Professionals on the Move – Nov. 2024

The annual Women to Watch award celebrates women in the public accounting profession and demonstrates to emerging leaders that success is within reach. As a winner in the Emerging Leaders category, MACPA notes that McCafferty has been recognized as an “up-and-coming star in her organization who demonstrates leadership and contributes to the profession through service and implementation of impactful initiatives.”

Aprio Expands Real Estate Practice with Strategic Hire of Industry Leader James Lockhart

Aprio, a top 25 business advisory and accounting firm, is strategically expanding its real estate practice with the addition of James Lockhart as a real estate tax partner based in the firm’s New York City office. James, a widely recognized leader in the industry, will play a pivotal role in this expansion throughout the Northeast region.

With over 20 years of experience in real estate, hospitality, and construction, James brings combined knowledge in accounting and law, offering a unique perspective in managing intricate financial transactions and ensuring compliance with evolving regulations. He has a deep understanding of complex real estate transactions and the ability to help clients minimize tax liabilities through creative structuring strategies.

Before joining Aprio, James was a real estate tax partner and real estate national leader at other top 100 firms, transforming real estate practices into nationally recognized brands. James was instrumental in developing the real estate team, growing the impact of services, and tripling the practice’s revenue. James is a frequent speaker at industry conferences and has shared his experience as an adjunct professor at institutions like the University of Minnesota Law School. Additionally, his work has been cited by the U.S. Supreme Court and other federal courts.

RJI CPAs Welcomes Max Lewandowski as Audit Partner 

RJI CPAs recently announced that Max Lewandowski has joined the firm as an Audit Partner, effective October 9, 2024. With over 13 years of experience in the accounting industry, Lewandowski most recently held the role of Audit Director at BDO USA, LLP. His deep expertise in auditing public and private entities will play a pivotal role in expanding RJI CPAs’ audit and advisory services. 

Lewandowski’s professional background spans multiple industries, including life sciences, technology, healthcare, manufacturing, distribution, and construction. He has successfully served a wide range of clients, from publicly traded companies and private equity-backed firms to founder-owned businesses and nonprofit organizations. 

With a proven track record, Lewandowski specializes in revenue recognition, business combinations, complex debt and equity instruments, SEC reporting, and lease accounting.

Lewandowski earned both his Bachelor of Accountancy and Master of Accountancy degrees from the University of Missouri-Columbia. He is a Certified Public Accountant in the state of California and maintains active involvement in several professional organizations, including the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants (AICPA), California Society of Certified Public Accountants (CalCPA) and the Association for Corporate Growth (ACG) San Diego chapter.  

Blue & Co., LLC Announces New Market Expansion with Mellen, Smith, and Pivoz

Blue & Co., LLC, a top-60 accounting and advisory firm based in Carmel, IN is expanding into Detroit, MI. Effective November 1, 2024, Mellen, Smith, and Pivoz, PLC (MS&P) will join the firm and become the first geographic expansion into the Detroit, Michigan market.

Blue & Co. will be adding more than 20 employees from MS&P with expertise in federal, state, and multinational tax planning and compliance, business valuation, and consulting services.

The three partners joining from MS&P are:

Jason Pivoz joined MS&P in 2007 and was admitted as a member of the firm in 2014. He has both a Bachelor’s in Accounting and a Master’s in Taxation from Walsh College. He is a member of the American Institute of CPAs and Michigan Association of CPAs, and will serve as the director in charge of the Detroit, MI office.

Jeffry A. Campeau joined MS&P in 1989 and was admitted as a member of the firm in 1999. He has a Bachelor of Arts degree from Wayne State University. He is a member of the American Institute of CPAs, Michigan Association of CPAs, Sunrise Networking Group, and a past member of the MICPA Litigation/Business Valuation Task Force.

Mark L. Smith joined MS&P in 1980 and was admitted as a member of the firm in 1987. He has a Bachelor’s of Science in Accounting from Wayne State University. He is a member of the American Institute of CPAs, Michigan Association of CPAs, and was a long-standing member of the Board of Directors with the Birmingham/Bloomfield Chamber of Commerce.

Experienced technology and digital transformation leader Michael Kempe joins Grant Thornton as CIO

CHICAGO —Grant Thornton, one of America’s largest brands of professionals providing end-to-end audit, assurance, tax and advisory services, recently appointed Michael Kempe as its new chief information officer (CIO).

With more than two decades of experience driving digital transformation, global business strategy and operational excellence, Kempe will play a pivotal role in strengthening Grant Thornton’s technology operations and strategy execution. 

Prior to his new role with Grant Thornton, Kempe spent 12 years at KPMG LLP in various senior technology leadership roles, including regional and international CIO. In these roles, he focused on driving revenue growth and increasing operational efficiencies through large-scale digital transformation programs leveraging innovative Cloud and AI solutions.

Based in New York City, Kempe holds a business degree, with a specialization in logistics and information technology, from Hanze University of Applied Sciences in Groningen, the Netherlands.