Professionals on the Move - October 2021

Professionals on the Move is a round-up of recent hiring and promotion announcements in the profession.

Bennett Thrasher Expands Transaction Advisory Services Practice into Texas

Bennett Thrasher, one of the nation’s largest and fastest-growing full-service public accounting and consulting firms, has named Dane Harris as its new regional Transaction Advisory Services Market Leader in Texas. Dane will be based in the Dallas/Fort Worth metro area and looks to expand the firm’s transaction advisory services (TAS) practice in Texas and surrounding geographies.

With a background in middle-market banking and transaction advisory services at both Big 4 and middle-market public accounting firms, Dane brings extensive deal experience to Bennett Thrasher.

“The innovation and industrial market growth throughout Dallas-Ft. Worth is astounding,” said Jeff Eischeid, Managing Partner, Bennett Thrasher. “Bennett Thrasher was recently recognized as one of the nation’s largest and fastest-growing accounting firms. The Texas market is strong, and this market is a natural next step for us to continue our organic expansion.”

AbacusNext Names Jonathan Blackburn as Chief Revenue Officer

AbacusNext, a leading software provider for legal and accounting professionals, today announced that Jonathan Blackburn has joined the company’s executive team as chief revenue officer.

Prior to joining AbacusNext, Blackburn served as the chief revenue officer for Therapy Brands, a mental and behavioral health software and integrated payments company. He previously served as chief revenue officer and general manager of Daxko, a leader in software and integrated payments for the health and wellness industry. Before Daxko, Jonathan was vice president of sales for major accounts at ADP, a global provider of cloud-based human capital management.

Blackburn will be responsible for leading AbacusNext’s commercial strategy across its industry-leading portfolio of practice management, document automation and digital payments solutions.

Brady Martz Announces New Shareholders

The regional accounting firm of Brady Martz is excited to share that the firm has recently welcomed Megan Awalt, CPA, Ashley Engel, CPA, Jordan Rodgers, CPA, ABV, Adam Schatz, CPA, and Anthony Weisser, CPA to the shareholder group.

Awalt joined the Brady Martz team in 2011 as an intern—she has spent the entirety of her professional accounting career with the firm. She splits her time between the firm’s Tax Department—performing tax planning and providing consulting for small businesses—and the Audit Department—performing engagements for employee benefit plans and financial institutions. A 2011 graduate of Minot State University, Awalt holds a Bachelor of Science in Accounting.

A member of the Brady Martz team since 2008, Engel has spent the entirety of her professional accounting career with the firm. She specializes in performing audits of nonprofit organizations. Engel graduated from the University of North Dakota in 2008, earning a Bachelor of Accountancy. She is currently affiliated with the AICPA, the NDCPAS, and the University of North Dakota Alumni Association.

Rodgers joined Brady Martz in 2011, establishing his professional accounting career with the firm. He performs a variety of services, including business valuation and consulting, assisting with ownership transfers, merger and acquisition transactions. Rogers studied at North Dakota State University, graduating with a Bachelor of Science in 2010 and a Master of Accountancy in 2011. He is currently affiliated with the AICPA, the NDCPAS, the AICPA Forensic & Valuation Services Center, and Beta Gamma Sigma.

In 2006, Schatz graduated from Minot State University with a Bachelor of Science in Accounting & Finance. Shortly thereafter, he joined the Brady Martz team. He currently performs work in both the Tax and Audit Departments, serving clients in the construction, real estate, oil and gas, mutual insurance, and small business industries.

Weisser has spent his entire accounting career with Brady Martz; he joined the firm in 2007, shortly after graduating from the University of North Dakota with a Bachelor of Accountancy. As a member of the firm’s Tax Department, Weisser works with both individuals and businesses, serving clients in the construction, financial institution, and international taxation sectors. He is currently affiliated with the AICPA and the NDCPAS.