ARIZONA
Kristy L. Mukai, investment advisory representative in the financial planning division of Mukai, Greenlee & Co. PC, Phoenix, has received the Registered Financial Consultant designation after completing an 18-month program with the International Association of Registered Financial Consultants. In addition, Kevin W. Seabolt and Laurie Barnes have joined the firm as tax senior and audit senior, respectively. Seabolt previously worked at Arthur Andersen, Barnes at KPMG.
CALIFORNIA
Dawn E. Schmitz has joined the Beverly Hills office of Rothstein, Kass & Co. PC as tax manager for their National Real Estate Group. She brings 11 years of experience, and previously worked for KPMG.
COLORADO
Michael J. Bradac has joined Brock & Co. CPAs PC’s Littleton office as senior manager. Bradac previously worked for KPMG. ... Elise Ford has joined Stark Winter Schenkein & Co. LLP, Denver. She was previously a senior audit manager for Causey Demgen & Moore for 11 years.
CONNECTICUT
Jeffrey W. Rossi has been promoted to principal at Haggett, Longobardi & Co. LLC, Glastonbury. Rossi joined the firm in 1994, and has expertise in audit engagements, accounting services to various industries, and financial and business planning for closely held businesses and individuals.
FLORIDA
Joel M. Landau, a senior tax manager in the Lakeland office of Carter, Belcourt & Atkinson PA CPAs, has earned the Certified Specialist in Retirement Planning designation from the National Institute for Excellence in Professional Education.
GEORGIA
Frazier & Deeter LLC, Atlanta, has named Kenneth A. Smith a partner in the firm. Smith previously worked at Ernst & Young, where he acted as a liaison between Frazier & Deeter and E&Y. The firms formed a strategic alliance in 2002.
ILLINOIS
Richard J. Wilkens, a member of the KGN Financial Group, Chicago, has completed the certification process to earn the Certified Valuation Analyst designation from the National Association of Certified Valuation Analysts. ... Grant Thornton, Chicago, has appointed Dean Jorgensen managing partner of its National Tax Office. Jorgensen has been an instructor for over 15 years, and a member of GT’s National Tax Education Committee for over 10.
MARYLAND
KAWG&F, Towson, has promoted three staff to shareholders: Christine M. Clingerman, Claudia R. Wolter and E. Terry Grant. Clingerman is a member of the firm’s construction services group and co-chair of its Accounting and Auditing Committee. Wolter, who has been with the firm for 15 years, focuses on litigation support and the construction industry. Grant specializes in services to the construction industry, and established KAWG&F’s Technology Team. All three have been involved in the effort to move the firm to a paperless environment.
MINNESOTA
RSM McGladrey, Bloomington, has hired two new managing directors from the former Arthur Andersen. Angelika Caicedo, who spent 14 years at Andersen working with small and midsized businesses in technology, construction, health care and nonprofits, will join RSM’s San Diego office. Karen Kurek, who spent 21 years at Andersen working with small and midsized businesses in the printing and publishing industry, will be based in RSM’s Chicagoland office.
NEW JERSEY
Wilfredo Fernandez has joined the Springfield office of Citrin Cooperman. He was previously a partner in a New Jersey accounting firm. ... Larry Ziff has been named managing director of assurance of Cohn Wealth Management LLC, Roseland, an affiliate of J.H. Cohn LLP. Ziff brings more than 16 years of experience to the firm, and previously worked as a senior vice president at Fleet National Bank. ... Carola Knoll has joined Mintz Rosenfeld & Co. LLC, Fairfield, as senior tax manager. Knoll brings over 13 years of experience in international taxation, and previously worked for American Express Tax and Business Services, PricewaterhouseCoopers and KPMG. ... Amy C. Serin, human resources director for The Videre Group LLP, Parsippany and Eatontown, has earned the Professional in Human Resources designation from the Human Resource Certification Institute.
NEW YORK
Jay E. Reiner CPA, New York, has hired Marta Ossolinska as a junior accountant. She is an accounting major at Baruch College. ... Vanacore DeBenedictus, DiGovanni & Weddell LLP CPAs, Newburgh and Poughkeepsie, has hired Eileen Horton as a tax manager. Horton previously worked for Pepsi and PricewaterhouseCoopers. ... Joel C. Dressner and Edward R. Haiken have joined Gettry Marcus Stern & Lehrer CPA PC, New York and Woodbury, as partners following the 2002 merger of Kraft Haiken & Bell with GMSL. Haiken will also serve as a member of the firm’s executive committee. ... Holtz Rubinstein & Co. LLP, Melville, has hired Ellen Labita to work in the firm’s nonprofit department. She brings more than 20 years of experience at Big Five, national and regional firms. ... Michael H. Kinney, tax manager at Fagliarone Group CPAs PC, Syracuse, has received the Certified Fraud Examiner designation for the Association of Certified Fraud Examiners. In addition, Nicki Wright, a staff accountant with the firm, was recently appointed for a three-year term to the City of Auburn Planning Board, a committee that acts in an advisory capacity to address issues regarding public improvements, streets, parks and other matters of general welfare. ... Cary D. Lange CPA, Commack, has merged its practice into Bertucelli & Malaga LLP, Ronkonkoma. Cary Lange has become a partner in the new firm, and his professional personnel have joined the firm’s staff.
OHIO
Amy Vance has joined John Gerlach & Co., Columbus, as an audit senior on its client service team. Vance previously worked at Ernst & Young.
PENNSYLVANIA
Parente Randolph announced a number of promotions and new hires. In its Harrisburg office, the firm hired James M. Cesare as director of health care financial management services, and added Dale Fitch and Jules Enatsky to its health care consulting practice. Cesare was previously president of Bay Area Healthcare Consulting, in Annapolis, Md. Fitch, who will be a senior manager, recently served as director for a national health care consulting firm; Enatsky, who will be a manager, brings over 20 years of experience with health care providers in the areas of clinical and financial services. In its Williamsport office, the firm promoted both Brian Wingard and Debra Nunn to manager. Wingard has been with the firm since 1996, Nunn since 1995. In the Philadelphia office, Parente Randolph added Julius Green as director of not-for-profit taxation. He brings over 10 years of experience in the field. ... Kreischer, Miller & Co., Horsham, has hired Christopher F. Meshginpoosh as its manager of business advisory services. Meshginpoosh was most recently chief financial officer of Liquent Inc.
TENNESSEE
Pershing Yoakley & Associates, Knoxville, announced that Matthew Neilson will join the firm as a senior in the audit department; Jason Knowles as a staff member in the IT department; and Francis Colvais as a systems engineer.
TEXAS
Pannell Kerr Forster of Texas PC, Houston, has promoted Brian Baumler to audit director. Baumler joined the firm in 2000, and specializes in audit, review, compilation and financial consulting for public and private companies. He had previously worked for Deloitte & Touche and Edge Petroleum Corp.
VIRGINIA
Linda Stoneham, a senior consultant with Goodman & Co., Richmond, has earned the Certified Information Technology Professional credential from the AICPA.
WASHINGTON
Five professionals from Abramson Pendergast & Co., Belleview, have received certification from the Association of Accredited Strategic Planners. The new ASPs are: partners Dave Thompson and Christine Bogard, and managers Michael Glick, Steve Long and Judy Boorman.
WISCONSIN
Jefferson Wells International, Milwaukee, has named Edward Primosch managing director of its Cleveland and Pittsburgh offices, and David Gennrich managing director of its Irvine and San Diego offices. Primosch has more than 20 years of experience as an IT consultant and executive with KPMG Consulting, and also held positions at National City Bank and Olympic Steel. Gennrich also brings over 20 years of experience, and most recently led the California practice of Cap Gemini America. ... Michael Pynch has joined Wipfli Ullrich Bertelson LLP, Eau Claire, as director of consulting for IT in the firm’s western region, and a leader in the firm’s MAS practice.
FIRMS
CALIFORNIA
Good Swartz Brown & Berns LLP, Los Angeles, has added business management services to its middle-market accounting and business advisory practice. Robert H. Bernstein has joined the firm’s San Fernando Valley office as the partner-in-charge of the new services. ... Leslie Accountancy, Los Angeles, has changed its name to Leslie, Engell & Associates LLP, following Thomas A. Engell joining the firm as a partner. ... Burr, Pilger & Mayer, San Francisco and Palo Alto, was honored by the San Francisco Chamber of Commerce with its Excellence in Business Corporate Philanthropy Award. The firm is very active in giving back to community: Its BPM Foundation has given over $200,000 to worthy organizations, and the firm closes its offices every six months and sends staff to volunteer at nonprofit organizations. Also, it has adopted two elementary schools where firm staff organize activities and read to students.
COLORADO
Ernest E. Heuer & Co. PC, Northglenn, has merged its practice with Brock & Co. CPAs PC, Boulder. Kenneth Heuer, Myrna Schmidt, Ervina Mattson and Brent Lind will become shareholders in Brock, and Gerry Symanski will become a senior manager.
GEORGIA
Porter Keadle Moore LLP, Atlanta, through its affiliation with Polaris North America, has assumed membership in PKF International, a consolidated association of over 240 independent accounting firms.
ILLINOIS
Mann Weitz & Associates, Deerfield, was awarded the 2002 Balance Award from the American Society of Women Accountants, in recognition of its commitment to work/life balance and sensitivity to the concerns of women in the profession.
INDIANA
In December, Crowe Chizek & Co., Indianapolis, celebrated the 60th anniversary of its founding by Fred P. Crowe Sr. and Clete F. Chizek. The little firm from South Bend has grown into the 14th largest in the country, with 16 offices and more than 1,400 professionals.
MICHIGAN
Plante & Moran PLLC, Southfield, was by named by Fortune Magazine as one of the nation’s top employers for the fifth consecutive year. The firm ranked 11th on this year’s list, and was recognized for its innovative workplace policies, including flexible scheduling and non-traditional career paths.
MINNESOTA
RSM McGladrey, Bloomington, has been awarded the Golden Web Award from the International Association of Webmasters and Designers. The Golden Web recognizes excellence in Web site design, originality, functionality and content. RSM’s Web site hosts more than 2,000 pages of information, and averages 30,000 visitors a month.
NEW JERSEY
Weeks Holderbaum Huber & DeGraw LLP, Bridgewater, has merged with the firm of Shrikant Nadkarni CPA PA. The combined firm will go under the name Weeks Holderbaum Huber & DeGraw LLP CPAs.
OHIO
John Gerlach & Co. LLP, a Columbus-based accounting and consulting firm, has joined the RSM McGladrey Network. John Gerlach & Co. has three partners and 18 employees, and has been in business since 1945.
TENNESSEE
A number of firms have joined Enterprise Network, Nashville, an international alliance of accounting firms: Austin, Texas-based Cooper Graci & Co.; West Hartford, Conn.-based Filomeno & Co. PC CPAs, with 11 partners and 40 staff; Cleveland-based Lytkowski & Co. Inc., with four partners and 16 staff; Orland Park, Ill.-based Mulcahy, Pauritsch, Salvador & Co. Ltd.; Tulsa, Okla.-based Lohrey & Associates; Scottsbluff, Neb.-based Fred A. Lockwood & Co. PC; Orlando, Fla.-based McDirmit Davis Puckett & Co. LLC; and Pittsburgh-based Markovitz Dugan & Associates.
COMING EVENTS
FEBRUARY
24: Conducting Internal Investigations, Association of Certified Fraud Examiners. Renaissance Hollywood Hotel, Calif. Contact: (800) 245-3321 or
26: Cross-Tested and Safe Harbor 401(k) Specialty Topic Workshop, SunGard Corbel. Seattle. Contact:
27: Cross-Tested and Safe Harbor 401(k) Specialty Topic Workshop, SunGard Corbel. Detroit. Contact:
26: Cross-Tested and Safe Harbor 401(k) Specialty Topic Workshop, SunGard Corbel. San Francisco. Contact:
28: Cross-Tested and Safe Harbor 401(k) Specialty Topic Workshop, SunGard Corbel. Cincinnati. Contact:
MARCH
3: How to Testify, Association of Certified Fraud Examiners. Radisson Miyako Hotel, San Francisco. Contact: (800) 245-3321 or
4: Using ACL in a Financial Statement Audit, NYSSCPA. NYSSCPA headquarters, New York City. Contact: Gary Carpenter (315) 487-4567 or
4: Roundtable Discussion, Westchester/Rockland Chapter of the National Conference of CPA Practitioners. Tarrytown Hilton, Tarrytown, N.Y. Contact: Barbara Straub (845) 268-0444.
6: Late Season Tax Update, Nassau/ Suffolk Chapter of the National Conference of CPA Practitioners. Imperial Manor, Bethpage, N.Y. Contact: Chapter office (516) 997-9500.
6: Tax Season Roundtable, Houston Chapter of the National Conference of CPA Practitioners. La Madeleine, Houston. Contact: George Lake (713) 465-9887.
13: Using Benford’s Law to Detect Financial Fraud, NYSSCPA. NYSSCPA headquarters, New York City. Contact: Gary Carpenter (315) 487-4567 or
17: Conducting Internal Investigations, Association of Certified Fraud Examiners. Alexis Park Resort & Spa, Las Vegas. Contact: (800) 245-3321 or
18: Controllers Conference, Illinois CPA Society. Donald E. Stephens Convention Center, Rosemont, Ill. Contact:
20: Tax Roundtable, New York City Chapter of the National Conference of CPA Practitioners. Contact: Chapter office (212) 599-7204.
20: Conducting Internal Investigations, Association of Certified Fraud Examiners. The Fairmont Hotel, Dallas. Contact: (800) 245-3321 or
APRIL
1: Effective Business Writing for CPAs, California CPA Education Foundation. San Francisco. Contact:
2: Learning the Lender’s Game: How Bankers Are Making Loan Decisions, California CPA Education Foundation. Los Angeles Airport. Contact:
3: Effective Business Writing for CPAs, California CPA Education Foundation. Los Angeles Airport. Contact: www.educationfoundation. org .
3: Multi-Tasking for Today’s Controller, California CPA Education Foundation. San Jose, Calif. Contact:
3: Tracing Illicit Funds, Association of Certified Fraud Examiners. Caesars Palace, Las Vegas. Contact: (800) 245-3321 or
4: Key Ratio Analysis, California CPA Education Foundation. Burbank, Calif. Contact: www.educationfoundation. org .
7: Conducting Internal Investigations, Association of Certified Fraud Examiners. Point Hilton Squaw Peak Resort, Phoenix. Contact: (800) 245-3321 or
14: Conducting Internal Investigations, Association of Certified Fraud Examiners. Holiday Inn Select City Centre Lakeshore, Cleveland. Contact: (800) 245-3321 or
