CPAmerica ADVANTAGE News From Your Accounting Association
January 2022 IN THIS ISSUE: ► ► ► ► ►
Independent Firms | Shared Expertise Member News Preferred Provider Spotlight - Makosi CPAmerica Insights - Grace Horvath Upcoming Events
Independent Firms | Shared Expertise The beginning of each new year is full of new possibilities.
Welcome to newly redesigned CPAmerica Advantage! We are excited to share what we’ve been working on and unveil our theme for the year, Independent Firms | Shared Expertise. We chose this theme because it encompasses our four main objectives we strive to accomplish for our members, 1) to continuously improve; 2) to make more money; 3) to strengthen relationships among member firms; and 4) to bring prestige to firms both domestically and internationally. The theme also incorporates the spirit of improving through sharing. The 2022 CPAmerica calendar is live and jam-packed with webinars, sharing calls, CPE-earning opportunities and in-person conferences! We’ll be starting off the year with our annual CPAmerica Member Benefits Kick-Off call on January 12. This call is a great opportunity for new and long-time members to get a refresher of all the benefits available to you as a member of CPAmerica. There is no limit on the numbers of attendees per firm, so we hope you can make it. We have learned a lot in the last few years, and between 2020 and 2021, it became apparent that access to training is a need that’s common among all member firms. After a rigorous process, the CPAmerica team is excited to announce that our new LMS will be implemented in early 2022, and we can’t wait to share it with our members. This new CPAmerica member benefit is going to help streamline training and CPE to ensure employees are engaged and prepared to best serve clients.
Speaking of developing and retaining talent, our Next Generation Conference (NextGen) has been created to do just that. Held in the spring after tax season, this progressively-designed conference is intended for the firm’s successful seniors through managers who want to understand more about how the business works and how they can fit into the bigger picture. Furthermore, CPAmerica’s board of directors believes in the NextGen program so much that they have agreed to offer one complimentary registration for every member firm as an outstanding member benefit. Moving into the summer season, we will be holding the concurrent A&A Conference and Technology Roundtable, followed by the Client Accounting Services (CAS) specialty group meeting. All three of these events provide members with insights from industry leaders, updates on important topics and member sharing. The fall season will kick off with our Leading Partners Retreat and Firm Management Roundtable, including an excellent agenda that combines transformative presentations with plenty of opportunities for interactive member sharing and networking. This will be followed by one of our largest events of the year, the Tax Conference. The year will come to a close with the International Group Meeting, which supports members’ international business development through networking between members of CPAmerica and Crowe Global. We’ve also launched another great eight-part A&A webinar series beginning in March with SurgentCPE facilitators, Rich Daisley, Marci Thomas and Charlie Blanton, CPA covering topics including leases, fraud, quality management standards and more. Our 2022 Tax See Independent, continued on page 2
Independent, continued from page 1
Webinar Series will also be launching very soon, so keep an eye out.
2022 Next Generation Conference May 18-20 | Nashville, Tennessee
But the member benefits don’t stop there! To help our member firms continuously improve, CPAmerica offers a variety of surveys, as well as, IT, human resources and marketing surveys that our members complete to allow participants to benchmark their efforts with other member firms across the nation. This under-utilized member benefit will be another key focus area of 2022, and we hope many more firms will take advantage of this resource. Our relationship with Crowe Global and their National Tax Office is also stronger than ever. Over the years, members have been enjoying access to these in-depth tax resources that any national firm would have available. The Crowe team is there when you need them and are very responsive to members. If your firm is not currently utilizing this resource, we encourage you to explore the wealth of knowledge available to you to help increase profitability by being able to serve larger and more sophisticated clients.
The Next Generation Conference is designed for the firm’s successful seniors through managers who want to understand more about how the business works and how they can fit into the bigger picture. Register at tinyurl.com/2p8e6c92
2022 A&A Conference
June 21-24 | Charleston, South Carolina
We will also be continuing the great partnerships with our many Preferred Providers. These consultants and providers offer members a wide range of expertise in various industries, as well as discounts on their services, scholarships and more. Finally, CPAmerica is maintaining our continued commitment to helping your firm gain prestige through promoting your firm’s activities. Our social media, website, Advantage newsletter and e-newsletters are here to spread the word of your accomplishments, promotions and more. Please feel free to share any newsworthy happenings with our marketing team at advantage@cpamerica.org. There’s a lot of excitement coming in the year ahead and we can’t wait to take this ride together.
Join your colleagues in the beautiful city of Charleston, South Carolina, to learn the latest industry updates, earn CPE and build relationships with fellow CPAmerica members. We look forward to seeing you there! Register at tinyurl.com/2s4342b4
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Member News Honkamp Krueger & Co, PC acquires Nigl Accounting LLP in December On December 1, 2021, Honkamp Krueger & Co., P.C. (HK), a Top 100 CPA and business consulting firm in the U.S., acquired Nigl Accounting LLP, a local CPA firm located in Oshkosh, Wis. Greg Burbach, Honkamp Krueger’s CEO, states, “We’ve been serving clients in Wisconsin for over 20 years. Partnering with another established Wisconsin firm was a natural step in our firm’s growth. Nigl Accounting LLP’s management and staff are innovative and client-focused and will be a great match for our culture at HK.” Chuck Nigl, former partner of Nigl Accounting LLP, and now partner with HK, adds, “Through our partnership with HK, our firm is now able to provide more breadth and depth to our clients, having over 40 different professional services and national resources to offer. The team is looking forward to the future as part of the HK family.”
Aldridge Borden & Company announces several employee promotions Aldridge, Borden & Company, P.C. is pleased to announce the promotion of several employees. Jessica L. Hudson, CPA has been promoted to assurance partner. She joined the firm in January 2006, and primarily serves clients in the not-for-profit industry and governmental sector. Hudson has earned the Advanced Single Audit Certification awarded by the AICPA and works extensively with clients subject to Federal Single Audits and Governmental Accounting Standards. Amanda B. Hines, CPA has been promoted to assurance principal. Hines joined the firm in Kim P. Leverette 2013 and specializes in audits of non-profit and governmental organizations including schools, churches, city governments and water authorities. Joe Mills, CPA has been promoted to OneSource principal. Mills uses his experience in audit and tax to manage OneSource clients and assist them with financial reporting, payroll and internal accounting processes. Shana M. MacDonald, CPA has been promoted to manager in their Taxation and Assurance Department. MacDonald joined the firm in 2016 and specializes in individual, partnership, and corporate taxation and has extensive experience in the area of attestation. Kim P. Leverette has been promoted to OneSource Nicky Rittner
supervisor. Leverette joined the firm in 2018 and assists a variety of clients with accounting and payroll needs. Nicky Rittner has been promoted to OneSource Hollie W. Caine supervisor. Rittner joined the firm in 2017 and assists a variety of clients with accounting and payroll needs. Hollie W. Caine has been promoted to OneSource senior account manager. Caine joined the firm in 2018, assists a variety of clients with accounting and payroll needs.
Maxwell Locke & Ritter, LLP announces three promotions to partner Maxwell Locke & Ritter, LLP (ML&R) is pleased to announce that Blaine Martin, Diana Garcia Mil, and Kate Williams are new partners in the firm. “We are extremely delighted to welcome Blaine, Diana, and Kate into the Maxwell Locke & Ritter partnership group,” says Kyle Parks, ML&R leading partner. Blaine Martin “Each of them has made a tremendous impact on our firm and we look forward to watching them continue to grow and lead the firm in their role as partner. We strive to be the best at serving clients, building lasting relationships, and actively participating in the Central Texas community. Blaine, Diana, and Kate excel at these core endeavors of our firm and are great representatives of the many talented Diana Garcia Mil people at Maxwell Locke & Ritter.” Blaine Martin, CPA (tax partner) joined the firm in 2018 and focuses on providing tax services to our real estate industry clients, closely held businesses and their owners, and our entertainment practice. “I am so excited to join an already stellar leadership team here at ML&R, and look forward to helping our people and clients achieve their goals,” said Martin. Diana Garcia Mil, CPA (audit partner) joined the firm in 2006 and focuses on providing value added Kate Williams audit and consulting services to nonprofit organizations, real estate investment funds, and employee benefit plans. In her new leadership role as partner she’s excited to help her team and clients achieve their goals. “I’m proud to work for a public accounting firm that values its clients, its people and the
Central Texas community,” says Garcia Mil. “I truly enjoy staying connected with my clients throughout the year, serving as their trusted business advisor when issues arise.” In addition, Garcia Mil leads the firm’s Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Committee, which is committed to fostering, cultivating, and preserving a culture of diversity, equity, and inclusion at all levels of the firm. Kate Williams, CPA, CISA (IT security & compliance partner) joined the firm in 2018 to expand the IT Security & Compliance practice and provide expertise in SOC Examinations, Internal Controls, Information Technology Consulting, and Information Security. “We have fantastic people and clients at ML&R, thanks to a culture that empowers the team to provide incredible client service without sacrificing flexibility. I’m excited to foster this unique client-centric culture as a new member of the partner group,” said Williams.
Nail McKinney, PA announces new manager joins the firm Nail McKinney, PA, located in Tupelo and Amory, Miss. is pleased to announce that Bradley Weatherford, CPA recently joined the firm as a manager. Weatherford, a native of Tupelo, Miss., graduated from Mississippi State University with a Bachelor of Accountancy in 2008 and a Master of Taxation in 2009. Weatherford worked at Bradley Weatherford Dixon Hughes Goodman in Memphis for many years in auditing before moving to Tupelo.
Gray, Gray & Gray Sponsors Smart Business Dealmakers Boston Conference Gray, Gray & Gray, LLP, a consulting, business advisory and certified public accounting firm based in Canton, Mass., is a co-sponsor of the Smart Business Dealmakers Boston Conference, a virtual event to be held on January 20, 2022. The conference connects thousands of local dealmakers, from middle-market CEOs to top investors and lenders to leading M&A advisors. It covers the breadth of the M&A landscape, with sessions ranging from raising capital to buying and selling companies to alternative asset investing. James DeLeo, Gray, Gray & Gray’s leading partner, will be moderating a one-hour panel discussion on “Getting to the Point of Sale – Preparing to Sell Your Business.” During this session business owners will provide insight on what it takes to get your business ready to sell, drawing from their experiences completing their own transactions.
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CPAmerica Insights Time flies even better when you have a good plan… I never cease to feel the switch from the seeming suddenness of a year that flew by to the fresh outlook of the next 12 months ahead. Yet I know it will fly by like the last one, thus stimulating that ready, Grace Horvath set, go instinct as we President ring in the new year, so here we go! Our culture here at CPAmerica includes preparedness; much of what lies ahead this year has been long in the works, including my transition as your new president. You may notice a new look and feel to this monthly newsletter, but you should feel comfortable about the overall continuity in the resources of your association, along with some new things to support your firm. The association will hold 19 live meetings this year, providing opportunities for partners, professionals and staff to network, develop and learn from a variety of consultants and also from their peers. We are all pleased that the Marketing Roundtable will resume in-person for the first time since 2019. NextGen comes back with one complimentary registration per member firm, because your board understands the importance of developing and keeping your future leaders and has committed association resources to support one of the biggest challenges in your firm. The Client Accounting Services Meeting continues to grow commensurately with the services in your firm and will meet this summer in Louisville, Ky., as will all of your regions to foster the ongoing sharing and learning that will help you continuously improve. Your annual Leading Partners Retreat and Firm Management Roundtable will take place this fall at the iconic Greenbrier Resort in the majestic Allegheny Mountains of West Virginia. Watch this newsletter where you will hear from our services team as the year progresses with all of the details you need. At the time I am writing this, we are preparing to hear proposals from Learning Management System (LMS) providers who we have very carefully selected with the help of our LMS consultants, leading workforce transformation partners, GP Strategies.
Our goal is to provide a centralized program where firms’ individual learning and development needs can be customized and tracked to include curriculum such as on-demand staff training, technical courses, and even soft skills development. The system will be designed to support both firms who can use it as their exclusive source of CPE tracking, as well as firms who already have their own LMS to allow for seamless integration of their CPE selection and processing. Implementation will begin late winter to put us on track for your access following this year’s tax season. More subtle things going on this year will include my emphasis on relationships from the perspective as the president of the organization, rather than its architect and doer. Life has changed profoundly in the last two years and many things in the profession, including strategic paradigms, will be drastically different if firms are to stay independent. I plan to meet with our association’s competitors to gain further insight on the challenges we are facing as leaders to the profession and a holistic understanding of what is going on outside
of CPAmerica. Strengthening internal relationships is a key priority as well. I plan to speak with the managing partner of each of our member firms one-on-one, if not at one of our 30 anticipated VIPs, then “face to face” via Zoom. Cameras on! Member expectations drive everything we do here and I look forward to the discussions that prompt creative solutions for our firms. We are well-positioned in this new year to continue to deliver the service and value that distinguish your association. Our resources allow us to continue to invest in programs and technology that will help you grow. And we have also been able to build a team of professionals who are very driven by excellence and dedicated to your support. I appreciate too that if nothing else, the last two years have conditioned us for the agility needed to expect the unexpected. We are very excited about what this year holds in store.
Upcoming Event Dates Marketing Roundtable
May 1-2, 2022 Louisville, Kentucky More info: tinyurl.com/3f4f6fpa
New Leading Partner Group May 15-16, 2022 Las Vegas, Nevada More info: tinyurl.com/32rdvumk
Contact us at: 7555 W. University Ave. Gainesville, FL 32607 (352) 727-4070 www.cpamerica.org
Next Generation Conference May 18-20, 2022 Nashville, Tennessee More info: tinyurl.com/2p8e6c92
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A&A Conference & Technology Roundtable
June 21-24, 2022 Charleston, South Carolina A&A: tinyurl.com/2s4342b4 Technology: tinyurl.com/95vwka9w
Send feedback and member firm news to: advantage@cpamerica.org
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