CLA Appoints Jen Leary as CEO Evolution of leadership team enhances firm’s commitment to creating opportunities. Charlotte, N.C., Dec. 22, 2020 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — CLA (CliftonLarsonAllen LLP), one of the leading professional services firms in the U.S., today announced the appointment of Jen Leary as chief executive officer, effective January 1, 2021. Current CEO Denny Schleper will transition to a CEO emeritus role and remain actively involved in the firm through 2021. Leary’s appointment is the culmination of a year-long process, which commenced when the CLA board and owners ratified the CEO decision in December 2019. Leary brings over 22 years of experience and spent the last 11 years at CLA serving in various client services and firm-wide roles, and most recently as chief strategy officer and a member of CLA’s board of directors.