Professionals on the Move is a round-up of recent hiring and promotion announcements from around the profession.
CohnReznick Brings on Financial Services Partner Angela Ty
CohnReznick LLP, one of the leading advisory, assurance, and tax firms in the United States, recently announced that Angela (Angie) Ty has joined the firm as a Financial Services Partner. Based in the San Francisco Bay Area, Ty specializes in the alternative investments industry with a specific focus on private equity, venture capital, and hedge funds. She has nearly two decades of experience providing insights on technical matters and trends to clients and other stakeholders.
Ty’s experience includes leading the highly successful launch of a new solution for alternative investment managers; developing the U.S. ESG reporting strategy for private equity and asset management clients for a Big Four firm; and leading cross-functional teams to advise asset management clients on technical accounting and reporting topics. Prior to that, Ty was a partner in a Big Four firm’s audit practice specializing in venture capital and private equity funds.
Ty earned a BS in Business Administration from the University of California – Berkeley. She is a licensed CPA in California and a board member for CalAlts, Safe & Sound – San Francisco, and Project Glimmer – San Francisco.
Dave Libbares joins Forvis Mazars in Metro D.C.
Dave Libbares has joined Forvis Mazars, one of the largest public accounting and consulting firms in the United States, as an audit partner in the firm’s Metro D.C. office.
Libbares has more than 16 years of experience performing audits and providing advisory services to companies of diverse sizes across an array of industries
Prior to joining Forvis Mazars, Libbares spent 12 years at a large international firm, where he supported a wide spectrum of government contractors, including small businesses and startups, growing middle-market companies, and large organizations providing professional services, software and technology development, manufacturing, equipment resale, and more.
Libbares has served on the board of directors for the national capital chapter of the Association for Corporate Growth. He holds bachelor’s and master’s degrees in accounting from James Madison University in Harrisonburg, Virginia.
Lavine, Lofgren, Morris & Engelberg, LLP Elevates Justin Betyar to Audit Partner
Lavine, Lofgren, Morris & Engelberg, LLP (LLME), San Diego’s largest independent certified public accounting firm, has elevated Justin Betyar to audit partner. The trusted adviser known for his technical expertise and client-focused approach stepped into the new role on Jan. 1.
Betyar joined LLME after earning his master’s in accounting from San Diego State University and transitioning from an early career in sales. Initially starting out in the firm’s tax department serving professional athletes and other high-net-worth individuals, Betyar transitioned to auditing nearly a decade ago. He’s since managed a diverse portfolio of clients including family businesses, billion-dollar enterprises, nonprofits and companies in manufacturing, technology, real estate and beyond.
Industry Leaders Keri Gohman and Dan Wernikoff Join BILL Board of Directors
BILL (NYSE: BILL), a leading financial operations platform for small and midsize businesses (SMBs), recently announced that innovative fintech executive Keri Gohman and visionary software leader Dan Wernikoff have joined the company’s board of directors.
Keri Gohman
Keri has spent her career innovating in financial services working across payments, banking, and the accounting sector. She is a proven software and fintech executive with a track record of scaling SaaS businesses for growth, including in the legal and accounting markets. She has held leadership and strategy roles with established financial services firms and technology companies, including GE, Capital One, Intuit, and Xero. She is currently a board member at CARET and was previously the CEO. She is also a board member at Practice Tek, and has served as an Operating Partner and Senior Advisor at technology investment firm Bain Capital Ventures.
Dan Wernikoff
Dan has a proven track record of innovation in the software and payment industries, especially serving SMBs, with over 15 years of experience leading well-known business and consumer brands. He most recently served as CEO of LegalZoom, the largest business formation platform, where he led the company through significant growth and a major shift to a subscription-based business model. Prior, Dan held executive roles at Intuit, including EVP and GM of both the small business and the consumer groups. In the small business group, he oversaw the transformation of QuickBooks from a desktop, US-based software business to a global, cloud-based ecosystem. During his leadership, the first native version of QuickBooks Online was launched with integrated payments, payroll, and a newly created Intuit Partner Platform. In the consumer group, he was responsible for the creation of TurboTax Live.
Kight and Wagner Stepping Down from BILL’s Board of Directors
Board members Pete Kight and Scott Wagner are retiring from their board roles, with Kight transitioning into a new advisory role as Director Emeritus for BILL.
Herbein + Company, Inc. Names Joshua A. Pollet, CPA, as Chief Financial Officer
Herbein + Company, Inc. (Herbein) recently announced a series of strategic leadership transitions designed to position the firm for continued growth and success. These changes reflect Herbein’s commitment to aligning its leadership structure with its strategic priorities.
At the core of these transitions, Joshua A. Pollet, CPA, has been appointed Chief Financial Officer, effective October 1, 2025. Pollet will succeed current CFO Joseph J. Witkowski, CPA, who plans to retire in late 2026 after an exceptional 33-year career with the firm.
Pollet’s appointment underscores Herbein’s focus on developing exceptional leaders. A proven leader, Pollet joined Herbein as an intern and became the third in the firm’s history to achieve partnership in 2017.
In addition to Pollet’s appointment, Herbein announced two other key leadership transitions:
- Craig A. Mengel, CPA, a partner since 2017, has been appointed Managing Director of the Business Enterprise Practice; dedicated to serving small and mid-sized business clients. Mengel’s client-focused approach and strategic vision will support the continued growth of the practice. He succeeds Partner Steven M. Wolf, CPA, who will now guide Herbein’s M&A post-integration processes.
- Christopher M. Turtell, CPA, a partner since 2016, has been named Managing Director of the firm’s Assurance Practice, succeeding Pollet. Turtell’s expertise in quality control, client service, and team development will enhance the practice’s ability to meet client needs and drive future success.
PKF O’Connor Davies Announces 2025 Partner Promotions
PKF O’Connor Davies, one of the nation’s largest accounting, tax and advisory practices, recently announced the promotion of six employees to leadership positions within the organization. Robert Cermeli, Valerie Imondi, Krista Karabel, Christina McLoughlin, Andrew Musci and Rebecca Welnak have been elevated to the role of Partner.
Robert Cermeli brings nearly 30 years of tax and public accounting experience to the organization’s Financial Services Tax group and specializes in all aspects of tax compliance and planning for individuals, corporations and partnerships. Leveraging more than 25 years of experience with federal and multistate tax regulations, he regularly delivers tax planning solutions for fund managers, family offices and high-net-worth individuals. He also has experience with various aspects of financial statement preparation and analysis. He is based in the organization’s New York City office.
Valerie Imondi has nearly 20 years of experience in public accounting, serving clients as part of the organization’s Business Solutions group. She provides accounting, tax preparation and estate planning services to client. Most recently, Valerie received the “Outstanding CPA in Chapter Service Award” from the New York State Society of Certified Public Accountants in 2024 and was honored with a “Hudson Valley’s Top Forty Under 40 Mover & Shaker” award by the Dutchess County Regional Chamber of Commerce in 2023. She is based in the organization’s Newburgh, New York, office.
Krista Karabel brings more than 10 years of experience in public accounting to her work in the organization’s audit practice. She has additional experience working with other not-for-profit entities, including higher education institutions, schools and foundations. Beyond client engagements, Krista is extremely active in her community and serves on the board of a not-for-profit organization supporting brain cancer patients and their families. She is based in the organization’s Harrison, New York, office.
Christina McLoughlin has nearly 15 years of experience in public accounting and taxation, serving clients in the organization’s Wealth Services division. She regularly provides strategic tax planning, consulting and compliance services to high-net-worth individuals and their families, partnerships, estates and trusts. She is based in the organization’s Harrison office.
Andrew Musci brings more than 10 years of experience in public accounting and auditing to the organization’s Affordable Housing and Not-for-Profit groups. He works with a wide range of not-for-profit and affordable housing entities, including charitable organizations, social services agencies that receive government funding, Low-Income Housing Tax Credit (LIHTC) limited partnerships, and not-for-profit sponsor organizations and developers. Andrew serves as the treasurer of a nonprofit organization that provides affordable housing in northern Westchester. He is based in the organization’s Harrison office.
Rebecca Welnak has nearly 20 years of tax planning and consulting experience, regularly working with businesses and their owners in manufacturing, distribution, architecture, engineering and professional services. With clients ranging from small, privately held businesses to large, complex companies, she primarily delivers federal and state tax consulting and compliance support to businesses with multistate operations and numerous state and local tax considerations. She is based in the organization’s Woburn, Massachusetts, office.
Ashton Thomas Private Wealth Announces Key Hires; Bolsters West Coast Presence
Ashton Thomas Private Wealth, an Arax Investment Partners firm, recently announced that Mark Cavalier, Jonathan Smith and Gregory Weiss have joined the firm as Managing Directors and Partners. They will join former Wells Fargo Senior Vice President and Group Finance Officer, Michael Hansen, as well as four administrative staff, to establish a new Ashton Thomas office in San Francisco’s Financial District, which will serve as a hub for the firm’s growth in the Western region.
Prior to joining Ashton Thomas, Mr. Cavalier, Mr. Smith and Mr. Weiss served as Principals of the No. 16 Wall Street Private Wealth Management Group at Wells Fargo Advisors, where they managed over $2.5 billion in client assets. Together, they bring decades of experience helping individuals and institutions to coordinate tailored wealth management strategies, and a dedicated commitment to top-tier client service. In their new roles, they will form the Pacific Private Wealth Group, with a focus on servicing the needs of foundations, business entities and affluent individuals and families in the Bay Area and beyond.
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