Sandra Stearns Kuba to receive IAOTP Trailblazer Award in New York

The International Association of Top Professionals will honor Sandra Stearns Kuba at its annual awards gala at the Plaza Hotel in New York City. IAOTP says the award recognizes professionals who break barriers and set new standards in their fields.

Why it matters: - IAOTP’s Trailblazer Award puts a spotlight on professionals the organization says have changed their industries through innovation and leadership. - Sandra Stearns Kuba’s recognition adds another national award to her record and comes with a public honor at a high-profile New York gala. - The award may raise the profile of her work in accounting, fraud detection, and tax-related matters.

What happened: - The International Association of Top Professionals selected Sandra Stearns Kuba for its Trailblazer Award. - IAOTP will honor Kuba at its 2026 Annual Awards Gala at the Plaza Hotel in New York City. - The gala is scheduled for December. - Kuba is a Certified Public Accountant at Intuit. - IAOTP said the Trailblazer Award recognizes people who have broken barriers, pioneered innovative methods, and set new standards of excellence. - IAOTP also said inclusion with the organization is itself an honor.

The details: - Kuba has more than three decades of industry experience. - Her career includes accounting roles at Intuit, Disney, the American Heart Association, Belkin International and Orange County National. - While at Disney, Kuba helped create the Product Online Transmission Tool in 2015. - Disney later called the tool “Mrs. Potts.” - The tool became Disney’s central repository for dining and tour events. - Disney continued using Mrs. Potts in 2023, eight years after its creation. - Kuba’s stated areas of expertise include collaboration, conflict resolution, efficiency optimization, strategic planning, fraud detection and tax-related matters. - She earned a bachelor’s degree in accounting from Elmira College. - She later earned a master’s degree in accounting from Keller Graduate School of Management at DeVry University. - IAOTP also said Kuba was considered for a TIP Magazine feature this year. - IAOTP previously named Kuba its Top CPA/Chartered Global Management Accountant of the Year in 2023. - The organization named her Empowered Woman of the Year in 2024. - IAOTP named her Top CPA/Chartered Accountant of the Decade in 2025. - More information is available on Kuba’s LinkedIn profile.

Between the lines: - IAOTP’s release frames Kuba as both a technical accounting leader and a whistleblower, which suggests the organization is emphasizing impact beyond routine professional achievement. - The release includes serious allegations about Disney financial and tax fraud, internal control failures and retaliation, but those claims are presented from Kuba’s perspective. - The release also says Kuba shared information with multiple agencies and individuals, including the SEC, DOJ, IRS and Florida officials. - Some of the statements in the release are accusatory and not independently verified in the text.

What's next: - Kuba will be recognized at IAOTP’s annual gala in New York City in December. - IAOTP may also feature her in TIP Magazine. - Kuba said she hopes to inspire others to speak up when they see wrongdoing.

The bottom line: - IAOTP is giving Sandra Stearns Kuba a high-profile award for professional achievement and impact, while the release also casts her as a long-time whistleblower on corporate misconduct.