FIRMS

MICHIGAN

Plante & Moran

Plante & Moran PLLC has received LEED Gold Certification for Commercial Interiors from the U.S. Green Building Council for its new Grand Rapids office at 634 Front Ave. NW, Suite 400, for energy use, lighting, water and material use, as well as incorporating a variety of other sustainable strategies. The certification was based on a number of green design and construction features that positively impacted the project itself and the broader community, including:

* Selection of an urban site that preserved green space while reducing urban sprawl;

* A "white" roof that reduces energy usage and the urban "heat island" effect;

* Savings of 42 percent on water and sewage through the use of water-efficient plumbing fixtures;

* Use of highly energy-efficient heating, ventilation, cooling, lighting and water systems to minimize environmental impact;

* Recycling of 50 percent of all construction waste, thereby diverting it from landfills;

* Re-use of 30 percent of furniture and furnishings in the new office, with the rest donated to area nonprofits; and,

* Use of locally made and recycled materials to minimize both transportation and energy costs.

Additionally, Plante & Moran utilized low-emitting materials, paints, sealants and adhesives throughout the process of constructing the office.

"We are extremely pleased to be recognized with LEED Gold Certification for our sustainability efforts," said Rich Antonini, office managing partner of Grand Rapids. "We have found that our investment in green design has paid dividends in many ways - from the obvious savings in energy costs and reduced impact on landfills, to secondary benefits such as recruiting and staff pride."

 

MARYLAND

Watkins Meegan

Watkins, Meegan, Drury & Co. LLC, Bethesda, has changed its name to Watkins Meegan LLC, adopted a new logo and new collateral pieces, and launched a new Web site, www.watkinsmeegan.com. The firm embarked on a rebranding campaign earlier this year, hiring Threespot Media to create an overall new look, a corporate brochure, and the Web site. Watkins Meegan affiliate Watkins IT built the site and is implementing it.

 

ALABAMA

Barfield, Murphy, Shank & Smith, Birmingham, has been named one of SouthernLINC Wireless' Southern Heroes, in recognition of its efforts to empower its local communities and improve the quality of life of residents.

 

CALIFORNIA

Loucks, Adamek, Ashegian & Co., Los Angeles, has changed its name to Sousa & Weber LLP, and expanded its services to include CFO services and outsourced bookkeeping.

 

GEORGIA

The Accountancy Department of LaGrange College, LaGrange, has become the first to earn accountancy accreditation from the Association of Collegiate Business Schoolsand Programs. The ratification of accreditation covers a 10-year period.

 

MARYLAND

Weyrich, Cronin & Sorra is celebrating the 30th anniversary of its founding by Carroll Weyrich, William Cronin and Manny Sorra. The firm employs more than 30 people, and this month plans to move to Cecil County, to an office at 155 E. High Street in Elkton.

 

MINNESOTA

Kern, DeWenter, Viere Ltd. has combined its three Twin Cities offices in Bloomington, to accommodate its organic growth and its recent expansion through mergers. ... RSM McGladrey has launched a new advertising campaign, "The power of being understood," which uses photographs and quotes from LPGA Tour professional and Team McGladrey member Natalie Gulbis and her caddie Greg Sheridan to set up the campaign's overarching premise. A series of ads will also include PGA Tour professionals Zach Johnson and Chris DiMarco. In addition to The Wall Street Journal, the ads will appear in a number of digital destinations, and on Sirius XM Radio. Separately, the firm presented a check for $175,725 to the Special Olympics at RSM's third annual McGladrey Team Championship. The total represents the funds raised throughout the year by the firm for Special Olympics, and includes $42,000 presented in August.

 

NEW JERSEY

Fazio, Mannuza, Roche, Tankel, LaPilusa LLC has moved to new, larger offices at 20 Commerce Drive, Suite 301, in Cranford. ... Cowan, Gunteski & Co. PA has moved its Monmouth County office to a larger location at 730 Hope Road, Tinton Falls.

 

NEW YORK

Crowe Horwath LLP has moved its New York City office to 488 Madison Ave. ... Grassi & Co. has moved to larger offices at 50 Jericho Quadrangle, Jericho.

 

NORTH CAROLINA

Hughes Pittman & Gupton LLP, Raleigh, sponsored the second annual Internet Summit 2009.

 

OHIO

More than 1,400 volunteers, including members of the Ohio Society of CPAs, CPAs from the Ohio Auditor of State's office, and accounting students headed into more than 400 elementary school classrooms on Nov. 12 to introduce students to real-world investing and savings principles on the ninth annual Accounting for Kids Day, which is funded by the Ohio society's charitable affiliate, the Ohio CPA Foundation. The centerpiece of the program is a high-stakes investment game in which CPAs lead students in buying, selling and tracking their stocks' progress over a simulated 10-year period.

 

PUERTO RICO

BDO Seidman LLP has expanded into Puerto Rico with the opening of an office at City Towers Suite 702, 252 Ponce de Leon Ave., Hato Rey. Andres Perez will serve as the assurance business line leader for the new office.

 

SOUTH CAROLINA

WebsterRogers LLP, Charleston, has combined its Mergers & Acquisitions Group with Sequence Investment Partners LLC, a licensed broker-dealer. The merged entities will be owned by WR Sequence Holdings LLC. Michael Grady, Kevin High and Gene King will serve as managing members.

 

SPAIN

Account Control Sociedad de Auditoría SRL, Toledo and Madrid, has joined BKR International. It has three partners and a staff of 15.

 

TEXAS

Lane Gorman Trubitt LLP has been named one of the Dallas Morning News' Top 100 Best Places to Work in Dallas-Fort Worth, ranking No. 8.

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