profession and corporate America at large. Leslie, 56, lives in Bloomfield Hills with her husband and has two daughters, Maria and Cathy, along with three grandchildren, Emma, Maggie and Luke. She enjoys traveling – both for business purposes and on family trips.

Background:
A University of Michigan graduate, Leslie joined Plante & Moran in 1973 and became a partner in the Accounting and Audit Group in 1983. Throughout her career, Leslie has served a diversified client base and provided a wide range of services, including the coordination of audit, tax, and business advisory services. As an assurance partner, Leslie worked with privately owned companies and organizations and SEC reporting clients. As leader of Large Corporate Services for the firm, she is also experienced with consulting services to large public companies.

In addition, Leslie is co-founder of the firm's PTA (Personal Tightrope Action) Committee that is responsible for work/life initiatives, contributing to the firm's recognition by FORTUNE Magazine as one of the nation's "100 Best Places To Work" for the past nine years.
    
Volunteer History: Leslie is immediate past chair of the Board of Directors of the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants (AICPA), which represents approximately 330,000 members nationally. Locally, she's served as executive vice chairman of the Detroit Regional Chamber of Commerce Board of Directors, as a member of St. John Health System's (Ascension Health) Board of Directors and Finance Committee, and as past chair of the Michigan Women's Foundation Board of Directors.  

Leslie has served the United Way for Southeastern Michigan since 2003. She has served as vice chair of the board of directors, as a member of its executive committee, as chair of its audit committee, and as a member and board liaison of its Women's Initiative Steering Committee.

On Volunteering: "Throughout my life, I've been blessed with wonderful opportunities, both personally and professionally. I am truly grateful that I've been so fortunate and feel a very deep responsibility to give back to the community that has offered me so much. It's also tremendously rewarding work serving through the United Way. To affect positive change in the lives of so many people has been a satisfying experience."

On Her United Way Service: "I'm so glad that I've been able to leverage my financial management expertise through my work with the United Way. My belief is that we have an obligation to our donors and the community we serve, to maintain their trust and provide resources that will allow us to be as impactful as we possibly can. Ensuring that we're managing our finances wisely is an important part of that effort."

Awards: Murphy is the recipient of numerous awards, including an Honorary Doctorate and the Jeff Barry Award from Walsh College, the Women of Achievement and Courage Award from the from the Michigan Women's Foundation, and the Outstanding Visionary Award from the Michigan Association of Certified Public Accountants.
 
Mentors: "Frank Moran, one of the founding members of Plante & Moran, was tremendously important in my life as both a mentor and friend. He taught me to frame all problems through a 'human lens' and to place high priority on understanding and caring for individual needs. That lesson – to always care for people whether they're your family, friends, team members, or clients has had a profound impact on me. It has truly enhanced the way I look at the world and has made me a much better person and more effective communicator."

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One D: Transforming Regional Detroit consists of United Way for Southeastern Michigan, New Detroit, the Detroit Regional Chamber, Detroit Renaissance, the Detroit Metro Convention and Visitors Bureau and the Cultural Alliance of Southeastern Michigan.

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Volunteer Center:

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