Andy Armanino

 

Andy Armanino is Managing Partner of the largest independent CPA & Consulting firm based in California. He manages one of IPA’s top 25 “Best of the Best” firms in the nation and has been named to the “Top 100 Most Influential People in Accounting” and is a three time recipient of IPA’s “Most Admired Peer.”  During Andy’s tenure as managing partner, Armanino LLP has grown from $24 million to a $130 million firm.

 

Sam Allred

 

Sam Allred of Park City, Utah, is a shareholder with Helena, Mont.-based Anderson ZurMuehlen & Co., a regional firm of six offices and over 250 people. Sam is also the founder and director of Upstream Academy, LeaderSkills Institute and the Emerging Leaders Academy. Sam interacts with hundreds of CPA firms around the world every year via conferences, partner retreats, management presentations and training sessions. He speaks and writes extensively both in the U.S. and abroad. In high demand as a facilitator for CPA firm retreats, Sam energetically and creatively engages all of the partners in the discussions, using proven processes and their firm's strengths to successfully navigate challenges the firm may face. He is viewed as one of the top strategic thinkers in the profession.

 

Ken Baggett

 

Ken Baggett serves as New York-based CohnReznick's Co-CEO. Prior to this, he was MP and CEO of Reznick Group, where led that firm to rank among the top 20 largest public accounting firms in the U.S. Ken is consistently listed as one of the "Top 100 Most Influential Accountants" by Accounting Today and as one of the "Top 100 Most Influential Practitioners" by CPA Magazine. In 2011, 2012 and 2013, he was recognized by INSIDE Public Accounting as one of the five most admired CPAs by his peers in a nationwide survey of 500 accounting firms. Ken was named the outstanding alumnus for the Auburn University School of Accountancy and was also recognized as one of the top 40 alumni in the last 40 years (40 of 40) for the School of Business at Auburn University. Ken's professional experience encompasses a range of real estate / tax issues related to the development and structuring of multi-family and commercial ventures.

 

Tony Batman

 

Stephen A. “Tony” Batman is a visionary entrepreneur whose accomplishments have profoundly impacted the accounting and financial services professions. The AICPA has identified Tony as a "trail blazer" for his vision and entrepreneurial spirit concerning the future of the accounting profession. For 14 years in a row – 1996 through 2010 – he was voted as one of the most influential accountants in America by Accounting Today magazine. Tony is chairman, CEO and co-founder of 1st Global, a diversified financial services firm that is the business development and resource partner to leading tax, accounting and law firms. Through 1st Global, firms receive comprehensive wealth management services for emerging affluent and affluent families, businesses, foundations and other institutions. Batman has created innovative educational programs, advanced support services and cutting-edge technology tools that cater to the wealth management advisor.

 

Richard Berkowitz

 

Richard Berkowitz is the CEO and Director-In-Charge of Management Consulting for Berkowitz Pollack Brant Advisors and Accountants. He provides his clients with a comprehensive approach to income, estate, financial and investment planning. A trusted advisor to clients in a wide range of industries, Berkowitz helps them define their goals and develop strategies to succeed. Nearly 35 years ago, Berkowitz had a vision of a firm that hired talented people and created an environment for them to build outstanding careers. Today the firm and its Provenance Wealth Advisors and BayBridge Real Estate Group affiliates continue to operate on these principles.

 

Kelly Bernakevitch 

 

Kelly Bernakevitch, FCA, is the Executive Vice President for MNP’s Prairies & Northwest Ontario region. A member of the firm’s senior management team, Kelly is responsible for growing MNP by implementing strategic plans throughout the firm’s locations, sectors and niches. He has also served on MNP’s board of directors as an elected partner and has chaired a number of committees. Prior to this role, Kelly was the Regional Managing Partner of MNP’s largest region. During this time, his extensive accounting and business advisory experience enabled Kelly to effectively empower his team members to deliver innovative business strategies to help clients achieve their goals. A respected member of his profession, Kelly has spoken at various conferences, professional development courses and seminars in relation to management, marketing and practice management. He is a member of the Inside Public Accounting Advisory Board and is also the North American Chairman for Praxity, a global alliance of independent firms.

 

Ted Dickman

 

Ted Dickman is CEO of Springfield, Mo.-based BKD, LLP. As a national CPA and advisory firm, BKD serves clients in all 50 states and internationally. Ted is responsible for the leadership and strategic direction of the firm's nearly 2,000 personnel, including approximately 250 partners. Ted is also the chair of BKD's Governing Board, which sets firm policy and oversees strategic initiatives. Before he was named CEO, Ted was regional MP of BKD's East Region and MP of the fin's Indianapolis, Bloomington, Ind., For Wayne, Ind., Merriville, Ind., and Cincinnati offices. Ted entered public accounting in 1983 as a tax professional in the firm's Indianapolis office and was elected partner in 1991. Ted focused on closely held businesses and families, providing tax, business advisory and wealth transfer planning strategies.

 

Stuart Dodds

 

He is responsible for the development of Baker & McKenzie’s global pricing and legal project management strategy and provides targeted pricing, negotiation and project management support to partners and client facing colleagues across their 76 offices worldwide. Prior to joining the Firm, Stuart conducted a similar role at Linklaters for over 3 years, and has also worked as a Management Consultant for 17 years (including Accenture for 14 years) in a fee earning capacity, in a variety of strategy, supply chain and procurement-facing roles and across many industry sectors. Stuart is an accredited Certified Pricing Professional (the highest pricing qualification, held by only 300 people worldwide) is a certified Lean Six Sigma Yellow Belt, and is a member of both the Professional Pricing Society and Project Management Institute.  He also sits on a number of industry related advisory bodies, including ILTA, and is a 'Fellow' of the College of Law Practice Management as of his formal induction in October 2014.

 

Carl George

 

With over 42 years in public accounting, Carl George, CEO and founder of Carl George Advisory, has experience with just about every issue confronting partners today.  Carl can relate one-on-one with your needs as he has served in numerous roles – from practice partner of a small office to COO for 13 years to CEO for 16 years – and all with the same firm, Clifton Gunderson. Carl was recognized numerous times by Accounting Today as one of the Top 100 Most Influential People in Accounting. He is a former board member of the AICPA and chaired the National CPA Financial Literacy Commission of the AICPA for five years. Carl also served on the AICPA MAP committee six years, three as chair, and has served as a speaker or moderator at many conferences and partner retreats on practice management issues and solutions. Carl is following his passion for practice management by consulting with firms and mentoring MPs and CEOs.

 

James Kane

 

James Kane has been called the world's foremost expert on what makes someone truly loyal - to another person, to an organization, or to a cause. As a social psychologist and consultant who has helped some of the laregest and most well-known organizations in the world, including Apple, Amazon, Google, Marriott International, Disney and Major League Baseball, James reveals the science benhind the real human emotion called loyalty, and what anyone can do to build nearly unbreakable relationships with not only thier clients and customers, but with members, fans, volunteers, vendors, donors, sponsors and employees, as well. The author of two upcoming books, The Loaylty Switch and Virtually Loyal, Kane has worked with every major industry, while advising and traning organizations around the world ranging from Global 1000 giants to small, regional companies.

 

Gordon Krater

 

Gordon Krater is MP of Southfield, Mich.-based Plante Moran. With more than 30 years of experience, he is known as a leader who models and encourages in others what he calls true stewardship: "the careful and responsible management of something entrusted to one's care." As the leader and steward of Plante Moran, Gordon guides client service, growth, people development, risk management and strategic direction. Though Gordon became MP in 2009, at the height of the economic downturn, he and the mangement team steered the firm through uncertianty on to a clear path of growth. Plante Moran has maintained its presence on FORTUNE magazine's list of the "100 Best Companies to Work For". As a proponent of diversity, Gordon and the mangement team launched the Women in Leadership initiative, which is designed to groom and mentor female leaders and support their success.

 

 

John Lucht

 

John has been Smith & Howard’s MP since 2010, having previously served as the PIC of the accounting, advisory and assurance services group at the firm. He joined Smith & Howard in 1990, after spending several years with a Big 4 firm and a large local firm. As MP, John’s role includes oversight of the firm’s client service commitment, executing the firms’ strategic plan, working with a partner group of 10 and overseeing the firm’s almost 100 employees. John graduated from the University of Georgia with B.B.A. in Accounting. He is a member of the Georgia Society of Certified Public Accountants and the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants. He is a Certified Profit Enhancement Consultant, a charter member of the Atlanta ERISA Club and former Treasurer of the Southeast Synod of the Lutheran Church. In addition, John is active in the Alumni of Leadership Gwinnett Program and the Gwinnett Chamber Chairman’s Club and serves on the Board of Trustees for Georgia Gwinnett College. He currently serves on the Board of Advisors for the Metro Atlanta Chamber of Commerce.

 

 

Randy Mowat

 

Since joining MNP in 1997, Randy has been a long-standing member of the firm’s senior management team. He’s had a lead role in engineering MNP’s strategic marketing plans, lending his insight and experience to structure the firm’s national resource departments and ensure all elements of the firm’s brand platform support MNP’s rapid growth. As a full service firm, Randy’s instinct to think outside the box and take calculated risks has enabled MNP to fearlessly enter new markets and build brand awareness quickly among diverse client and industry groups. Recognized as the fastest growing national accounting and business consulting firm in Canada by The Bottom Line, a leading Canadian accounting publication, MNP has experienced year-over-year compounded growth surpassing 15% for the past10 consecutive years.

 

Mike Platt

Mike Platt’s career has focused on improving the operations of firms. Michael has assisted owners on diverse matters such as benchmarking fiscal and operational performance, goal setting, dispute resolution, partner retreats and developing a culture of results and accountability. A background forged through experiences as the executive director of an international association of CPA firms, the co-founder of AccountingWEB.com, and the founder of the consulting division of a local firm has given Michael extensive exposure to what works in firm management. Michael serves as a management consultant. He and his wife, Kelly, are the publishers of the award-winning newsletter, INSIDE Public Accounting, and are the authors of the IPA National Benchmarking Report. Michael is a presenter on a multitude of topics. Michael holds a Master’s degree in business administration from George Washington University, with a concentration in marketing and holds a CMAA certification from the Alliance of Merger and Acquisition Advisors.

 

 

Ken Richey

 

Ken began his career in public accounting in 1978 and is currently the MP at Richey, May & Co. He provides tax and business consulting services to closely-held businesses and individuals.  Ken specializes in creating business and income tax planning strategies, providing assistance with mergers and acquisitions, financings, asset sales and business liquidation structuring, and IRS dispute resolution. His clients come from a broad range of industries including mortgage banking, real estate, wholesale distribution, oil and gas, manufacturing, and various service companies. Ken has provided litigation support services and has testified as an expert witness.  An experienced author and speaker for professional organizations, trade associations, and business groups, Ken is active in writing articles and making presentations on various tax and accounting issues. Prior to the establishment of Richey, May & Co. in 1997, Ken was the co-founder of Williams, Richey & Co. in 1985, and was affiliated with Coopers & Lybrand from 1978 to 1980 and Hein + Associates from 1980 to 1984.