News from Your Accounting Association
CPAmerica Advantage The power of collaboration: Kevin McGrath, CEO of Our association is closely affiliated with Crowe Horwath International (CHI), and when talking about business in general, a big piece of what makes this a successful partnership is the facilitation of international connections between the two organizations. We recently spoke with Kevin McGrath, CEO of Crowe Horwath International, about the relationship between CPAmerica and CHI. McGrath said, “We’ve talked about the relationship between CPAmerica and Crowe Horwath – it certainly has a successful history – I believe I have records that this will be the 20-year mark. I think KEVIN MCGRATH it has been a very beneficial relationship for both parties. I know it has for Crowe Horwath International and I hope it has for CPAmerica. We’ve been able to work mutually to satisfy client needs and I encourage CPAmerica members to make an effort and involve themselves with Crowe Horwath International. We have events, annual conferences, regional meetings, and trainings – all of them open to CPAmerica members." Firms from CPAmerica and CHI most interested in a deeper investment into the cross-border opportunities attend not only the CHI events, but CPAmerica’s annual International Group Meeting held in the weeks after Thanksgiving. Established originally to enhance the opportunities for valuable relationships among members, the meeting just completed its fifth successful year. “Several years ago, we put together a process where any CPAmerica member firm that would like access to our member portal can do so. We’ve created a simple form for mem-
As of January 2017, all future programs at CPAmerica will adhere to the new revised standards that were published jointly by NASBA and the AICPA. While you have heard about the changes to you as an individual CPA in items such as different fields of study or the ability to get credit in shorter increments or different delivery methods, we wanted to highlight a few of the ways that you would see the effects of these changes as a member of CPAmerica. Sign in and out at
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bers to fill out [your president, Alan Deichler is the gatekeeper Member News P. 3 for members who would like President's Corner P. 4 to do this], after this, then they have access to our member portal. There they can see a sched ule of our events and trainings and register.” As CPAmerica and CHI firms CPAmerica's Strategic become more familiar with one Vision graphic update: another, both sides can understand what the other is dealing with. McGrath commented, “As you get down to the member level, there’s been an outreach between CPAmerica and many of our European firms in the last couple of years to get to know each other better. We’ve had occasions where one of our European firms hosted CPAmerica firms at CPAmerica is based upon their offices, and likewise, CPAmerica the central principle of firms have reciprocated here. These "Improving Through type of informal relationship-building Sharing" and each exercises have led to some real posi- member firm's association tives in terms of both sides generating is a commitment towards work they might not have been able to continous improvement. get otherwise. Our member firms see To see our new graphic, go to www.cpamerica.org this taking place and they value it.” Beyond t his, work ing w it h CPAmerica firms has been of benefit to CHI. McGrath told us “sometimes there are opportunities for work that come
events – One of the new NASBA policies now requires documented attendance monitoring either on paper or electronically (Standard 16-02). CPAmerica plans to roll out an app later this year to make engagement with the association more convenient for members, with one of the benefits being electronic attendance monitoring at events. Thus, when you attend conferences, you will now be asked to scan in and out as you enter or leave a session. Receive a duplicate certificate on webinars – NASBA changed the content delivery type from focusing on how content is distributed (via the internet versus live) to how content is received (in a group or individually) (Standard 7). The only time this should affect you is if you are the person actually signed-in when a group from your firm watches a webinar. That
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person will now need to list themselves as a participant on the group sign-in sheet and disregard the certificate you receive immediately following the webinar and instead use the CPE certificate processed with the rest of the group’s credit that should say: Delivery Type “Group Live.” Improved session quality - The new standards are holding speakers to higher standards. Speakers are now required to identify how they plan to engage the audience each hour (Standard 7-01), supply pre-requisites, not just a statement of none for certain session levels (Standard 3-01), and the qualifications of the subject matter expert reviewing the session content before the presentation is now more stringent and requires documentation (Standards 5 and 24). By raising the bar of accountability, emphasizing engagement,
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CPAmerica welcomes new member services manager
CPAmerica is continuing to expand its member support efforts with the addition of our Member Services Manager, Colleen Gaddy, who joined us in early January. She comes to us after working for a general practice law firm in Gainesville, Fla. She earned her bachelor’s in sociology from the University of Florida and her master’s in public administration from Kaplan University. Born and raised in Gainesville, Fla., Gaddy said that it’s nice to work where she can be close to her family. She is married and is busy with her threeyear-old daughter, Penelope Lou, and 12-year-old nephew when she is away from work. Gaddy said, “I have enjoyed my time with CPAmerica so far and COLLEEN GADDY I look forward to building a successful career with an organization that prides itself on providing valuable services to its member firms." Gaddy will be responsible for the management of all CPAmerica survey efforts (such as the IT, Marketing, HR, and Employee Engagement Surveys) and will manage the member sharing library. In her free time, Gaddy enjoys traveling and trying out new foods (and microbreweries) around the country.
Member News
Thompson Greenspon welcomes Quill as principal
, based in Fairfax, Va., welcomed Carolyn C. Quill, CPA, JD, LL.M., as a principal of the firm. Quill joins the firm with more than 25 years of experience as a tax professional. Quill’s experience has included working with large multi-state and closely held businesses, their owners and executives, as well as extensive involvement in individual and partnership CAROLYN QUILL taxation and planning. She has authored many tax articles and has been a frequent speaker and instructor to groups and associations on tax and other business-related issues. Quill received a bachelor's from Merrimack College, a degree from the University of Denver College of Law, and a master's in taxation from Georgetown University.
Larson & Company announces new tax partner
, announced the addition of Richard Scoresby, CPA as a new tax partner in their Salt Lake City location. Scoresby has more than 22 years of accounting experience, including 17 years of public accounting experience with a national accounting firm. He provides tax RICHARD SCORESBY planning, consulting, and compliance services in a variety of industries including: nonprofit organizations, automobile dealerships, real estate, and professional services. Scoresby is a member of the AICPA and the Utah Association of Certified Public Accountants. He received both his master's of accounting in tax and bachelor's in accounting from Brigham Young University.
WEC announces promotion of Groover to shareholder (WEC), based in Norfolk, Va., announced Richard Groover, CPA, as the firm's newest shareholder. Groover joined WEC in 2007. His primary areas of expertise include attestation engagements and merger and RICHARD GROOVER acquisition consulting. Groover leads WEC's Manufacturing & Wholesale Distribution and Retail and Franchise Service Teams. His client base is heavily focused in auditing and consulting with U.S. subsidiaries of foreign-owned companies.
Frankel Zacharia, LLC promotes Worthington to partner
Omaha, Neb.-based member firm, , recently promoted Andrew Worthington, CPA, to partner. Worthington joined Frankel Zacharia in 2009. He works in all areas of taxation and ANDREW WORTHINGTON business consultation, specializing in state and local tax issues and sales tax planning. Worthington serves within a variety of industries, with a focus in in construction, real estate and transportation. He graduated from University of Nebraska at Omaha and is an active member of the AICPA and the Nebraska Society of CPAs.
Baum, Smith & Clemens report on two new partners
The partners of , announced that Jennifer L. Landis, CPA and Tad K. Schantz, CPA, CFE have joined the partner group this year. Landis joined the firm as a staff accountant in 2004. She graduated from Delaware Valley College with a bachelor's in business administration with a major in accounting and earned her MBA in 2014. Landis is head of the firm's medical niche. She is a member of the AICPA and PICPA. Schantz joined the firm in 2006. His experience includes attestation, accounting, and tax preparation and planning work. He is a member of the firm's not-for-profit niche and head of the fraud niche. Schantz graduated from Bloomsburg University with a bachelor's, majoring in accounting. He is a member of the American and PICPA and the Association of Certified Fraud Examiners.
Frazier & Deeter names new managing partner of Tampa office
announced that tax partner Mike Hendricks, CPA has been named the new managing partner for their Tampa office. Hendricks joined the firm in 2014 while also serving as the co-chair of Frazier & Deeter’s national tax practice. MIKE HENDRICKS As a partner in the tax practice, his responsibilities include providing comprehensive tax advisory services, as well as federal, state and local tax compliance services to individual and business clients. Hendricks earned his master's in taxation from Georgia State University and bachelor's in accounting from Georgia Southern University.
Krupienski and Reale promoted to partnership positions at MBK Holyoke, MA —
, is proud to announce the promotion of James T. Krupienski, CPA, MSA and Kristi Reale, CPA, CVA from senior management to partnership. Krupienski has been with MBK since 2004; he has extensive experience in employee benefit plan audits, commercial audits, compilations and reviews JAMES KRUPIENSKI in industries. He is a member of the MSCPA, the Connecticut Society of Certified Public Accountants, the AICPA, the Medical Group Management Association and the Health Care Administrators Association. He holds a bachelor's in business administration and an master's in accounting, both from Stonehill College, and was named to BusinessWest’s Forty Under 40 list in 2010. Reale joined MBK in 2001. She focuses on business valuations, review and compilation financial statements as well as business and individual taxes for a wide range of industries including hospitality, insurance, legal, manufacturing, wholesale, distribution, real estate and energy. She is a member of the MSCPA, the AICPA and the National Association of Certified Valuation Analysts. Reale holds a bachelor's in KRISTI REALE accounting from Assumption College and was named to BusinessWest’s Forty Under 40 list in 2009.
New York firm BS&P announces promotions and new CPA , announced the recent promotions of Peter Ruocco, CPA to principal, Matt Aldinger, CPA to in-charge senior accountant, and Brigid Purcell has earned her designation as a CPA. Ruocco areas of focus include international tax, real estate, multistate businesses, and retirement plans. Ruocco graduated from the State University of New York at Buffalo. Aldinger received his bachelor's in accounting and finance and his master's in business administration from Canisius College. He works on a variety of accounting and auditing engagements including manufacturing & construction companies and real estate entities. Purcell joined the firm as a staff accountant and she received her bachelor's and master's in accounting from the University at Buffalo.
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President's Corner: What goes into making your board of directors? A few weeks ago, I had a request about the makeup of the CPAmerica International Board of Directors. The question was about its election process, its result and how it is controlled. We are an association o f 76 m e m b e r f i r m s . Technica lly, we are a 501(c)(6) not-for-profit organization. We’re a not-for-profit with the primary benefit to our members and to “Improving through Sharing.” In 2012 (with review and confirmation in 2014), your board of directors and the CPAmerica Council of Members updated the association’s strategic plan to add expectations of member firms. With implementation of this strategic plan, members should expect at least four things of their membership. Above all else, members should expect to continuously improve. Secondly, members should expect to make more money. Thirdly, members should expect their membership would assist in strengthening relationships among member firms, and finally, members may bring prestige to member firms both domestically and internationally. A LAN D EICHLER P RESI D ENT
The board of directors of CPAmerica comprises nine members, generally leading partners from our member firms. Each year, board members that are completing their terms are replaced with new directors by a vote of the Council of Members. Nominees for this vote are selected by a nominating committee as outlined in the bylaws of CPAmerica. This committee is made of up of three groups; those from the board of directors, those voted on by the Council of Members, and those that are selected by the nominating committee. The chair of the nominating committee is the twice-
removed past chair of the board of directors and is joined on the nominating committee by the immediate past chair of the board of directors. Each year at their annual meeting, the Council of Members elects a member of the nominating committee for a two-year term. The two members of the committee selected by the Council of Members (one with two years left in their term and one with one remaining year on their term) join the two past board chairs in electing a fifth member of the nominating committee.
The nominating committee has two responsibilities: to nominate prospective board members to replace current board members that have terms that are expiring, and to nominate a vice chair for the following year who will eventually become the chair of the board of directors. The vice chair nominee is a board member who, by nature of election to the vice chair and subsequent chair positions, may serve a term of up to five years on the board. The nominating committee normally convenes via phone in late June or early July. The CPAmerica staff supplies them a list of past and current board members by firm size (and geographic region) represented. Other information supplied to the board of directors are lists of all member firms, firm size (revenues, partners, staff), names of
leading partners and tenures, demographics, and other relevant information, such as names of leading partners that have expressed an interest in serving on the board of directors. Since the 1990s, no board member has stood for another complete term. Once, a particular board member was asked to stay on for an additional year after her term. As I remember, there was a higher than normal turnover that year and the nominating committee saw the wisdom in having this board member, with her experience and knowledge, continue serving for an additional year. (A normal board term is three years.) This was a very unusual event and one that has not been duplicated before or since. Your board of directors and board leaders are elected by member firms. These people provide oversight and guidance to the president and staff of CPAmerica. The entire nomination and election process is outlined in the bylaws of CPAmerica. Revisions or changes to our bylaws are made by a vote of member firms (generally at a Council of Members meeting). In the past, changes have been made in the areas of member participation, geographic consideration for new members, and the fulfillment process for unexpectedly vacated board seats. You should feel confident that there is an outlined process for nomination and election to board positions and that your nominating committee considers all aspects in the vetting of prospective board members and vice chairs. I'm sure your board members are more than happy to answer any questions you have that may have been generated by this topic or feel free to contact me as well.
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and pushing speakers and facilitators to finalize their plans earlier, these new requirements should result in higher quality content across the board at CPAmerica events and webinars. Many hours have gone into re-crafting the NASBA Standards to help move the profession forward. We as an association thank you for your assistance and understanding in keeping us in compliance with NASBA. We are working to minimize the inconvenience to our members while maximizing the benefit these new policies afford and remaining in compliance. If you have expertise in a particular area and would be interested in becoming more involved in the association by helping review session content (in exchange for CPE credit), please contact CPAmerica staff at: ddavis@cpamerica.org
sion that many CPAmerica firms are.” McGrath furthered, “Globally, the market has spoken … and it’s been clear for some time now with multinational corporations, it will be very difficult to have one firm to do all the work. The market has also begun to accept the fact that it’s not just the Big 4 – there are many other providers that can do equal work to that of the Big 4 and … more and more, there will become a definition around the global networks that can handle multinational work and I see Crowe Horwath as being one of those networks.” As the future provides a changing landscape for accounting firms and their clients, the power of collaboration will help highlight our strategic vision of “Improving through Sharing.”
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