Member News

Joshua Russell was one of only 30 CPAs honored by the American Institute of CPAs (AICPA) as a member of the Leadership Academy’s 12th graduating class. Josh was selected based on his exceptional leadership skills and professional experience for the four-day Leadership Academy program, which will be held October 5-8, 2020

Josh works with the firm of Patterson Prince and Associates, P.C., Florence, AL. He is a manager with almost five years of experience with the firm. Before moving to Florence, AL, Josh lived and worked in Kansas and is a 2013 graduate of Washburn University, Topeka, Kansas. Josh is a licensed CPA and a CFE, Certified Fraud Examiner. Currently, Josh is a leader of the ASCPA’s Young CPA Cabinet. He is also involved in his local community serving on the boards for NextGen Shoals and Easterseals of Northwest Alabama and is also an Ambassador for the Shoals Chamber of Commerce.

The AICPA Leadership Academy was designed to strengthen and expand the leadership skills of promising young professionals while they network with a peer group of talented and motivated CPAs.

The Leadership Academy features career-development workshops and sessions with some of the accounting profession’s most prominent influencers, including Tracey Golden, CPA, CGMA, chairman of the AICPA and Barry Melancon, CPA, CGMA, AICPA president and CEO, Association of Certified Professional Accountants CEO. Participants were selected from public accounting firms of all sizes, business and industry, academia and consulting firms. The 2020 Leadership Academy attendees were recommended by their employers, state CPA societies and/or volunteer organizations. Candidates submitted resumes and a statement explaining how participating in the Leadership Academy would impact them personally and professionally. They also wrote an essay on the topic “The future will bring significant changes to the accounting profession. What do leaders have to get right in order to successfully lead?”

To date, more than 385 CPAs have participated in the AICPA Leadership Academy, including several Alabama CPAs. Many of the young women and men have gone on to accept leadership positions in their firms, businesses and volunteer organizations. For more information about the AICPA Leadership Academy, visit AICPA.org/Leadership.

Anglin Reichmann Armstrong is pleased to announce that Ryan Campbell, CGMA, CVA will joined its Pensacola office as Partner in Charge this July. As Partner in Charge, Ryan leads management responsibilities and decisions for the Pensacola office. Additionally, he brings a depth of experience and knowledge in key industries that Anglin serves, including Manufacturing, Construction, Government Contracting, Health Care and Real Estate.

A Certified Valuation Analyst, Ryan has a special focus on CFO and outsourced accounting advisory services, R&D credits, business valuations and accounting systems. He joined Anglin in 2003 and quickly became active in young professional and small business groups in Huntsville. Ryan and his family will relocate to Pensacola to take on his new role. Borland Benefield, P.C. is beyond pleased to announce the promotions of Clay Clark to Manager and Leigh Anna Hall to Supervisor. Clay graduated from Auburn University and has over 6 years of experience in audits, reviews, compilations, and tax services. Leigh Anna is a graduate of Auburn University and has over 11 years of experience in tax and accounting services. Please join us in congratulating our two esteemed colleagues on their recent promotions.

In a year of extraordinary events and challenges, BMSS Advisors & CPAs’ Don Murphy was one of 10 managing partners throughout the country to be selected for Accounting Today’s 2020 Managing Partner Elite list. The MP Elite are chosen annually based upon sustainable firm growth, strategic planning, diversity and inclusion, innovation and technology, and cultivation of strong firm culture. For 2020, a managing partner’s ability to lead throughout COVID-19, an extended busy season and transitioning to a primarily remote workforce was taken into consideration.

Under Murphy’s leadership, BMSS has grown from three original founders with no clients or staff to one of the most respected and largest firms in Alabama with four locations and almost 200 employees.

In addition to the CPA firm’s extraordinary growth, BMSS has continued to create value-added companies to help fulfill the multifaceted personal and business needs of its clients.

“Our goal has been to create a one-stop shop for our clients’ personal and business needs,” said Murphy. “We launched Abacus Technologies, our managed IT solutions and cybersecurity company, in 2000. Payroll & Benefit Solutions (PBS) was established in 2005, followed by BMSS Wesson Wealth Solutions in 2016 and PBS PEO in 2017. Most recently, in an effort to serve our clients’ advisory needs, we created our Business Advisory and Consulting Services practice area which includes business restructuring and turnaround services, human resources and government contracting consulting.”

“I strive to encourage the BMSS team and empower them to do their job while not micromanaging their performance. I also truly love all of our people and try to contribute to the BMSS “family” feel that I believe has helped us create our firm culture.”

BMSS Advisors & CPAs is also pleased to announce that Emily Riles, Tyler Roberts, and Molly Smith have recently been promoted to Supervisor.

Luke Arnett and Jake Bechert have been promoted to Manager.

Brad Brown, Matt Capone, and Trae Zablan, CGMA have been promoted to Senior Manager.

Jackson Thornton, a certified public accounting and consulting firm headquartered in Montgomery, is pleased to announce several recent promotions across Alabama.

Kelly McGhee was promoted to Senior Manager. McGhee has served as the firm’s Controller since 2017. Prior to rejoining the firm, she had been with Jackson Thornton for 10 years previously as an auditor in the audit and accounting line of business. McGhee has served as treasurer of the Juvenile Justice Project of Louisiana and secretary/treasurer of the Alabama Dance Theatre. She currently serves on the board of directors of the Family Guidance Center. McGhee received her undergraduate degree from Auburn University Montgomery.

Jake Studdard was promoted to Senior Manager. Studdard, who started with the firm in 2013, helps lead Jackson Thornton’s automobile dealership industry niche in the tax line of business. He is a member of the Wetumpka Lions Club and serves on the board of directors of the Wetumpka Area Chamber of Commerce. He is also a member of the DealerCPA network. Studdard obtained his undergraduate degree from Auburn University Montgomery.

Austin Gaines was also promoted to Senior Manager. Gaines joined the firm in 2014 and specializes in tax planning and consulting for closely-held small businesses. He is a past president of Emerge Montgomery and served as president of Jackson Thornton Young Professionals (JTYP). Gaines serves on the Montgomery Mayoral Young Professional Council, is vice chair of the YMCA Boys Work Committee, is on the Junior Executive Board for the Montgomery Museum of Fine Arts and on the board of ClefWorks. He is a member of the Kiwanis Club, the Jimmy Hitchcock Committee and serves as a Finance Committee member for the River Region United Way. Gaines holds an undergraduate degree in accounting from Auburn University.

Jackson Thornton also promoted Logan Remson, Candace Lawton, Frankie Wilbourne, and Mark Cooley to Manager. The Directors of Kassouf & Co., P.C. are pleased to announce Anita Atkinson as the firm’s new Chief Operating Officer. Atkinson joined Kassouf in the second quarter of 2020. As COO, she will lead the firm’s daily operations, which include streamlining internal processes and overseeing firm administration. Atkinson is the firm’s first Chief Operating Officer. Atkinson began her career at Ernst & Young (EY), where she worked in the firm’s audit department. Following her time at EY, she transitioned from public accounting to industry, with most of her industry experience being in pharmaceutical. She has over twenty years of experience providing financial leadership in her previous roles. For ten of those years, Atkinson focused her expertise on planning and strategy. She holds a Bachelor of Science degree from the University of Alabama at Birmingham (UAB).

Lacey Heath was named Partner with Top 100 Accounting Firm, Mauldin & Jenkins, LLC. She graduated with a Master’s in Accounting from Auburn University in 2005 and joined Mauldin & Jenkins shortly after. Services provided to clients include financial statement audits, internal audits and tax services.

She is a CPA in the state of Alabama and is also a member of the AICPA.

Lacey and her husband, Matthew, reside in Birmingham. Outside of the office Lacey attends The Church at Brook Hills.

The Partners of Russell Thompson Butler & Houston (RTBH) are pleased to announce the promotion of Morgan McDaniel to Senior Accountant. Morgan is a 2017 graduate of the University of South Alabama. She holds a Bachelor of Science in Business Administration with a concentration in accounting. While she has a wide range of practice areas including both tax and audit work, Morgan’s unique focuses include insurance companies and physicians’ groups.

Wilkins Miller LLC, an accounting and advisory firm with offices in Mobile and Fairhope, is pleased to announce that Tammy Smith has successfully completed and passed the Certified Bookkeeper exam administered by the American Institute of Professional Bookkeepers (AIPB). The Certified Bookkeeper designation requires a level of knowledge and skill needed to carry out key functions through the adjusted trail balance including payroll and inventory.

Smith has over 16 years of experience in bookkeeping, sales tax and payroll preparation. She studied Payroll Accounting at the University of South Alabama and is a Certified QuickBooks ProAdvisor.

Way, Ray, Shelton announces that Pamela Rice and Trenton Shepherd have become shareholders in the fi rm as of July 1, 2020.

216 McFarland Circle North • Tuscaloosa, AL 35406 205-345-5860

WHAT’S HAPPENING OUT THERE

Governor Kay Ivey has appointed Tony Cochran to represent a northern region board seat and Carl Jamison to represent the central region of the Alabama State Port Authority.

Pursuant to the Alabama Constitution and pertinent statutes, the State Senate will need to consider and confirm all appointments during the legislature’s 2021 regular session.

Ivey informed the appointees in respective letters, expressing her appreciation for their service and tasking them to be good stewards of public money. She noted that while also instilling trust in state

government, the board members would be making important PROOF O.K. BY: ___________________________ O.K. WITH CORRECTIONS BY: ________________________ decisions affecting the citizens of Alabama. PLEASE READ CAREFULLY • SUBMIT CORRECTIONS ONLINE

TA-NA5059783 (100%)

“I’ve appointed individuals that have consistently demonstrated ADVERTISER: WAY, RAY, SHELTON AND CO PROOF CREATED AT: 7/10/2020 8:40:16 AM SALES PERSON: TASP54 NEXT RUN DATE: 07/12/20 the necessary knowledge and leadership skills critical to economic SIZE: 6X10 PROOF DUE: 07/10/20 11:59:55 PUBLICATION: TA-TUSCALOOSA NEWS expansion in Alabama,” Ivey said in a statement. “The success of our port is fundamental to Alabama businesses and jobs, and I’m confident these folks will contribute to the great work being done under John Driscoll and the board.”

Tony Cochran is the owner and managing partner of Albertville-based CK Business Solutions, PC, holding over 40 years in business management consulting and accounting experience. He is a CPA and a chartered global management accountant focused on business acquisitions and sales. Cochran holds leadership positions on numerous boards and commissions, including the Albertville Chamber of Commerce, Business Council of Alabama, the National Acoustic Neuroma Association and his recent appointment as chair of the Alabama Small Business Commission. Carl Jamison is a shareholder and chair of the executive committee for the Tuscaloosa firm JamisonMoneyFarmer, PC.

He holds over 35 years of attest, tax and consulting services to manufacturing, construction, medical and real estate industry clients. Jamison is past chair and currently serves on the executive committee for the Business Council of Alabama and is past chair and current board member for the Tuscaloosa County Industrial Development Authority and Progress PAC.

Anglin Reichmann Armstrong has been named among the Best Accounting Firms to Work for, a project of Accounting Today and Best Companies Group.

“Being recognized among the best places to work is an incredible honor,” said Managing Partner Gary Anglin. “It is especially meaningful after such a challenging tax season. I am proud of our employees and their ability to proactively serve our clients through all the legislative changes, relief measures and extended tax deadlines.”

“We have made a number of positive changes to our benefits and employee development programs over the last few years,” said Director of Staff Development, Wendy Tucker. “We strive to create an environment where employees enjoy coming to work and feel they are a valued member of the team. This award affirms that we are accomplishing that.”

BMSS Advisors & CPAs was recently named as a 2020 Accounting Today’s Best Accounting Firms to Work for. Accounting Today has partnered with Best Companies Group to identify companies that have excelled in creating quality workplaces for employees.

This survey and awards program also designed to identify, recognize and honor the best employers in the accounting profession, benefiting its economy, workforce and businesses. The list is made up of 100 firms. For more information on Accounting Today’s Best Accounting Firms to Work for program, visit www. BestAccountingFirmsToWorkFor.com.

Wilkins Miller, an accounting and advisory firm with offices in Mobile and Fairhope, has been named one of the 2020 Best Accounting Firms to Work for by Accounting Today for the sixth year in a row. Out of only 100 firm selected, Wilkins Miller was one of two firms from the Mobile or Baldwin County region to make the list and one of five accounting firms in the state of Alabama. “Six years in a row is an accomplishment that we are tremendously proud of,” Wilkins Miller Managing Partner Allen Carroll said. “The firm strives to develop and motivate the very best people who are committed to helping our clients, team and community achieve.”

“We are constantly innovating to find new ways to engage our team,” Wilkins Miller Partner Brandi Morgan said. “From our mentorship program to our continuing education resources, we look to provide opportunities for everyone at the firm to achieve their professional and personal goals.”