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Friday, Mar 29, 2024

25 Valley CPAs Who Are at the Top of Their Profession

Who’s Who: The Valley’s Top CPAs 25 Valley CPAs Who Are at the Top of Their Profession Dan Benson Audit Partner Deloitte & Touche Woodland Hills Audit partner with more than 19 years experience working with multinational corporations Extensive experience working with high-growth and technology companies, particularly those with international operations Clients include Dassault Systemes, General Motors, Microsoft, Power One, 3D Systems, THQ and Vertel “Dan has a very good reputation in the marketplace,” said Karim Teymourtache, a regional vice president with Union Bank of California. “All of Deloitte’s clients are very happy with them, and a lot of that has to do with their lead partner.” Michael Hart Michael J. Berns Partner Good Swartz Brown & Berns Studio City First became a partner in Brown Leifer Slatkin + Berns in 1969; firm underwent merger in January 2001 to become Good Swartz Brown & Berns with offices in Studio City and Los Angeles Business clients in the real estate, automotive, manufacturing and professional services sectors Sits on the board of the Studio City Chamber of Commerce Active in health care organizations such as Stop Cancer and the Colitis Foundation. Michael Hart David Cieslak Principal Information Technology Group Encino Principal with computer consulting firm with offices in Encino, Camarillo and Valencia Specializes in micro-computer accounting systems, information security and project development Frequently speaks on computerized accounting topics for the California Society of Certified Public Accountants and the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants Named to Accounting Today magazine’s 100 Most Influential People in Accounting list in 2001 Cal State Northridge accounting lecturer James Macklin said Cieslak “is widely recognized as a leader in the adoption of technology. He’s one of the people who taught us all how to use this stuff.” Currently sits on Harcourt’s CPA Technology and Internet Advisor editorial board Past president of the California CPA Education Foundation and an active participant in the CSCPA State Technology Committee. Michael Hart Gary E. Condie Partner Condie & Wood Valencia Began his career with Arthur Andersen & Co. in 1969 Served as executive vice president of Aquafine Corp. before being named president of A.M.E. Label Corp. where he served from 1987 to 1990 Founded Condie & Wood in 1990 with partner Larry Wood Enjoys working with entrepreneurs. “They are movers and shakers and they keep you on your toes,” he said. Formed the Los Angeles County and California Certified Public Accountants Marketing Committees Often asked to speak at colleges and universities around the country Lectures at seminars for Automatic Data Payroll Inc. (ADP), the National Assn. of Accountants and other trade organizations Involved in Boys and Girls Club charitable activities Jim Powder, owner of James Powder CPA in Santa Clarita, said Condie is known for his professionalism and ethics. “He’s not afraid to say that something may be beyond his expertise and ask for help to get things done,” Powder said. Carlos Martinez Carolyn Fox Principal Carolyn Fox, CPA Encino Began her career with the Internal Revenue Service in 1965, after the Civil Rights Act of 1964 allowed, among other changes, women to work as CPAs for the first time Received her degree from Cal State Los Angeles the same year Initially majored in math, but realized she had an interest in business “I took my first accounting class and that was it. I was hooked,” Fox said. Started her own company in 1977 after deciding that, as a single mother of two, she needed the flexibility to set her own schedule Said biggest challenge of being a sole practitioner is keeping up with changes in the law on her own Past recipient of the Member of the Year Award from the National Association of Women Business Owners and the SBA Accounting Advocate of the Year award for the Western Region A past president of the California Society of CPAs “She’s been a mentor to me,” said Nancy Wheeler-Chandler, current CalCPA president and a partner at Hecox Horn & Wheeler in Encino. “In fact, she is responsible for getting me involved with the Society of CPAs and I ended up as president.” Jacqueline Fox Mitchell Freedman President Mitchell Freedman Accountancy Corp. Sherman Oaks Specializes in business management and financial counseling for performing and creative artists … In 1988, became one of the first CPAs to earn a credential as a Personal Financial Specialist with a certification number of 133 Has been named by Worth magazine five consecutive times one of the 250 Best Financial Advisors in the United States Has authored and co-authored a number of books including the “Guide to Planning for Performing and Creative Artists” and the “Guide to Planning for Divorce” Has lectured on personal finance at Cal State Northridge and accounting at Adelphi University Founder and treasurer of the California Jump$tart Coalition, a non-profit organization dedicated to improving the financial literacy of California’s youth Former New York-based partner Andrew Blackman said, “Mitch just gets out in front and does things most CPAs don’t do. I know a lot of CPAs in California, and I feel like Mitch stands head and shoulders above the rest of them.” Michael Hart Randy Galgas Partner Perry Hay & Chu Woodland Hills Currently Perry Hay & Chu’s partner in charge of information and technology consulting Oversees the firm’s technology consulting department which provides technology assessments, accounting system integration and system security consulting to clients Co-chair of the CalCPA Los Angeles chapter’s Technology Discussion Group James Greene of RSM McGladrey Inc. said, “Randy’s been attracting clients to his firm through his computer expertise. The firm is very service-oriented, so this blend of accounting and computing is very helpful.” 1998 graduate of UC Santa Barbara with a degree in business economics. Michael Hart Mannon Kaplan Managing Partner Miller, Kaplan, Arase & Co. North Hollywood Forty-year veteran of Miller, Kaplan, Arase & Co., the largest CPA firm in the San Fernando Valley and the seventh largest in Los Angeles Kaplan has been managing partner of the firm since 1977 A specialist in employee benefits, Kaplan served on the committee that wrote the guidelines for auditing employee benefit funds for the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants and as chairman of the International Foundation of Employee Benefit Plans’ Accountants Committee Has served as CPA for employee benefit funds totaling $20 billion to $30 billion in assets, and has lectured extensively on the subject “What he brings is great experience, great judgement and very good counsel,” said Tom Zimmerman, executive administrative director of the Motion Picture Industry Pension & Health Plans. “He’s more than just a number-cruncher; he’s a top-notch professional.” Member of the Jewish Federation Council’s Board of Governors, president of the Patron’s Association of Los Angeles Valley College, chairman of the Jewish National Fund San Fernando Valley Region and chairman of Adat Ari El Endowment Fund, among numerous other civic activities. Shelly Garcia Mel Kohn Partner Kirsch, Kohn & Bridge Encino Began his career at a Westside firm called Gold Eisenberg & Co. in 1970 Left the firm in 1977 and operated as a sole practitioner until 1982, when he merged with current partners Serves as both managing and practicing partner, dealing with privately held companies and individuals Former recipient of the L.A. Business Journal’s “Who’s Who in Accounting” award and “Small Business Advocate of the Year” award from the California Chamber of Commerce in 2001 Former chairman of the Valley Industry and Commerce Association and current co-chair of the city’s Business Tax Advisory Committee, which is creating a blueprint for business tax reform Married, two children and two grandchildren The second-generation Angeleno has lived in the Valley since 1967 Now a resident of Tarzana. Jacqueline Fox Al Leifer Partner Good, Swartz, Brown & Berns Studio City As a UCLA student, wanted to become a tax lawyer, but later changed his mind and chose accounting instead Based in Studio City, he has more than 40 years experience with the Valley business community Focuses on estate planning “The biggest challenges are in helping companies facing substantial tax issues and to help them turn things around,” he said. Has counseled clients in financial matters on every topic from buying and selling a business to retirement and exit strategies Has served as an expert witness in various legal cases Also specializes in real estate, professional services and health care Co-founded Brown Leifer in 1957 when he was 25, making him the youngest CPA to establish his own firm in the Los Angeles area at the time Founder and president of Cancer411.org. Carlos Martinez Gregory Lippe Partner Lever Lippe Hellie & Russell Woodland Hills A graduate of Woodbury University, certified since 1970 Began his career with Touche Ross & Co. in Los Angeles, now Deloitte & Touche Joined Chase, Bierman & Dunn in 1969 Reorganized the firm in 1994 and created Lever Lippe Hellie & Russell One of the first Valley-based CPAs to obtain licensing to sell stocks and securities The firm holds monthly “salons” for business networking Serves as chairman of VICA’s committee on runaway film production Unwinds by taking weekly singing lessons, hosting karaoke parties and parasailing. Jacqueline Fox Donald J. Miod Principal Miod & Company Sherman Oaks Got his start as an accountant after working as an assembler at Lockheed Aircraft in Burbank “I wasn’t thrilled with what I was doing at Lockheed and I knew accounting would be an option for me,” Miod said. Worked for a number of firms before establishing Miod & Company in 1984 Developed a complex flow on accounting issues for the Internal Revenue Service which is still in use Has served as an expert witness on accounting in a number of court cases Served as chairman of the California Society of CPAs Lectures at universities and colleges, conducts seminars on litigation issues and has had a number of articles published in trade publications Partner Steven B. Garelick said Miod’s professionalism and ethics are well respected in the business community Served in the U.S. Army during the Vietnam War. Carlos Martinez Mark Nelson Managing Partner Ernst & Young Woodland Hills Worked with Ernst & Young his entire career, a period of 26 years Has been at the firm’s Woodland Hills office since 1985 Worked with the Los Angeles 1984 Olympic Organizing Committee, organizing, outlining and managing its budget Has worked with various industries, such as automotive, manufacturing, electronics, retail and heavy industry Leads the firm’s Pacific Southwest region in retail, distribution, service and manufacturing accounts Helped get Packard Bell its start when the firm was a tiny startup working out of a trailer in Woodland Hills. “It was a great experience working with them because you could see them grow right in front of your eyes,” Nelson said. Ernst & Young managing partner and colleague Jim Peters said Nelson’s strength lies in his expertise. “He’s a really savvy business person when it gets down to it. He understands business tactics and strategy, so he brings a lot to the table,” Peters said. Carlos Martinez Tim Paulson Chief Financial Officer Premier America Credit Union Woodland Hills Began in 1970 what would turn out to be a 30-year career with Litton Industries as an auditor and ultimately worked in the firm’s Van Nuys office Moved in 1988 to College Park, Md. with Litton to serve as the company’s vice president of finance “That was my first opportunity to be the head guy,” Paulson said. Transferred back to the company’s Woodland Hills office a few years later when he was promoted to senior vice president and remained there until the company was sold to Northrop Grumman Corp. Accepted the position of CFO with Premier America in August 2001 Had served on Premier’s board of directors for nearly two decades “So basically, the transition from a closely held entity to the financial services industry was pretty straightforward because I already had a top-level view of how things worked and it’s been tremendous,” Paulson said. Attended the University of Wisconsin-Madison Lives in Westlake Village Married with six children “Last November I joined the board of Premier America, and Tim just seems to be outstanding,” said Nancy Wheeler-Chandler, partner at Hecox, Horn & Wheeler in Encino. “He makes excellent presentations and his command of the field of finance as it relates to financial services is excellent and informative.” Jacqueline Fox Robert J. Pearlman Partner BDO Seidman Westlake Village Over 20 years experience in finance and accounting Prior to joining BDO Seidman in July 2002, Pearlman was a partner and technology practice leader at Grant Thornton LLP During his seven-year tenure at Grant Thornton, Pearlman directed accounting and auditing functions for 40 to 50 technology, manufacturing, distribution and publishing companies. Among his accomplishments, Pearlman helped a company in the 101 Tech Corridor restructure an employee stock option program that reduced the cost of the program by about 65 percent, or $13 million A specialist in emerging growth companies, Pearlman has established himself as a financial advisor as well as an accountant. “He really cuts to the chase and separates the wheat from the chaff,” said Royal A. Hanson, president and CEO of Hanson Research Corp., a laboratory test equipment manufacturer. “He can hone in on key issues and provide overall financial advice and clear analysis.” In addition to managing his own CPA firm, Pearlman & Markle, Pearlman was senior audit manager of Arthur Andersen & Co. from 1980 to 1987 He is the current president of the Los Angeles Venture Association, vice chairman of the Valley Industry & Commerce Association and a member of the advisory board of the Central Coast Venture Forum. Shelly Garcia James Peters Partner Ernst & Young Woodland Hills A 31-year veteran of Ernst & Young, James Peters is currently team leader for the technology and communications markets, specializing in venture-backed entrepreneurial companies Peters has served as auditor in dozens of sales transactions and, until the market dried up, at least 20 initial public offerings He began working with CitySearch when it was a startup with six employees, and saw the company through several financial transactions that ultimately resulted in the merger of CitySearch with Ticketmaster “Jim is very technically savvy, understands all the technical accounting guidelines and has a good grasp of how they’re applied in industry practice,” said J.P. Boone, director of finance at Ticketmaster Peters has also held assignments as Ernst & Young’s national director of recruiting and partner in the firm’s Newport Beach office. Shelly Garcia Anthony Radaich Partner Ernst & Young Woodland Hills Launched his career in 1969 at Arthur Andersen in Los Angeles and later opened that firm’s first office in the San Fernando Valley in 1983 Managed Andersen’s Woodland Hills office for nearly 20 years, until becoming a partner at Ernst & Young earlier this year Has taken more companies public than any other Valley-based CPA, including MRV Communications, California Amplifier and AML Communications Graduate of Cal Poly Pomona Father of six Loves boating, surfing and diving. Jacqueline Fox Don Rudkin Partner Deloitte & Touche Woodland Hills Partner in Deloitte & Touche’s Technology Group Clients include MannKind, Optical Communication Products, Power One, Advanced Bionics Corp. and Coast View Capital Bita Ardalan, a senior vice president at Union Bank of California, said, “He truly brings value to the companies he represents. They really view him as a partner and not just a necessary evil.” For the past four years, Deloitte’s L.A. deputy professional director for high tech, manufacturing and service companies. Responsibilities include second-partner quality assurance reviews, mentoring partners and training Was managing partner when Deloitte opened its Woodland Hills office in 1984. During four-year period, staff grew from three to 60 people. Michael Hart Larry E. Russell Partner Efirm Valencia Recently launched startup Efirm Inc. providing informational auditing consulting services The three-month-old startup offers risk assessment and internal controls for accounting systems Although Russell has served as an accountant since 1980, his emphasis has long been on technology consulting, most recently with Cambridge Technology Consulting Group He was controller for Gruber Systems, a maker of materials for the kitchen and bath industry, and network coordinator for Ernst & Young’s Los Angeles County offices Russell has also been an active lobbyist for the profession, most recently helping to defeat AB 1995 which would have put a number of limitations on the CPA’s area of operation He is a member of the technology committee, first vice president of the Los Angeles Chapter of Cal CPA and a member of the organization’s state advisory council. Shelly Garcia Jeff Scheinrock CEO Scheinrock Advisory Group Encino Former managing partner at Arthur Young, now Ernst & Young Founded Scheinrock Advisory Group in 1997 after serving as vice chairman, chief financial officer and director of Kistler Aerospace Corp. Helped formulate Kistler’s plan to raise $350 million in capital Served as vice chairman of finance and strategic planning at Packard Bell NEC Electronics from 1989 to 1996 Negotiated more than $1 billion in bank debt and $3 billion in trade credit from several companies, including Intel Inc. and Microsoft Corp. Served as CEO of Tornado Development Corp. from 1997 to August 2002, where he helped raise $52 million in equity “People respect the fact that I was a CEO and that I have experience with different companies, so they choose us for their particular needs,” he said. “He always had a keen sense of loyalty with the people he worked with and the clients and, because of that, people feel loyal to him,” said Steven J. Friedenthal, a partner in the accounting firm of Oberstein Stock & Friedenthal. Carlos Martinez Thomas R. Soule Certified Public Accountant North Hollywood Took the advice of a Fresno State professor who encouraged him to become an accountant Began his career with Price Waterhouse before moving on to two small accounting firms and, later, Olson Farms as its in-house accountant Opened his own San Fernando Valley firm in 1977 and has worked here ever since His clients are primarily manufacturing firms “Manufacturers are the kinds of firms that I enjoy working with because they give you the ability to be creative and use the tax laws to the fullest extent. A lot of credits such as research and development can be used to their advantage,” Soule said. By digging through reams of old documents, he recently helped resolve the complex tax problems of a local non-profit that had not filed its tax returns in years. Carlos Martinez Adrian B. Stern Partner Clumeck Stern Phillips & Schenkelberg Encino His wife’s law school studies sparked an interest in litigation, which ultimately led to a switch to a career as a court-appointed federal receiver Loves the challenge of going in and helping a company solve its financial problems, but says he’s never shut a company down that wasn’t in some form of trouble or another Graduated from the University of Michigan in 1979 and launched his own company in 1987 “I show up at a company with a lot of law enforcement backing me up because I don’t want anyone to freak out or get crazy,” Stern said. “But I love what I do because all those years I was able to tell my clients how to fix their businesses, and now I actually get to do it for the company myself.” James H. Macklin, lecturer of accounting at Cal State Northridge and an Arcadia-based CPA, said, “Adrian’s made a significant contribution to the industry by serving as an educator and taking on a variety of other positions. He’s also a very intelligent, energetic and dynamic CPA who serves his clients very well.” Jacqueline Fox Kirk Waldron Chief Financial Officer SMTEK Corp. Moorpark Currently CFO of SMTEK, an international electronic contract manufacturer Began career in 1985 on the audit side of what was then Ernst & Whinney Moved from there on to positions as controller at Winchell’s Donut Houses and Acme Holdings Inc. Got his first taste of moving distressed companies to safety when he was named CFO in 1996 of Dynamotion/ATI, an Orange County high tech company that, despite revenues in the $25 million range, was incurring significant losses. Waldron was able to steer the company’s finances to a position where the operations side could do its job Even more recently, was CFO, then president, of AML Communications Inc. of Camarillo, also in a turnaround situation Scott Sachs of Good Swartz Brown & Berns said, “Kirk is the kind of CPA that adds value to a business. He is not simply a debit and credit man.” Michael Hart Nancy Wheeler-Chandler Partner Hecox Horn & Wheeler Encino Currently chairwoman of the California Society of Certified Public Accountants; member of the state organization’s board since 1993 Previously president of the Los Angeles chapter of CalCPA Ten-year member of the society’s Group Insurance Trust Board of Trustees Partner at Hecox Horn & Wheeler since 1981 In 2001, named Woman Business Owner of the Year by the American Women’s Society of CPAs Member of the Premier America Credit Union Board of Directors Mel Kohn of Kirsch Kohn & Bridge said, “You have people who are leaders in their profession. She has the insight for it. She’s knowledgeable, she knows the issues and she represents us.” Michael Hart Paul J. White Managing Partner White Zuckerman Warsavsky Luna & Wolf Sherman Oaks Formed the firm in 1962 providing full range of accounting services; managing partner for the last 14 years Specializes in forensic accounting, provides litigation support services and has testified as an expert witness before the Superior Court in hundreds of cases since 1969 Analyzes financial, valuation and tax aspects of divorces, partnership/corporation dissolutions, patent infringements, malpractice and criminal fraud cases Has lectured extensively on forensic accounting and litigation services for CalCPA, USC, Cal States L.A. and Northridge Besides experience in forensics, has served as CEO or CFO in a number of start-up businesses. Michael Hart Cal State Northridge Top Student: Richmond C. McMurray Earl Weiss, chairman of the accounting and information systems department at Cal State Northridge, said, “Richmond may be one of the most talented students who will ever graduate from our accounting program.” A senior majoring in accounting at Cal State Northridge, Richmond has a cumulative GPA of 3.96, an accounting GPA of 4.00 and has been on the Dean’s List five consecutive semesters Currently an audit intern at the Los Angeles office of KPMG Business honors student every semester since fall 1999 and a Business Honors Advisory Council member native of Lancaster Weiss goes on to say, “In my 22 years of teaching, I have had the opportunity to work with many students who went on to greatness in their careers. But not one of those individuals ever exhibited as much promise as Richmond does. His potential is off the scale.” Michael Hart How CPAs Find Way Onto List The San Fernando Valley Business Journal’s list of the 25 most outstanding CPAs in the Greater San Fernando Valley was determined by the editor of the Business Journal with the assistance of the editorial staff. Nominations were solicited from readers as well as professional accounting organizations. Represented on the list are certified public accountants associated with national firms with offices in the Valley, local firms of all sizes, sole practitioners and those who work in the private sector, i.e. chief financial officers, controllers and accounting managers.

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