On the move: HHM promotes former intern to partner

May 30, 2025 2:14 PM

KPMG anoints next management committee; Ryan forms Tariff Task Force; and more news from across the profession.

ALABAMA

Warren Averett, Birmingham, promoted, in Atlanta: Baron Wells to senior manager in the audit division and Bobby Farley to senior manager in the transaction advisory services practice; in Birmingham: Dustin Smith to director of information security in the information technology division, Conrad Wiley and Riley Walden to senior managers in the audit division, Eric Byron to senior manager in the tax division, and Amy Williams to principal in the risk advisory and assurance services practice; in Daphne: Chris Kiley and Davis Bowyer to senior managers in the audit division; in Fort Walton Beach: Chelsea James to senior manager in audit; in Huntsville: Ben Sams to senior manager in tax; in Montgomery: Dianne Wilson to HR consulting senior manager; in Tampa: Jessica Farnsworth to senior manager in audit and Sean Stephens to senior manager in tax; and in Pensacola: Kyle Bonds to principal.

CALIFORNIA

Adam Wisnieski

Jordan Photography

Adam Wisnieski was hired as a partner in the consulting practice at MGO, Los Angeles.

Ernst & Young announced six professionals have been named Next Generation in Accounting honorees by the San Francisco Business Times: audit senior managers Katy McCann, Lulu Hou and Sunny Patadia; and assurance senior managers Alex Boily, Daniel Leong and Alyssa Peck.

ILLINOIS

Wayne Berson

BDO USA, Chicago, announced CEO Wayne Berson will retire, effective June 30, 2026, with the firm's national managing principal of tax Matthew Becker succeeding him. (Read the full story.)

NEW YORK

The offices of KPMG in Chicago

Tannen Maury/Bloomberg

KPMG, New York, announced its next management committee, effective July 1, 2025. The firm appointed, to vice chair, AI & digital innovation: Steve Chase; vice chair, advisory: Rob Fisher; chief operating officer & vice chair: Kevin Jackson; general counsel and vice chair, legal, risk management & compliance: Matt Miner; vice chair, audit: Christian Peo; vice chair, tax: Rema Serafi; vice chair, clients & markets: Melissa Taylor; and vice chair, talent & culture: Sandy Torchia.

OHIO

Amy Wagner, host of the "Simply Money" radio show on 55KRC, the "Best of Simply Money" podcast, and as a reporter and anchor for Allworth Advice segments featured on Fox19 Now and Cincinnati.com, was hired as a wealth advisor at Dean Dorton, Cincinnati.

MARYLAND

Mary Kate Federico

Mary Kate Federico, Baltimore office managing partner at Ernst & Young, was named one of 25 Women Who Mean Business by the Baltimore Business Journal.

NORTH CAROLINA

Cherry Bekaert, Raleigh, launched a new finance modernization solution designed to help midmarket CFOs overcome the operational barriers to achieve growth.

PENNSYLVANIA

Lisa Kelly

Lisa Kelly was hired as a paraprofessional to support the accounting services team at Boyer & Ritter, Camp Hill.

Megan Grim, audit senior manager at Brown Plus, graduated from Leadership Harrisburg Area's Community Leadership Series, class of 2025.

TENNESSEE

Chelsea O'Shields

HHM CPAs, Memphis, promoted Chelsea O'Shields, who started working at the firm more than 10 years ago as a tax season intern, to partner; and hired Kimberly Linebarger as partner in the valuation and advisory services group.

TEXAS

Ryan, Dallas, formed a specialized Tariff Task Force to help clients navigate the complex tax implications of recent and proposed tariff changes.

WASHINGTON, D.C.

Connor Raso was appointed the acting general counsel at the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board.