01 2019 CPAmerica Advantage

News from Your Accounting Association

CPAmerica Advantage CPAmerica Presents Your 2019 Board of Directors A group of nine directors selected from a diverse representation of firms from each of CPAmerica’s five regions will make up the 2019 Board of Directors.

Sharon M. Thompson will be leading the board as chair this year. She is the leading partner and managing shareholder of Hughes, Snell & Co., P.A., with headquarters in Fort Myers, Fla. She will take over the leading position from the outgoing chair, Brian Malthouse. Malthouse, leading partner with VonLehman & company, Inc., will remain on the board for 2019 new board chair, the remainder of 2019 and will act as Sharon Thompson immediate past chair.

Ernie Gelpi, leading partner of Kushner LaGraize, L.L.C., will take on his new role as vice chair, a position where, during the course of the year, he will use the time to both aid Thompson achieve her objectives for the board and to start putting together his plan for the time when he will become chair in 2020.

January 2019 New Member firm P. 1 Member News P. 3

Rounding out the remaining President's Corner - Alan Deichler P. 4 board members who are put in place to help guide CPAmerica’s policies and strategic direction include: W. Dane Floyd, managing partner with Aldridge Borden & Company, w ith headquarters in Montgomery, Ala.; Martin D. Moll, CEO and managing partner with Aldrich Group, based in Lake Oswego, Ore.; James W. Barrett, leading partner with Meyers Brot hers Kalicka, P.C., based in Holyoke, Mass.; Donald A. Cowan, Sharing Call leading partner with Marketing Branding Guidelines 2018 past chair, Cowan, Gunteski & Join us on this Sharing Call on Brian Malthouse guidelines. This call will Co., P.A., based in branding be facilitated by Wegner CPAs Toms River, N.J.; Gregory W. Hammonds, Marketing Manager Sandy Fischer. president and leading partner with See New BOD, continued on page 2

To register, go to: https://tinyurl.com/yccs9myd

New Member Snapshot: Whalen & Company CPAs Whalen & Company, CPAs

250 W. Old Wilson Bridge Rd., Suite 300 Worthington, Ohio 43085 Tel: (614) 396-4200 | Fax: (614) 396-4210 www.whalencpa.com Richard Crabtree | Managing Partner | richard.crabtree@whalencpa.com Lisa Shuneson | Partner | lisa.shuneson@whalencpa.com Bruce Berry | Partner | bruce.berry@whalencpa.com Patrick McClary | Partner | patrick.mcclary@whalencpa.com Linda Nay | Firm Administrator | linda.nay@whalencpa.com

Clients Come First Since 1945, Whalen & Company, CPAs has evolved and progressed to meet the changing demands of our industry. Over the past 72 years, their founders: to deliver excellent, customized service to each client.

Linda Nay | HR Director | linda.nay@whalencpa.com Kathleen Hargrove | Marketing Director | kathleen.hargrove@whalencpa.com Linda Nay | IT Network Administrator | linda.nay@whalencpa.com

Headquarters:

Worthington, Ohio

Honkamp Krueger acquires Des Moines CPA firm Short & Company

CPAmerica member firm, Honkamp Krueger & Co., P.C. (HK), a Top 100 CPA and business consulting firm in the U.S., acquired greater Des Moines area firm, Short & Company, CPA, P.L.C. Greg Burbach, Honkamp Krueger’s president and CEO, states, “As Honkamp Krueger continues to grow, it was natural to look toward our state capitol region for a good-fit CPA firm. We found that with the Short & Company partners and team, who have a similar approach to Greg Burbach business with their work ethic, quality services and culture. Already having a Des Moines presence with our wealth management affiliate, HK Financial Service, and human capital division, Kabel Business Services, we are excited to add the CPA and business advisory service lines to the region.”

Ron Stallman, former partner at Short & Company, and now Honkamp Krueger partner, adds, “We are excited for the new opportunities this merger/acquisition offers to serve our clients in a greater capacity, and the team is looking forward to the future as part of the HK Family of Companies.”

Ron Stallman

CPAmerica Member Firms Recognized as the Fastest All-Growth Firms in the U.S. by INSIDE Public Accounting

Regional Fastest All-Growth Firms in the West region, ranking 3 out of 5.

DMJ & Co., PLLC, headquartered in Greensboro, N.C., was named to the 2018 Fastest All-Growth Firms, ranking 9 out of 10 with 32.6 percent growth, and was also named to the 2018 Regional Fastest All-Growth Firms in the Southeast region, ranking 3 out of 5.

Brickley DeLong, PC, headquartered in Muskegon, Mich., was named to the 2018 Regional Fastest All-Growth Firms in the Great Lakes region, ranking 3 out of 5 with 20 percent growth.

CPAmerica would like to say thank you to our reviewers: Marcy Lantz, Aldrich Group Ashley Lough, Aldridge Borden & Company Lisa Johnson, CS&L CPAs Kathy Klang, Cummings, Keegan & Co., PLLC Tim Kenyon, Cummings, Keegan & Co., PLLC Mike Gillis, DMJ & Co., PLLC Caren Rodriguez, DMJ & Co., PLLC Art Winstead, DMJ & Co., PLLC Tim Weidman, Frankel Zacharia, LLC Dale Cox, Maxwell Locke & Ritter LLP Brad Steward, Pulakos CPAs, PC Craig Rhinehart, Robinson, Grimes & Company, P.C. Brian Rutledge, Robinson, Grimes & Company, P.C. Steve Rodis, Wallace, Plese + Dreher, L.L.P. Pete Oettinger, Wegner CPAs

Five CPAmerica member firms and one CPAConnect member firm are being recognized for their accomplishments in INSIDE Public Accounting’s 2018 Fastest All-Growth Firms. This group includes organic growth and growth in net revenue from mergers. IPA has also identified the Top 5 all-growth firms by region. ”We are excited to congratulate all of our firms who have been recognized,” said Alan Deichler, president of CPAmerica. “The commitment that these firms have made to being great firms and to growth is very impressive.”

CPAmerica congratulates the following firms on their recognition: Wallace Plese + Dreher, L.L.P., headquartered in Chandler, Ariz., was named to the 2018 Fastest All-Growth Firms, ranking 6 out of 10 with 36.5 percent growth, and was also named to the 2018

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New BOD, continued from front page

Whaley Hammonds Tomasello Accountants and Advisors, based in McDonough, Ga.; and Frank J. Monaco, leading partner with 415 Group, based in Canton, Ohio.

The 2019 board will next get together at the CPAmerica main offices in Gainesville, Fla., in mid-January.

2019 vice chair, Ernie Gelpi

Member News HBL CPAs, P.C.'s managing partner receives Accounting Award

announced that Coleen Krogen, managing partner, received the Accounting Award at the 2018 University of Arizona Eller College of Management’s Ordinary Women Doing Extraordinary Things Networking Tea held last month.

This annual networking tea recognizes and celebrates both prominent women leaders in the Tucson community and top female Eller students. The award provides a unique opportunity for students to network with successful local business women and acquire some practical “howto” advice, while giving local business women a peek at the talented young women moving up through the ranks.

Aldrich welcomes four new partners in 2019

The announced it has named four new partners effective this month: Tracey Davis, Ryan Johnson, Nicole Rice, and Matt Van Doren.

Davis is a leading Employee Benefits Consultant specializing in large and mid-market employers with particular expertise in self-funding. She uses her in-depth knowledge of the market and strong carrier partnerships to implement creative solutions for funding, medical management, and cost containment with an eye on the future direction of healthcare. She earned her bachelor's in exercise science from Western Oregon University and is a member of the National Association of Health Underwriters and NAHU’s Oregon chapter.

Johnson is an expert on the taxation of communications and power companies.

He specializes in both business and individual taxation and has extensive experience consulting on the structure of entities and transactions, including mergers and acquisitions. Johnson is active in multiple state industry associations presenting on various tax and business planning topics. He also serves a number of local non-profit organizations with various tax and accounting services.

Johnson graduated from Corban University with a degree in business administration with an accounting emphasis.

Rice helps individuals and corporate clients achieve their short and long term financial goals. She has experience in wealth management, retirement planning, tax accounting, design, and implementation of non-qualified benefit plans, insurance, and qualified benefit plans. Rice volunteers with a number of community organizations focused on creating opportunities and enrichment for youth. Rice graduated from the

University of Montana with a bachelor's in business administration with an option in accounting, as well as her master's in accounting.

Van Doren serves the construction industry. He provides financial and accounting services, tax planning, and consulting services. Van Doren is a member of various industry associations and stays engaged with their related events. He is a Certified Construction Industry Financial Professional (CCIFP), and holds a bachelor's in accounting from the University of Portland.

WW&D passes seventh consecutive peer review , announced that for the seventh consecutive time, it has successfully completed a rigorous peer review of its accounting and audit practice. WW&D received the best possible rating – pass with no letter of comment – as the firm has earned for all of its peer reviews. The peer review team determined that WW&D complies with the stringent quality control standards set by the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants (AICPA) and the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board (PCAOB).

“Given our firm’s niche in auditing investment companies and broker-dealers under PCAOB standards, our peer review was required to be administered by the AICPA’s National Peer Review Committee as opposed to the Pennsylvania Institute of Certified Public Accountants,” said Dave Wolfenden, managing director of WW&D. WW&D has been registered with the PCAOB since 2005. According to the PCAOB, WW&D is the only Delawarebased CPA firm that audits investment companies and broker-dealers.

Tallahassee firm announces new hires and promotions Tallahassee, Fla.-based member firm

(THF), welcomed Lindsey Gregory and Ryan Cummings, Beau Liao, and Matthew Warren to the firm.

Gregory, a Fort Myers native, received her bachelor’s in accounting at Florida State University, followed by her master’s in accounting and taxation from Florida Gulf Coast University.

Cummings received his bachelor’s in accounting from Pfeiffer University.

Gregory and Cummings will be working out of the Tampa office.

Liao received his bachelor’s and master's in accounting from Florida State University.

Warren received his bachelor’s in accounting from Flagler College.

Liao and Warren will be working in the Assurance Services Department.

Gregory, Cummings, Liao, and Warren are all members of the Florida Institute of Certified Public Accountants (FICPA).

THF also promoted Alex Frey and Brian Detwiler to senior in the Assurance Services Department. Frey graduated with both a bachelor’s and master’s in accounting from Canisius College.

Detwiler received his bachelor’s in finance from the University of South Florida, and went on to receive his master’s in accounting from the Keller Graduate School of Management. Gabe Crook, Jessica Gonzalez Shipe, and Megan Keplinger were also promoted. Crook and Shipe were promoted to senior in the Assurance Services Department and Keplinger to the marketing and business development coordinator position.

Cowan, Gunteski & Co., P.A.’s Reed honored by Lakewood Chamber of Commerce

, a leading accounting and profitability consulting firm in New Jersey, announced that Stephen Reed, CPA, PSA, CGMA, managing director of the firm’s Monmouth County office, has received the Citizen of the Year Award from the Lakewood Chamber of Commerce.

“We are thrilled that Stephen Reed is receiving this prestigious award and grateful to the Lakewood Chamber of Commerce for this recognition,” said Donald A. Cowan, CPA, PFS, PSA, CFP®, managing director.

The award was held at Eagle Ridge Golf Club in Lakewood, N.J.

Meyers Brothers Kalicka, P.C. welcomes Pinsoneault as senior associate headquartered in Holyoke, Mass., welcomed Eric A. Pinsoneault, CPA, to the firm in the position of senior associate.

Prior to coming aboard at MBK, Pinsoneault worked in the audit department of a Boston-area firm for four years. He has also worked as a senior accountant at a renewable energy firm.

In his new role at MBK, Pinsoneault will perform audit and attestation services for pension plans, privately held corporations and nonprofit organizations.

Pinsoneault brings a thorough approach to his work, helping clients achieve their goals by listening closely and not being afraid to ask too many questions. He strives to understand his clients’ exact needs so he can better fulfill them. He holds a bachelor's from Goddard College and master’s in accounting and a second master’s in business administration from UMass Boston.

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President's Corner: What we can learn from "The Greatest"

W

Alan Deichler President

e all have lots of people to see and serve. Our calendars and schedules are hectic.

There doesn’t seem to be a slow time anymore to catch up. The result is sometimes I am a bit “quick” with folks.

We usually find the time to recognize and listen to our constituents and clients. Sometimes we are fast with others – staff, folks on the street, service providers and such. Not necessarily rude or short, but just quick. While I’m not a big one for New Year’s resolutions, the beginning of the year is a good time to think through what I want to be toward people.

I am reminded of an experience I had in an airport somewhere in the Southeast. I can’t remember which one and it really doesn’t matter. It was about 10 or 15 years ago and I was going somewhere on business … quickly.

I saw a man sitting on a bench with his wife by his side. It was interesting as people were approaching him. They were lining up like airplanes coming into a major airport. From yards away you could see them approaching

CPAmerica Preferred Provider Spotlight:

this man.

I was interested to see how this man was going to handle the crowd of people, and of course, I was interested in why they were approaching him. The people were from all sorts of backgrounds. A suited business man, a custodian of the airport, a young woman, an older gentleman with a beard and jean jacket, plus many others were all lined up to meet him. The man was receiving each one with a weak handshake, a direct look, and the best smile he could muster. The real takeaway was that he had time for each one of them.

Ali shaking each person’s hand, looking them in the eye and thanking them for stopping to say hello.

I thought, if Ali could take a few extra minutes out of the day to look someone in the eye as he shook their hand to thank them, then maybe I needed to slow down a bit to recognize everyone too.

Looking closer, he was an older African American man, and he had a slight tremor.

He tried to smile, but couldn’t quite pull off a full happy expression. But it was evident he was looking each person in the eye, regardless of who or what they were.

If there was ever a person who had a busy schedule or who was short of time, it was this gentleman. I recognized him but not as the man I remembered. He was known as a very tough person with a braggadocious personality. We later learned much of this personality was a show, a put-on to promote his business. He self-proclaimed himself as “The Greatest.” Yet, here was Muhammad

textbooks and access to the course.

Contact Richard Slusz at (860) 583-8399 or e-mail: rslusz@becker.com to get a CPA Review Selection form. Within one week of indicating your preference (either direct-bill with a $700 discount or Preferred Provider with a $300 discount), your account will be set up and your staff will be able to register at the discounted rate.

Gainesville, FL 32601 (352) 727-4070 www.cpamerica.org

Becker Continuing Professional Education (CPE)

If so desired, the Becker CPA Exam Review staff will provide CPA exam orientation seminars to member firm staff candidates at training seminars or at a mutually convenient time and place.

Becker offers significant discounts to CPAmerica and CPA Connect member firms for their CPE programs. Becker CPE courses are web based and will be delivered via a dedicated Alliance portal for those that select a Direct Bill arrangement. This portal can be used by your firm to both enroll and track your staff’s CPE progress.

The CPAmerica member firm discounted tuition includes all course materials including

For a complete listing of Becker CPE Program offerings, please visit: http://www. becker.com/cpe and select “CPE Courses.”

CPA Exam Review - Orientation and Materials

Send feedback and advantage@cpamerica.org OHM

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