THE BUZZ
The latest and greatest happenings at
SAX resources
CEO & MANAGING PARTNER
Joseph A. Damiano CPA
EXECUTIVE BOARD
Joshua Chananie CPA
Joseph A Damiano CPA
Shivani Jain CPA, MST
Ermal Luzaj CPA, MBA
Joseph Shannon CPA/ABV, CFE
Kyle Stawicki ChFC®
OFFICE LEADERS
Parsippany, NJ
Joseph A. Damiano CPA
Ewing, NJ
Jeremy Rhen CFP®
New York City, NY
Lisa Goldman CPA, M.TAX, TEP
Mumbai, India
Shivani Jain CPA, MST
RISK MANAGEMENT
W Michael Curry CPA, CCIFP
Vincent Flanagan
Christopher Gaffney CPA, MST
Trevor Hodges
Shivani Jain CPA, MST
Rob Owen
Michael Rolls
Albert Traverso CPA
FIRM OPERATIONS
Chief Financial Officer
Nicholas Valentini
Chief Human Resources Officer
Christine Brennan-Savino
Chief Information Officer
Rob Owen
Chief Marketing Officer/
Head of Business Development
Leon Grassi
Chief Operating Officer
Michael Rolls
Chief Operations Officer and Chief Compliance Officer - SWA
Trevor Hodges
Director of IT Operations
Tom Hughes
Director of Learning & Development
Nick Romanowski
Director of M&A
Peyton Bowman, MBA
Director of Marketing
Margaret Henn Director of Quality Control
Akram Soliman CPA
SAX resources
CHARITABLE FOUNDATION BOARD
Lauren Frary MA
Candy Gordon-Geanoules CPA
Carolyn Lanza
Helena Lynch CPA, MST
Jennifer L Moroz CPA
Deborah Nappi CPA, MST
Michael Rolls
Peter Scalise
Marqus White CPA
SERVICE DIRECTORY
Accounting + Auditing
Albert Traverso CPA
P: (973) 472-6250
E: atraverso@saxllp.com
Cannabis
Todd W. Polyniak CPA
P: (973) 554-6164
E: tpolyniak@saxllp.com
Client Accounting Services
Jordan Goldman
P: (212) 661-8640
E: jgoldman@saxllp.com
Construction
Ermal Luzaj CPA, MBA
P: (973) 554-6174
E: eluzaj@saxllp.com
Consumer Products
Joshua Chananie CPA
P: (973) 554-6160
E: jchananie@saxllp.com
Employee Benefit Plan Audits
Jennifer L. Moroz CPA
P: (973) 472-6250
E: jmoroz@saxllp.com
Federal Tax Credits and Incentives
Peter Scalise
P: (212) 661-8640
E: pscalise@saxllp.com
Fractional Finance
Eric Meisner
P: (212) 661-8640
E: emeisner@saxllp.com
Healthcare
Deborah Nappi CPA, MST
P: (973) 554-6191
E: dnappi@saxllp.com
HR Consulting
Christine Brennan-Savino
P: (973) 554-6190
E: cbrennan-savino@saxllp.com
International Tax
Lisa Goldman CPA, M.TAX, TEP
P: (212) 661-8640
E: lgoldman@saxllp.com
New Lease Accounting
Jason Borofsky CPA, MBA
P: (973) 554-6082
E: jborofsky@saxllp com
SAX resources
Nonprofit (National)
David Ashenfarb CPA
P: (212) 268-2805
E: dashenfarb@saxllp.com
Private Client Services
Joseph J Bulger
P: (973) 554-6094
E: jbulger@saxllp.com
Professional Services
Jennifer L. Moroz CPA
P: (973) 472-6250
E: jmoroz@saxllp.com
Real Estate
Joseph Shannon CPA/ABV, CFE
P: (973) 554-6100
E: jshannon@saxllp.com
SAX Capital Advisors
Jerome Fusco
P: (203) 988-3473
E: jfusco@saxca.com
SAX Technology Advisors
Rob Owen
P: (201) 694-6909
E: rowen@saxllp.com
SAX Wealth Advisors
Kyle R. Stawicki ChFC®
P: (973) 554-6006
E: kstawicki@saxwa.com
State and Local Tax
Richard Goldstein JD
P: (973) 472-6250
E: rgoldstein@saxllp.com
Strategic Business Transformation
Lauren Frary MA, LRC
P: (973) 472-6250
E: lfrary@saxllp.com
Tax
Shivani Jain CPA, MST
P: (973) 554-6161
E: sjain@saxllp.com Tax Controversy
Julio M Jimenez JD, LLM
P: (857) 891-3114
E: jjimenez@saxllp.com
Transaction Strategy & Transformation
Eric Lewandowski
P: (401) 556-7940
E: elewandowski@saxllp.com
Trusts & Estates
Lisa M. Mela CPA, MST
P: (973) 554-6168
E: lmela@saxllp.com
Valuation, Forensic & Litigation
Megan Sartor CPA/ABV/CFF
P: (973) 554-6158
E: msartor@saxllp.com
SAX resources
Asana Leon Grassi lgrassi@saxllp.com
Axcess axcess@saxllp.com
BNA Tax Planner Michael Penberg mpenberg@saxllp.com
CaseWare caseware@saxllp com
CCH (Importing to) Kennedy Spittler kspittler@saxllp com
Client Data Changes clientInfo@saxllp.com
Client Leaving Firm nlac@saxllp.com
Fixed Assets Tyler Goodspeed tgoodspeed@saxllp.com
SurePrep sureprep@saxllp com
GEMS Lisa Mela lmela@saxllp com
GFR gfr@saxllp.com
HubSpot Leon Grassi lgrassi@saxllp.com
Portal clientportal@saxllp.com
Practice Management finance@saxllp com
Suralink Joe DeBarr jdebarr@saxllp com
SAX resources
program
A&A Scheduling a&aschedule@saxllp.com
ASA asa@saxllp.com
CPE Q&A training@saxllp.com
E-file efile@saxllp.com
Engagement Letters signedltr@saxllp.com
Innovation Committee innovation@saxllp com
IT support@saxtechnology com
LCvista training@saxllp.com
LumiQ training@saxllp.com
Marketing marketing group@saxllp.com
P.O.W.E.R. Committee power@saxllp.com
Retirement Planning retirement@saxwa.com
RSM training@saxllp.com
Shared Services sharedservices@saxllp.com
Source Documents sourcedocs@saxllp com
Tax Documents taxdocrequest@saxwa com
Tax Scheduling taxschedule@saxllp.com
Transcripts transcripts@saxllp.com
firm announcements
Congratulations!
We are thrilled to announce the promotion of Matt Bernocchi, Igor Petrovic, and Joe Saverino to the position of Partner, effective January 1, 2025.
These outstanding individuals exemplify our dedication to excellence, innovation, and exceptional client service, marking the beginning of a new era of leadership and expertise.
SAX 4 MILER Hits $1 Million Milestone in Total Funds Raised for St. Joseph’s Children’s Hospital
read the press release here
2024 End of year celebration
marketing
podcasts / vlogs
podcasts / vlogs
news from our team
Congratulations to Carolyn Lanza and her husband on welcoming Layla Rayn Dobbs on November 19!
Missy O'Shea, recently delivered an insightful presentation titled "Current and Future Financial, Tax, and Economic Outlook" at the Surety Association of New Jersey and Women in Surety Educational Breakfast.
Several of our Partners and friends of the firm attended the NJ Center for Tourette Syndrome’s annual gala aimed to raise funds to support the Center's vital initiatives.
Rob Owen was interviewed by CIO.com to discuss AI ROI.
Check out the full spotlight here.
news from our team
SAX team members laced up their shoes for the American Cancer Society’s Making Strides Against Breast Cancer walk! In total, we raised $8,663 - our best year yet!
Peter Scalise helped facilitate the annual USO Accountants Salute the Troops event, assembling care packages for deployed troops.
to SAX Wealth Advisors for reaching $3 billion in AUM and being named to Newsweek’s List of Top Financial Advisory Firms for 2025!
SAX India LLP has been Certified™ by Great Place To Work®!
news from our team
Thank you to all of our team members who contributed to the Oasis Toy Drive and those who made contributions to Child and Family Resource of Morris County and The Arc of Essex County! Thank you to everyone who donated to the Hurricanes Milton and Helene Relief fundraiser. In total we raised over $2,200!
And congratulations to Anthony Morreale for winning the Jets Suite raffle drawing!
Congratulations to Onkar Mishra and his wife on welcoming Samridhi Mishra on November 20!
Webinar Recaps
In case you missed it, watch as SAX’s nonprofit experts walk you through the top findings from the Giving USA report and provide strategies to help your organization make the best choices about your fundraising efforts and resources.
Watch the webinar
In case you missed it, watch the Q4 Tax with SAX Update, where our speakers discussed the Corporate Transparency Act, year-end planning ideas, state and local tax considerations, tax proposals from the Trump Administration, and planning for possible reduction of the estate tax exemption in 2026
Watch the webinar
In case you missed this must-watch session, our experts explore the significant changes effective January 1, 2025, impacting Medicaid and Children’s Health Insurance Program (CHIP) billing for mental and behavioral health services.
Watch the webinar
event Recaps
ConstructionClientAppreciation
SAX hosted a fantastic Client Appreciation Event at Avenue A on October 17, celebrating our valued clients. The evening saw a great turnout, filled with meaningful connections and memorable moments Thank you to everyone who joined us!
nonprofitconference
The Road to Resilience: Nonprofit Success in Unstable Times, was held on October 25 at Pinstripes in Paramus, NJ. The event featured three panels: "Building Resilience in Donor Relationships," "Embracing Digital Transformation," and "Effective Fundraising in Uncertain Times "
event Recaps
On November 1, 2024 SAX's Consumer & Industrial Products Group held its second conference at the American Dream Mall in East Rutherford. The event brought together top professionals to share insights and foster connections. The conference featured a panel on navigating challenges in consumer and industrial markets, a leadership discussion on adapting to change, and sessions on the economy, technology, and business transitions.
event Recaps
SAX’s Construction Industry Update held on November 14, 2024, at the Trump National Golf Club in Bedminster, NJ, brought together industry leaders for an engaging discussion. Topics included regulatory changes, technological innovations, and strategies for optimizing business operations in today’s competitive market.
real estate Industry Update
The 2024 Real Estate Industry Update was held on November 6, 2024, at the Upper Montclair Country Club, featuring keynote speaker Dr. David Stubbs from BlackRock, a global leader in investment and risk management.
nyc thanksgiving Day parade
watch party
Team members and their families joined at our NYC office that overlooked 6th Avenue and the famous Thanksgiving Day parade!
the cross sell corner
investment banking
SAX Capital Advisors is armed with a wealth of expertise to assist in finding the perfect partner when selling or acquiring a business, preparing a business for sale, raising capital, restructuring a company, and more Learn more here
fractional finance
Whether it’s a temporary engagement or a CFO level resource part time – SAX Fractional Finance is here to support a business’ needs. We can step in at any time and provide strategic thinking to maximize opportunities by leveraging years of experience in a variety of industries Learn more here
private client
We are experienced professionals offering tailored solutions to managing wealth, preserving legacy and ensuring financial security for high-net-worth individuals and families Learn more here
strategic business transformation
We provide nonprofits with 360 consulting spanning from start-up to succession planning, aimed at providing strategic and innovative solutions to propel an organization’s mission forward. Learn more here.
technology
We provide businesses with critical technology services like cloud migrations and operations, disaster recovery, managed services, business continuity, cybersecurity, enterprise architecture, technology strategy development, project management, and much more.
transaction advisory & corporate restructuring
From integration to transformation to separation strategy, we are results focused M&A leaders who work to ensure businesses are strategically positioned, identifying and realizing value during the due diligence process and throughout the entirety of the transaction Learn more here
valuation, forensics and litigation
Whether a client is engaged in litigation, investigating potential fraud, Alternative Dispute Resolution or just trying to find a solution to a complex financial situation, the VFL team can provide expert guidance Learn more here
wealth management
With over $3 billion in collective assets, SAX Wealth Advisors is an independent registered investment advisor offering strategic financial planning, tax planning, investment management, individual and employer retirement plans, and more. Learn more here.
human resources
the sax family
Hareem Nadeem
Naimisha
the sax india family
y y y
Rashi Kirti Jain Analyst 12/9/2024
Anuradha S Manager 12/16/2024
Rishabh Ajay Rajput Senior 12/11/2024
Priyank Praful Trivedi Senior 12/11/2024
Darshan Naren Nandu Manager 12/23/2024
Welcome to the firm!
Logan Miller is a graduate of Ramapo College of New Jersey. His hometown is Cresskill, NJ A fun fact about Logan: his hobbies are playing guitar and reading!
Matthew Dulin is a graduate of The College of New Jersey. His hometown is Middletown, NJ, and he will be working out of the NYC office. A fun fact about Matt: he has a pet lizard that is older than he is!
Michael Weiss is a graduate of The College of New Jersey, and earned his MBA at Montclair State University A fun fact about Michael: he plays the violin! He also traveled to India and Dubai in the past
William Salmon is a graduate of Rider University, where he obtained both his Bachelor’s and Master’s degrees in Accounting. His hometown is Oxford, NJ. A fun fact about William: while attending Rider University, he also competed on their Division 1 Cross Country and Track and Field teams!
John De Paz is a graduate of Rutgers University – New Brunswick His hometown is Union City, NJ A fun fact about John: he loves watching horror movies!
Thomas DeGrosa is a graduate of Maryville University, where he received his Master’s in Accounting His hometown is Elmwood Park, NJ He has also lived in Bloomfield, NJ, and surrounding towns. A fun fact about Thomas: he is a musician with a bachelor’s degree in music technology!
Anthony Russo is a graduate of Farleigh Dickson University, and obtained a Bachelor’s in Accounting, with a minor in Finance. A fun fact about Anthony: he was the valedictorian of his 8th grade class! On weekends, he likes to relax at home and talk to friends
Fernando Delgado is a graduate of Pace University, and obtained a Master’s in Public Accounting He lives in Haverstraw A fun fact about Fernando: he is Dominican and Chinese, and also enjoys reading light novels! He worked as a bookkeeper before becoming an Associate
Michael Kopatka is a graduate of William Paterson University, where he earned his MBA with a concentration in Accounting. He lives in Bloomingdale, NJ, and was born and raised in New Jersey. A fun fact about Michael: he enjoys reading, cooking, and traveling!
Gianna Morra is a graduate of Rutgers University – New Brunswick Her hometown is Paramus, NJ A fun fact about Gianna: in her free time, she enjoys walking her dog, Rosie, and reading a good book!
Nicholas Smeilus is a graduate of Ramapo College of New Jersey, and will finish his Master’s degree in a few weeks. His hometown is Jefferson Township, NJ. A fun fact about Nicholas: in his free time, he loves being with friends and playing video games!
Martin Lucibello is a graduate of Centenary University, where he obtained a degree in Finance and Accounting. A fun fact about Martin: He is a die hard Lions fan and on weekends, enjoys watching sports In college, he played baseball for 7 years He was a catcher and outfielder He also played two years of baseball at Bergen Community College before attending Centenary University.
Ashley Georgevich is a graduate of Caldwell University, where she is also currently obtaining her Master’s degree Her hometown is Saddle Brook, NJ. A fun fact about Ashley: She plays competitive pickleball and played in the US Open in Naples, FL and other 4.5+ tournaments! She is also on the women’s soccer team at Caldwell University.
Jose Chuquimarca is a graduate of Caldwell University, where he obtained both his Bachelor’s and Master’s degrees in Accounting. His hometown is Union City, NJ. A fun fact about Jose: he is of Ecuadorian and Salvadorian background, and can speak both countries’ styles of Spanish!
Ricardo Pimentel Jr. is a graduate of Rutgers University – Newark. More about Ricardo: he loves snowboarding! He is also a first-generation Dominican-American
Great cards
Anna Falkson
Anna did a spectacular job managing her client work and maternity leave! Anna is the epitome of a team player
Sener Mamudoski
Sener is a rising star of the ITAX squad and doesn’t shy away from any ITAX work given.
Nandita Gajula
Nandita puts in solid, quality work and is an invaluable resource to her squad
Mamie Francois
ITAX returns/forms are as complex as they can get, and still, Mamie gets them done with both ease and understanding.
Taniya Taylor
She is always ready and willing to help, Taniya is someone the ITAX squad can always count on.
hanna kang
Hanna deserves a Great Card for going above and beyond and working throughout the night to complete a last minute return that was assigned to her.
Ashley Nikituk, Magdalena Krowka, Ella Valdes
Ashley, Maggie, and Ella deserve Great Cards for their excellent team work hosting the A&A Level 3 Training Program.
John Wagner
He did an amazing job on 8 PFS engagements which all require a lot of focus and organizational skills He stayed on top of the emails from different sources of information I could rely on him to update what he needed without having to remind him at all
SAX travel system
We are happy to announce we are partnering with LXR Travel, a concierge level travel management company.
LXR Travel will assist you with making your work-related travel arrangements for air, car, car service, hotel, and train. By partnering with LXR for your travel arrangements, it will allow for many benefits. LXR is not “travel police” but rather offers a service that will be there for our travelers from door to door; whether you need to cancel a trip, extend your trip, or your flight is delayed, and you will miss a connecting flight, LXR will be there to help.
They are not a call center, so you will get to know the agents and will be able to call/email your favorite agent directly to form a relationship. They have an online traveler portal that allows for management of your traveler profile and reward #s, so that your miles/rewards will be part of every booking made through LXR, and will also keep track of your unused tickets that are available for future use.
view the instructions on setting up your account here.
INDIA Diwali Celebration
The team celebrated Diwali, also called the “Festival of Lights,” which is one of India's most widely celebrated holidays.
INDIA Eye Camp Day
SAX India held their annual “eye camp day”, designed to provide eye care service to a large number of people in a short time. It is to create awareness among the general public around eye care.
INDIA Dental Camp Day
SAX India also held their annual “dental camp day”, designed to provide preventive dental care, curative care, screening for diseases and health education
Al Traverso visits SAX India Team
L&D Updates
Cyber Security Training:
Complete the online training by 12/31
The non-CPE course will take 45 min. to complete
Completion is required for all employees Questions? Email training@saxllp.com
Engagement Letter Training:
All tax engagement letters will be prepared in HubSync and completed by January 31st, 2025
Training Sessions
January 6: 2pm-3pm EST
January 7: 3pm-4pm EST Help Desk Sessions
January 8: 9:30am-10:30am EST
January 9: 11:00am-12:00pm EST
January 10: 9:00am-10:00am EST
RSM Deactivation:
RSM CPE will be disabled on January 1st, 2025.
Access to the RSM Alliance Portal will continue.
RSM will be replaced by Becker Professional Education for CPE.
L&D Updates
SAX partnered with Becker for IRS EA Exam prep! Interested in becoming an EA? Key benefits include:
Unlimited Practice Rights: EAs can represent clients before the IRS in all 50 states, covering individuals, businesses, and complex cases.
Tax Expertise: The EA credential demonstrates deep knowledge of tax law, positioning you as a trusted tax advisor.
Credibility & Differentiation: It enhances professional credibility and helps distinguish you from other tax preparers.
No CPA Requirement: You don’t need to be a CPA to become an EA, making it accessible to accountants focusing solely on taxation.
Continuing Education: Maintaining the designation ensures you stay current with tax code changes, reinforcing your expertise.
Email training@saxllp.com for more information!
Enrolled Agent Exam Review
CPE Compliance Reminders
CPE Progress: Login to LCvista to check your CPE
State board & In-Firm requirements
Ethics, Yellowbook, EBP, EA, etc.
Automated compliance reminder emails
Instructor CPE
3x CPE for instruction of internal courses
NJ CPAs require NJCPA board approval
OnDemand CPE: LumiQ, Amplifire, RSM
CPE Learning Plans in LCvista for newly promoted Managers & Senior Managers
New Hires: Submit CPE from previous employer
External CPE: Submit external certificates in LCvista
SAX DEI Statement
“At SAX LLP, we prioritize fostering an inclusive environment where all voices are heard and valued. We believe in actively attracting, developing, and retaining exceptional talent from diverse backgrounds. By embracing diverse perspectives and experiences, we fortify our capacity for innovation, propel growth, and consistently exceed expectations for our clients and team.”
