Professionals on the Move – Sept. 2024

In his new role, Burke will be instrumental in identifying and engaging potential clients, nurturing relationships—particularly in the financial services industry—and driving the sales process to successful closure. Additionally, he will provide consultative services to clients within the financial services sector as needed.

Burke has more than 30 years of extensive managerial and sales experience in commercial banking. Most recently, he served as executive vice president and chief banking officer at a major regional financial institution where he was responsible for overseeing the bank’s commercial lending, retail lending, and retail banking units. Earlier in his career, Burke held several progressive managerial roles in financial services, including serving as executive vice president and chief lending officer at Wayne Bank, where he managed the overall sales, service, and operations of the commercial banking division across Pennsylvania and New York.

Burke is a graduate of Wilkes University where he earned a Bachelor of Arts in Administration. He later earned an MBA in Administration from Marywood University. Burke currently serves as Chair of the Dean’s Executive Advisory Board at Wilkes University’s Jay S. Sidhu School of Business and Leadership Executive Advisory Board.

Avantax Welcomes $60M Advisor Ali Kazemi and His Northern California-based Sentinel Financial Group

Avantax, a Dallas-based leader in tax-intelligent financial planning and wealth managemen, recently welcomed Ali Kazemi, a seasoned financial services industry veteran with 30 years of experience. Based near San Francisco, Kazemi has been an independent financial professional since 2009. He was previously affiliated with LPL Financial where he had approximately $60 million in client assets under administration as of April 2024*.

Focused on providing financial advice for entire households, Kazemi was drawn to Avantax for its collaborative and supportive community, which aligns perfectly with his client-centric approach. Ali’s practice is renowned for its long-term client relationships and holistic financial advice, covering everything from investments and expenses to tax and retirement planning. He values the personalized, high-touch service that Avantax offers, which he describes as a genuine extension of his own values and practices.

BRG Financial Institution Advisory Practice Adds Managing Director Michael Hollerich 

Global expert services and consulting firm Berkeley Research Group (BRG) recently announced that Michael Hollerich has joined the firm’s Financial Institution Advisory practice as a managing director in Dallas. 

Hollerich brings over 25 years of leadership experience in financial services risk and consulting. He has deep expertise in regulatory affairs, corporate governance, anti-money laundering, fraud detection, mergers and acquisitions, and banking-as-a-service (BaaS). Hollerich has navigated the financial services industry during periods of intense regulatory scrutiny and challenging economic environments. 

Before joining BRG, Hollerich served as chief compliance officer for two publicly traded financial services firms and operated a private consulting firm through which he served in advisory and executive roles at large international banking organizations, regional banks, non-depositories and FinTechs.

Hollerich holds a B.A. from Knox College and completed an executive management program at The Wharton School of the University of Pennsylvania. He served as a two-term president and chief financial officer and member of the board of directors at Harkness House for Children, a nonprofit daycare and early childhood education center. 

KraftCPAs Names Chris Hight Chief Manager

KraftCPAs recently announced the appointment of Chris Hight as chief manager. He succeeds Vic Alexander, who will transition to an of-counsel role beginning November 1, 2025, after 43 years with the firm, including 31 years as chief manager. Alexander will continue his litigation work through Kraft Analytics, an affiliate of KraftCPAs that focuses on valuation, forensics, and transaction advisory services.

Hight steps into his new role on November 1, 2024, following his tenure as member-in-charge of the KraftCPAs assurance services department and nearly 20 years of distinguished service.  

Hight joined KraftCPAs in 2004 and has held various leadership positions across the firm. He was most recently member-in-charge of the assurance services department and served as practice leader for the firm’s manufacturing/wholesale/distribution (MWD) industry team and the firm’s employee benefits plan team.

Prior to joining KraftCPAs, Hight was senior vice president and CFO of a cellular tower company, where he supervised the acquisition of the company in a transaction worth nearly $100 million. He also worked as an audit manager for a national accounting firm, managing public and private company audits. Hight earned his master’s and bachelor’s degrees from Tennessee Tech University and previously served on the university’s College of Business Advisory Board.

Brown Plus Welcomes Three New Team Members

Leading accounting and advisory firm,Brown Plus, is pleased to announce that the Firm has welcomed three new team members:

Chase Gillis started with Brown Plus as an intern and is now an Outsourced Accounting Associate. He graduated from Lebanon Valley College with a Bachelor’s degree is Music Business and a minor in Accounting. Chase is located at the Brown Plus office in Camp Hill, Pennsylvania.

Allison Haug, CPA, joined the Firm as an Audit Senior Manager with 12 years of experience. She specializes in accounting and audits of insurance companies. Allison graduated from Rowan University in New Jersey with a Bachelor’s degree in Accounting. She works remotely.

Hanna Provost joined the Firm as an Administrative Assistant with 11 years of administrative  experience, including office management, system administration, customer service and clerical support. She is located at the Brown Plus office in Camp Hill, Pennsylvania.

KSM Announces new director

KSM (Katz, Sapper & Miller), a leading advisory, tax, and audit firm, recently announced that Crystal Schultz has joined the firm as a director in its State & Local Tax Group.

Schultz brings more than 24 years of experience in state and local tax, specializing in sales and use tax. With a strong focus on controversy and consulting, Schultz will work closely with multistate clients to help identify accurate and efficient solutions to mitigate their overall sales and use tax risk and liability.

Prior to joining KSM, Crystal served as a senior manager on the state and local tax team at a regional business advisory, accounting, and technology firm. In that role, she was responsible for analyzing, researching, and responding to client inquiries nationwide, with a primary focus on sales and use taxes across all states and localities. Additionally, due to her previous experience as a state revenue auditor, Schultz has the unique ability to manage state audits by utilizing effective audit defense strategies across various industry types.

Schultz received a Bachelor of Arts degree in accounting and business administration from Lakeland University.

Jeffrey Pawlow Joins Brady Martz & Associates as Chief Execution Officer

Top 100 nationally ranked accounting and advisory services firm Brady Martz & Associates recently announced that Jeffrey Pawlow has joined the Firm as Chief Execution Officer. In this role, Pawlow will be instrumental in aligning day-to-day activities advancing the Firm’s Vision 2028 initiative, as well as promoting that vision to other CPA firms seeking growth alternatives to private equity.

Pawlow brings more than 30 years of experience in the accounting industry, with a proven track record of driving financial results and fostering growth. Before joining Brady Martz, he served as President of Engineered Tax Services, Inc. (ETS) and its family of companies, including The Growth Partnership, ABLE, and Engineered Technology Services. Pawlow co-founded The Growth Partnership and ABLE before they were acquired by ETS, further showcasing his entrepreneurial spirit and leadership capabilities.

Pawlow’s contributions to the accounting profession have not gone unnoticed. He has been named one of Accounting Today’s “Top 100 Most Influential People” four times, underscoring his influence and commitment to the industry. A seasoned CPA growth expert, Pawlow is also a respected speaker and author, recognized for his thought leadership and innovative strategies.

Bennett Thrasher Announces Key Executive Appointments Alex Entrekin as Chief Operating Officer and Michael Hoover as Chief Growth and Strategy Officer

Bennett Thrasher, a nationally acclaimed full-service accounting and advisory firm headquartered in Atlanta, is pleased to announce the appointment of Alex Entrekin as chief operating officer and Michael Hoover as chief growth and strategy officer. These strategic hires reflect Bennett Thrasher’s commitment to accelerating growth while

preserving the firm’s strong culture and client-focused philosophy.

Alex Entrekin, Chief Operating Officer

Alex Entrekin brings a wealth of experience and a proven track record of operational excellence, strategic growth and leadership. In this role, he will oversee all operations, drive strategic initiatives and foster a culture of innovation and collaboration.

Entrekin’s immediate goals include enhancing efficiencies across processes and systems to enable the firm’s expansion and maturation. His proven ability to transform operational models and build high-performance teams makes him an exceptional fit to lead Bennett Thrasher into its next phase

Michael Hoover, Chief Growth and Strategy Officer

Michael Hoover, a recognized leader in business development with over 25 years of experience, brings a deep understanding of talent acquisition and business strategy in the professional services space.

Hoover’s vision is to expand Bennett Thrasher’s reach by strengthening its solid reputation and ensuring the firm remains a standout in a competitive and ever-changing marketplace. “We are, and will continue to be, a stable firm in an unpredictable industry by providing unparalleled service and steadfast client-focused delivery.”

Ariege Misherghi Joins as SVP & GM of AP, AR and Accountant Channel

BILL recently announced that Ariege Misherghi has joined BILL as SVP & GM of AP, AR and Accountant Channel.

Misherghi comes to BILL after more than a decade at Intuit, most recently as VP of Product Management focused on AI and the human experience for QuickBooks. Throughout her career, Misherghi has focused on developing innovative solutions for SMBs and accounting professionals, making her an ideal fit for BILL’s mission. In her new role, she will be responsible for driving innovation in BILL’s core products and strengthening partnerships with the accounting community.

More information on Ariege’s new role can be found in her recent BILL blog post.

RubinBrown Announces Partner Promotions in Chicago, Denver, Kansas City, and St. Louis

The new promotions are as follows:

Chicago

Jim Brownlee has over 20 years of experience leading large-scale implementation of best-in-class business process, organizational design and technology changes. Jim holds a Master’s degree in Business Administration from Loyola University in Chicago.

Scott DeVita is an accomplished management consultant and business strategy leader with extensive expertise in the financial services, healthcare, insurance, manufacturing, and not-for-profit industries. He holds a Master’s degree in Finance from the University of Notre Dame.

Ben Gallaher has 13 years of ERP experience in both industry and consulting roles. He has experience in systems and business operations to provide comprehensive assistance throughout the entire ERP process, from selection to implementation. Ben holds a Bachelor of Arts degree from Michigan State University.

Todd Hass has over 25 years of experience leading large-scale implementation of comprehensive organizational restructures encompassing people, processes, and technology. Todd holds a Masters of Business Administration from Capella University. Todd is also a Veteran and served in the United States Air Force.

Denver

Matt Billman has more than 11 years of public accounting experience. He is part of a team that works with businesses to deliver outsourcing, assurance, and tax services. He works with clients in various industries including, but not limited to, manufacturing and distribution, real estate, and professional services. Matt holds a Masters in Accounting and an MBA from the University of Colorado.

All promotions were effective June 1, 2024.

Kansas City

Michael Bean manages the investment portfolios of high-net-worth individuals and provides comprehensive financial planning services covering wealth management issues in the areas of tax, estate planning, investment management, corporate stock option planning, insurance and charitable planning. He holds a Masters degree in Accountancy from the University of Missouri, Kansas City.

Daren Chesbrough provides audit and other assurance services to companies that are privately held or held by private equity. He serves clients in a variety of industries including manufacturing and distribution, technology and professional services. Daren also serves clients in the employee benefit plan industry. He holds a Bachelor of Science in Accounting and Finance, and Masters degree in Accounting from the University of Kansas.

Becca Martin specializes in partnership taxation and supports clients in tax planning, tax consulting and tax return preparation. Becca holds a Bachelor of Science in Accounting from the University of Kansas.

Bryan Wood provides tax consulting, planning, tax returns preparation and other tax services to high-net-worth individuals and closely held partnerships/corporations. He holds a Bachelor of Science in Accounting and Finance from the University of Kansas.

St. Louis

Ashley Jung has been with RubinBrown since 2014. She has experience in individual and corporate taxation, and specializes in income tax, financial planning and investment advisory services to business owners, retired executives, high-net-worth families and family office clients. Ashley holds a Bachelor of Science in Business Administration with a focus in Accounting from Saint Louis University.

Emily Kruse has more than 10 years of accounting experience concentrated in audit services. She focuses primarily on the real estate industry, specializing in low-income taxes, historic tax credits, and HUD. Emily holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Accounting from Saint Louis University.