Professionals on the Move – October 14, 2016

MACPA Names Its 2016 “Women to Watch”
The Maryland Association of CPAs recently recognized Amy Richardson, CPA and Elizabeth Gantnier, CPA, CGMA as the 2016 “Women to Watch” Emerging Leader and Experienced Leader, respectively. The MACPA’s annual “Women to Watch” awards highlight the accomplishments of Maryland women in the CPA profession and aim to initiate conversations about diversity and inclusion. Richardson is an assurance supervisor in RSM US’ Baltimore office, who recruits, trains and mentors future RSM leaders. She is also active in her community.

Gantnier is the practice partner for Dixon Hughes Goodman’s mid-Atlantic region. She has more than 30 years of experience, serving in a variety of roles at the AICPA, Fortune 500 companies and state CPA societies. Gantnier is also the immediate past chair of the Maryland Board of Public Accountancy and volunteers on several committees for the AICPA, the Center for Audit Quality and the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board.

Rehmann Names New Managing Principal
Rehmann recently appointed Ryan Krause, CPA as the new managing principal for its southeast region. In his new role, Krause will oversee the region’s growth and profitability. He has nearly 20 years of audit and assurance experience serving clients in a variety of industries. Krause also serves on several of the firm’s executive committees, most recently as the department head for the region’s audit and assurance practice. He graduated from Oakland University with his bachelor’s degree in accounting.

MSCPA Announces Women to Watch Honorees
The Massachusetts Society of Certified Public Accountants recently announced the 2016 honorees of their Women to Watch Award. The award recognizes women who have made an outstanding contribution to the accounting profession, their community, place of employment and/or to the development of women as leaders. The 2016 Women to Watch Award winners are:
Experienced Leader:
Pamela Kelleher, CPA, partner at Ernst & Young
Zara Muradali, CPA, partner at KPMG
Linda M. Smith, CPA, managing partner at Smith, Sullivan and Brown PC

Emerging Leader:
Jeanie I. Gorlovsky-Schepp, CPA, manager at AAFCPAs
Laura J. Gregoriadis, CPA, principal at DiCicco, Gulman & Company
Jessica Platt, CPA, MST, principal at CliftonLarsonAllen, LLP

CPA Consultants’ Alliance Announces New Member
The CPA Consultants’ Alliance recently added Jeff Phillips to its working group of thought leaders focused on driving change and enhancing value for the accounting profession. Phillips is the CEO of Accountingfly and has previously worked with companies such as Monster.com, Snagajob and American Express on recruiting, content strategy and business development.

Mueller Prost CPA Named 2016 Young Professional by Missouri Society of Certified Public Accountants
Mueller Prost CPAs + Business Advisors recently announced that Tim O’Neill, CPA, senior staff accountant, has been named the 2016 Young Professional by the Missouri Society of CPAs for his efforts both in the accounting profession and in his community. O’Neill implemented a Young Professionals Group at Mueller Prost and is now chairing the firm-wide group, where he helps coach young employees to give them the confidence they need to succeed in both the firm and industry. He was also a Mueller Prost team captain for Step-Up for Down Syndrome and serves as a committee member for World Pediatric Project’s Rock N Heal event. O’Neill volunteers for Volunteer Lawyers and Accountants for the Arts.

WeiserMazars LLP Announces Leadership Changes
WeiserMazars LLP recently announced the following leadership changes: Michael Coletti, CPA as the Office Managing Partner in New Jersey; Craig Fine as the Office Managing Partner in Long Island; Charles Abraham, CPA as the leader of the Financial Services Group in New York; and Kirk Eldridge as the Office Managing Partner in Pennsylvania. Coletti has more than 18 years of experience and will focus on strategic initiatives to advance WeiserMazars’ local visibility. He serves as a board member of the Meadowlands YMCA and is involved in the Meadowlands Chamber of Commerce and other local organizations. Coletti has also held leadership positions throughout his career and has led several firm projects and initiatives.

In his new role, Fine will focus on growing and increasing visibility of the firm’s Long Island practice. He has more than 25 years of business advisory services experience. Fine is the founding member of the Trusted Advisor Group, a network of industry experts focused on manufacturers and distribution business in the New York metro area. He is also a frequent speaker at industry events and local colleges.

Abraham will take over the Financial Services Group, where he will focus on the strategic plans for the group. Abraham’s expertise includes auditing investment companies, investment advisors and broker-dealers. He currently serves as the chair of the NYSSCPA SEC committee and has led the Asset Management sub-sector of the Financial Services Group, as well as other industry seminars, firm initiatives and training programs.

Eldridge has more than 30 years’ experience providing accounting, auditing and tax preparation and planning services to a variety of businesses. He has led several initiatives and programs at WeiserMazars and his previous firm. Eldridge has also been instrumental in growing WeiserMazars’ Pennsylvania office through cross-team collaboration, mentoring and creating a culture of accountability around client satisfaction. Eldridge has held board seats at several local charities and organizations.

CohnReznick Announces New Appointments
CohnReznick LLP recently announced the addition of Cheryl Watson, CPA to its Financial Services Industry Practice and the appointments of Russell Phillips, CPA to office managing partner of its Boston office and Rony Rodriguez, CPA as a tax partner in its Los Angeles office. Watson has more than 20 years of diversified public accounting experience providing audit, tax and consulting services to private equity funds, private equity fund of funds, venture capital funds and investment advisors. Her expertise includes leveraged buyouts, venture capital, real estate, distressed investments, mezzanine capital and royalty opportunities. Watson graduated from Monmouth University with her Bachelor of Science in Accounting.


Phillips has more than 20 years of public accounting experience providing audit, reviews, accounting, tax and management advisory services to CohnReznick clients. He has worked with general contractors, subcontractors, commercial and residential real estate developers, management companies and tax advantage multifamily affordable housing projects.

Rodriguez has 15 years of public accounting experience advising real estate clients. His expertise includes entity structuring, REIT qualification, REIT conversions, acquisition and sale of REIT shares/properties and unrelated business taxable income. Rodriguez also has an extensive background working with investment partnerships consisting of hedge funds and private equity funds on operational, transactional and tax issues in the financial services industry. He received his Bachelor of Science in Accounting from Loyola Marymount University, Los Angeles and his Master’s in Taxation from the University of Southern California.