| September 2009
| Letter
from the Chair |
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Dear
Friends and Colleagues,
Greetings to each of you in North America, as well as our AGN colleagues around the world!
I hope you are all finding time for a few of the activities you enjoy related to warmer weather in the northern hemisphere – especially, well-deserved time with your loved ones.
At our firm right now, we are very involved in many activities, but even more significantly, Windham Brannon is involved in carrying out a very important AGN-NA-based initiative: determining the level of our clients’ satisfaction.
Based on our May ’09 Board meeting in Denver and our ’05 strategic plan, WB (and the majority of NA member firms) is in the process of personally interviewing our 10 largest clients. As of this writing, WB has completed 5 interviews with significant clients and we are finding this exercise to be a very valuable use of our time. While our clients are busy, they are very receptive to the opportunity to give us feedback. We’re happy to learn that most of our clients are happy with our service, and have ideas for how we may improve. We feel this only adds to our ability to continue to serve them for many years to come.
In addition, AGN has a survey link available for those of our members who want to get the input of smaller clients as well. September 15 is the “deadline” for reporting the results of both surveys back to AGN-NA headquarters. I hope that all of the NA firms are finding this to be as valuable as WB.
As you’ll recall, improving each NA member firm’s overall performance is a key long term goal of AGN-NA, as decided by the NA Board in ’05. In order to improve performance, we agreed to measure member firms’ current standing in three key areas: partner satisfaction (’07), staff satisfaction (’08), and this year, client satisfaction. Performing these surveys has been a very interesting and enlightening experience and has given each NA member firm a baseline, as well as a comparison with other NA member firms. We will repeat each of these surveys annually to see if we’ve been able to improve in those areas where necessary.
A finding in the first two surveys showed that one of the areas where most NA member firms needed improvement was in the internal communication of firm values, goals and key initiatives. As a group, through AGN-NA, we are addressing this common challenge together, resulting in focusing on bringing in thought leaders, such as the Afterburner squad this last May in Denver, to help us learn better ways of institutionalizing communication (i.e. the “De-Brief”).
Another opportunity to improve our ability to communicate more effectively is our exciting speaker for the newly-formed APT Grad School, being held for the first time October 21. Internationally-known speaker, Stephen M.R. Covey, will be focusing on “Leading at the Speed of Trust” and will coach us all – North Americans and AGN World Congress participants alike – on the role of trust in effective leadership and how, through inspiring trust in our organizations, our performance – both individually and corporately – can be improved.
During my four years on the NA Executive Committee, I have been very committed to achieving the overall goal of AGN-NA being the association with the highest performing firms. I have been especially pleased and gratified by the level of enthusiasm shown by my NA colleagues in participating in these survey initiatives to measure and improve their firm’s performance and achieve this overall goal. With nearly 100% participation in these surveys by NA member firms, we are much better able to determine the true needs of the majority of members and meet them, re-enforcing our immediate past chair’s emphasis on “Participation = Value”.
A reminder: the NA Board of Directors will hold its regular Fall meeting Tuesday, October 20 in Chicago at The Drake Hotel, as part of the AGN International World Congress meeting (which we North Americans are hosting this year). I hope to see all of you there, as this is another great opportunity to advance our North American organization agenda, as well to as spend valuable “face-time” building relationships with our international colleagues – some of whom you may need to call on at some point to serve your clients. The AGN-NA World Congress begins with a Chicago city tour on Sunday afternoon, October 18, includes 2 days of top speakers and topics, and ends with Stephen M.R. Covey on Wednesday morning, October 21. Registration is on-line at www.agn-na.org, so please take a few minutes to register.
As always, my NA Executive Committee colleagues and I welcome your comments and suggestions. Meantime, enjoy the remainder of your summer and I’ll see you in October in The Windy City!
Charlie McGimsey
Chair, North American Region
Windham Brannon P.C. CPAS
Atlanta, GA, USA
Tel: (+1 404) 898 2000
Fax: (+1 404) 898 2010
cmcgimsey@windhambrannon.com |
| NARM 09 RECAP |
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The North American Regional Meeting (NARM) was held May 17-19 in Denver at the Westin Tabor Center. Attending the NARM were 159 delegates, 4 member specialists, 6 AGN-NA staffers, 2 prospective members, 11 speakers, 9 sponsors and 29 guests, for a grand total of 220 people!
(Photos can be accessed here: http://www.agn-na.org/photoalbums/NARegMeeting09.htm)
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| Participation = Value! AGN-NA member firm, Schenck Business Solutions, was honored as the firm which had the highest level of participation in AGN-NA programs during 2008. Also honored for highest levels of individual participation were (photo right) Julie Incorvina (Redwitz & Co. – Irvine, CA), Suzanne Jacobs (Block, Plant, Eisner, Fiorito & Belak-Berger) - photo left, Ursula Scroggs (Derderian, Kann, Seyferth & Salucci, P.C. – Troy, MI) and Lisa Hastings (Faw, Casson & Co. – Dover, DE) - photo right. |
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Rita Hood, Executive Director, making announcements
during the Opening Welcome Reception |
Members participating in the General Session breakouts with Afterburner Fighter Pilots. During the simulation, the group was planning a military maneuver when they were “under attack” and had to crawl under the tables! |
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| Proud graduates of the Advanced Partner Training Program; (from left to right) Monte Kane (Kane & Company), Tommy Stringer (Sproles Woodard LLP), Ursula Scroggs (Derderian, Kann, Seyferth and Salucci), Richard Stalvey (Fowler, Holley, Rambo & Stalvey, P.C.) and Larry Kuechler (Berger/Lewis Accountancy Corporation) |
More proud graduates; (from left to right) Dennis
Hadden (Dana F. Cole), Doug Michel (Clark Schaefer, Hackett & Co), Gary Katz (Logan Katz LLP), Laurie Baad (Kane & Company, P.A.), and Ben Doerr (James Moore & Co., P.L.) |
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Join the Class of 2009 APT program! |
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| The Tax training dates for 2009: |
| Level |
Date |
Location |
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2
3
4
5 |
Oct 18-21
Oct 25-28
Nov 8-11
Dec 6-9
Nov 15-18 |
Hickory Ridge, Lisle, IL (Chicagoland)
Hickory Ridge, Lisle, IL (Chicagoland)
Hickory Ridge, Lisle, IL (Chicagoland)
Denver Renaissance, Denver, CO
Colorado Springs Marriott, Colorado Springs, CO |
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| Register online at www.agn-na.org |
Sharegroup Teleconference Schedule
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Every AGN-NA member is invited to earn one hour of CPE by dialing in on the sharegroup teleconferences. For more information on the topics and registration, visit www.agn-na.org and click on Programs & Events.
SEPTEMBER
23
Audit & Accounting Sharegroup Webinar
17
Advanced Partner Training Committee
22
Not-For-Profit Sharegroup Teleconference
OCTOBER
1
Information Technology Sharegroup Teleconference
27
Marketing Sharegroup Webinar
29
BV/Litigation Support Sharegroup Webinar
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NOVEMBER
1-4
Tax and State & Local Tax Sharegroups Conference
Location: Hotel Contessa, San Antonio, TX
3
Audit & Accounting Sharegroup Webinar
12
Human Resources/Firm Administration Sharegroup Teleconference
17
Not-for-Profit Sharegroup Teleconference
DECEMBER
3
Information Technology Sharegroup Teleconference
9
Employee Benefits Plan - Audits Sharegroup Working Meeting after AICPA Conference
Location: Gaylord National Resort & Convention Center on the Potomac, Greater Washington, DC |
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Meet 3 more North American Designated Resources
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AGN-NA has identified members within the association who are resources for more specialized assistance within certain practice specialties or industries. These individuals are referred to as “designated resources”. Please call on them to help you with your client needs.
| International Tax |
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Jeffrey Callahan
Tax Partner
Bederson &Company, LLP |
| Financial Services (Broker-Dealer & Hedge Funds) |
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Howard Altman
Co-Managing Principal
Rothstein, Kass & Company, P.C. |
| Private Foundations |
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Brad Lusk
Partner
Sisterson & Co., LLP |
Twenty-two AGN-NA Designated Resources are specialists in: |
Business Management Software
Business Valuations
Construction
Cost Segregation
Employee Benefits Administration
Estate & Trust
Expatriate Tax Services
Fast Food Franchise [McDonald’s]
Health Care: Medical Practices
International Tax
Mergers & Acquisitions [corporate finance, transaction valuation, equity & debt raises, working with private equity groups
Mergers & Acquisitions
Restaurants
SEC Practice
State & Local Tax |
Tom Mauer* (Schenck SC)
Mark Hanson (Schenck SC)
Larry Steinberg* (Blue & Co. LLC)
Skip Grubanowitch (Schenck SC)
Bill Edwards* (Clark, Schaefer, Hackett & Co)
Dale Baumann (Windham Brannon P.C.)
Jim Landrigan (Windham Brannon P.C.)
Mike Miller (Concannon Miller & Co., P.C)
Kam McQuay (Blue & Co LLC)
Ranko Princip* (Pender Newkirk and Company, LLP),
Dan Byrne* (Rothstein Kass & Company P.C.),
Paul Dailey* (Rothstein Kass & Company P.C.)
Sid Shaver (Weinstein Spira & Co)
Lou Banach* (Schenck SC), Jim Gettel* (Schenck SC)
Sandy Beckman (Weinstein Spira & Co)
Tom Bellante* (Pender Newkirk & Company, LLP),
Jeffrey Somers* (Rothstein Kass & Company P.C.),
Ken Stephens* (Rothstein Kass & Company P.C.),
Scott Walters* (Daszkal Bolton, LLP)
Faith Gorman (Daszkal Bolton, LLP),
Richard Huckaby* (Pender Newkirk & Company LLP) |
* these individuals have been profiled in previous Worldwidelinks
Read more about each one at: www.agn-na.org/DesResources/resources.htm |
| New Members |
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| USA
HEINFELD, MEECH & CO., P.C.
Heinfeld, Meech & Co., P.C., based in Tucson, AZ with additional offices in Phoenix and Flagstaff, has been admitted to membership.
The 23 year-old firm becomes AGN’s 54th North American member firm and the third admitted in 2009.
Heinfeld, Meech & Co., P.C. (H&M) has 10 partners, including the name partners, and a total staff of 77. The firm specializes in accounting, auditing and consulting services for governmental and nonprofit organizations. Scott W. Kies is the managing partner and joins the AGN-NA Board of Directors.
TUCSON
10120 N. Oracle Road
Tucson, AZ 85704-7646
Phone: (+1 520) 742 2611
Fax: (+1 520) 742 2718
PHOENIX
3033 N. Central Ave., Suite 300
Phoenix, AZ 85012
Phone: (+1 602) 277 9449
Fax: (+1 602) 277 9297
FLAGSTAFF
751 E. Pine Knoll Dr., Suite 1201
Flagstaff, AZ 86001
Phone: (+1 928) 774 4201
Fax: (+1 928) 774 4268
Email contact for all offices: scottk@heinfeldmeech.com |
| Member
News |
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Bederson & Company, LLP, West Orange, NJ is very pleased to announce the naming of Bederson Partner, Jeffrey E. Callahan, CPA, JD, CFP to NJ BIZ’s prestigious Forty Under 40 list. The distinction honors men and women who have been making headlines in their field and who share a commitment to business growth, professional excellence and to the community. The firm added Robert Figurski, MBA, CPA as Financial Consultant and Managing Director of its Insolvency and Litigation Services division. |
Bessner Gallay Kreisman LLP, two offices in Montreal and Ottawa, and Cogan & Associates are pleased to announce their strategic merger with an effective date August 1, 2009. The combined firm will operate under the banner of Bessner Gallay Kreisman Chartered Accountants, L.L.P. and will employ over 100 team members between its Ottawa and Montreal offices.
The new Ottawa offices will be located at: 400-340 March Road, Kanata, Ontario K2K 2E4; telephone is (613) 836-8228 and the fax is (613) 836-8338. The Montreal office will continue operating from the Redfern Avenue address. |
Blue & Co., with seven offices in Indiana, Kentucky and Ohio, is pleased to announce the promotions of the following individuals throughout the firm: promoted to managers are Michael Alessandrini, Eric Prenctice, Cheryl Crawford and Michael Gricius.
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Beverly Nichols, two offices in Louisiana, has named Marcie W. duQuesnay, CPA, Linda J. Eberle, CPA and Philip P. Monteleone, CPA as Members of the firm.
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Clark, Schaefer, Hackett & Co., with five offices in Ohio, is pleased to announce that David Holmes, Devesh Kamal, Jeffrey Overberg and Jane Pfeifer have been named as shareholders.
Tom Hazelbaker, CPA has been awarded the Ohio Society of CPA’s 2009 Gold Medal for Meritorious Service to the Accounting Profession. The Gold Medal is awarded one Ohio CPA each year and is the highest recognition the society can bestow on a member. The award was presented during the 2009 Members Summit and Annual Meeting in Columbus, OH on June 30. Congratulations, Tom!
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Faw, Casson & Co., LLP, with two offices in Delaware and Maryland, is pleased to announce that Kimberly A. Fonda, CPA, CFE has been admitted as a partner with the firm. Kim has developed a particularly successful niche in maximizing tax credits for Delaware companies. Lisa Hastings, CPA, partner, was recently inducted into a two-year term as chair of the Central Delaware Chamber of Commerce. The firm has received national certification as a Women’s Business Enterprise by the Women’s Business Enterprise National Council, which is the nation’s leading advocate of women-owned businesses as suppliers to America’s corporations. The firm has also been nominated for the Excellence in Business Award by the Central Delaware Chamber of Commerce.
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Fowler, Holley, Rambo & Stalvey, P.C., Valdosta, GA, is proud to announce that Emily Browning, CPA, CFFA and a senior associate with the firm, has been awarded the Certified Forensic Financial Analyst (CFFA) credentials by the National Association of Certified Valuation Analysts. Emily is only one of six in the state of Georgia.
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Froehling Anderson, St. Louis Park, MN, proudly welcomes Steven B. Wagner, CPA as a principal with the firm. Steven has over 20 years public accounting experience with expertise in tax planning, consultation in business taxation, individual income taxation, and trust and estate taxation. The firm received a 2009 national AAM-MAA Award for excellence in producing a campaign mailing to manufacturers and distributors.
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Goldstein, Karlewicz & Goldstein, LLP, with four offices in New York, is pleased to announce that John Rosenberger, CPA, Tax Consultant/Tax Manager, has joined the firm. John has over 20 years of diversified experience in federal and state taxation.
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James Moore & Co., P.L., with three offices in Florida, has been voted into the Top 100 Best Places to Work For in Florida in 2009 as announced in Florida Trend Magazine’s inaugural survey. Congratulations to the firm!
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Pender Newkirk, Tampa, FL, is proud to announce that tax manager, Will Rodriguez, CPA has recently been awarded the Accredited in business Valuation (ABV) Credential by the AICPA. The firm has been voted into the Top 100 Best Places to Work For in Florida in 2009 as announced in Florida Trend Magazine’s inaugural survey. Congratulations to the firm!
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Rothstein, Kass & Company, P.C., with nine offices in New York, New Jersey, California, Texas, Colorado, and Cayman Islands, was named by the Great Places to Work Institute as a top medium size company to work for in America. This honor is jointly administered by the Great Place to Work Institute and the Society for Human Resource Management with results published annually in Fortune Magazine.
The firm welcomes its newest hire: Wes Barrow, Principal.
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Schenck S.C., with nine offices throughout Wisconsin, is pleased to announce that Mark Jubelirer, CPA, Shareholder, and Mike Metz, EA, CHBC, CFP®, Practice Management Consultant, were recently named five Star Best in Client Satisfaction Wealth Managers™ for 2009. The ratings are based on surveys sent to more than 30,000 wealth management clients and data from more than 4000 financial services professionals in the Milwaukee area. William G. Heinrich, CPA, Shareholder, was recently elected to the WICPA Board of Directors as President-elect. Kermit Ellefson, CPA, Shareholder and past president of the firm, is celebrating 40 years with the firm.
The firm has been named the 2009 Best Accounting Firm in Wisconsin by Corporate Report Wisconsin Magazine. Schenck was the Platinum award winner in the premier “Best of Wisconsin Business” competition in the category of Best Accounting Firm. The firm has also been recently named the recipient of the Downtown Appleton Business of the Year award from Appleton Downtown, Inc. Also, the firm’s registration has been accepted by the PCAOB.
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Sharrard, McGee & Co., P.A., with two offices in North Carolina, was named in the Best Firms to Work For by Accounting Today in its inaugural issue. We regret the inadvertent omission from the last issue of the Worldwide Link. |
Sisterson & Co. LLP, Pittsburgh, PA, is pleased to announce that William E. Troup, CPA, Managing Partner, was recently named Chairman of the Passavant Hospital Foundation Board.
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Thomas, Judy & Tucker, P.A., Raleigh, NC, is pleased to announce that Jeffrey Brovet, CPA, partner, was selected by the Triangle Business Journal as one of the top 40 Under 40 Leaders for 2009. Jeff was honored based upon his community involvement and business achievement.
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Weinstein Spira & Company, P.C., Houston, TX, proudly announces that Dianne Peckham has been admitted as Managing Shareholder of the firm. She succeeds Ben Rosenberg, who will continue an active management role as the firm’s Senior Tax Shareholder. |
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Inside Public Accounting’s 2009 Top 100 names the following AGN-NA members:
Listed as #2 (for the third consecutive year), Rothstein Kass in the 10 Fastest-Growing Firms, and #3 in the Top 100 Firms Ranked by Region (Northeast)
Schenck Business Solutions listed as #7 in the Top 100 Firms Ranked by Region (Great Lakes)
Listed in the Top 100 Largest Accounting Firms in the U.S.:Rothstein Kass at #21
Schenck Business Solutions at #42
Clark, Schaefer, Hackett & Co. at #69
Blue & Co. at #81 |
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