Like any Bull, 2013 Judy Genshaft Honors College and Muma College of Business alum
Corbyn Lichon believes in meeting challenges head on. Lichon credits embracing challenging
projects as the key to her success – a bold mindset that has propelled her to the
role of chief accounting officer at one of the nation’s largest insurance brokerage firms and earned her recognition as a USF 2024 Outstanding Young Alumni.
Awarded annually, the USF Outstanding Young Alumni Awards are given to alumni under
the age of 35 who have achieved outstanding success, innovation, and creativity in
their career. Now the CAO of the Baldwin Group where she leads the firm’s accounting
function and financial reporting, Lichon began her career in Assurance practice at
CBIZ HMH LLC, where she planned and executed financial statement audits and served
as a technical accounting leader.
As a 2024 Outstanding Young Alumni, Lichon was honored not only for her already impressive
career but for her continued dedication to current USF students as a Muma College of Business Corporate Mentor and board member of the USF Accounting Circle.
SUCCESSFUL STRIDES
As a young graduate entering the workforce, Lichon did not expect she would advance
so quickly in her field. According to Lichon, her goal was simply to see where her
journey as a CPA would take her.
“I could never have imagined things lining up the way they did. I attribute a lot
of that to going to USF … The professors, the tough coursework, and the challenges
you go through during college — those learning experiences are what brought me to
this point in my career,” said Lichon.
Those learning experiences blossomed into a love for accounting and a role that requires
her to continually learn how to solve new problems.
“Every day is different,” said Lichon on her current role at the Baldwin Group. “I
am always learning. Always wanting to grow.”
For Lichon, success is about more than what she achieves at the office. As a recreational
scuba diver and a proud aunt to two nieces, she values spending time with family,
going on outdoor adventures, and traveling with her husband and fellow USF accounting
alum, Mark.
"There are other things that you have to have in life to bring that harmony and fulfillment,”
notes Lichon. “Whether it's hobbies, pets, or being outdoors.”
GREEN AND GOLD MEMORIES
Lichon urges current USF students to take advantage of more than just their coursework by accessing the many resources, events, and professional societies available to them in Tampa, St. Petersburg, and the Sarasota-Manatee campuses.
Corbyn Lichon playing as part of the USF Herd of Thunder.
Lichon fondly remembers her time at the Tampa campus, where she was actively involved with many different groups, such as the Herd of Thunder Marching Band, which provided a fun break from her studies and allowed her to enjoy music.
She cites these Herd of Thunder experiences as some of her most treasured moments
in college, where she not only made lifelong friendships but also played at many of
USF’s biggest sporting events, taking her to places like New York, Boston, and Canada.
When not busy traveling with the band, Lichon lived in the Honors LLC and was one
of the first students to live in Juniper-Poplar Hall. The Honors LLC was an invaluable
experience for Lichon, providing her with guidance, friendships, and a gateway to
new experiences, such as an Honors LLC camping trip at age 17, for which she still
needed her mom's permission to attend.
A RESOURCE FOR THE FUTURE
All of Lichon’s USF experiences, from learning from dedicated professors to finding places to pursue her interests and connecting with a community of like-minded peers, have drawn her to give back to the USF community as an alumna.
“I would not be where I am today without the education that I received. It's important to continue to stay involved so that USF continues to be a preeminent university,” said Lichon.
Corbyn Lichon smiling with fellow students in the Honors LLC at Juniper-Poplar Hall.
“The way I look at it, in order for me to step up to the next level, I need to be
bringing somebody along with me,” said Lichon.
For Lichon, being a USF alumna means investing in student success and continually
being a resource for the future. As a USF Muma College of Business Corporate Mentor,
she connects with minority and first-generation college students to share her wealth
of career and life knowledge. Assisting with resumes, job applications, professional
development, and course recommendations, Lichon aims to be the mentor she wished she
had during her undergraduate career.
“It has been really fulfilling. These are relationships I hope to keep long after
the semester is over.”