SLA co-founders Tom Springer and Stuart Lawson will be among those joining Schneider Downs. The two firms have previously worked together on joint projects in recent years, which helped identify the opportunity to explore synergies. SLA will sunset operations as part of the movement to Schneider Downs.

Included among those joining Schneider Downs will be:

• Tom Springer, Shareholder
• Stuart Lawson, Director
• Christine Marshall, Senior Manager
• Rebecca Talley, Senior II
• Timothy “Wayne” Pigott, Senior II

Through their work with SLA, this integrated team is highly experienced in creating and selling business entities, managing mergers and acquisitions, as well as restructuring and managing workforces. These experiences both augment and expand the consulting services offered by Schneider Downs’ Consulting practice. The team will join the firm on May 1, 2023.

In addition, the SLA team’s roots in Northern Virginia provide Schneider Downs with additional resources to serve existing clients in that region, while also helping the firm expand the offerings in its Washington D.C. office.

FORVIS Adds Aaron Schaal as Tax Partner in New York

FORVIS recently announced the hiring of Aaron Schaal as a partner with its tax team in New York. Schaal brings significant U.S. tax planning experience as well as considerable international tax and transfer pricing experience to FORVIS. He also brings a business-oriented approach to leading tax teams in order to add value and increase revenues. Schaal’s extensive experience also includes complex M&A transactions from his time working with multinational companies, including acting as lead tax counsel on many buy- and sell-side deals. Schaal’s career includes 16 years living and working abroad, leading to his significant U.S. tax planning, international tax, and transfer pricing experience. Schaal also spent four years with Phillip Morris International as head of tax for Eastern Europe, Middle East, and Africa. Schaal is a member of the Colorado Bar Association and holds a bachelor’s degree in political science and a master’s degree in resource management from the University of South Carolina, Columbia. He also earned a J.D. from Campbell University in Buies Creek, North Carolina, and an LL.M. in Taxation from Denver University in Colorado.

Eide Bailly Adds 23 Partners and One Principal to Partnership

Eide Bailly, a top 25 CPA and consulting firm, recently announced the addition of 23 new partners and one principal*, effective May 1, 2023. 

The newly appointed partnership members come from various locations and departments, including tax, assurance, business valuation, compliance, and sales. They have a diverse range of skills, backgrounds, and expertise that will further strengthen the firm’s capabilities. 

• Ted Allen – Rancho Cucamonga, CA
• Marc Behrens – Omaha, NE
• Erica Bjerrum – Sioux Falls, SD
• Aaron Boyer – Minneapolis, MN
• Joscelyn Brown – Minneapolis, MN
• Shelby Ebarb – Abilene, TX
• Kellen Garrison – Sioux Falls, SD
• Michael Hamaker – Omaha, NE
• Ryan Hambly – Las Vegas, NV
• Katie Hickerson – Tulsa, OK
• Hannah Horn – Minneapolis, MN
• Matt Labernik – Fargo, ND
• Sam Lake – Salt Lake City, UT
• Jason Lindstrom – Boise, ID
• Reggie MacMaster – Fargo, ND
• Jonna Meehan – Sioux Falls, SD
• Kyle Munk – Boise, ID
• Tom Owens – Phoenix, AZ
• Russell Rice – Billings, MT
• Anthony Schwab – Aberdeen, SD
• Sonja Sparks – Denver, CO
• Brock Thaemlitz – Mankato, MN
• Adam Webb – Denver, CO
• Barry Weber – Spokane, WA

Schneider Downs Expands Management Team

Schneider Downs & Co. recently announced that Patrick Sweeney has joined the firm’s Risk Advisory Practice as a Senior Manager.

Mr. Sweeney has over 16 years of experience performing quality internal control and financial audits for multi-billion-dollar companies across various industries. With history at a Big 4 firm, as well as a large international accounting firm, he has managed numerous SOX testing engagements at clients in industries such as oil and gas, as well as manufacturing. He also has industry experience in financial, internal control, operational and procedural auditing techniques. Mr. Sweeney has managed audit teams throughout Asia, Australia, Europe and the United States.

Mr. Sweeney received his Bachelor of Science in Accounting from St. Vincent College.