Professionals on the Move is a collection of recent hiring, promotion, awards, and other staffing announcements from around the accounting space.
Kaufman Rossin elects Marc Feigelson as next CEO – Feigelson will succeed Blain Heckaman in June 2026
Kaufman Rossin, the largest independent CPA and advisory firm in Florida and one of the top 50 firms in the U.S., recently announced that Marc Feigelson, CPA, the firm’s current Chief Financial Officer, has been elected as Kaufman Rossin’s next Chief Executive Officer. Feigelson will assume the role on June 1, 2026, following the retirement of current CEO Blain Heckaman, CPA.
This planned leadership transition highlights Kaufman Rossin’s thoughtful approach to maintaining independence and supporting long-term success for clients and employees alike.
Heckaman joined Kaufman Rossin in 1984 and has led the firm since June 2012, succeeding founder Jim Kaufman. Under Heckaman’s leadership, Kaufman Rossin expanded its geographic reach and enhanced its advisory services, adding business consulting, risk advisory, forensic advisory, and specialty tax practices.
Feigelson brings extensive financial leadership and strategic perspective to the CEO role. He has served as CFO since 2022 and has been instrumental in driving operational excellence and sustainable growth. His election as the firm’s next leader reinforces Kaufman Rossin’s deliberate choice to remain independent in an industry landscape where many firms are accepting private equity investment or merging into larger national platforms.
Cronin Joins CohnReznick as Sales and Purchase Agreement Managing Director
CohnReznick, a leading professional services firm, recently announced that Deirdre Cronin has joined the firm as a Managing Director leading its Sales and Purchase Agreement (SPA) Advisory practice. Cronin brings deep expertise in sales and purchase agreements and contract closing mechanisms, helping clients navigate complex transactions, minimize post‑closing disputes, and protect deal value throughout the M&A lifecycle.
With nearly two decades of experience in financial advisory, due diligence, and audit, Cronin has built a strong track record supporting buyers and sellers through each phase of the transaction process. Her expertise includes advising on post‑transaction adjustments, developing working capital methodologies, structuring earn‑outs, and leading multidisciplinary teams across global engagements.
Cronin joins CohnReznick from a Big Four firm, where she held progressive leadership roles across Los Angeles, New York, and Dublin, focused on contract closing mechanisms, financial due diligence, and audit. She holds a Master’s in Accounting & Finance from the Dublin Institute of Technology and a Bachelor’s in Business from Dublin City University, and is an Associate Chartered Accountant (ACA).
Bennett Thrasher Expands International Tax Practice, Welcoming New Partner Matt Pellegrom
Bennett Thrasher, a nationally acclaimed full-service accounting and advisory firm, recently announced the addition of Matt Pellegrom as an international tax partner in its Atlanta office.
In his new role, Pellegrom will lead advisory services for U.S.-based multinational and foreign-owned businesses navigating cross-border tax laws and exposure, while supporting the continued expansion of the firm’s international tax practice.
Pellegrom brings more than a decade of experience in international tax, including compliance and planning, foreign tax credits, Report of Foreign Bank and Financial Accounts (FBAR) reporting, and global restructuring. He has advised clients across essential industries, including manufacturing, technology, and healthcare.
Before joining Bennett Thrasher, Pellegrom spent more than 11 years with Grant Thornton, where he built his career in the firm’s international tax practice. During his tenure, he advised multinational clients on complex cross-border tax matters while collaborating with global teams and gaining international market exposure through participation in assignments abroad, including a six-month project in India.
An Atlanta native, Pellegrom earned both his undergraduate degree in accounting and his Master of Accountancy from the University of Georgia. He is active in the Atlanta community through the World Affairs Council of Atlanta, where he participated in the inaugural Global Leadership Fellows program, connecting business and civic leaders to strengthen Atlanta’s role in the global marketplace.
Papke Joins CohnReznick as Transaction Advisory Managing Director
March 25, 2026 — CohnReznick, a leading professional services firm, recently announced that Nicholas Papke has joined the firm as a Managing Director in its rapidly growing Transaction Advisory practice. Papke joins the firm with extensive deal experience, having led more than 100 transactional advisory engagements since 2020. His broad expertise encompasses financial due diligence, cross‑border team leadership, operational analysis, and advisory support across a wide range of industries and deal structures.
Throughout his career, Papke has managed complex buy‑side and sell‑side diligence engagements, primarily for organizations with revenues from $10 million to $1 billion, as well as intricate multinational carve‑outs and acquisitions valued up to $10 billion. He is particularly adept at evaluating EBITDA performance, identifying critical deal issues, assessing operational drivers, and delivering insights that inform valuation and negotiation strategies.
Papke joins CohnReznick following 10 years at a large global professional services firm. A strong advocate for global integration, he served as the primary liaison between U.S. and India–based advisory teams focusing on scaling capabilities, strengthening coordination, and enhancing cross‑border engagement quality. Papke earned Master of Professional Accountancy and B.B.A. degrees from the University of Wisconsin – Whitewater.
Frezza joins CohnReznick as Restructuring and Dispute Resolution Managing Director
CohnReznick, a leading professional services firm, recently announced that Robert J. (“Bob”) Frezza has joined the firm as a Managing Director in its national Restructuring and Dispute Resolution practice. Frezza brings more than 25 years of restructuring leadership experience, advising companies, lenders, and other creditors in distressed situations, both in and out of court.
Frezza’s broad industry experience includes many forms of manufacturing. Prior to his restructuring focus, Frezza provided buy-side M&A due diligence, quality of earnings, and integrations services, as well as audit and related services as a CPA/auditor. His more than 40 years of cumulative professional experience have involved both healthy and distressed businesses across the U.S. and Europe.
Before joining CohnReznick, Frezza was a managing director for a Big Four firm, assisting clients through various forms of transition. Before that, he was with a global consultancy focused on risk management, dispute resolution, and business performance and transformation. Frezza earned a B.B.A. in Accounting from Pace University – Lubin School of Business. He is accredited as a Certified Valuation Analyst (CVA) as well as a Certified Insolvency and Restructuring Advisor (CIRA).
Accounting Industry Veteran Joseph Serra Joins UHY as Firm Continues Rapid National Growth
UHY, one of the nation’s leading professional services firms, recently announced that Joseph (Joe) Serra will be joining the firm as a managing director in the firm’s tax practice.
A highly regarded veteran in the accounting profession, Serra brings years of experience guiding clients through complex financial transactions, including business acquisitions and sales. Most recently, he served as a senior partner at Metzler Locricchio Serra & Co (MLS & Co). He joins the firm along with MLS team members Monica Malloy and Nick Zobel. The trio will be based in UHY’s Great Lakes offices in Michigan, and the team’s MLS clients are transitioning to UHY.
Serra joins at a time of significant expansion for UHY. The firm—which employs more than 2,000 professionals across 40 U.S. offices—continues to invest in and enter key growth markets, including Boston, Cincinnati, South Carolina, and several others, as part of its strategy to serve the dynamic middle market with expanded capabilities and deeper industry expertise.
UHY Names Former PwC Partner and Respected Industry Leader Michael Burwell as Independent Member of Board of Directors
UHY Advisors, Inc., one of the nation’s leading professional services firms, recently announced that Michael (Mike) Burwell has been appointed as an independent member of its board of directors.
A highly regarded figure in the accounting and advisory profession, Burwell brings decades of experience guiding firms through operational transformation, governance enhancement, and rapid, profitable growth. His career includes more than three decades at PwC, where he held key leadership positions, including CFO, COO, and Vice Chairman of Global Transformation, overseeing large‑scale operational initiatives and enterprise-wide modernization efforts. He currently serves as Chief Financial Officer of NIQ, the world’s leading consumer intelligence company.
Burwell’s appointment comes at a time of significant expansion for UHY. The firm—which employs more than 2,000 professionals across 40 U.S. offices—continues to invest in and enter key growth markets, including Boston, Cincinnati, St. Louis, and several others, as part of its strategy to serve the dynamic middle market with expanded capabilities and deeper industry expertise.
DSWD Advisory Appoints Industry Veterans Phil Whitman and Brian Blaha to Board of Directors to Accelerate Strategic Growth
DSWD Advisory, a leading full-service accounting & advisory firm, recently announced the appointment of Phil Whitman and Brian Blaha to its Board of Directors. Their addition marks a pivotal moment for the firm as it seeks to strategically expand its footprint and enhance its organic and inorganic growth capabilities. Both Whitman and Blaha bring decades of complementary experience in firm strategy, mergers and acquisitions, and innovation within the accounting and professional services sectors.
About Phil Whitman
Phil Whitman, CPA, has been recognized by Accounting Today as one of the top 100 most influential people in accounting from 2022 to the present. He serves as CEO of Whitman Advisory, the nation’s largest advisory firm dedicated exclusively to helping CPA firms with M&A, talent solutions, profitability, and advisory service offerings. Whitman currently serves on multiple boards where, as both a CPA and seasoned facilitator, he has earned the trust of fellow board members, shareholders, and management teams by helping those organizations navigate complex decisions and align stakeholders toward clear outcomes.
About Brian Blaha
Brian is a nationally recognized growth strategist and leadership advisor at Winding River Consulting, where he works with managing partners, boards, and investing stakeholders to design intentional growth strategies, strengthen leadership alignment, and build sustainable enterprise value. He is passionate about helping firms scale through clarity of strategy, disciplined execution, and a people-first culture. Previously, Brian served as Chief Growth Officer of a Top 20 accounting firm, where he helped lead significant revenue expansion, built industry-focused go-to-market models, and guided the integration of numerous acquisitions. He currently serves as Chair of the Illinois CPA Society Board of Directors.
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