BDO USA Welcomes FY22 Partner Class
CHICAGO, October 7, 2021 − BDO USA, LLP, one of the nation's leading professional services firms, has admitted 69 professionals to the partnership, effective October 1.
“On behalf of the entire firm, I’d like to congratulate each one of our new partners on reaching this significant career milestone,” said Wayne Berson, CEO of BDO USA. “Every day, and through every challenge, these leaders have delivered exceptional service that has driven growth and success for our clients, and for our firm. They lead with principle, are dedicated to fostering an inclusive culture and embody our core purpose of helping people thrive every day. I look forward to the many ways they will shape our firm in the future.”
Meet BDO’s New Partner Class
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Angela Acosta
State and Local Tax Partner, Charlotte
Acosta is the national leader for Sales Tax services and also leads the firm’s Carolinas State & Local Tax practice. Her experience includes all aspects of state and local taxation. Acosta provides tax services for clients in the manufacturing, software and technology, private equity, professional services, financial services, retail, healthcare, and energy industries.
Fun fact: Both of my kids are gamers. Several years ago, I downloaded the Clash of Clans game app to play with them. Since then I have been leading the clan for five-plus years and some of them call me "Mother," short for Mother of Dragons, before the show went bad.
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Pavlo Ageyev
Assurance Partner, New York
Ageyev focuses on serving middle-market clients and SEC reporting companies in various industries. His experience includes financial statement and Sarbanes-Oxley internal control audits, public offerings and due diligence projects. Ageyev is also a member of the firm’s Technology and Retail & Consumer Products industry groups.
Fun fact: From time to time, I challenge myself with obstacle course racing.
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Jenna Aira-Ventrella
Forensic and Litigation Partner, Los Angeles
Aira-Ventrella serves on the Forensics practice’s leadership team, sits on BDO’s Global Leaders Global Forensic committee and is a member of the Manufacturing industry group where she leads the Automotive Segment group. Her experience includes litigation and investigative matters involving product liability and consumer class actions, with a concentration in the automotive industry.
Why did you choose a career in professional services? It was serendipitous actually. I was putting myself through school focused on international studies and took a job with the BDO Consulting team. I remember telling the HR professional I was hoping for a long time position - never did I image when I spoke those words, I would be at BDO almost 22 years later, working on a globally aligned team and having fulfilled my professional dreams of working across borders.
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Sucheta Atre
Risk Advisory Services Partner, San Francisco
Atre delivers solutions focused on middle market and pre- and post-initial public offering companies. Her areas of focus include internal control assessments, including root cause analysis, Sarbanes-Oxley readiness and compliance, IPO and special purchase acquisition company readiness, enterprise risk assessments, and internal audit outsourcing and co-sourcing.
Why did you choose a career in professional services? I enjoy the people aspect of public accounting. I also truly appreciate that every day is a new day with new experiences. Experiencing a variety of different client environments, working with different executive leadership teams (CFOs, Audit Committees), and having access to so many talented resources internally. It can be challenging, but also extremely interesting and rewarding!
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Nick Auriemma
Business Services and Outsourcing Partner, Philadelphia
Auriemma manages engagements for governmental, nonprofit and for-profit audits, encompassing financial reporting, internal control over financial reporting, compliance with federal awards and internal control over compliance with federal awards.
Why did you choose a career in professional services? There is always room for growth and advancement.
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Melissa Bartenbach
Assurance Partner, Seattle
Bartenbach focuses on real estate and asset management. She focuses on a variety of private fund structures, registered investment advisors, institutional capital and private investment entities, and her favorite practice area is private equity real estate. Bartenbach provides other assurance services for large family offices and other entities with significant holdings in alternative investments.
Fun fact: During quarantine I hired a professional fighter to teach me Muay Thai. It has been a wonderful stress reliever and probably the hardest new hobby I have ever attempted to learn.
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Rene Blanco
Assurance Partner, Orlando
Blanco works on complex audit and accounting matters for mature and startup companies and has significant experience on both private and public company audits. As a subject matter expert in the firm’s Audit Data Analytics program, he helps the firm transform its audits through data analytics and substantive analytical procedures.
Fun fact: My wife Megan and I welcomed our daughter Rylan during the pandemic which has been a very strange time to raise our first child. I love all things UCF Knights and golf, and beyond all reason I can somehow still run a half marathon in under two hours.
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Courtney Brokaw
National Resource Solutions Practice Partner, Houston
Brokaw oversees the firm’s National Resource Solutions Practice. In her role, she guides the interim solutions and consulting services for companies of all sizes in a variety of industries, including financial services, oil and gas, retail, real estate, private equity, and manufacturing and distribution.
Why did you choose a career in professional services? Directly out of college, I took a job in industry but soon realized my calling was in public accounting. I have been in this industry for more than a decade and cannot imagine anything different. I love working directly with unique clients in an array of industries. I am grateful to have found something that fits me so perfectly.
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John Bysiewicz
Assurance Partner, Boston
Bysiewicz provides audit and consulting services for private business owners, startup/emerging growth companies and established private middle market clients in the construction, real estate and technology industries, along with performing employee benefit plan audits for his clients.
Fun fact: Having our first child during the pandemic has been a real blessing as the work-from-home environment meant I’ve been able to see and participate more as a dad over the past 13 months than I would have ever been able to in normal times.
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Ashwin Chandran
National Partner – Assurance Professional Practice, Dallas
Chandran helps engagement teams navigate and address complex auditing and financial reporting matters. He leads activities relating to the development of the firm’s audit methodology, policies, guidance and tools; implementation of new assurance standards; and transformation of BDO’s audit approach.
Fun fact: I am a gearhead and love all things relating to cars. I have raced a Porsche 911 Turbo S on the Nürburgring racetrack in Germany.
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David Chavez
Assurance Partner, Dallas
Chavez is a member of the Assurance Inspections group with responsibilities as a regional team captain for non-issuer engagements. Until recently he was also a member of the firm’s Assurance Professional Practice and Audit practice, focusing on methodology for engagements performed in accordance with U.S. generally accepted auditing standards.
Fun fact: Most of the conversational English I initially learned came from watching ’90s sitcoms on NBC and CBS while growing up in Mexico.
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Jonathan Colognesi
Assurance Partner, Boston
With a focus on technology and life sciences, Colognesi helps lead the Boston Technology industry group. His experience includes advising companies on revenue recognition, business combinations, internal controls, complex debt and equity arrangements, as well as public and private financing transactions and related SEC reporting requirements.
Why did you choose a career in professional services? A career in public accounting is ever evolving and requires you to maintain many different skillsets to be successful. On any given day you will be in accounting or business development or human resources or even IT. No day is ever the same as the previous.
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Tim Crawford
Third Party Attestation Partner, St. Louis
Crawford primarily focuses on public key infrastructure services, encryption and digital certificates, and other technology services. He is BDO’s WebTrust practice leader, and also oversees System Organization Controls engagements. Crawford coordinates consulting services to design, implement and optimize internal control strategies and other compliance efforts.
Fun fact: I love baseball and, despite the fact I was born and raised in St. Louis, I am an avid Atlanta Braves fan. I enjoy passing the game down to my sons as I begin to coach them.
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Connie Cunningham
Tax Partner, Accounting Methods Technical Practice Co-Leader, Los Angeles
As the co-leader of the National Tax Office Accounting Methods practice, Cunningham leads BDO’s Foreign-Derived Intangible Income Deduction practice and assists clients with preparing and reviewing calculations and related technical memoranda. She advises clients on tax planning and compliance matters involving accounting methods and periods, and assists taxpayers with controversies pending before the IRS.
Why did you choose a career in professional services? There is never a dull moment, given how quickly things evolve in this profession! I love the abundance of diverse experiences, challenges and opportunities for collaboration, both with clients and within the firm, that public accounting provides on a regular basis.
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Jesse Daves
Forensics Partner, Houston
Daves provides forensic accounting and investigative services to clients across a range of industries, including energy, retail, real estate and manufacturing. He conducts fraud-related investigations involving numerous issues, including alleged violations of the Foreign Corrupt Practices Act, embezzlement, kickbacks, Ponzi schemes, conflicts of interest and a variety of employment matters.
Fun fact: I lived and worked in Switzerland for two years where I enjoyed the amazing culture and traveled throughout Europe. I learned very quickly that most locals know three or four languages and would much prefer to speak to me in English than listen to my awkward attempts at the local language.
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Lauren DeBarr
Assurance Partner, San Francisco
DeBarr focuses on the life sciences and technology sectors and has a deep understanding of industry-related technical issues, including internal use software, share-based compensation and complex debt/equity arrangements. She has been involved with her clients’ transition through the various phases of growth including initial public offerings and first-year compliance under Sarbanes-Oxley 404.
Why did you choose a career in professional services? I EXCEL'd in my accounting classes!
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Carla DeMartini
Assurance Partner, Stamford
DeMartini provides technical knowledge to nonprofit and healthcare organizations, as part of the Professional Practice. She also authors articles on recent accounting and auditing pronouncements; prepares and reviews financial statements in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles and other regulatory requirements; and reviews systems for compliance with various governmental agencies.
Fun fact: My father was a BDO partner for my entire childhood and I am excited to follow in his footsteps.
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Clint Dobson
Tax Partner, Spokane
Dobson has extensive federal, state and international corporate tax experience, encompassing tax reporting/ASC 740, tax compliance, tax planning and tax operations. He works with companies of all sizes and assists clients in a range of industries, including mining, technology, manufacturing, software, retail and private equity.
Fun fact: A retired tax partner was the third wheel on my wife and I’s first date.
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Shannon Donovan
Public Sector Partner, Greater Washington D.C.
Donovan is the leader of BDO Public Sector’s Intelligence Services vertical, responsible for developing and delivering innovative solutions to the intelligence community and leading the development of professionals within his practice. His experience includes leading high-profile complex projects in audit readiness and remediation, and financial reporting and compliance.
Fun fact: I never stopped listening to vinyl records even before the vinyl resurgence.
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Jon Eilertsen
Accounting & Advisory Reporting Services Partner, Dallas
As a member of the firm’s Accounting & Reporting Advisory Services group, Eilertsen focuses on complex accounting and financial reporting matters, capital markets access, transaction structuring and execution, accounting standards implementation and operational effectiveness, under U.S. generally accepted accounting principles and other bases of accounting.
Why did you choose a career in professional services? I enjoy helping to solve complex problems, and, as accounting is the language of business, that was the best way to truly understand the issues, what impact they have to the business and how to solve them.
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Chris Farthing
Assurance Partner, Las Vegas
Farthing has extensive experience with a range of domestic and international companies in the consumer products, gaming and hospitality, telecommunications, and manufacturing industries, as well as government and nonprofit organizations. His clients range from Fortune 500 companies to small, closely held family businesses and nonprofits.
Fun fact: Between personal and business travel, I have visited 30 U.S. states, 20-plus countries and five continents.
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Robert Franco
Tax Partner, Ft. Lauderdale
Franco assists private and public companies as well as individuals with all aspects of tax planning, tax provisions and compliance. He is involved with the design and implementation of various global structuring and repatriation strategies to assist clients in the deployment of their people and resources in an efficient manner.
Fun fact: I started with the firm the day offices closed for the pandemic and the first time I met my co-workers in person was 14 months later.
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Anthony Gamez
Tax Partner, Houston
Gamez consults with high-net-worth individuals, investors and privately held companies on federal, state and international tax matters. He has a wealth of knowledge in the energy and real estate industries, serving exploration and production companies, oilfield services companies and real estate developers. Gamez also consults with family offices on various matters
Fun fact: I love to BBQ — especially brisket, turkey and pork butt; I own three different grills/smokers, including a small grill that hooks up to my truck hitch, which makes for great Texas A&M tailgating.
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Shaun Green
Tax Performance Engineering Partner, Detroit
Green leads Tax Performance Engineering’s Data and Power Solutions team. He provides clients with tax automation, process and analytical solutions to streamline tax department operations. Green also advises clients on how to optimize their source tax data and reporting during enterprise resource planning or other system implementations to mitigate risk and improve data quality.
Fun fact: I enjoy spending time with my family, golfing and scuba diving. I discovered a shipwreck from the 1800s while scuba diving in Lake Huron.
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Cameron Greener
Tax Partner, Salt Lake City
A member of the firm’s Asset Management practice, Greener serves hedge, private equity and venture capital funds/fund of funds. His tax focus areas include complex securities transactions, corporate and partnership structuring, tax efficiency planning, complex multi-tier funds, complex allocation methods, foreign investment transactions, and Chapter 3 and 4 withholding issues.
Fun fact: I have a private pilot certificate.
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Joel Gross
International Tax Services Partner, Boston
Gross leads the Boston office’s International Tax Services practice. He has significant consulting experience in the manufacturing, high-tech, life sciences, pharmaceutical and financial services industries from early-stage startups to Fortune 100 companies.
Fun fact: I grew up in Connecticut and was a rabid New York Yankees and New York Giants fan. Then I married a woman from Western Massachusetts and went over to the dark side — Boston Red Sox and New England Patriots. I still have family members who won't talk to me during each season.
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Blake Head
Global Employer Services Partner, Atlanta
Head leads the firm’s People and Organizational Strategy practice, which is comprised of Global Employer Services' Compensation Consulting, Workforce in Transactions and Employee Stock Ownership Plan (ESOP) Advisory practices. He also leads the firm’s ESOP Advisory Services practice and works with BDO Capital Advisors. Head’s experience includes valuation analyses for leveraged and unleveraged ESOPs.
Fun fact: My one and only hole-in-one happened when I was 15 years old. It was a 317-yard par 4, and I had seven witnesses — three friends who were playing with me and four players on the green in front of me.
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Jody Hillenbrand
Assurance Partner, San Antonio
Hillenbrand serves clients in a variety of industries, including manufacturing, distribution, construction, energy and employee benefit plans (EBP). She is the technical partner of BDO’s National EBP team, serves as BDO Southwest Regional EBP practice leader and co-leads the EBP internal inspection process.
Why did you choose a career in professional services? When I took my first accounting class, I fell in love with the debits and credits. When I took auditing, it was like the perfect blend of logic, math, and critical thinking. I love working on teams where we use technical knowledge to better serve our clients.
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Sean Honda
Tax Partner, Greater Washington D.C.
Honda’s primary focus is partnership taxation where he advises middle market businesses on various partnership tax matters. He works on a variety of tax compliance projects, as well as complex consulting projects in the partnership taxation area, including operating agreement analysis, capital account maintenance and tax implications to partnerships as a result of new tax legislation.
Fun fact: I enjoy road cycling and am fortunate to live in an area where I can bike to work.
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Stan Huang
Transaction Advisory Services Partner, Orange County
A partner in the Transaction Advisory Services practice, Huang advises both financial and strategic buyers on buy-side and sell-side due diligence engagements. His deal experience includes working on domestic and international carve-out transactions for private equity investors and strategic acquirers/sellers. Huang has worked on deals ranging in value from $15 million to over $1 billion.
Fun fact: I met my wife on a mission trip in Africa. We have been married over 10 years and have two daughters together.
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Michaela Kay
Assurance Partner, Seattle
Kay leads the Seattle Government and Nonprofit practices. As one of BDO's audit quality directors, she is involved in staff training and other quality control measures. Committed to building robust relationships with her clients and getting to know their business on an intimate level, Kay proactively identifies business challenges and works with her clients to find a solution.
Why did you choose a career in professional services? My freshman year of high school, we took several different personality and skills tests to help us choose a career path. Every single test said I should be an accountant. I never came up with a better idea, so I went with it. The tests were right. I love my job.
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John Krupar
Partner, Operational Value Creation Practice Leader, Phoenix
Krupar leads BDO’s Operational Value Creation practice. With extensive military, industry and consulting experience, he focuses on assisting U.S. manufacturing and service companies with reaching their potential. His work includes strategy, organizational redesign, value creation, operational enhancements, global sourcing, sales and marketing effectiveness, LEAN operations and LEAN Six Sigma deployment.
Fun fact: I spent a Christmas Eve test driving locomotives at General Electric in Erie, Pennsylvania — it was even better than I imagined when I was 5 years old.
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Jenna Kruschel
Assurance Partner, Milwaukee
Kruschel provides high-quality services and technical knowledge to public and private clients primarily in the manufacturing and distribution industry, including assisting with complex financial transactions such as business combinations, impairment and adoption of new accounting standards. She is also one of the firm’s audit quality directors and a regional leader in the firm’s Women’s Inclusion program.
Fun fact: I live on an apple orchard. This time of year, my family and I are busy picking apples and making all things apple related!
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Rich Lamorena
Principal and Data Analytics National Co-Leader, Oak Brook
Lamorena is co-leader of BDO Digital’s Data Analytics practice, leading a team with decades of experience in analytics implementation, including data architecture, data engineering, predictive analytics and data exploration/visualization. Under his leadership, the practice has delivered impactful solutions across industries.
Why did you choose a career in professional services? I chose a career in technology consulting and advisory because I have always been passionate about innovating and driving change.
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David Libbares
Assurance Partner, Greater Washington D.C.
Libbares performs audits and provides business advisory services to companies of diverse sizes and across an array of industries. He concentrates on audits of emerging and middle market government contracting firms as well as employee benefit plans, and has hands-on experience in providing audits and reviews for technology and real estate clients. Libbares is a member of the firm’s Government Contracting practice.
Why did you choose a career in professional services? The chance to meet new people and contacts, both internally and externally, on each engagement was exciting to me. Over the years, I have met hundreds of individuals, with varying viewpoints, professional experience, interests and life experiences. Not only does this have value from a career perspective, but it is personally enriching as well.
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David Little
International Tax Services Partner, Atlanta
Little has significant experience serving technology and software companies, manufacturing companies and related industries. He has performed tax and advisory services in the areas of outbound and inbound U.S. international tax, cross-border mergers and acquisitions (M&A), and foreign M&A.
Fun fact: I have a twin brother.
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Paul Lukasik
State and Local Tax Partner, Detroit
Lukasik, who is the firm’s central region leader for state and local taxes, addresses complex state income and sales and use tax issues, and has a strong background in the manufacturing and automotive sectors. His experience includes tax planning for multi-state businesses, managing audits and appeals, refund recoveries, credits and incentives property tax, and unclaimed property.
Why did you choose a career in professional services? Public accounting provides variety and the opportunity to work on so many different projects with different people. No two days are the same.
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Dustin McCoy
Tax Partner, Greenville
McCoy has a range of tax compliance and tax accrual experience across various industries including private equity, manufacturing and distribution, food, and closely held businesses. He has significant experience in helping tax departments improve their tax function while positioning themselves for the next phase of the business life cycle
Fun fact: With two daughters, “Let It Go” has become the soundtrack of my dreams.
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Ryan McLaughlin
Assurance Partner, Long Island
McLaughlin serves both private and publicly held companies in a variety of industries, including retail and consumer products, manufacturing and distribution, software and technology, pharmaceutical and professional services. He participates in all client service phases, including Sarbanes-Oxley compliance requirements work, business advisory consulting and agreed-upon procedures engagements.
Why did you choose a career in professional services? I took an accounting class in high school for college credit and enjoyed the concepts. I chose it as my major when I entered college and never looked back!
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Esayas Messele
Tax Partner, New York
Messele focuses on tax consulting, financial statement reporting and corporate tax compliance. He serves companies in the entertainment software, business-to-business and business-to-consumer technology, professional services, medical equipment, consumer products, and manufacturing industries.
Fun fact: I was the Oakland, California high school track and field champion in the 3,200 meter race, which qualified me for the state championship. Don't ask me what happened when I got to the state competition — it's still too soon to talk about it.
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Johnny Montoya
Transaction Advisory Services Partner, New York
Montoya leads the firm’s Northeast Transaction Advisory Services Tax team and consults with corporate and private equity clients on all aspects of tax due diligence, structuring and post-deal tax planning in the areas of taxable and non-taxable business combinations for publicly traded and privately held businesses. He is fluent in Spanish and regularly supports the execution of transactions in Latin America, as well as other geographies.
Fun fact: I was born and raised in Southern California and grew up riding motorcycles, camping, surfing, snowboarding and skateboarding.
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Laura Morris
Business Incentives & Tax Credits Partner, San Francisco
Morris leads the firm’s Bay Area Business Incentives & Tax Credits practice and is also the market leader for other West region offices specific to her practice area. She focuses exclusively on research and development tax services and related incentives, working with Fortune 500 companies to startups in a range of industries.
Fun fact: While I was on maternity leave, I wrote a children's book inspired by one of my best friends in life, who just happened to be my “cube-mate” during my second year at BDO.
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Samuel Najewicz
Assurance Partner, San Diego
Najewicz manages financial statement audits and internal control financial reporting and reviews. He has experience with clients in varying stages of development, from early-stage startups and pre-IPO to well-established public companies. Najewicz serves a variety of industries, including specialty finance, life sciences and pharmaceutical, technology and consumer products.
Fun fact: My wife and I love to travel and have been to 16 countries, including a three-month work exchange to Sydney and getting engaged at the Eiffel Tower in Paris.
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Chris Nelms
Transaction Advisory Services Partner, Atlanta
Nelms serves as the Southeast Transaction Advisory Services Financial Due Diligence practice leader. He primarily serves private equity and corporate clients with acquisitions and divestitures in the center of the middle market. Nelms’ covers a range of industries including transportation, logistics, manufacturing, business services, and consumer goods and services across the U.S. and Europe.
Fun fact: I have had the opportunity to travel the world both while growing up and throughout my career. I have lived in five countries, worked on deals in 15 countries and personally traveled with my wife to so many wonderful places that I have successfully lost count (it’s well over 100).
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Matthew Pascual
Expatriate Tax Services Partner, Stamford
Pascual is the national market leader for the Expatriate Tax Services practice. His experience is in global mobility, expatriate tax compliance, policy review, business development and client relationship management. Pascual’s client service experience involves tax consulting for growth businesses and companies in industries such as financial services, oil and gas, retail, distribution, and energy.
Fun fact: I learned my customer service skills working with my dad in our family’s small retail store. It taught me the value of listening to the customer, anticipating their needs and how to exceed their expectations often. Those skills are transferable to my role today and have had a significant impact on my career success.
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Tom Ramos
Valuation and Capital Market Analysis Principal, Denver
Ramos performs business valuations for financial reporting, tax and management planning purposes. His experience includes fairness opinions, purchase price allocations, impairment tests, international tax restructuring valuations, and common and preferred stock valuations. He is a U.S. representative in BDO’s Global Natural Resources industry group, as well as BDO’s International Corporate Finance group.
Fun fact: I like to travel. My wife and I had our first child when living abroad in Amsterdam and by my daughter's first birthday, she had traveled to nine countries — some of them multiple times.
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Jon Roberts
Assurance Partner, Chicago
Roberts is a member of the Chicago office’s SEC Assurance practice. He has an expansive international background having also worked in the U.K. and Australia, and is certified in both U.S. generally accepted accounting principles and International Financial Reporting Standards. He serves large multinational clients within the manufacturing and distribution and technology industries.
Fun fact: Being born and raised in the U.K., “soccer” is a way of life. So much so that I traveled to the U.K. just to see my beloved Tottenham Hotspur play in its new stadium before my brother went to see the Chicago Bears play there in the NFL international series.
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Jonathan Roberts
Transaction Advisory Services Partner, New York
Roberts is a member of the Transaction Advisory Services practice and Financial Services sector leader. He has advised private equity firms and corporations on a range of strategic transactions, including distressed, early-stage and growth mergers and acquisitions, carve-outs, capital raises, turnarounds and disposals.
Why did you choose a career in professional services? Public accounting has provided me the opportunity to work with a wide range of clients in different sectors, at different stages of growth and across different geographies. Those experiences challenge you to continually learn and develop new skills every day and is why public accounting can be such a rewarding career.
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Jeremy Robin
Forensic and Litigation Partner, Houston
Robin provides litigation consulting services and works extensively on complex family law engagements throughout Texas, having managed hundreds of such matters, including those involving professional athletes, corporate executives and other high-net-worth individuals. He also has significant experience in labor and employment disputes, having calculated and rebutted claims for economic damages.
Fun fact: I am head coach of my 11-year-old son’s flag football team.
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Richard Rossell
Assurance Partner, New York
Rossell is a member of BDO’s Asset Management practice. He advises clients in formation stage to multi-billion-dollar fund complexes on a variety of audit-related issues, including valuation and disclosure requirements. Rossell has experience in the financial services industry and manages a range of clients including hedge funds, private equity funds, registered funds, broker dealers and investment advisors.
Fun fact: My first job was a pizza delivery boy, and my navigation system was a telephone book street map before GPS and iPhones came about.
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Aaron Schmidt
Assurance Partner, Dallas
Schmidt provides accounting and auditing services to public and private companies, as well as coordinates the preparation of financial statements and compliance reports in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles, SEC and Public Company Accounting Oversight Board guidelines. He is a member of the Sampling Subject Matter team and the North Texas Real Estate industry group.
Why did you choose a career in professional services? The job is challenging and ever evolving. No two days are ever the same.
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Chris Schnittker
Management Advisory Services Partner, Greater Philadelphia
Schnittker has experience as a chief financial officer in financial management, reporting, mergers and acquisition transactions, corporate governance and financial systems. As a consultant, he has managed multiple finance transformations, system implementations and senior interim finance roles.
Why did you choose a career in professional services? I started my early career in public accounting for the autonomy, variety of experiences and exposure to multiple industries. With a variety of companies, positions and challenges over the past 25 years thereafter, it seems fitting to circle back to public accounting later in my career with proven experience, a broader knowledge base, and unique skillsets to serve our clients better.
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Tim Seigler
Third Party Attestation Partner, Atlanta
Serving as the Southeast regional practice leader and the National Healthcare/HITRUST industry leader for the Third Party Attestation practice, Seigler works with an array of clients in the healthcare, technology and financial services industries to assist with their third party and technology attestation reporting needs.
Fun fact: I have four amazing kids and married my high school sweetheart.
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Malav Sheth
Assurance Partner, Greater Washington D.C.
Sheth has significant knowledge in audits of government entities, international nonprofit entities, trade and member associations, private schools, and charitable and federally funded organizations. He has extensive experience assisting state and local government and nonprofit organizations with a variety of critical issues related to internal controls and various compliance requirements.
Fun fact: My first public accounting internship in India was to travel to a small town to audit an insurance company where I had to match tagged ears of dead cattle to the insurance claims. This did not make me quit public accounting.
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Channing Smith
Assurance Partner, Spokane
Smith’s experience includes financial statement audits for both SEC clients and private companies, completing audits that are required to be compliant with Sarbanes-Oxley Section 404, and working with private equity-backed companies and companies transitioning to public entities. She serves clients in the manufacturing and distribution, retail, hospitality, real estate, mining and financial institutions industries.
Fun fact: I spent four months on secondment in Brisbane, Australia during my final year as a senior associate.
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Janet Smith
Risk Advisory Services Partner, Houston
Smith is involved in all aspects of internal audit, contract compliance programs, corporate governance and Sarbanes-Oxley compliance. As a results-driven leader, she helps clients address their business challenges, while always striving to align the right teams with firm clients to ensure overall client satisfaction.
Fun fact: I’ve recently become an empty nester and after 23 years of raising kids, it’s been an interesting adjustment! I love the outdoors — hiking, biking, camping, swimming or just sitting in the sun with a good book.
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Mark Snover
Assurance Partner, San Francisco
Snover is a member of the firm’s Technology industry group and works with businesses ranging from startups to multinational public companies. Snover has experience assisting clients with complex matters, including software revenue recognition, business combinations, ASC 606 adoption and complex financial instruments.
Why did you choose a career in professional services? Each day I get to solve challenging and interesting problems in a dynamic environment with the help of great people.
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Jonathan Spiegel
Tax Performance Engineering Partner, New York
Spiegel provides clients across a multitude of industries with advisory services in tax process, data management and technology. He also leads the firm’s efforts developing standard processes, workpapers and solutions for the delivery of co-sourced and outsourced tax engagements.
Fun fact: I played and coached rugby in college. Thanks to my children, I know all the words to the soundtrack for the Disney movie “Frozen.”
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Patrick Stanton
Assurance Partner, Raleigh
Stanton’s experience is in the higher education, nonprofit, manufacturing, technology and life sciences industries. He manages and performs assurance services for both private and public companies, including companies ranging from pre-revenue to multibillion-dollar companies. Stanton also works on SEC audits, including Sarbanes-Oxley 404 engagements and single audits.
Fun fact: I currently work with my seventh-grade math teacher who is now a partner at BDO.
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Nathan Stuettgen
Tax Partner, Phoenix
Stuettgen’s experience covers a range of tax services to U.S. companies in full-scale consulting and tax provision assistance. He serves a diverse group of companies in the technology, life sciences, retail and manufacturing industries. Stuettgen has also coordinated cross-border services for companies with operations in Asia, Europe and North America.
Fun fact: I’m having a muscle car restored that my dad bought new in 1970.
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Brendan Sullivan
Tax Partner, Detroit
Sullivan advises a variety of publicly and privately owned companies on the tax impacts of various transactions including mergers, spinoffs, acquisitions and partnership structuring. He has experience in many aspects of federal and state taxation, including income tax compliance, FIN 48 implementation and review, merger and acquisition planning, partnership allocation structures, multi-state tax planning and international tax planning.
Why did you choose a career in professional services? I was always interested in numbers and puzzles and becoming a tax advisor allowed me to work on puzzles professionally!
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Joanne Szupka
Assurance Partner, Philadelphia
As a member of the firm’s Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974 (ERISA) Service practice, Szupka is the lead ERISA Assurance partner in BDO’s Atlantic region. She provides auditing and other services for employee benefit plans for publicly traded and privately held companies. Szupka is actively involved in the firm’s ERISA Center of Excellence and is a co-host of the “BDO Talks ERISA” monthly podcast.
Fun fact: I run the Hot Chocolate 15K every year just for the chocolate bowl at the end of the race. Never underestimate the power of chocolate!
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Lydia Vercelli
Tax Partner, New York
Vercelli works with high-net-worth families and individuals and has experience with tax and financial matters affecting entrepreneurs, executives and wealthy individuals. Her primary practice areas are federal and state tax consulting and compliance for individuals, partnerships, fiduciaries, estates and charitable organizations, as well as family wealth transfer and succession planning.
Fun fact: One winter I saw the Northern Lights on my birthday in Iceland!
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Mike Whiting
Accounting & Reporting Advisory Partner, Detroit
Whiting is a leader in the Central region’s Accounting & Reporting Advisory Services practice. He has extensive experience in assisting companies with various complex accounting issues, including new accounting standards implementation, public and private company reporting matters, initial public offering/public company readiness and various other technical accounting matters.
Fun fact: I love being on the lake wakeboarding and wakesurfing.
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Justin Wilkes
Assurance Partner, Atlanta
Wilkes provides accounting and assurance services to clients across a variety of industries, including manufacturing, transportation, technology, distribution and healthcare. He has served
SEC registrants, private equity-owned and closely held companies.
Fun fact: My wife and I have three kids under age 11, and I coach all of them in baseball or softball. I am sometimes busier on the weekend than during the week!
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Kristin Winford
Advisory Partner, Strategic Planning & Operational Excellence, Austin
Winford is responsible for the planning and implementation of business and operating strategies that drive sustainable and profitable growth for various Advisory practices. She facilitates performance improvement in financial, management and technology-related areas, having extensive experience with global technology and professional services firms.
Why did you choose a career in professional services? I have spent my career in professional services, and love the alchemy between our clients, our professionals, and the organization. Creating a best in class client and people experience is a constant work in progress, and a challenge I embrace.
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Stephanie Wolf
Assurance Partner, Grand Rapids
Wolf conducts audits on publicly and privately held companies, focusing primarily on manufacturing companies, insurance brokerages and audits of employee benefit plans. She excels in technical accounting and is passionate about coaching and mentoring.
Why did you choose a career in professional services? I enjoyed the challenge of my accounting classes in college and was actually on the fence about if I wanted to go into private or industry. I did a couple of internships (one private and one public) and was immediately drawn to the culture of public accounting and client service.
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Pei-Li Wong
Forensic and Litigation Partner, New York
Wong leads the firm’s Asia Forensic Desk and is a member of BDO’s Global Forensics leadership team. She has substantial international experience conducting forensic investigations, due diligence, risk assessments, compliance reviews and monitorships. Wong’s experience includes internal investigations involving allegations of employee and corporate misconduct, such as export controls, corruption and fraud allegations.
Why did you choose a career in professional services? I chose a career in forensic accounting because it is a profession that can have the most significant impact on organizations and individuals. I love problem-solving and learning about different industries and organizations. Most importantly, being a forensic accountant/investigator aligns with the values and character that I strive to exemplify.
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Katie Wynn
Assurance Partner, San Diego
Wynn serves a variety of clients ranging in size from entrepreneurial businesses to multinational corporations, both publicly traded and privately held. Her industry focus is on life sciences, alternative investments and financial services. She has considerable experience with SEC engagements, including reviewing SEC filings, Sarbanes-Oxley Section 404 compliance and comfort letters.
Why did you choose a career in professional services? I wanted a dynamic career where I would continue to grow and never be bored.
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