Professionals on the Move – August 2021

A Fort Lauderdale native and a lifelong Floridian, she first joined the FICPA in 2005, having earned both her bachelor’s degree in accounting and MBA from her beloved alma mater, the University of Central Florida. She has since served on the Central Florida Chapter, various state committees, the Florida CPA/PAC, the AICPA Governing Council, the FICPA Council and the Board of Directors.

Bivona, alongside FICPA President & CEO Shelly Weir, will help oversee the Institute’s move to a new Orlando-based headquarters.

FICPA Recognizes 2021-2022 Board of Directors

The FICPA would like to recognize its 2021-2022 Board of Directors. They are:

Hector Aguililla, Valrie Chambers, Lydia Desnoyers, Julian Dozier, Jennifer Gunter, Kathryn Horton, Alan Jowers, Key O’Keefe and Brion Sharpe – and its 2021-22 FICPA Council members – Kathleen Brothers, Randy Coleman, Eduardo Duarte, Abby Dupree, Michael Dupree, Delia Finnerty, Andrew Gay, Anne Marie Hicks, Mike Jerman, Bill Kaser, Karen Lake, Robert Maya, Kristian Nenov, Chris Oatis, W.G. Spoor, Chris Stemley, Cheri Swain, and Leslie Welsh. Shelly Weir serves as the FICPA Council’s Secretary-Treasurer, a non-voting member of Council.

Tim Glowa and John Gilkes Join Grant Thornton

Tim Glowa recently joined Grant Thornton LLP as a principal and leader of the firm’s employee listening and human capital services offerings. In this role, Glowa will expand Grant Thornton’s human capital offerings by helping clients define their total rewards packages to make better business decisions about their most critical asset — their people.

A published author and recognized thought leader in preference measurement and total rewards strategy development, Glowa specializes in customer and employee research, quantitative and qualitative market research, human capital analytics, marketing science, conjoint, database mining, customer segmentation, concept testing, big data, marketing analytics and total rewards optimization.

Experienced financial investigations leader John Gilkes recently joined Grant Thornton LLP as a Forensic Advisory Services principal. Based at the firm’s MetroDC office in Arlington, Virginia. Gilkes will tap into his more than 30 years of experience to enhance Grant Thornton’s forensic services offerings for both commercial and public sector clients.

Throughout his decades-long career, Gilkes has led corporate and regulatory investigations and international asset tracing and recovery engagements. He has also managed and conducted a wide array of complex, multi-jurisdictional investigations involving wire transfer fraud, bribery and extortion.

Nathan Wechsler & Company Announces New Associate

The regional accounting firm of Nathan Wechsler & Company, PA recently announced the addition of Charles F. Carter as an associate. Carter performs work on a variety of clients, including accounting, auditing, compliance, financial statement preparation, tax return preparation, and special projects.

A recent graduate of the University of New Hampshire, Carter holds a Bachelor of Science in Business Administration with a focus on Accounting and Information Systems and a minor in Economics. He was recognized at the Undergraduate Research Conference at the University of New Hampshire for his work as a member of an ethics consulting group.

Nathan Wechsler & Company Associate Voted Assistant Treasurer of Red River Theatres Board

The regional accounting firm of Nathan Wechsler & Company, PA is recently announced that Cassidy Huckins has been voted assistant treasurer of the Red River Theatres Board of Trustees. Huckins joined the board in May 2021 and is also a member of the Finance Committee.

A member of the Nathan Wechsler & Company team since 2019, Huckins currently serves as an associate, performing a variety of work for clients, including accounting, auditing, compliance, financial statement preparation, and special projects. Huckins is a graduate of Southern New Hampshire University. She holds a Bachelor of Science in Accounting, with a minor in criminal justice.

Botkeeper Promotes Jessica King to Chief Marketing Officer

Botkeeper, the leading ML-powered bookkeeping solution for accounting firms, recently announced the promotion of Jessica King to Chief Marketing Officer (CMO). 

As CMO, Jessica will be responsible for overseeing the strategy, planning and development of Botkeepers Strategic Partnerships, Business Development, and Marketing initiatives including: advertising, branding, communications, content, creative services, digital strategies, events, press relations, social media and web.

Since joining in early 2018, Ms. King has developed Botkeeper’s marketing program from a one-person department, into the now powerhouse engine behind Botkeeper’s rapid growth, and the 2nd largest department in the organization. She has also overseen and guided the marketing motion as they developed traction with a SMB offering; navigated the marketing strategy through both their Series A and Series B rounds, and has been instrumental in educating and evolving Botkeeper’s audience.

Pennsylvania CPA Association Appoints First Female CEO in 125-Year History

The Pennsylvania Institute of Certified Public Accountants (PICPA) Board of Directors has unanimously selected Jennifer L. Cryder as its CEO and executive director. The selection marks the first time in PICPA’s 125-year history that a woman is at the helm of the statewide accounting association. Cryder is only the sixth executive to serve in the role since the PICPA was founded in 1897.

Cryder joined the PICPA in 2015 as vice president of operations and chief financial officer, and was promoted to executive vice president and chief operating officer in 2018. In her time at the PICPA, Cryder has overseen all operational and financial aspects of the business, growing net assets, diversifying revenue sources, and leading its digital transformation. Prior to joining the PICPA, she was senior manager in EisnerAmper LLP’s not-for-profit practice. Her client portfolio included social service and fine arts organizations, private educational institutions, associations and foundations, and biotechnology and life sciences companies.

Cryder earned a bachelor’s degree in accounting from Temple University and a master’s degree from Drexel University. She is a longtime member of the PICPA, American Institute of Certified Public Accountants (AICPA), and New Jersey Society of Certified Public Accountants. Cryder is also a member of the Temple University Executive Committee of the Accounting Circle, and was awarded the 2020 Accounting Achievement in Nonprofit/Government by the Temple University Department of Accounting