1. finance
2. accounting and auditing

News from Your Accounting Association
CPAmerica Advantage
Meet The Firms - CPAmerica Member
Firm Spotlight
The CPAmerica family of firms has recently been
growing – our association now has more than 75 firms
in the U.S. alone. This is the reason for presenting
our Member Firm Spotlight in this and upcoming
Advantage newsletters. In our newest segment, we will
feature a mini-tour of our member firms.
, our
First up is
member with headquarters in McDonough, Georgia.
(Advantage
readers may
remember
that leading
partner Greg
Hammonds was
featured in the
March 2013 issue on the Georgia film tax credits.) The
other partners of the firm are Lorraine F. Kelley, John
E. Plageman, Toni M. Schwahn, William B. Tomasello,
and Patty B. Whaley. The firm services the healthcare,
nonprofits, real estate, and construction industries, to
name but a few.
Hammonds said this about the association: “Since
joining CPAmerica, we have had the opportunity
to participate in a number of regional and national
conferences sponsored by the association. We have
met many practitioners from other firms that have
become not only valuable technical resources, but
also close friends and confidants.” He went on to say
“Our practice has grown substantially since we joined
and we have no doubt that there is a direct cause and
effect relationship. The staff at the association makes
everything go smoothly and we count them as our
friends and confidants as well.”
was named in
2014 as INSIDE Public Accounting’s (IPA) fourth fastest
growing accounting firm with gross revenues between
$2 and $15 million. This was awarded to them through
recognition of the firm’s organic growth through
business development efforts, niche development,
new service offerings, and finding more services to
provide current clients. To visit the Whaley Hammonds
Tomasello website, go to: www.whtcpa.com
Next up in our spotlight is the firm of
LLP, headquartered in Ontario, California. GYL
Decauwer’s partners are John Lerias (managing
april 2015
Preferred Provider - TransferMate
P. 2
Member News P. 3
partner), Joseph Romero,
Publications - Judy Moore P. 4
and Stephen C. Williams.
In addition to accounting
services, the firm provides
clients with tax services, financial statement, on-site
training, and consulting services; industries served
include construction, manufacturing, real estate, and
more. (For additional details, they are on the Web at:
www.gyldecauwer.com)
When asked about
his firm’s future
endeavors, John
Lerias, said “GYL
’s
current focus is to
develop a financial
services business
model that can
launch our virtually untapped market potentially with
our client base. We are also exploring our options in
opening a branch office in another major metropolitan
area within our region.”
is approaching 10 years with the
association and has grown in that time. When asked
about the benefits of being a member of the association,
Lerias said, “Being part of CPAmerica provides small
firms like ours, a forum to share existing industry
trends and issues, technical expertise, best practices,
and leadership development skills. The resources made
readily available to serve our clients on a national and
international level are invaluable.”
was also selected by INSIDE Public
Accounting as one of 2014’s Best of the Best Firms
for firms under
$5 million in net
revenue.
Finishing up in
the spotlight is
our CPAmerica
member firm,
,
with headquarters
in Johnstown, Pennsylvania and an additional location
in Pittsburgh. Sam Catanese, managing partner, and
the rest of the firm’s partners, Joseph M. DeYulis, Peter
See Member Spotlight, continued on page 2
CPAmerica features our Preferred Provider TransferMate Global Payments
TransferMate Global Payments is an
outstanding multi-currency payment solution
for businesses worldwide. It provides CPAmerica
members and their clients with a cheaper, faster
system for paying overseas vendors.
• Global ACH Available
• Live Currency Graphs
• Book by Phone/Fax/Online
• Automatic Bank Account Verification
• Automatic Supplier Notification
TransferMate offers better exchange rates, lower
transfer fees and a world-class online system for
booking vendor payments. TransferMate offers a
host of benefits to businesses such as:
CPAmerica members receive 50% of the transfer
fee (i.e. $2.50 USD on every payment booked by
their clients) so you earn while your client saves.
• Excellent Exchange Rates
• Lower Transfer Fees (just $5 USD on payments
over $1,000 USD)
To learn more, call Greg Cieply, national
account manager, at: 312-924-3737 or email:
[email protected] You can also visit
TransferMate online at: www.transfermate.com
Member Spotlight, continued from front page
E. Shrift, Kathleen M. Wallace, and Carl H. Vulcan, have a
vision for building their firm – they are currently in the process
of opening their third office. When asked about how the
association has helped the firm grow, Sam Catanese said, “A
membership in CPAmerica helps us achieve our goal of being
a high performance firm. Because of the opportunities for
continuing education, member-sharing, and marketability that
our membership provides, we are able to provide better client
service, serve the best clients, and hire the best talent.”
He went on to say “Because of factors like these, our firm is
growing. In the past year, we have hired three new supervisors
and are celebrating the opening of our third office in Blair
County, Pennsylvania.”
specializes in clients in the healthcare,
law, real estate, auto dealerships, and not-for-profit sectors.
In addition to accounting services, the firm also provides
auditing, tax, consulting, fraud, IT services, and marketing
and HR services to their clients. (Their website: www.
catanesegroup.com)
CPAmerica’s central tenet is Improving Through Sharing .
We feel strongly that by offering high-value resources and
facilitating member sharing, we can help our member firms
grow and prosper. The firms in the spotlight today are a
reflection of our association.
2
Bowling is right up their alley
Employees in the York office of SF&Company,
CPAs and Business Advisors, gathered pledges
and bowled on behalf of Big Brothers Big Sisters
(BBBS) of York and Adams Counties at their annual
fundraiser, Bowl for Kids’ Sake.
Donations received will assist the organization as
it supports more than 380 one-to-one relationships
between adult mentors and at-risk children ages six
through 18. These matches put children on the path
to success by encouraging them to stay in school
and by teaching them valuable life lessons.
Member News
AKT names five new partners
Member firm AKT LLP, with
headquarters in Salem, Ore., announced
five new partners.
Tracy Allen has practiced public
accounting since 1999. She has spent
the majority of that time focusing on the
construction industry. Allen was chosen
in 2013 as one of 36 participants across
the nation for the AICPA's Leadership
Academy. She holds a bachelor's in
accounting from Linfield College.
Amy Fenerty is dedicated to serving
telecommunications companies. She
has experience with clients of all sizes
and performs all aspects of the audit. She
graduated from Oregon State University,
with a degree in business administration
with a major in accounting.
Andy Maffia has nearly 15 years
of experience in public accounting,
with his focus on auditing nonprofit
organizations, organizations subject to
a single audit under OMB A-133, agreedupon procedures, and consulting work,
as well as assurance audits for closelyheld companies.
Carrie Sowders has more than 15 years
of public accounting experience serving
as creative tax advisor to companies
predominantly in the manufacturing
and distribution, technology and service
sectors. She brings to AKT depth in
multi-national corporate tax matters,
state and local taxation, and income tax
accounting.
Jaime Stimpson has been working in
the accounting profession for nearly 15
years. Through her role with AKT Private
Wealth, Stimpson provides strategic tax
planning, personal financial planning
and investment advisory services
to high net worth individuals and
business owners. Stimpson received
her bachelor's in finance and master's
in accountancy from the University of
Montana.
Four promotions at GYL Decauwer
Ontario, Calif.-based firm GYL
announced the following
promotions: Laurie Arredondo, CPA,
was promoted to supervisor. She
received her bachelor's in finance from
California Polytechnic State UniversityPomona. Adam Francis, CPA, was
promoted to supervisor. Francis received
his bachelor's in accounting from the
University of La Verne. Rosie Brar,
CPA, was promoted to supervisor. Brar
received her bachelor's in accounting
from California State University
Fullerton. Darin Russame was promoted
to senior accountant. Russame received
her master’s in accounting & financial
management from the Keller Graduate
School of Management.
Huntsville, Alabama member firm
names new partners
(ARSA) announced four
new partners of the firm.
Ryan Campbell, CPA, has been
working in public accounting with the
firm for 12 years. He works in the ARSA
Solutions Group providing consulting
services. He is a summa cum laude
graduate of Troy University with a BSBA
in accounting and holds a master's in
accountancy from the University of
Alabama in Huntsville.
N. Scott Hand, CPA, has 12 years
of experience in public accounting
and is a partner of the Tax Advisory
Services Group. He provides services for
clients in manufacturing, residential,
and commercial construction, real
estate, professional, and international
industries. He has a BBA in accounting
and finance from the University of North
Alabama and a MBA from the University
of Alabama in Huntsville.
Jeremy Mosteller, CPA, has worked
in public accounting for 15 years
and is a partner in the Tax Advisory
Services Group. He provides tax
planning and advisory services to
closely held businesses and high networth individuals. He has extensive
experience in multi-state tax services
and is a member of the ASCPA State Tax
Committee. He is a graduate of Auburn
University with a BSBA in accounting.
Brandon Smith, CPA, has been
with the firm for 9 years. In the ARSA
Solutions Group, he provides consulting
services for government contractors. He
is a graduate of the University of Alabama
with a bachelor's in MIS/computer
science and the University of Alabama
in Huntsville with a Certificate in
Accounting and a Master of Accountancy.
Ruttenbur promoted to partner
Lake Wales, Florida member
firm
announced that Maryann Ruttenbur
has been promoted to partner.
Ruttenbur will focus primarily on audit
and tax, including
manufacturing,
agricultural,
construction, auto
dealerships, not-forprofit, and retirement
plans. Ruttenbur
joined the firm in 1999
and has been in public
practice in Florida for MARYANN RUTTENBUR
25 years. She received
her bachelor's in accounting (magna cum
laude) from Northwood University in
Midland, Mich.
New managing partner and partner
for Frankel Zacharia, LLC
Scott Sorenson, CPA, of Omaha, Neb.,
member firm,
was promoted to managing partner.
Sorenson spends the majority of his
time serving clients in
the areas of auditing
and accounting,
general tax services
and strategic business
consulting.
Sorenson is an
accounting graduate
of Creighton
University and
SCOTT SORENSON
currently serves
as chairman of
Creighton’s Accounting Department
Advisory Board. He also serves on
the board of the Children’s Hospital
Foundation. He is a member of the
AICPA, the Iowa Society of CPAs, the
Nebraska Society of CPAs as well as other
civic and professional
organizations.
The firm also
promoted Pat Calvert,
CPA, to partner.
Calvert joined
the firm in 2013
and prior to joining
Frankel Zacharia,
Calvert owned his own
PAT CALVERT
accounting practice
and also served as
CFO for a medical practice. He has vast
experience in the areas of taxation and
representation before the IRS. Calvert
graduated from Doane College and is a
member of the AICPA, and the Nebraska
Society of CPAs (NSCPA).
Newton Named 2014-2015 ISCPA
Outstanding Committee Chairperson
Brian Newton, partner at
, was named
as the 2014-15 Outstanding Committee
Chairperson by the Iowa Society of
Certified Public Accountants.
In recognition of his role as chair of the
Family & Workplace Issues Committee,
the board will present Newton with an
award at the 2015 ISCPA Annual Meeting.
Brock, Schechter & Polakoff, LLP
announce new hire
The CPA firm,
, with offices in
Buffalo, N.Y., recently hired a new staff
accountant.
Mark Kransler received his bachelor's
in economics from the University
at Buffalo and earned a master's in
accounting from Canisius College.
3
Publications: Do you have an ongoing relationship with your clients?
N
ow that tax
season is over,
how often do
your clients think
about your firm?
Does your firm
come to mind
JUDY MOORE
-PUBLICATIONS DIRECTOR when they consider
setting up fraud
controls? Preparing for a change in
company leadership? Planning for their
retirement?
There are many reasons to keep in
regular contact with your clients during
the entire year, not the least of which is
to remind them that your firm is capable
of doing much more work for them than
just their taxes.
Regular communication with your
clients throughout the year also helps
you to maintain their existing business,
increase referrals, build your firm’s
brand and give the client the sense of an
ongoing relationship.
Online newsletters may be the best
means of repeated contact and are a
professional, subtle way of building your
firm’s image.
Newsletters impart valuable
information to clients and reinforce that
your CPAs are knowledgeable in a wide
range of financial subjects. They also
show that you care enough about your
clients to provide them with tips and
expertise that help in the day-to-day
running of their businesses.
To assist member CPAmerica firms
with this important marketing initiative
– and to provide you with top-quality,
unique content that your clients won’t
read anywhere elsewhere – CPAmerica
produces a number of exclusive online
and print newsletters covering a dozen
different niche areas.
CPAmerica’s E-ssential$ Bulletin
e-newsletter for clients allows members
to send their clients and prospects
up to 10 content articles every two
weeks, as well as personalized firm
announcements including photos
and links. Firms also may easily track
readership of articles by clients.
Customized individually to match firms’
websites, E-ssential$ is subscribed to
by one-third of CPAmerica members
and has average open rates in the 25
to 30 percent range – nearly 10 percent
higher than the national average.
The e-newsletter is also available to
CPAmerica members for a fraction of the
price similar newsletters on the market
would cost.
Social media links may be included
in E-ssential$, and the e-newsletter
also directs clients and prospects to
your website so that clients can see the
depth and breadth of your services and
knowledge base. It’s important that the
content on your website be kept current,
accurate, meaningful and easy to
understand.
To that end, CPAmerica also makes
available for purchase hundreds of
content articles in different niche areas
to help firms keep their websites current.
All in all, CPAmerica’s Publications
Department makes available to its
members client e-newsletters and
individual articles in all of the following
niches, as well as print newsletters and
PDFs in many of them.
• Tax
• Audit
• Construction/Real Estate
• Family Business/Succession
• Fraud Prevention
• General Business
• Management
• Manufacturing
• Nonprofit Organizations
• Physicians’ Services
• Valuations/Law Firm Services
• Wealth Advice/Estate Planning
Honestly appraise your firm. Are you
doing everything you can to keep in
contact with your clients on a year-long
basis? Are your clients and prospects
aware of the many services your firm
offers? Are you communicating to your
clients the information they need to run
their businesses better? To save as much
as they can on their taxes? To plan for
their financial futures?
If not, consider what steps you need
to take to stay in closer touch with your
clients throughout the year. Regular
communication will help your clients –
and your firm.
CPAmerica 2015 Webinar Series Schedule. Save the dates!
A&A Series with Greg Clark
5/14/2015:
7/22/2015:
A&A Update
9/15/2015: Compilation and Review - SSARS 21
11/5/2015: Financial Statement Disclosures and
A&A Update
Tax: Partnership Series with Howard Abrams
5/19/2015: 704(c) recovery methods
5/26/2015: Allocation of debt under section 752
6/2/2015: Disguised sales
6/9/2015: Exit strategies
Tax: Estate Planning & Trust Series with Sam Donaldson
6/16/2015: Estate Planning Update: Recent Cases, Rulings, Regulations, and Legislation
6/23/2015: Contemporary Estate Planning Paradigms for Married Couples
6/30/2015: Burning Questions (And Even Hotter Answers) About Grantor Trusts
7/14/2015: Successful Charitable Giving Strategies
FOR MORE INFORMATION, GO TO:
104 N. Main St.
Gainesville, FL
32601
(352) 727-4070
www.cpamerica.org
Send feedback and member
[email protected]
www.cpamerica.org > News & Events >
Conferences-Webinars-Calls > All Webinars
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