Meet Nealy Wheat, CAE, SPHR – A non-traditional accounting leader who’s breaking the mold!

Who says you need to be a CPA to lead in the accounting world? Not Nealy! As the Chief Financial Officer (CFO) of the American Society for Nondestructive Testing (ASNT), Nealy is proving that leadership, strategy, and financial expertise are just as important as number crunching.

With over two decades of experience in GLOBAL NONPROFITS, trade organizations, and chambers of commerce, Nealy has built a career that pushes boundaries and redefines what it means to lead in finance. She’s all about bringing people together, creating powerful teams, and DRIVING REAL CHANGE—and she does it with the perfect blend of business strategy and innovation.

Accounting isn’t just about spreadsheets—it’s about impact!
Nealy’s superpower? Aligning diverse teams and creating operational synergy to help organizations thrive. She’s a Certified Association Executive (CAE) and Senior Professional in Human Resources (SPHR), which means she knows how to bring people, processes, and big ideas together to make things happen.

Beyond her work as CFO, Nealy is all about lifting others up. She’s a CHAMPION FOR LEADERSHIP DEVELOPMENT, a MENTOR to emerging professionals, and a firm believer that great organizations are built on empowered people.

Nealy’s story proves that there’s no one-size-fits-all path to success and that you can MAKE AN IMPACT in accounting and finance without taking the traditional route. Whether you’re interested in finance, leadership, nonprofits, or business strategy, the accounting profession has so many exciting opportunities waiting for you!