On the move: HCVT COO announces retirement

June 14, 2024 11:34 AM

HCVT COO announces retirement and successor; FICPA presents Women to Watch Awards; Baker Tilly expands enterprise risk management practice; and more news from across the profession.

BRAZIL

Hills Group, Sao Paulo, joined CLA Global as a network member firm.

CALIFORNIA

Patty O'Connell, chief operating officer and partner at HCVT, Los Angeles, will be retiring at the end of 2024, with Sarah Tewner, current tax partner, stepping into the role Jan. 1, 2025. O'Connell joined the firm in 1992, was named tax partner in 2002, and assumed COO responsibilities in 2017. Tewner joined HCVT in 2010 and was named a partner in 2020.

Carrie Shagat was hired as an assurance partner to support the real estate and restaurants practices at Moss Adams, Irvine.

CONNECTICUT

Drew Andrews (left) accepts the 2024 CTCPA Jack Brooks Leadership Award from 2023-24 Connecticut Society of CPAs chair Tim Hedley

Drew Andrews, managing partner and CEO at Whittlesey, was honored with the 2024 Jack Brooks Leadership Award by the Connecticut Society of CPAs at the CTCPA's annual meeting. The award is presented annually to a CTCPA member whose personal efforts have advanced the accounting profession and strengthened the organization.

FLORIDA

Heidi Alles

Heidi Alles was hired as a partner at Anglin Reichmann Armstrong, Winter Haven.

The Florida Institute of CPAs presented its annual Women to Watch Awards as part of the Women's Leadership Summit at MEGA 2024, honoring Experienced Leader Cristina Hale, tax practice leader at BDO USA's Tampa and Orlando offices, and Emerging Leader Carmen Velasquez, partner and owner at Tapia, Rojas & Associates.

GEORGIA

Randy Sizemore

Aprio, Atlanta, announced the firm's Black Business Forum has partnered with The Gathering Spot to enable Aprio to host future Black Business Forum events at TGS's private event space.

ILLINOIS

Quinn Harris

Quinn Harris was hired as a partner at MichaelSilver, Deerfield.

Baker Tilly, Chicago, announced an expansion to its enterprise risk management capabilities, adding six professionals to the team including managing director John Rogula.

Kyle O'Rourke was hired as a state and local government advisory partner at MGO, Chicago.

NEW JERSEY

Diane Wasser

Diane Wasser, partner at EisnerAmper, Iselin, was named board treasurer of the New Jersey Chamber of Commerce, where she has been a board member for four years.

NEW YORK

Ted Kowalsky was hired as a principal in the government and public sector advisory practice at CohnReznick, New York.

NORTH DAKOTA

Peggy Brown was hired as chief marketing officer at Eide Bailly, Fargo. Additionally, the firm appointed several market leaders: Joe Splinter in Dubuque, Iowa; Donny Matteson in Norman/Oklahoma City, Oklahoma; Debbie Porter in Billings, Montana; Paul Skeen in Lehi/Ogden/Orem/Salt Lake City, Utah; Brandon Harrison in Inland Empire, California; Curtis Campbell in Orange County, California; and Brad Berls in Boise/Twin Falls, Idaho.

OHIO

Rea & Associates, New Philadelphia, promoted 12 team members: to senior associate: Andrew Church in Zanesville, Morgan Connolly in Marietta, Chris Kerney and Thomas Morell in Independence, Anthony Potesta in Dublin; to supervisor: Bradley Enot and Logan Scherer in Wooster, and Lauren Smith in Dublin; to technology specialist II: Mark Lydell; to onboarding senior associate: Dawn Schuh in Avon; to manager: Heather Sprang in Wooster; and to plan consultant: Jamie Williams in Cambridge.

Holly Bowman was appointed managing partner of the Toledo office at PwC.

PENNSYLVANIA

Gary Vickrey

Gary Vickrey was hired to lead the newest leadership division at Herbein + Co., Reading, and will be joined by Mackey Smith as vice president of talent and strategy consulting and Stacy Vickrey as manager of assessments and logistics.

Centri Business Consulting, Philadelphia, was named one of The Philadelphia Business Journal's Largest Management Consulting Firms, moving up on the list to the No. 6 spot.

UNITED KINGDOM

Simon Bittlestone

Simon Bittlestone was named 91st president of the Chartered Institute of Management Accountants and the ninth chair of the Association of International Certified Professional Accountants. (Read the full story.)

VIRGINIA

Jessica Hewitt

Jessica Hewitt was named partner at Brown Edwards, Newport News.

Alex Murray, a partner at Johnson Lambert, was named to Captive International's Forty Under 40 list, representing top talent in the captive insurance industry.

WASHINGTON, D.C.

PCAOB chair Erica Williams at the AICPA & CIMA Conference on Current SEC and PCAOB Developments

The Securities and Exchange Commission reappointed Erica Williams to another term as chairperson of the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board through Oct. 24, 2029. (Read the full story.)