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CPAmerica ADVANTAGE News From Your Accounting Association

November 2022 IN THIS ISSUE: ► Community involvement building stronger teams ► Preferred Provider Spotlight - Avantax ► Member News ► CPAmerica Insights - Jenn Walker

Community involvement building stronger teams Giving back to your local community can be extremely beneficial for your business and company culture. Whether it’s collecting food, toys or baby items to be donated, participating in a charity 5K, cleaning up a local park or even providing scholarships to local students, there are many ways our member firms give back. Additionally, these group activities encourage team building, make a positive impact and demonstrate your firm’s values. Maxwell Locke & Ritter (ML&R) located in Austin, Texas, has made company culture a priority at their firm. According to ML&R’s website, “Our firm’s culture creates an exceptionally low turnover rate, which means clients consistently receive experienced advice, and that Maxwell Locke & Ritter’s team building sports our employees draw from each others’ experience to work strongly as a team. Our culture is in the best interest of both our people and our clients.” Their team has many nonprofit connections and gives back by sponsoring events, volunteering with Meals on Wheels and this year’s annual “Pie a Partner” fundraiser raised nearly $6,000 for ten local charities. ML&R leading partner, Kyle Parks said, “Maxwell Locke & Ritter was founded on the principles of providing excellent clients service, building long lasting relationships, and being highly

The VonLehman team on VL Cares Make a Difference Day

involved in the community. Of these three pillars, community service stands as our effort to give back to the Central Texas area that has been so good to our firm over the years.” “We encourage our people to get involved in the community organizations of their choice and support them in providing their time and resources, as well as providing firm resources, to benefit these organizations that have positive impacts in our area,” explained Parks. Headquartered in Fort Wright, Ky., VonLehman CPA & Advisory Firm (VL) also works hard to ensure their more than 140 employees across three offices feel the impact of giving back. Their website reiterates their longstanding commitment to building the community. VL president, Adam Davey said, “Corporate citizenship and philanthropy are core values at VonLehman. Our annual VL Cares Make a Difference Day provides our people the opportunity to give back to various organizations within the community that has supported us for decades.” In August of this year, VL closed their offices on a Friday to hold VL Cares Make a Difference Day. Team members volunteered at different nonprofits across the Greater Cincinnati/Northern Kentucky region. “While VonLehman supports many community outreach programs and initiatives throughout the year, VL Cares Make a Difference Day allows the firm to celebrate our great communities through the time and talent of each and every VonLehman employee,” continued Davey. At DMJPS, headquartered in Greensboro, N.C., they ensure all team

DMJPS team with school supplies donations that were collected

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members across the state have the ability to volunteer in their own communities. Collecting pet food donations, distributing holiday toys through Toys for Tots and days of service at local nonprofits give their team members a variety of ways to give back. DMJPS chief engagement officer, Stephanie Emerson said, “At DMJPS, our guiding principle is to be greater. Our people are committed to making a positive impact by partnering with organizations in the communities where we are rooted, from the mountains to the coast of North Carolina. Giving back is so important to DMJPS because we believe in the power of connections across our state and beyond.” Building and nurturing those connections and relationships also helps to build the profile of the firm. “Giving back is critically important, both as human beings and as a firm. At Gray, Gray & Gray we live by ‘the Power of More’ which is going that extra mile, supporting others, making a difference, and paying it forward,” said Hank Wolfson, Gray, Gray & Gray, chief operating officer & partner. Gray, Gray & Gray located in Canton, Mass., has taken community involvement to the next level. In addition to participating in community events, holding holiday drives and organizing days of service, they also award annual scholarships to graduating seniors and have formed their own Gray, Gray & Gray Charitable Foundation. “As part of our firmwide commitment to being actively involved in the communities we serve, over 20 years ago we formed the Gray, Gray & Gray Charitable Foundation.

Through this nonprofit organization, we have raised hundreds of thousands of dollars to aid a variety of charities and participated in several community service programs. At the end of the day, it’s about social responsibility. It’s incredibly uplifting to be able to make a difference for others and to lend a hand in helping our community thrive,” explained Wolfson. Many factors go into building a company culture where employees are excited to go to work and feel like they’re making a difference in their community. Encouraging employees to share their time and talent with local organizations only builds that bond. For more information on any of these projects, or ideas for how your firm can give back, please contact Amy Azoulay at aazoulay@cpamerica.org.

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For more, visit www.suralink.com Gray, Gray & Gray team at a charity 5K

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Member News Two CPAmerica members honored in Ohio 500 In October 2022, Ohio Business Magazine announced its Ohio 500 list of the most powerful and influential people in Ohio. In this inaugural feature, two CPAmerica members are included on this list. Lisa Shuneson, chief executive officer, Whalen & Company, CPAs and Kuno Bell, managing partner, Pease Bell, Lisa Shuneson CPAs were both honored in the accounting category. According to Ohio Business Magazine, “this feature is more than a list of people—it’s a look at what leadership means in the state of Ohio. In addition to the list, we have stories that profile influential Ohioans, describe our state’s business history and delve into what’s happening in Ohio’s business’ community today. Ohio is a Kuno Bell state that is looking to grow, and these are the leaders that are helping to make that happen. To learn more, visit www.ohiobusinessmag.com.

LMC Director of HR named Notable Leader in HR for 2022 LMC Certified Public Accountants is happy to announce that their HR Director, Sarah Forsyth, has been named as one of the Notable Leaders in Human Resources by Crain’s New York Business. Forsyth has spearheaded initiatives that led LMC to be recognized by Crain’s as a top place to work in New York City. She also created Sarah Forsyth a training and development program called, LMC University, that provides employees with an efficient way to earn CPE credits. In addition, she has worked to create a positive business culture and improve employee engagement, retention, recruitment and productivity.

Anglin Reichmann Armstrong named 2022 Pensacola Best of the Bay Anglin Reichmann Armstrong has been chosen as Pensacola News Journal’s “Best of the Bay” in the accountant category for 2022. This will be the third time they have claimed the top accountant designation in the Best of the Best readers choice awards. The “Best of the Bay” is a designation among the best of the best local businesses in the Pensacola,

Fla. area. This shows current clients and potential clients that Anglin is a great choice for top accounting and advisory services in the area. This year, winners were announced at the 2022 Best of the Bay Awards Gala on Sept. 20 at Pensacola Bay Center Arena. Anglin’s partner in charge of the Pensacola office, Ryan Campbell, said, “It feels great to be nominated and named a top accounting firm. Thank you to everyone who voted for us. We will continue to strive for excellence in our accounting and advisory services.”

Thomas Howell Ferguson, P.A. CPAs announces promotions Thomas Howell Ferguson P.A. CPAs (THF) a professional accounting, assurance, government consulting, and tax services firm headquartered in Tallahassee, Fla., congratulates Nicole (Nikki) Champion on her promotion to IT support manager. Champion serves as the IT support manager for all four of the firm’s office locations including Bainbridge, Ga.; Panama City, Fla.; Tallahassee, Fla.; and Tampa, Fla. She has over 14 years of experience in geographic information systems (GIS) and technological expertise. THF also recognizes Nicole Nikki Champion Acosta on her promotion as senior manager and Brittany Bechtel as manager in the Governmental Consulting Services Department. Acosta holds 18 years of experience in disaster recovery, government consulting, and procurement. Bechtel brings to the Governmental Consulting Services team experience from her Taylor Harmon previous positions in state agencies and emergency management. Under their leadership, the Governmental Consulting Services Department (GovCon) is responsible for managing THF’s services in emergency management and disaster planning for local, state, and federal agencies. Finally, THF celebrates Taylor Harmon, CPA, and Leigh Jenkins, CPA, on their Leigh Jenkins promotions to director in the Assurance Services Department. Harmon has over seven years of experience in public accounting providing assurance and accounting services. His range of services includes

audits, reviews, compilations, agreedupon procedures, and other services. Jenkins holds 18 years of experience in public accounting spanning numerous industries including not-for-profit organizations and foundations, banking, retail, and manufacturing.

Rushton announces supervisor, manager promotions Rushton, LLC announces Todd C. Mershon, CPA has been promoted to tax supervisor, and William J. Merritt, CPA and Justin C. Burruss have been promoted to audit manager. Merhson has been with Rushton for 20 years and has been a great source of help with his in-depth knowledge of tax, and surpassing Todd Mershon support with QuickBooks and estate/trusts returns. Merritt showed interest in Rushton seven years ago while attending the University of Georgia, where he started as an intern in their audit department. Throughout William Merritt the seven years, Merritt has thrived with fellow team members and has enriched his team while upholding excellence in client interactions. Burruss began his career at Rushton following his graduation from the University of North Georgia. During his eight years, Burruss has continued to grow, while Justin Burruss exemplifying leadership qualities through supporting employee growth and exemplifying excellence through the management of many clients and engagements for the firm.

2022 International Group Meeting November 29 - December 2 Fort Lauderdale, Florida CPAmerica’s International Group Meeting brings partners and managers together with their international peers from Crowe Global to help expand your resources and ensure you can help your clients when international needs arise. During this three-day meeting you will build global relationships and gain knowledge in best practices universal to all firms. Please be sure to book your guestroom at the Ritz Carlton Fort Lauderdale by November 8. To register, visit tinyurl.com/2brvx5vh or scan the QR code on the back of this newsletter

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CPAmerica Insights Planning ahead for 2023

Jenn Walker, Director of Services

Time seems to slip away faster every year, with the need to plan early for what’s next. 2022 has already crept into the rearview mirror and we’re looking forward through the windshield at what will be another successful year of events and valuable member resources.

While the year is winding down, there are still several events on the calendar, including the CPAConnect Roundtable, which just wrapped up last week in Orlando, Fla., the Tax Conference in a few weeks in Nashville, Tenn., and the International Group Meeting in Ft. Lauderdale, Fla., during the first week in December. It’s been a bustling event season with record attendance and positive member experiences. Part of what makes CPAmerica’s events successful, is the thoughtfulness that goes into each meeting – the topics, speakers, and meeting location. We pride ourselves on utilizing the most important feedback, that of our members, to create invaluable meeting agendas and meaningful connections. “I have had the pleasure of working in leadership roles in several industries in my career, and often, our team faced challenges alone. The conferences at CPAmerica, particularly the relationships we all build with one another, open an entirely new paradigm and allows our firm to face challenges, growth opportunities and best practices alongside a group of talented and successful leaders. The information every attendee shares and takes back to their firm saves years of trial and error.” – David Bier, MBA, COO, Anglin Reichmann Armstrong Understanding the importance of budgeting and CPE planning for your firm, CPAmerica plans each meeting at least one year in advance. Within a month of a conference taking place, a planning call is held where members are invited to provide their feedback on potential topics and speakers for the following year. Your feedback helps our staff create relevant agendas with the goal to launch the majority of meetings by end of year or early January at the latest. You can find a

list of all 2023 meetings and locations on our website under Events < Conferences & Meetings. “Brickley DeLong has taken advantage of participating in most all of the conferences and meetings offered by CPAmerica for years. We have already started planning who will attend in 2023. Not only have those in our firm met some great friends and colleagues from across the country through these events, but the information that we bring back is invaluable. So many firms have similar circumstances and improving through sharing helps us to refine areas within our own firms.” – Brenda Jacobs, Managing Partner, Brickley DeLong. With the revival of leisure and business travel post-2020, it’s no surprise that we continue to see a rise in travel and food and beverage costs. We are actively cost conscientious when negotiating with our hotel partners with the goal to deliver high-quality conference experiences without sacrificing the level of standard that members expect from CPAmerica.

With the recent launch of CPAmerica’s Learning Management System (LMS), in partnership with Prolaera, members can access online CPE courses, both live and on-demand, from one convenient location. Member discounts from CPAmerica’s Preferred Providers, such as AICPA and Surgent CPE, are automatically applied for your convenience. There is a lot to look forward to in 2023. Participation is crucial to make the most out of your association resources and benefits. We continue to see increased member engagement and encourage members to continue their involvement through attending live meetings, member sharing calls, webinars and other areas that allow for improving through sharing. The CPAmerica team is currently hard at work, planning for another year of valuable events and training opportunities. You can expect to see some of our 2023 events open for registration starting this month. We are excited for your participation and look forward to sharing more exciting opportunities on the horizon.

Despite increased travel costs, we were met with record meeting attendance this year and anticipate the same for 2023. CPAmerica encourages all firms to review the 2023 events calendar, plan accordingly and if possible, register participants before heading into busy season next year. In addition to live events, members have access to a catalog of thousands of top-quality, online CPE courses.

Upcoming Event Dates Scan the QR code below for complete event information, a full list of events and to complete your registration.

Send feedback and member firm news to: advantage@cpamerica.org

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