Tag Archives: advisory firm

Juan Ortiz, Kathryn Buffington, Michelle Garza, Damon Nolan III, Diana Serna, Luke Guillemette and Luis Maldonado join BKD

By North SA Chamber Editor
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180x150-BKDJon M. McDowell, managing partner of BKD, LLP’s San Antonio office, is pleased to announce the addition of  Juan Ortiz III, Kathryn Buffington, Michelle Garza, Damon Nolan III and Diana Serna (Associates – audit) and Luke Guillemette and Luis Maldonado (Associates-tax) in BKD’s San Antonio office.

Eddie OrtizOrtiz is a 2013 graduate of Our Lady of the Lake University with a Bachelor of Business Administration in Accounting.  He obtained a Master of Accountancy from Our Lady of the Lake University in 2014.  Ortiz previously worked with BKD San Antonio as an audit intern (2013).

Katie BuffingtonBuffington is a 2014 graduate of The University of Texas at San Antonio with a Master of Accountancy.  Buffington passed the CPA exam and is awaiting her Texas license.

 

Michelle Garza

Garza is a 2012 graduate of The University of Texas at San Antonio with a Bachelor of Business Administration in Accounting.  She obtained her Master of Accountancy from The University of Texas at San Antonio in 2014.  Garza previously worked with BKD San Antonio as an audit intern (2014).

Damon Nolan

Nolan is a 2014 graduate of Stephen F. Austin State University with a Bachelor of Business Administration in Accounting and a Master of Professional Accountancy.  Nolan previously worked with BKD San Antonio as an audit intern (2013).

Diana Serna

 

Serna is a 2014 graduate of The University of Texas at San Antonio with a Bachelor of Business Administration in Accounting and a Master of Accountancy.

Luke Guillemette

 

Guillemette is a 2012 graduate of The University of Texas at San Antonio with a Bachelor of Business Administration in Accounting.  He obtained his Master of Accountancy from The University of Texas at San Antonio in 2014.

Louie Maldonado

 

Maldonado is a 2012 graduate of St. Mary’s University with a Bachelors of Business Administration in Accounting.  He obtained his Master of Science in Accounting from the University of the Incarnate Word in 2014.

 

About BKD
BKD is the top-tier U.S. CPA and advisory firm that delivers its experience and service with a deep understanding of your business, your needs and what it takes to improve your business performance.  BKD’s approximately 2,000 personnel, including approximately 250 partners, are based in 32 offices serving clients in 50 states.  To learn more, visit www.bkd.com.

Praxity, AISBL, a global alliance of independent firms, enhances BKD’s ability to serve the dynamic needs of multinational clients. Praxity™ provides the gateway to tax, assurance and consulting services delivered by alliance firms committed to the highest standards required in international business.

BKD Sails into the Windy City

By North SA Chamber Editor
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180x150-BKDTed Dickman, CEO of national CPA and advisory firm BKD, LLP, is proud to announce that BKD and Chicago-based accounting firm Wolf & Company are joining forces. Wolf will officially become part of BKD on November 1, 2014.

“BKD and Wolf are an excellent fit for each other,” Dickman said. “In addition to our cultural similarities, both firms focus on offering high-quality service to clients and rewarding career opportunities for our associates. This combination gives us a strong physical presence in the nation’s third-largest market, where we have been looking to get on the ground for several years.”

Wolf is one of the Chicago metropolitan area’s leading CPA and advisory firms, providing a range of services, including wealth management and personal financial planning, to more than 2,000 clients from locations in Oakbrook Terrace and downtown Chicago, Illinois. The addition brings about 140 personnel into the BKD team, including 18 partners. Wolf Managing Partner Russell Romanelli will join BKD as managing partner of BKD Chicago, which will primarily serve clients from its Oakbrook Terrace office.

“This is going to have huge benefits for Wolf, BKD and our clients,” Romanelli said. “Together, our vast knowledge and resources will help us provide better service to an increasingly complex mix of clients.”

BKD’s thought leadership spans many industries and service areas, including wealth management, private equity, corporate finance, business transition, international business, forensics, valuation and technology. Wolf serves many of the same industry niches as BKD, including health care, manufacturing, construction, financial services and not-for-profit.

By adding Wolf, BKD now has 34 offices in 15 states and $475 million in revenue. The firm’s approximately 2,250 personnel, including more than 260 partners, serve clients in all 50 states and internationally. BKD provides a wide range of assurance, tax and accounting outsourcing services. The firm also provides specialized consulting to numerous industries, including health care, financial institutions, insurance, manufacturing, distribution, construction, real estate and energy, along with not-for-profit organizations, governmental entities, colleges and universities.

BKD already serves more than 200 clients in the Chicago area and has one Illinois office in Decatur.

About BKD
BKD, LLP, a national CPA and advisory firm, helps people and businesses realize their goals. Our 2,100 professionals, including approximately 250 partners, offer solutions for clients in all 50 states and internationally. BKD and its subsidiaries offer clients a variety of services, and we combine the insight and ideas of multiple disciplines to provide solutions in a wide range of industries. To learn more, visit bkd.com.

Praxity, AISBL, a global alliance of independent firms, enhances BKD’s ability to serve the dynamic needs of multinational clients. Praxity™ provides the gateway to tax, assurance and consulting services delivered by alliance firms committed to the highest standards required in international business

Volunteer Spotlight – On the Horizon Chair: E.J. Jaax, Aspect Wealth Management

By North SA Chamber Editor
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Aspect Wealth - E. J. JaaxE.J. Jaax
Aspect Wealth Management

About the Company: E. J. Jaax is a CFP® with Aspect Wealth Management; one of the top ranked independent wealth management advisory firms in San Antonio.  At Aspect Wealth, we have been serving a select group of business owners, professionals, executives, and families for 17 years with the mission to improve and simplify the lives of our clients, granting them greater satisfaction, confidence, and freedom to achieve more in life.  We accomplish this by building deep, long-term relationships with a select group of clients to help them in the stewardship of their time, talent, and resources.  Our clients delegate their financial affairs to us so they can focus on those areas that give their lives meaning and purpose.

About the Program: On the Horizon is an informational luncheon program focused on key emerging trends in business for San Antonio and the surrounding regional area.  Watch the North SA Chamber website for upcoming detailed information on the benefits to your business from this exciting 2014 program and event.

Personally Speaking: E. J., has been involved with the North San Antonio Chamber for 3 years now, serving as a very active Ambassador and an Ambassador team captain.  He enjoys welcoming new members, and expressing his appreciation to the chamber’s loyal members at their special events.  “The North Chamber has been an excellent resource to be more involved in the community, provides great opportunities to connect with local businesses in the community, and to help them connect with other vital partners to support their growth and sustainability in San Antonio.”

BKD, LLP Recognized as Bronze LearningElite Organization

By North SA Chamber Editor
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BKD logoTed Dickman, BKD, LLP chief executive officer, is proud to announce BKD has been named a Bronze LearningElite organization for 2014 by Chief Learning Officer magazine. Singled out for creating and implementing exemplary workforce development practices that deliver measurable business value, BKD, LLP ranked No. 49 from a record-breaking field of more than 200 companies participating in the prestigious annual benchmarking program.

“At BKD, people are our No. 1 asset,” Dickman said. “To deliver unmatched client service, we must continually invest in their technical expertise and develop them as leaders. BKD professionals have access to a wealth of knowledge and tools they need to do their jobs effectively, efficiently and ethically. We’re extremely flattered that Chief Learning Officer magazine has acknowledged our commitment to lifelong learning.”

The only peer-reviewed ranking and benchmarking program developed in collaboration with chief learning officers and senior workforce development practitioners, the LearningElite has become the industry’s most valuable benchmarking tool. The program utilizes rigorous evaluation methodologies to objectively assess both the scope and value of participants’ learning and development practices and to rank the organizations based upon the execution and impact of these initiatives.

“The firm has made significant progress towards our goal of being an industry-leading learning organization,” said Greg Cole, director of the firm’s Learning & Development department. “It’s about developing a world-class training system that better ties our mission statement and unmatched client service standards to our performance management system and curriculum for coordinated training events and on-demand learning. The feedback we’ve received has been overwhelmingly positive.”

BKD University (BKDU) is the latest enhancement to the firm’s educational infrastructure. BKDU is an online, on- demand platform housed on the firm’s intranet that gives personnel access to a wide range of content that includes technical training as well as shorter, more digestible video clips on leadership, ethics, client service and technology.

About BKD
BKD, LLP is a national CPA and advisory firm that understands your business and delivers the resources you need with a service style you’ll value. BKD’s approximately 2,100 personnel, including approximately 250 partners, serve clients in all 50 states and internationally. To learn more, visit bkd.com.

Praxity, AISBL, a global alliance of independent firms, enhances BKD’s ability to serve the dynamic needs of multinational clients. Praxity™ provides the gateway to tax, assurance and consulting services delivered by alliance firms committed to the highest standards required in international business.

BKD, LLP debuts on Training Magazine’s Top 125

By North SA Chamber Editor
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BKD logo colorJon McDowell, managing partner of BKD, LLP’s San Antonio office, announced BKD’s debut on Training magazine’s annual Training Top 125, which ranks companies based on the excellence of their training and development programs.

BKD—the only CPA and advisory firm on this year’s list—was among thousands of applicants vying for a spot on the prestigious list. BKD ranked 89th and was one of 27 organizations to make an initial appearance on the 2014 list. Firm representatives accepted the Top 125 award at Training’s Golden Gala in San Diego, California, on February 3.

“BKD is honored to be among these top-tier training organizations,” McDowell said. “Our firm is committed to lifelong learning, and we strongly believe that investing in our professionals’ technical expertise and leadership development skills enhances their career opportunities and allows them to better serve our clients.”

Now in its 14th year, the Training Top 125 is based on myriad benchmarking statistics such as total training budget, percentage of payroll, number of training hours per employee program, hours of training per employee annually and detailed formal programs as well as goals, evaluation and workplace surveys. The ranking is determined by assessing a range of qualitative and quantitative factors, including financial investment in employee development, scope of development programs and how closely those efforts are linked to business goals and objectives.

“We’re learning a lot from our Training Top 125 peers and are looking forward to incorporating some of their best practices as focus on institutional excellence,” said Greg Cole, director of the firm’s Learning & Development Department. “When it comes to innovative training and development programs, these organizations have really raised the bar—and BKD is proud to be part of Training’s upper echelon.”

BKD University (BKDU) is the latest enhancement to the firm’s educational infrastructure. BKDU is an online, on-demand platform housed on the firm’s intranet that gives personnel access to a wide range of content that includes technical training as well as shorter, more digestible video clips on leadership, ethics, client service and technology. The firm also hosts Camp BKD—a week long orientation held three times a year for newly hired client service professionals—and relies on a robust coaching program to develop individual talent and prepare professionals for career advancement.

About BKD
BKD, LLP is the top-tier U.S. CPA and advisory firm that delivers its experience and service with a deep understanding of your business, your needs and what it takes to improve your business performance. BKD’s approximately 2,000 personnel, including approximately 250 partners, serve clients in all 50 states and internationally. To learn more, visit bkd.com.

Praxity, AISBL, a global alliance of independent firms, enhances BKD’s ability to serve the dynamic needs of multinational clients. Praxity™ provides the gateway to tax, assurance and consulting services delivered by alliance firms committed to the highest standards required in international business.

BKD on the ground in Pennsylvania with Malin Bergquist

By North SA Chamber Editor
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BKD logo colorBKD, LLP, one of the country’s largest CPA and advisory firms, has acquired Pennsylvania-based accounting firm Malin Bergquist & Company, LLP. Malin Bergquist will officially join BKD on October 1, 2013.

“Malin Bergquist and BKD are well-matched in many regards, starting with our cultural commonalities,” said BKD CEO Ted Dickman. “A shared focus on integrity and an innovative approach to exceptional service has enabled both firms to build a loyal client base that values professionalism, expertise and responsiveness.”

Founded more than 50 years ago, Malin Bergquist is home to a dedicated staff of 75 that serves a diverse mix of clients from offices in Erie and Pittsburgh. As a result of the combination, BKD welcomes eight new partners, including Malin Bergquist CEO Jeffrey Deane. Deane will serve as managing partner of BKD’s Pennsylvania offices, which will remain at their current addresses.

“We’re thrilled BKD has chosen to enter the Mid-Atlantic region with Malin Bergquist, and we look forward to growing our client base here,” Deane said. “BKD is a fantastic firm with knowledgeable advisors and extensive resources that will enable us to keep delivering the high-quality, personal service our clients have come to expect and deserve.”

BKD’s thought leadership spans many industries and service areas, including wealth management, private equity, corporate finance, business transition, international, forensics, valuation and technology. In addition to strong tax and employee benefit plan audit practices, Malin Bergquist serves foreign-owned and closely held businesses in the manufacturing, distribution, real estate and construction industries.

With the addition of Malin Bergquist, BKD now has 33 offices in 15 states and combined annual revenues of more than $425 million. The firm’s aapproximately 2,100 professionals, including 250 partners, serve clients in all 50 states and internationally. BKD provides tax, assurance and accounting outsourcing services as well as specialized consulting to health care providers, financial institutions, insurance, manufacturers, distributors, construction and real estate companies, energy providers and a variety of not-for-profit organizations and governmental entities, including colleges and universities.

BKD already serves close to 200 clients—many in the health care industry—in the Keystone State.

About BKD is the top-tier U.S. CPA and advisory firm that delivers its experience and service with a deep understanding of your business, your needs and what it takes to improve your business performance. BKD’s approximately 2,100 personnel, including approximately 250 partners, serve clients in all 50 states and internationally. To learn more, visit bkd.com.

Praxity, AISBL, a global alliance of independent firms, enhances BKD’s ability to serve the dynamic needs of multinational clients. Praxity™ provides the gateway to tax, assurance and consulting services delivered by alliance firms committed to the highest standards required in international business.