FORWARD VISION. FORVIS.

That’s the exciting distinct name of the newly established, $1.5 billion national accounting firm resulting from the merger, effective June 1, 2022, between peer firms, BKD CPAs & Advisors and Dixon Hughes Goodman.

With the legacy of serving clients firmwide for 100 years, FORVIS’ 72-employee office in Wichita, located at 1551 N. Waterfront, Suite 300, is now part of a top 10 accounting firm that employs 5,700-plus with offices in 72 markets in 28 states as well as the United Kingdom and the Cayman Islands. On top of that, FORVIS serves clients in all 50 states and internationally with a wide range of services for individuals, closely held private companies, Fortune 1000 companies and everything in between.

But there’s also another notable change to the Wichita office: It will be gaining a new leader in partner Steve Webb, who has been chosen, by the firm, to step into the Managing Partner role following the retirement of Bill Pickert later this Spring. Webb, a 25-year veteran of the firm, has lived and raised his family in Wichita and has been actively engaged with the community. Previously, he served as tax quality leader for the Wichita office.

“Merging these firms together accomplished something that would’ve taken decades for each firm individually to accomplish,” said Webb of FORVIS, which is now No. 8 in Inside Public Accounting’s ranking of the top 500 firms (based on annual revenues).

Historically, BKD was No. 14 in the rankings, and DHG was No. 17. With the increased stature nationally comes new benefits and opportunities for expansion and recruitment, Webb said.

“The importance of ranking is two-fold. First, it shows the stability and the growth of the firm. The second, is recruiting,” Webb said. “Being a top 10 firm allows us to compete with firms for the top talent coming out of our local and national colleges and universities. In addition, it attracts experienced professionals who want to continue working for a firm with the depth and breadth of resources of a Big 4 firm but want the flexibility to work on a number of industry engagements instead of just a few. “

Despite all the merger activity and BKD morphing into FORVIS, Webb assured they’re still the same office Wichitans have come to know and love.

“We grew in size significantly, but we still work with the same industries. We still have partner involvement on our engagements. Clients are still working with the same engagement teams and still receiving the same unmatched client experience we have historically been known for,” Webb said. “The only difference is we now have even more resources and services to allow us to add even more value to our client relationships.”

Webb said BKD and DHG had developed a close relationship, working together as peer firms for a number of years.

“It became obvious to both firms we were so very like-minded and matched culturally that we would be stronger together and, with a merger, we could ensure the legacies of both firms continue for the benefit of our clients and our people,” Webb said. “We were both focused on providing unmatched client experiences as well as developing our people and ensuring they have the tools and training to grow personally and professionally in their careers. Together, we have a larger geographical footprint enabling us to be where our clients are. We have enhanced capabilities with services and resources for middle market as well F1000 companies. We are able to offer our professionals training as well as lifestyle benefits that, alone, we would not have been able to offer.”

The merger also made sense from the standpoint that of the 72 combined markets the two companies were located in, only three cities had overlapping offices.

While FORVIS is now a giant in the accounting world, its roots can be traced back to Wichita, Webb said.

It all started in 1914 when Clinton H. Montgomery, an accountant in Philadelphia, traveled to Wichita to audit a bankrupt company. As the story goes, he liked it so much he decided to stay, forming the first public accounting firm in Kansas. He opened and hung a shingle at the corner of Douglas and Market, right in the heart of growing downtown Wichita.

In 1917, Montgomery hired Wade Kurtz. Then, in 1919, another Wichitan, William Baird, joined the firm and they opened the first branch office in Kansas City. A couple years later, with the addition of Claire Dobson, a second branch was opened in Springfield, Missouri. Montgomery retired in 1923 and sold his practice to the three men, who renamed the firm Baird, Kurtz & Dobson. The later became known as BKD, CPAs & Advisors and now FORVIS.

It takes a FORward VISion to make it as a business for 100 years. That mindset is where the name FORVIS comes from and is one that continues to drive FORVIS leadership into the future for its clients, Webb said.