People & firms on the move: RKL names SALT, international tax leads

April 2, 2021 9:00 AM

Illinois CPA Society introduces new board of directors; Grant Thornton releases first installment of new quarterly CFO survey series; and more CPA news.

ILLINOIS

Mark Baer

HeadshotsColumbus

Mark Baer officially assumed the role of CEO at Crowe in April, succeeding Jim Powers, who completed two terms in accordance with the firm’s partnership agreement. As part of the transition, Baer appointed Brenda Torres, who previously served as the firm lead for audit quality and operations in audit and assurance services, as the new chief operating officer.

Grant Thornton, Chicago, released its 2021 Q1 CFO Survey, which polled 250 CFOs and senior finance executives at companies ranging in size from $100 million to more than $1 billion in annual revenues. The survey, the first installment in the firm’s new quarterly CFO survey series, found CFOs are ready to grow, but are looking beyond pre-pandemic benchmarks. The full survey is available here.

The Illinois CPA Society, Chicago, announced its board of directors, to serve April 1, 2021-March 31, 2022. The officers are: chairperson Thomas Murtagh, BKD CPAs & Advisors; vice chairperson Mary Fuller, Shepard Schwartz & Harris LLP; secretary Deborah Rood, CNA Insurance; treasurer Jonathan Hauser, KPMG LLP; immediate past chairperson Dorri McWhorter, YWCA Metropolitan Chicago; and the directors: John Bird, RSM US LLP; Brian Blaha, Wipfli LLP; Jennifer Cavanaugh, Grant Thornton LLP; Pedro Diaz De Leon, Kemper Corporation; Kimi Ellen, Benford Brown & Associates LLC; Stephen Ferrara, BDO USA LLP; Jennifer Goettler, Sikich LLP; Scott Hurwitz, Deloitte LLP; Joshua Lance, Lance CPA Group; Enrique Lopez, Lopez & Company CPAs Ltd.; Stella Marie Santos, Adelfia LLC; Brian Stanko, Loyola University; Richard Tarapchak, II-VI Inc.; and Mark Wolfgram, CPA, Bel Brands USA Inc.

MALTA

Zampa Debattista, Mosta, was appointed a member firm of Russell Bedford International.

MISSOURI

Mark Cummings, partner, audit and assurance, and Nathan Stonner, senior manager, tax, at Anders, were named to St. Louis Small Business Monthly’s Top 100 St. Louisans to Know to Succeed in Business list for 2021.

NEW YORK

Grassi, New York, launched its latest survey of New York-area contractors and subcontractors, the 2021 Construction Industry Survey, developed by the firm’s construction practice and advisory board. The survey can be completed here.

Berdon moved its Jericho, Long Island, location to 100 Jericho Quadrangle.

PENNSYLVANIA

Kristen Deeds

Kristen Deeds was appointed lead of the international tax practices and Michael Bannasch lead of the state and local tax practice, at RKL, Lancaster.

SEK CPAs & Advisors, York, was named a Best Accounting Firm/Tax Firm in the Tristate for 2021 by VerStandig Media, based on the company’s radio station listeners, who were invited to nominate who they believe are the best professional services providers in the Tri-state area.

TEXAS

John Oden

John Oden, transaction and advisory managing director at Whitley Penn, Plano, was named a finalist for the D CEO 2021 Mergers & Acquisitions Awards, which honors North Texas’ top business transactions and dealmakers. In other firm news, senior tax manager Kristen Sayegh was named the University of Houston-Victoria’s Young Alumna of the Year by the UHV Alumni Association, an honor bestowed to a UHV graduate under the age of 40 who is distinctly accomplished professionally or in their service to others.