The CPA firm was recognized for its Future Leaders Academy program
Rochester, N.Y., August 26, 2026 — The Bonadio Group, a nationally ranked IPA Top 50 CPA firm, has received a Brandon Hall Group™ Gold HCM Excellence Award® in the Best Leadership Development Program category for its Future Leaders Academy (FLA). The HCM Excellence Awards® recognize organizations that successfully develop and deploy programs, strategies, technologies, and solutions that deliver measurable business results and advance excellence in Human Capital Management.
FLA is The Bonadio Group’s flagship leadership development experience designed to prepare high-potential principals for the transition to partnership. The program integrates executive-led instruction, leadership sponsorship, and a three-year development journey to strengthen leadership capabilities across the firm.
“Future Leaders Academy was created around the idea that preparing someone for partnership requires more than developing technical expertise. It requires an intentional focus on how leaders develop people, build relationships, grow the business, and think strategically about the future of the firm,” said Allyson Roote, Vice President of Learning and Organizational Development at The Bonadio Group. “This recognition is especially meaningful because it reflects the commitment of our participants, executive leaders, and the Learning and Development team to building the next generation of firm leaders.”
FLA participants are nominated through a structure leadership review process, with candidates evaluated based on factors such as business performance, client and revenue growth potential, people and talent development, and broader firm contributions. Since its launch in 2021, FLA has supported 64 high-potential leaders across the firm, with 79% of program graduates advancing into partner roles and an 86% retention rate among participants.
“In a time when learning and development directly correlates to the client experience, this award is a testament to the intentional investment we are making in our people and in the future leadership of our firm,” said Bruce Zicari, CEO and Managing Partner of The Bonadio Group. “We are proud of the measurable impact Future Leaders Academy has had and, more importantly, of the leaders who have embraced the opportunity to grow, challenge themselves, and prepare for greater responsibility within the firm.”
“The HCM Excellence Awards® have become the most recognized benchmark for excellence in human capital management because organizations know they are earned, not given,” said Mike Cooke, CEO of Brandon Hall Group™. “Every winning program has demonstrated measurable impact, innovation, and execution through one of the industry’s most rigorous evaluation processes. We are proud to recognize the organizations setting the standard for the future of work.”
The Bonadio Group provides all employees with a comprehensive professional development curriculum. For more information on the firm, visit www.bonadio.com.
About The Bonadio Group
The Bonadio Group is a nationally ranked IPA Top 50 CPA firm providing assurance, tax, and advisory and consulting services to clients both within and outside of the U.S. The firm maintains several offices across the country, with team members operating globally. Its expert team of industry-leading professionals serve as trusted advisors to clients of all sizes, helping businesses and organizations reach their short- and long-term goals. The Bonadio Group is committed to delivering top-tier client service, providing continuous community support and creating an unparalleled employee experience. For more information, visit www.bonadio.com.
About Brandon Hall Group™
For more than 30 years, we have helped organizations transform workforce performance into measurable business results. We combine independent research, proven practices from award winning organizations, benchmarking, strategic advisory, and the collective intelligence of a global executive community to help leaders make better decisions with greater confidence. Our Workforce Excellence Intelligence is built on evidence, not opinion. By continuously studying leadership, learning, talent, human resources, artificial intelligence, and the future of work, we identify what drives exceptional organizational performance—and translate those insights into practical frameworks, benchmarks, and guidance that organizations can apply immediately. More than 10,000 organizations worldwide—including many of the world’s leading employers and Human Capital Management solution providers—have engaged with Brandon Hall Group through our research, advisory services, Excellence Councils, Institute, certifications, and the globally recognized HCM Excellence Awards®. Together, they create one of the industry’s richest ecosystems of workforce knowledge, best practices, and proven results. Our purpose is to make Workforce Excellence achievable for every organization and establish it as the global standard for organizational success.