Professionals on the Move – May 26, 2015

Bank of America Merrill Lynch Hires New Managers
Bank of America Merrill Lynch recently announced the selection of Bradford Chambers as Market Manager in Los Angeles and Max Oligario as Senior Vice President and Senior Client Manager in Tampa. In this new role, Chambers will be responsible for business development, strengthening client relationships and helping middle market clients meet their financial goals. He received his bachelor’s of science degree in business finance with a minor in economics from San Jose State University.

Oligario will be serve middle market companies with annual revenues of $50 million to $2 billion and have responsibility for building and maintaining full banking relationships with businesses throughout Tampa Bay. His experience includes commercial lending, commercial real estate lending and retail banking. Oligario received his Bachelor of Science degree in finance with a minor in communications from Florida State University and his Masters in Business Administration degree with a concentration in finance, management and marketing from the University of South Florida.

Legrand Software Names New Business Development Manager
Legrand Software, Inc. recently announced that Michelle Owens is joining Legrand CRM as Business Development Manager for North America. Owens will be responsible for developing business channels in the U.S. and Canada by building relationships with Legrand’s partners. Owens has extensive experience, having held several senior consultative sales and supply-chain management positions within the high-tech industry, including six years with Intuit as a National Accounts Manager.

PwC Announces Board Leader
PricewaterhouseCoopers US recently announced that Paula Loop will lead PwC’s Center for Board Governance and PwC’s Investor Resource Institute. In her combined leadership role, Loop will oversee PwC’s efforts to connect both organizations and focus on the issues and topics that are important to both, such as cyber security and board diversity. Loop has more than 20 years of experience at PwC, particularly in governance issues, technical accounting and SEC and financial reporting matters.

Surety Association of New Jersey Names New President
The Surety Association of New Jersey recently appointed Jennifer DeMaria, CPA as its new Board President. DeMaria is a senior manager in the Eatontown, NJ office of CohnReznick LLP and has been an active member of the Surety Association of New Jersey for the last six years. DeMaria’s experience includes providing audit, review, compilation, consulting and accounting services to privately held, middle market companies in the construction and engineering industries. She is also involved in CohnReznick’s WomenCAN initiative and is a formal mentor and performance manager. DeMaria is an active member of Professional Women in Construction and the Utility and Transportation Contractors Association of New Jersey.

Former State and Federal Prosecutor Named Senior Advisor to CohnReznick
CohnReznick LLP recently announced that Attorney Edwin H. Stier is joining its firm as a senior advisor. In his new role, Stier will provide integrity monitoring services, help clients establish internal controls and compliance systems, lead crisis management and conflict resolution teams, and be instrumental in investigative and anti-corruption services. Stier has more than 17 years of experience as a federal and state prosecutor and 33 years in private practice. He has conducted and supervised investigations for private and public entities throughout the country and monitored the cleanup activities at the World Trade Center following the September 11, 2001 terrorist attack. Stier graduated from Rutgers University and Rutgers University School of Law.

O’Connor Davies Announces Merger with McEnerney, Brady & Company, LLC
O’Connor Davies, LLP recently announced it is merging with McEnerney, Brady & Company, LLC. After the merger, McEnerney, Brady & Company will operate as a division of O’Connor Davies and remain at its Essex County location. This merger follows another acquisition by O’Connor Davies, which took place in January, as the firm strives to build its specialty practice areas through strategic partnerships.

Graydon Thompson CPAs Names New Tax Manager
Graydon Thompson LLC recently named David Knobeloch, CPA as Manager of Tax and Advisory Services with the firm. Knobeloch’s public accounting experience includes tax research, planning and compliance for high net worth individuals in manufacturing, real estate, professional services and healthcare industries. He graduated from Clemson University with his Bachelor of Science degree in Accounting and Masters of Professional Accountancy.

Grant Thornton LLP Adds New Professionals
Grant Thornton LLP recently announced that the addition of Dan Mennel and Ann Marie (Schmitz) Williams as partners and Tom Joseph as a managing director. Mennel will join the firm’s Strategic Federal Tax Services practice. He has more than 15 years of experience in R&D tax credits and incentives, research and analysis, software development and testing, and defending numerous claims before the IRS.

In addition to partner, Williams will also serve as the Mid-South Private Wealth Services practice leader. She has more than 20 years of experience working with high-net worth individuals, multigenerational wealthy families and privately held business owners on a range of issues, including business succession planning, estate planning and complex wealth transfer strategies.

Joseph will be a managing director in the firm’s Financial Services Advisory practice. His nearly 25 years of experience includes enhancing business models, growth strategies, cross-functional enterprise business integration, sales and business development and leading new business startups in large Fortune 100 companies, as well as optimizing core operations.

AICPA Honors CPAs
The American Institute of CPAs recently recognized Terry Murphy, CPA with its 2015 Public Service Award for Individuals and Julie A. Welch, CPA/PFS with its 2015 Sidney Kess Award for Excellence in Continuing Education. Murphy was recognized for his contributions to his community. At the age of 50, Murphy decided to retire so that he could help at-risk-youth. He has spent the past 23 years volunteering at different elementary schools in Detroit and Grand Rapids. He has also worked with the Michigan Association of CPAs to collect and distribute books. Murphy serves as a board member for Michigan’s Children and previously served as its chair. He is also a board member at the HighScope Education Research Foundation. Murphy received his Bachelor’s of Science degree in accounting from the University of Detroit.

Welch was recognized for her contributions in tax and financial planning and public service. She is a partner and shareholder with Meara Welch Browne, P.C. and the director of the firm’s tax department. Welch has served in multiple charitable, civic and business organizations in her state and local community over the past 30 years. Welch is the co-author of 101 Tax Saving Ideas and has been featured in The Practical Accountant and The Kansas City Star. She’s a national tax-planning speaker and has appeared on radio and television and has been quoted in numerous publications. Welch earned her Bachelor of Science in Accounting and Business Administration from William Jewell College and her Master of Science in Accounting with a Taxation Focus from the University of Missouri-Kansas City.

Morison International Appoints New Chairman
Morison International recently announced that Mark Levenfus, Managing Partner of Marks Paneth LLP, has been appointed Chairman. Levenfus has served as an MIL director for the past three years and is already spearheading MI’s strategic development into North America and other key markets.