Member News
April 2010
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On April 6, 2010 at FBI Headquarters in Newark, NJ, Bederson and Company LLP (West Orange, NJ) partner Matt Schwartz and manager, Shari Hartstein, were presented with a Certificate of Appreciation for their contribution in the criminal and civil cases of NEW JERSEY AFFORDABLE HOMES. NJAH was the largest real estate scam in New Jersey prior to the Solomon Dwek case, for which we are also the accountants.
The firm worked as accountants for the Chapter 7 Trustee for NJ Affordable Homes, an entity that had been insolvent for years and had been operated as a Ponzi scheme by the defendant and Director of NJAH, Wayne Puff. Matthew Schwartz provided testimony supporting his forensic analysis and opinion that Wayne Puff, did indeed operate NJ Affordable Homes as a Ponzi scheme while perpetrating two significant scams; a mortgage scam and a title scam. From 1998 to September 2005, Puff and his co-conspirators obtained more than $120 million from investors by falsely touting the profitability and security of their investment in NJAH, which were secured, in part with fraudulent mortgage loans.
Schwartz was assisted by Shari Hartstein, a fellow Bederson CIRA in collecting and analyzing thousands of documents pertaining to more than 7 years’ worth of transactions and investor activity for New Jersey Affordable Homes. Bederson’s two year-long analysis of the Debtor’s financial operations played a key role in demonstrating that the Debtor’s business model could never generate a profit and required the continual infusion of new investor money to pay prior obligations. Matt Schwartz’ Certification explained that as a direct and proximate result of Puff’s actions, the NJAH suffered losses of not less than $67.7 million.
Partner John Straccamore, CPA will be named President of the Passaic County Chapter of the New Jersey Society of Certified Public Accountants. His term as president with run from June 1, 2010 - May 31, 2011. Partner Sean Raquet, CPA, CFE was installed as 2nd Vice President of the Association of Certified Fraud Examiners.
Partner, Ken Winslow’s article on Sales and Use Tax Audits was featured in the April edition of Commerce Magazine.
Managing Partner, Mark Mazza’s article on how Bederson is advising small businesses differently than larger businesses during this time of economic uncertainty will be featured in Commerce Magazine on May 1, 2010. |
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 Clark Schaefer Hackett, CPAs (six offices in Ohio) sends congratulations to CSH Shareholder Doug Michel on finishing the Boston Marathon with an official time of 3:50:13, pace 8:47. We are so proud of you Doug!
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Daszkal Bolton LLP, three offices in South Florida, is pleased to announce the addition of Arlene Ravalo-Jao, CPA/CFF, ABV to the firm. Arlene will be a Senior Manager in the firm's Business Valuation and Litigation Support Department, based out of the Sunrise office. With over ten years of experience in various national CPA firms, Arlene specializes in business valuations for buy/sell and tax planning, fair value for financial reporting, economic damages and loss of profits analyses. Arlene is an active member of the Florida Institute of Certified Public Accountants serving in the Steering Committee of the Valuation, Forensic Accounting, and Litigation Services Section and the Young CPA Committee. She is also a Director for the Estate Planning Council of Broward County and Legal Aid Services of Broward. |
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Lanigan, Ryan, Malcolm & Doyle P.C. (Gaithersburg, MD), was named as one of the 2009 Best Accounting Firms to Work For in the medium category (25-249 employees). The annual list of “Best Accounting Firms” was created by Accounting Today and Best Companies Group. This is the firm's second consecutive year receiving this recognition.
The firm also had a very successful year for involvement in their community. In the spring they hosted their 16th annual "Golf for Charity" golf tournament to support the National Capital Chapter of the National Multiple Sclerosis Society, the Montgomery County Chapter of the Autism Society of America and other various charities. Their annual school supply drive to benefit Niño's Unidos and Brown Station Elementary School was held to give children access to the right supplies needed to succeed in life. The supplies were presented to the organizations in late August. On September 15, 2009, an Evening of Service was held at the Bethesda Naval Hospital. Dinner was prepared for the firefighters who serve the Naval base and Montgomery County. Baskets were also prepared for the wounded soldiers at the Naval hospital.
Also, during the week of October 15, 2009, the firm kicked off the "Bigs in Schools" program for the second year in a row. This is a mentoring program through Big Brothers Big Sisters of that National Capital Area that gives our employees the opportunity to be matched with a "little" in a neighboring elementary school and eat lunch with them once a week.
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Pender Newkirk & Company (Tampa, FL), admitted David Ritzert to audit partner. Ritzert joins the firm's SEC practice division and specializes in services for public company clients as well as growth-oriented privately held companies.
 The firm was recently named one of Tampa Bay’s Top Work Places 2010 by the St. Petersburg Times. Employers in the Tampa Bay region were nominated by their employees, who were then surveyed about a variety of topics, including practices and policies that make these companies the top places to work.
The companies were ranked based on leadership, compensation and training, workplace flexibility, and diversity. The rankings were published on TampaBay.com, in the March 21 edition of the St. Petersburg Times and on March 22 in the Tampa Bay Times. To be considered for participation, companies or government entities had to employ at least 50 workers in Florida. The Top Work Places 2010 in Tampa Bay program was created by the St. Petersburg Times and WorkplaceDynamics.
“This report is significant because it is an unprecedented effort to understand how Tampa Bay's companies are creating strong, productive work environments, even in difficult economic times,” said Neil Brown, Times executive editor and vice president. “We share the stories of the employees and offer an inside look into what’s working and where there’s opportunity to grow.” |
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Petrie Raymond, Montreal, Quebec, has launched a new bilingual website: www.petrieraymond.qc.ca
The website’s main objectives are to illustrate Petrie Raymond’s mission, to communicate its core values and to publicize the services the firm provides. What’s more, the firm thinks of its website as one of its best tools to portray the people who carry the firm’s values and to highlight the talent that supplies the quality services. Furthermore the firm looks at its website to describe the type of person it is looking for as employees and what it is willing to do in order to help them develop. Finally, the firm wants to make sure to point out Petrie Raymond’s rich history and underline the benefits of its affiliations with AGN, PCAOB and CPAB for its clients and the members of the firm. |
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Rothstein, Kass & Company, P.C. (nine offices in NY, NJ, CA, TX, CO, and Cayman Islands) released “Heading for the Exits: Preparing for the Sale of a Family Business,” industry research that evaluates the near- and intermediate-term outlook for family business owners considering the sale of a majority stake. The two-part report includes the findings of a survey of 382 C-level executives of first-generation, family-owned enterprises that were actively considering sale of a majority stake in their companies.
Rosalie Mandel, Principal, will be honored by Executive Women of New Jersey (”EWNJ”) at its Salute to the Policy Makers 2010 Awards Dinner on May 13th, at the Hyatt Regency in New Brunswick, NJ. Currently celebrating its 30th anniversary, EWNJ holds the biennial fund-raising event to recognize women of professional distinction in New Jersey. The Salute to the Policy Makers has become a prestigious list of the Garden State’s most accomplished women.
The firm will team up with Autism Speaks to spread awareness and raise funds for the charity. Salvatore Collemi, Senior Manager at Rothstein Kass and inaugural Chair for Autism Speaks’ Tri-State Corporate Committee, will lead Rothstein Kass’ National Corporate Walk Teams. Rothstein Kass will participate in the fundraising walks for Autism Speaks in each of the Firm’s eight locations. Autism Speaks’ Walk Now for Autism, is the U.S.'s largest autism walk program and its signature fundraising and awareness event. |
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The Green Bay Area Chamber of Commerce celebrated its 5th annual BBJ magazine’s “People You Should Know” awards on February 11, honoring 31 local individuals including Diane Roundy of Schenck SC (eight offices in Wisconsin).
As Director of Business Development for Schenck, Roundy oversees the marketing and business development functions of the firm. She provides training and strategic direction for the firm’s marketing efforts including public relations, advertising, promotion and communication. Roundy is a member of the board of directors for multiple community organizations such as the Green Bay Packers, Denmark State Bank, Girl Scouts of Northwestern Great Lakes, and the Green Bay Area Chamber of Commerce Group Purchasing.
This year’s awards, entitled “20 + 10 People You Should Know in 2010,” honored 21 individuals (due to a tie) who have more than 10 years of experience in their respective industries and have made a significant impact in their fields. The awards also honored 10 individuals with 10 or fewer years of experience in their respective industries or fields who have made a significant impact in their fields. All honorees met criteria for which the BBJ “People You Should Know” awards are known, including accomplishments / contributions in their respective industries; spirit, drive, ambition, innovativeness and creativity; employment at Green Bay Area Chamber of Commerce members; and living or working in Brown County. Diane Roundy was nominated for her experience in the marketing and business development field. |
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Sharrard, McGee & Co., P.A., two offices in North Carolina, is pleased to announce that Scott McCain, a Senior Accountant, has been designated as a Certified Public Accountant by the North Carolina State Board of CPA Examiners.
Scott is a Greensboro native and has a BS in Accounting from Appalachian State University. He has six years experience in public accounting. |
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