People & firms on the move: Wolcott & Associates transitions ownership, name to Aviation CPAs

September 11, 2020 11:28 AM

IRS names deputy chief of criminal investigation; PKF Texas launches new service line; and more CPA news.

ARIZONA

Alicia White, senior manager of audit services at Keegan Linscott & Associates, Tucson, joined the board of directors for Greater Tucson Leadership for a three-year term beginning in July 2020. In other firm news, Stacy Thompson, manager in the consulting services practice, passed the Certified Insolvency & Restructuring Advisor certification exam and ranked in the top of the nation, earning a distinguished performance award.

AUSTRALIA

A&A Tax Legal Consulting, Melbourne and Sydney, entered a collaboration agreement with Andersen Global to become a member firm of the international association.

CONNECTICUT

GASB headquarters in Norwalk, Connecticut

Courtesy of GASB

The Governmental Accounting Standards Board, Norwalk, announced it has opened a formal search for the next GASB director of research and technical activities. David Bean, current director of research and technical activities, plans to retire March 31, 2021, after more than 30 years with GASB.

DELAWARE

Belfint, Lyons & Shuman, Wilmington, promoted: Jennifer Schlosberg to supervisor in the tax and small business department; Jonathan Turner to senior accountant; Tanner Barretta, Ryan Patterson and Charles Riordan to staff II accountants in the rotational development program; and Lai Ming Ho to staff II accountant in the corporate and international services department.

FLORIDA

Wolcott & Associates, Fort Lauderdale, has transferred ownership from its founder, Jed Wolcott, to several long-time employees (pictured): Nancy Reich, Sue Folkringa, Barry Haimowitz and company controller Bobbi Reidy. Additionally, the firm, an aviation-dedicated CPA firm that assists clients in identifying, protecting and preserving tax deductions for their aircraft, will now be doing business as Aviation CPAs.

Berkowitz Pollack Brant Advisors + CPAs, Miami, promoted: Pedro Porras to associate director in international tax services; Rachel Gram to associate director in the audit and attest services practice; Michael Kaczka to senior manager in forensic and advisory services; Kevin McNally to senior manager in tax services; and Ina Mitskevich to senior manager in audit and attest services.

ILLINOIS

The Illinois CPA Society, Chicago, hosted more than 270 accounting students from colleges and universities in the state at its Jumpstart to Accounting Event, held virtually this year, providing students access to thought leaders, motivational speakers, recruiters and coaches to help in their accounting and finance careers. In other news, the ICPAS, in partnership with the society's Women’s Committee and the Association of International Certified Professional Accountants, announced the winners of the 2020 Women to Watch Awards. (Read the full story.) Additionally, Sandra Walker Shelton, KPMG / Neil F. Casson Endowed Professor of Accountancy and director of the internal audit education program at DePaul University in Chicago, received the Illinois CPA Society’s 2020 Lester H. McKeever Jr. Advancing Diversity Award in the Outstanding Leader category. The annual award is presented to an Outstanding Leader and an Emerging Leader to recognize their commitment to advancing diversity in the accounting profession.

LOUISIANA

The Society of Louisiana CPAs, Kenner, announced its newly elected board members for 2020-21: Jay Montalbano as 2020-21 chair; Gary Dresller as 2020-21 chair-elect; Seth Norris as 2020-21 treasurer; Greg Booth, John Ehricht, J. Drew Pendarvis and Jennifer Zundel Forest to two-year terms as members-at-large; and Kenneth Champagne and Anthony Rutledge serving their second years of a two-year term as members-at-large.

MARYLAND

Lynn Roy was hired as a part-time outsourced accountant and Yvette Sosa as a full-time outsourced accountant, at HeimLantz, Annapolis.

The Maryland Association of CPAs, Towson, is partnering with 1Rivet to make its MyHealthyWork app available to members and customers. The app provides the ability to safely monitor and record employees’ health markers recommended by the CDC, identify those who may be sick and trace the people they had contact with, and create a workplace in which employees feel safe from the threat of COVID-19.

NEW HAMPSHIRE

EYE SUGAR PHOTOGRAPHY

Oreste Mosca, managing director at Nathan Wechsler & Co., Concord, was re-elected to the board of directors of Amoskeag Health, where he has served since February 2018.

NEW YORK

Behram Panthaki was hired as chief operating officer at AccountantsWorld, Hauppauge.

Prager Metis, New York, launched PPP loan forgiveness services, designed to streamline the application process and provide secure, cloud-based storage for back-up documentation.

EisnerAmper, New York, will hold its fifth annual Alternative Investment Summit virtually on Sept. 24 with the theme “2020: A Year of Change.” (More information is available here.)

NORTH CAROLINA

Dixon Hughes Goodman, Charlotte, admitted eight new partners and principals, effective Oct. 1. The firm promoted, to partner: Brett Dudney in Birmingham, Alabama; Stani Fowler, Tysons, Virginia; Mac Garber, Anthony Reggiannini and Jay Stine, Charlotte, N.C.; Dustin Hamilton, Tampa, Florida; and to principal: Prashant Panavalli, New York City; and Michael Wolford, Cleveland.

PENNSYLVANIA

Caleb Basile

Caleb Basile was hired as an audit senior staff accountant in the Lancaster office and Evan Karli as an audit staff accountant in the insurance practice, in the Camp Hill office, at Brown Schultz Sheridan & Fritz.

SOUTH CAROLINA

The Hobbs Group, Columbia, joined accounting association CPAmerica.

TENNESSEE

John Dodd

John Dodd was hired as an audit staff accountant in the audit department at Reynolds, Bone & Griesbeck, Memphis.

TEXAS

PKF Texas, Houston, launched a new service line within the firm’s audit practice, contract compliance services, with the dedicated service team of Carlos Gomez, audit manager; Michael Veuleman, audit practice leader; and Brian Baumler, audit director.

UTAH

Eric Evans was hired as a tax partner at WSRP, Salt Lake City.

WASHINGTON, D.C.

James Robnett was named the deputy chief of criminal investigation at the Internal Revenue Service. Robnett, currently director of field operations, southern area, will now be responsible for overseeing a worldwide staff of nearly 2,900 CI employees, including approximately 2,000 special agents in 21 field offices and 11 foreign countries, who investigate crimes involving tax, money laundering, public corruption, cyber, ID theft, narcotics and terrorist-financing.

WISCONSIN

The National Association of Tax Professionals, Appleton, is moving its annual Tax Forum event online, to take place Oct. 20-22 with 13 live sessions and the ability to earn up to 22 CPE.