Accounting

ACCOUNTING

ERIC BOSCH

President and CEO

LaPorte CPAs & Business Advisors

Before being named LaPorte’s president and CEO, Bosch spent three decades providing accounting and auditing services to many New Orleans-area businesses and nonprofits. He’s a Jefferson Business Council chairperson and a UNO adjunct professor. He’s also on the faculty of the Goldman Sachs 10,000 Small Businesses program at Delgado.

Education: University of New Orleans (BS) Best Part of Job: “Its all about the people. I love engaging with my LaPorte teammates and my clients.” Go-to Restaurant: Russell’s Marina Grill Hidden Gem: “The Goat on St. Bernard Avenue is a very unique place.” Hobby/Passion: Jogging/running

ACCOUNTING

PATRICK JAMES BRANDAU

New Orleans Office Managing Partner

Deloitte

Brandau has more than 25 years of experience serving large companies with a focus on the energy, engineering and construction industries. In addition to leading client service teams, he’s adept at complex business transactions and public securities offerings. A published author, Brandau is also a board member of several organizations.

Education: University of New Orleans (MBA), Louisiana State University (BS) Go-to Restaurant: Restaurant August Advice: “Have a mentor that you can seek advice from and that provides candid and honest feedback.” Best Part of Job: Developing and mentoring team members

ACCOUNTING

SEAN M. BRUNO

President and CEO Sean M. Bruno CPAs

After working for the “Big Four” accounting firm Deloitte, Bruno opened his full-service operation specializing in audits of colleges, universities and nonprofits. He has also worked in various administrative roles for the Orleans Parish Sheriff’s Office and maintains active civil engagements, including serving as chairman for the East New Orleans Business Development District.

Education: Morehouse College (BS) Date Company Founded: 2009 Nonprofit Cause: Supporting HBCUs Advice: “If you give back, you will get back.” Go-to Restaurant: Neyow’s Creole Café Best Fest: Essence Fest Hidden Talent: Grilling Snoball Style: Strawberry

ACCOUNTING

LYNNE BURKART

Director

Postlethwaite & Netterville

As a senior director in the P&N accounting and assurance services group, Burkart provides external audit, internal control/ SOX and SOC services as well as technical research assistance. She also helps with implementing new accounting and risk standards. She’s generous with her time and serves on the board of many civic and nonprofit groups.

Education: University of New Orleans (BS) Advice: “Don’t let fear or uncertainty stop you from taking that next step, moving forward, trying something new, taking the initiative.” Best Fest: Oyster Festival Go-to Restaurant: Brigtsen’s in New Orleans, Impastato’s in Metairie Hidden Gem: Creole Creamery

ACCOUNTING

KERNEY CRAFT JR

Managing Partner

Wegmann Dazet

Craft has more than 20 years of public accounting experience. He says he devotes time to all of his clients, whether they’re just getting started or billion-dollar businesses, because he enjoys the “cutting-edge pursuit of tax credits and … planning for profitability.” He’s also involved in several professional associations and serves on a number of civic boards.

Education: University of New Orleans (BS) Hobby/Passion: Family research Go-to Restaurant: Boulevard Nonprofit Cause: Samaritan’s Purse Best Part of Job: “Working with the seniors and managers in our firm who are more concerned about servicing clients than worrying about themselves. It’s refreshing to see that.”

ACCOUNTING

RONALD GITZ

Executive Director and CEO

Society of Louisiana CPAs

This accounting veteran has served as the head of the state’s largest association of CPAs — more than 7000 members — since 2012. He spends his time traveling back and forth between the organization’s main office and the Capitol in Baton Rouge, where he works with legislators. Or he’s out on the road meeting with peers, discussing the biggest issues facing them in their profession.

Associations and Boards: Louisiana Association of Business and Industry’s Taxation & Finance Council; Committee of 100; National Association of State Boards of Accountancy; AICPA’s Interchange Planning Executive Committee Did You Know? Gitz also serves as president of the AICPA’s Benevolent Fund, which helps members through temporary periods of financial difficulty.

ACCOUNTING

PHILIP GUNN

Managing Director

Postlethwaite & Netterville

This native New Orleanian has worked in public accounting for more than four decades with a focus on energy, industrial and consumer products companies. He’s the former president of the Society of Louisiana CPAs and other professional groups — and he’s active in many civic organizations, including Greater New Orleans Inc. and Crimestoppers GNO.

Education: University of New Orleans (BS) Advice: “Exceed expectations; both in your professional and your personal life.” Go-to Restaurant: “I like Commander’s Palace for special occasions and Mandina’s for casual. One I miss is Bon Ton Cafe.” Hidden Gem: Oak Oven in Harahan Hobby/Passion: “Sports! The Saints and Pelicans!”

ACCOUNTING

CHARLES LAWSON

Director

Postlethwaite & Netterville

Lawson joined the firm’s government relations division in January 2022, bringing management and leadership skills from a career as a senior executive in the federal government and private sector. Lawson plans to use his background to help P&N duplicate with federal agencies the success the firm has had providing CPA and consulting services to state and local governments.

Education: Vanderbilt University (MBA), University of Massachusetts/Amherst (BA) Awards and Honors: Excellence in Government Fellow; 2020 recipient of Profiles in Diversity Journal’s inaugural Black Leaders Worth Watching Award Did You Know? Lawson was vice president at a large international bank.

ACCOUNTING

BRIAN ROTOLO

New Orleans Office Managing Partner

EY

Rotolo leads an EY office of approximately 150 people and is responsible for building the firm’s market position, connecting with the community and fostering a supportive and inclusive culture. His 30 years in the industry has been focused on serving companies in the energy services, construction and retail and consumer products industries. He is active in many organizations.

Education: University of New Orleans (BS) Go-to Restaurant: Clancy’s Best Fest: Jazz Fest Hidden Gem: Station 6 in Bucktown Advice: “Do the hard stuff first.” Hobby/Passion: Golf and tennis Heroes: “My parents. The kindness with which they treat every person they meet is remarkable to me.”

ACCOUNTING

LEE ANNE SCIAMBRA

Managing Partner

KPMG

Lee Anne Sciambra has been with KPMG her entire professional career. She started as an intern 29 years ago and worked her way up through the company. Now, she’s the managing partner for both the New Orleans and Baton Rouge offices. She’s an expert in tax compliance, tax planning and tax provisions and she serves as co-chair of KPMG’s national Women’s Advisory Board.

Education: Louisiana State University (BS) First Job: “KPMG was my first real job.” Advice: “Work hard, play hard.” Who’d Play You in a Movie? “Any wife or girlfriend of Bradley Cooper” Go-to Restaurant: “Clancy’s is a classic, and I always love a Galatoire’s Friday lunch.” Poboy Pick: Roast beef

ACCOUNTING

LUTHER SPEIGHT

Managing Partner

Luther Speight & Company

Speight founded his accounting firm in 1987 with one employee, and since that time has continued to grow by consistently providing innovative business solutions and services to governmental, nonprofit and commercial entities throughout the South. Today, Speight’s company employs 35 professionals and is a multi-state practice with full-service offices in Louisiana, Tennessee and Georgia.

Education: Clark Atlanta University (BS) Advice: “Stay focused, work hard, do the right thing.” Who’d Play You in a Movie? Spike Lee Poboy Pick: Oyster Snoball Style: Strawberry with condensed milk Fave Parade: Freret Street Parade Fave Jazz Fest Food: Crawfish beignet

ACCOUNTING

ANITA ZIMMER

Senior Manager Wegmann Dazet

With 25 years of experience, Zimmer has expertise in forensic accounting, in addition to traditional accounting and tax services. She’s testified as an expert witness in court and speaks regularly in the community on reducing the risk of fraud and business interruption claims, with recent engagements on WWL radio and with the Women’s Professional Council in New Orleans.

Education: University of Louisiana, Lafayette (BS) Best Fest: Oktoberfest at Deutsches Haus Go-to Restaurant: “Ralph’s on the Park. They have the best gumbo!” On the Horizon: “We will be moving into a new office to a different floor of the Heritage Plaza office building in order to accommodate our continuing growth.” BIZNEWORLEANS.COM