Kansas City’s First Female CPA, Mary J. McCann, to be Posthumously Inducted into Kansas Business Hall of Fame Alongside Business Couple Gene and Yolanda Camarena

Groundbreaking Kansas City Accountant Inducted into Kansas Business Hall of Fame

The late Mary J. McCann, the pioneering woman who became Kansas’s first female Certified Public Accountant (CPA), is set to be posthumously honored with induction into the Kansas Business Hall of Fame. Her induction will complement the honor bestowed on Gene and Yolanda Camarena, a Wichita couple renowned for their distinguished business exploits.

Kansas Business Hall of Fame 2024 Inductees

McCann’s induction into the Kansas Business Hall of Fame, along with that of the Camarenas, was recently announced. The debut is slated for Thursday, June 13, marking the 36th ceremony of such prestigious recognition, located on the grounds of Emporia State University.

The Executive Director of the Kansas Business Hall of Fame (KBHF), John Rich, stated, “The KBHF Board of Directors has carefully chosen these business icons for their significant contributions to Kansas and their exemplary roles as mentors to aspiring business leaders. KBHF is proud to acknowledge the past and present luminaries who have championed the significance of private enterprise both within and beyond the state of Kansas.”

About the Inductees

Gene and Yolanda Camarena

Gene Camarena, acclaimed as the President and CEO of La Raza Pizza, Inc., maintains an extensive portfolio that predominantly orbits around Pizza Hut restaurants, Marriott hotels, banking, and real estate development. His partner, Yolanda, has dedicated herself to social justice advocacy with a primary focus on equitable education.

Mary Jo McCann

Mary Jo McCann, on the other hand, emerged as Kansas’s first female CPA in 1941. She later secured the title of the first female partner at Deloitte – an internationally renowned accounting firm. McCann passed away in July 2011 in Kansas City at the ripe age of 91.

Induction Ceremony

The public has been invited to be part of this honorary occasion scheduled for 4:30 p.m. on June 13th. The Kansas Business Hall of Fame, where the induction will take place, resides on the second floor of Cremer Hall at Emporia State University, 1428 Merchant St.