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2011 News and Events
Freed Maxick & Battaglia, CPAs strives to keep you informed of the latest firm news, issues and other information that affects your business. See the links below for the latest updates. For All Media Inquiries, please contact Emily Alexandria Burns,
716-332-2753 or email emily.burns@freedmaxick.com. Follow FreedMaxickPR on Twitter for news, events and up to the minute info.
12/31/2011
Freed Maxick CPAs, P.C. Acquires McGladrey's Buffalo, NY Non-Attest Tax and Consulting Assets
Buffalo, NY - Freed Maxick CPAs, P.C. has completed the acquisition of McGladrey & Pullen, LLP’s Buffalo, NY non-attest tax and consulting assets, reuniting those assets under a traditional CPA firm providing assurance, tax and consulting services. Effective immediately, the combined operations will be named Freed Maxick CPAs, P.C. (“Freed Maxick”). Freed Maxick will continue to access expanded national and global services through membership in the McGladrey Alliance, a premier affiliation of independent accounting and consulting firms in the United States with more than 90 members in 42 states and Puerto Rico.
According to Ronald J. Soluri, Sr., CPA, Managing Director of Freed Maxick, “We are pleased to deliver our services through a traditional CPA firm structure. With shared clients, our relationship with McGladrey has been, and will continue to be, very important. Our clients will continue to receive the same high-level service through the same client engagement teams.”
Joe Adams, Managing Partner and CEO of McGladrey & Pullen said, “This is a positive change for both firms. It supports McGladrey’s return to a traditional CPA firm structure while allowing us to continue to provide seamless support to clients in the Buffalo area through Freed Maxick’s membership in the McGladrey Alliance.”
12/10/2011
Rein Participates in international lending symposium in China
Freed Maxick's Howard A. Rein, CPA, CFE is in Shanghai, China this week to participate in a new international lending symposium for 150 Chinese bankers and regulators. He is one of eight members of the Commercial Finance Association set to share best asset-based lending practices with attendees. While in China, Rein will give presentations on audits, due diligence and forensic accounting practices.
11/7/2011
Freed Maxick Launches Google + Page
Freed Maxick announced today that it launched a corporate page on Google's social network site, Google +. The page, located at http://gplus.to/FreedMaxickCPAs, will provide the Firm's various communities access to a steady stream of the latest tax, business tips 
and tools. Primarily, the Firm will use Google + to help serve closely-held entrepreneurial businesses through its Enterprise Advisory Group. According to Eric Majchrzak, Freed Maxick's Director of Marketing, "Whether it's breaking news, updates, links, videos or photos, Google + offers us the ability to build relationships through engagement, even to the extent that we can talk via video face-to-face with various groups in our circles. Google + allows us to easily share specific content with specific audiences, and most of that content will come in the form of checklists, tax alerts, webinars, whitepapers, survey results, diagnostic tools and legislative overviews." According to Emily Burns, Freed Maxick's social media specialist, "With over 40,000,000 personal user accounts already on Google +, there is a huge potential to build communities from the ground up or tap into existing ones. Either way, we think our Firm has a place in this space. It will be different from our firm's Facebook page, which is more community driven. We'll use Google + to provide updates geared towards helping business owners save taxes, preserve wealth, enhance profitability, mitigate risk and achieve compliance," Burns said. Google + marks the 6th major social media platform that Freed Maxick has established a presence on. Other firm sites include a LinkedIn page, a YouTube Channel, a Facebook Page a blog and several Twitter accounts. Freed Maxick is one of Western New York's largest public accounting firms and a Top 100 largest Firm in the U.S. It provides assurance, tax and advisory services to closely-held businesses, public companies, governmental entities and non-profits. Freed Maxick has 250 employees with offices in Buffalo, Batavia and Rochester New York.
11/4/2011
Agnello Joins Firm as Client Relationship Executive
Freed Maxick/RSM McGladrey announces that Thomas Agnello has joined the Firm as client relationship executive. Agnello will lead the firm’s efforts serving the needs of its middle-market and large client base in Rochester, Syracuse and upstate New York. With extensive Big Four experience and most recently a business development executive for another large CPA firm, Agnello has more than 20 years of experience in marketing and growing business for professional services, software and hardware based organizations. Agnello is a St. John Fisher College graduate. Connect with Tom on LinkedIn.
10/19/11
Warrant Presents on Federal and State Incentives at Manufacturers Association of Central New York (MACNY)
On October 19th, the Manufacturers Association of Central New York (MACNY) hosted a seminar on
Grants and Financing Programs for NY Manufacturers. Don Warrant, CPA, Tax Director of Freed Maxick/RSM McGladrey gave a presentation that helped manufacturing companies identify successful New York State and Federal Tax incentive programs. His discussion included the applicability of these programs to specific industry and company situations for those MACNY Finance Council program attendees. The presentation topics included: NYS Investment Tax Credit, Employment Incentive Credit, Brownfield Cleanup Program, Qualified Emerging Technology Credits, and several Federal and New York State Employment Incentives including, Work Opportunity Tax Credit, the Hire Act, Advance-NY Workforce Training Grants, New York State Linked Deposit Program, Research & Experimental Credit, the Excelsior Jobs Program and IDA Incentives.
9/14/2011
Eric Majchrzak named one of the accounting industry's "Top 100 Most Influential People"
Freed Maxick's Marketing Director, Eric Majchrzak, has been named one of the accounting industry’s “Top 100 Most Influential People,” according to the editors of the national trade publication Accounting Today magazine. He was recognized for his role in helping shape the marketing practices of the accounting industry. For nearly 20 years, Accounting Today’s editorial team has compiled a roster of people helping shape and influence the accounting industry. Majchrzak was named to the list for the second year in a row and was recognized for his innovation of accounting firm marketing strategies, including the use of QR Code technology, mobile sites, mobile apps, social media, outdoor digital billboards and search engine optimization. Accounting Today’s list of the ‘Top 100 Most Influential People’ included a wide range of people impacting the profession, including chief executives of the ‘Big Four’ accounting firms, regulators, government officials, politicians, consultants, practitioners and other professionals. Majchrzak is a frequent speaker at national accounting industry and marketing-related conferences. He is an instructor at the Accounting Today Institute, which provides continuing professional education to accountants. He is also a Board member of the national Association for Accounting Marketing. He has been profiled in several news and trade publications, including, Success Magazine, Mashable, Chief Marketer Magazine, Accounting Today, and Buffalo Business First. The complete “Top 100” listing can be found at Top 100 Most Influential .
7/1/2011
Freed Maxick announces the following appointments to Director
Freed Maxick announces that it has appointed Joseph M. Aquino, CPA, CVA, David L. Mancuso, CPA, Ronald J. Soluri, Jr., CPA, CVA and Jeffrey T. Zawada, CPA to Director.
Joseph M. Aquino, CPA, CVA
Joe is a member of the firm’s Accounting and Auditing Department and responsible for the overall planning, organization, supervision and completion of client engagements. He has developed a broad background in the manufacturing, distribution, construction, employee benefits and general services industries. He is also a member of the Firm’s Business Valuation and Litigation Support team. Joe has experience in business valuations for estate and gift taxes, litigation support, buy sell agreements and mergers and acquisitions. He has performed valuations for the manufacturing, wholesale and service industries, including health care. He has also developed a background in the areas of corporate and personal income tax.
David L. Mancuso, CPA
Dave has developed a broad background in accounting and auditing in the manufacturing, wholesale, distribution, construction, retail, employee benefits, and general service industries. Dave has extensive experience with Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) regulatory and accounting matters. He has due diligence experience including quality of earnings engagements for both mergers and acquisitions and prospective financing. In addition, he has developed a strong background in the areas of corporate and personal income tax. His responsibilities include in-depth reviews and compliance testing of internal accounting control systems and developing recommendations for suggested improvements in internal controls. He has prepared financial statements in various industry formats including consolidations and has prepared audit findings for presentation to management. Dave is also involved with supervising and training staff, and has conducted training in accounting and auditing and the employee benefits area.
Ronald J. Soluri, Jr., CPA, CVA
Ron is responsible for the overall planning, organization, supervision, and completion of client engagements. He is also heavily involved with the Firm’s training programs and has conducted training on software applications and audit methodology. During Ron’s professional career, he has obtained experience in the manufacturing, distribution, construction, healthcare and not-for-profit industries, as well as offering valuation services. Ron has also been involved in forensic accounting engagements where fraud and embezzlement have occurred at various businesses and organizations. In addition, he has extensive due diligence experience in regard to mergers and acquisitions and is a member of the Firm’s Business Valuation and Litigation Support team.
Jeffrey T. Zawada, CPA
Jeffrey T. Zawada, CPA, is in the Tax Practice of Freed Maxick & Battaglia. Jeff is responsible for the overall planning, supervision and completion of client federal and state corporate income tax returns and accounting for income taxes. He is also a member of the Firm’s International Tax Practice, where he specializes in providing multinational public and private enterprises with FAS 109 / FIN 48 outsourcing and tax compliance consulting, International tax planning and compliance, and merger and acquisition assistance. Jeff is well versed with corporate and international tax and has a great deal of knowledge and experience with consolidated returns.
6/9/11
Emily Burns honored nationally as “Rookie of the Year” by Association for Accounting Marketing
Emily Burns, eMarketing & Communications Specialist, has been named accounting marketing profession’s “Rookie of the Year” by the Association for Accounting Marketing (AAM). She was honored nationally at the 22nd Annual AAM Summit held June 9th in Chicago. There were over 500 people in attendance, including CPA firm marketing & sales execs, AICPA executive leadership, and the accounting industry media. She was selected by a distinguished panel of accounting executives throughout the U.S. comprised of
AAM Hall of Fame inductees. Emily was chosen from a national pool of individuals with 2 or less years of accounting industry experience. She was honored for her social media and public relations talents that contributed to the success Freed Maxick as well as to the innovation of accounting industry marketing practices. Some of the notable accomplishments recognized for the award included several marketing campaigns she developed and managed, including firm website and mobile initiatives, local/national media relations initiatives, and the development of local community relations initiatives, including the Firm’s Facebook Community Billboard initiative. Way to go Emily!
5/20/2011
Freed Maxick wins 2011 Marketer of the Year Award given by the American Marketing Association-Rochester Chapter
Freed Maxick & Battaglia has won the 2011 Marketer of the Year Award given by the American Marketing Association-Rochester Chapter. Our recognition comes in great part with our partnering with local charities identified through our staff in the Rochester Office. The Firm's marketing efforts were recognized for campaigns using mobile smartphones, social media, blogging, and outdoor digital billboards. The Firm competed against 16 other organizations and some of the most well-respected in Rochester, including: Carestream Health, ESL Federal Credit Union, Greater Rochester Enterprise (GRE), Heritage Classic Foundation, Home Properties, Rochester City Ballet, Rochester Midland Corporation, St. John Fisher College, Martino & Flynn Advertising Agency and the Strong Museum. Congrats to all the finalists.
5/19/2011
Freed Maxick CPAs to Participate in Twitter Promoted Products Program
Firm among select group of national advertisers to test Twitter’s Promo
ted Products
Buffalo, NY – Freed Maxick & Battaglia CPAs announces today that it has been accepted into the beta rollout of Twitter, Inc.’s Promoted Product suite of advertising products. Freed Maxick’s participation in the program will enable the Firm to beta-test Twitter’s “Promoted Tweets” and “Promoted Accounts” products through the Firm’s @FreedMaxickCPAs Twitter account.
“Twitter has played a key role in our marketing and communications program since 2009, and we are excited to get this ‘sneak peek’ opportunity,” said Eric Majchrzak, Marketing Director of Freed Maxick & Battaglia, CPAs. The Firm will be one of more than 200 national advertisers enrolled in the program, and the first public accounting firm to use Twitter’s sponsored products. “Our interest is to test this new platform on behalf of some of our Firm’s primary practice areas, including entrepreneurial business, corporate tax and international services, which are the areas we’ve seen the most success with ‘organically’ on Twitter” Majchrzak said.
Freed Maxick’s participation in the Promoted Products rollout marks another milestone in its journey embracing Twitter. In 2009 and 2010, the Firm launched interactive outdoor digital “Twitter” billboards in the cities of Buffalo and Rochester New York. The outdoor billboards were placed near major highways so business commuters could receive real-time content in the form of ‘Tweets’ originating from the Firm’s @FreedMaxickCPAs Twitter handle.
5/11/11
Freed Maxick Healthcare expands service delivery DiCarlo-Rhoads joins Firm as Revenue Cycle Specialist
Buffalo, NY – Freed Maxick Healthcare, a division of Freed Maxick & Battaglia, CPAs, PC, announces that DOROTHY A. DICARLO-RHOADS, has joined the practice as a Revenue Cycle Specialist. The addition of DiCarlo-Rhoads expands the Firm’s specialized service delivery to its more than 260 healthcare provider clients throughout Upstate New York. DiCarlo-Rhoads has over 20 years of healthcare experience, with ten years focused in the revenue cycle area. Since 2008, she was Director, Professional Services, for MedAssets in Saddle River, NJ, where she was responsible for providing detailed assessments of revenue cycle practices, and developed management plans to migrate clients to a best practice environment. Additionally, she assisted in the development of business processes and software applications to ensure the sustainability of engagements. Prior to that, she served as the Director of Patient Financial Services at Schuyler Hospital in Montour Falls, NY and was also previously CFO of Benjamin Rush Center/Hospital in Syracuse. Dorothy holds a bachelors degree with a concentration in Accounting/Business from University College (Syracuse University extension).“Dorothy brings national revenue cycle expertise and methodologies to our regional clients, which aligns with our overall strategy of delivering nationally recognized business solutions to the local market. The healthcare industry is an area we expect heavy growth for our firm, and we are working consistently to identify new ways and means to serve our clients. Dorothy will play a key role to that end,” says Lloyd Arakelian, CPA, FHFMA, Director of Freed Maxick Healthcare’s consulting practice.
Freed Maxick Healthcare serves large multi-state integrated healthcare delivery systems, free standing urban & rural community hospitals, academic medical centers, specialty hospitals, skilled nursing facilities, continuing care retirement centers, home healthcare agencies, hospice providers, physician practices and behavioral health providers.
5/10/2011
Freed Maxick CPAs Announces iPhone App Sponsorships
Freed Maxick & Battaglia, CPAs, Western New York’s largest public accounting Firm, announces it has entered into agreements to sponsor the iPhone applications of two major news media outlets in Buffalo, New York. The Firm entered into separate agreements with Buffalo Business First and WNED-AM/ FM Public Broadcasting, in a move that will deepen the Firm’s presence in the mobile space by delivering timely, relevant content to financial and business executives that are “on-the-go.”
“This initiative will play a crucial role in our existing mobile Smartphone program, which includes mobile-ready websites, Quick Response (QR) Codes, social media and now mobile applications,” said Eric Majchrzak, Marketing Director of Freed Maxick. “Working with Buffalo Business First and Classical 94.5 WNED FM and WNED News 970 will allow us to reach a broad range of audiences that are important to us. The iPhone apps we are sponsoring were designed to pass along the latest business and issue-driven information. We believe this complements our brand of being an accessible, pro-active, service-minded Firm that stays on top of the latest issues impacting business.” Majchrzak said.
According to Emily Burns, Freed Maxick’s eMarketing Specialist, “Freed Maxick is dedicated to exploring new forms of technology and media platforms to better serve our clients, and we’re always out in the marketplace seeking new opportunities to connect with the public . We look forward to exploring alternative means of making these connections, and utilizing new emerging media trends such as SMS, location-based social networks, information aggregators, wikis, social bookmarking, video sharing, livecasting and community Q&A tools to add to the Firm’s integrated marketing plans.
The Buffalo Business First, Classical 94.5 WNED FM, a 24-hour classical music service, and WNED 970 AM, around the clock news and information, can be downloaded for free in the iTunes Store.
4/15/2011
Shawn Frier Receives Buffalo Business First's Healthcare 50 Award
Freed Maxick Director Shawn Frier received the Buffalo Business First Healthcare 50 Award, which recognizes professionals serving the medical profession and their contributions in improving the quality of healthcare in Western New York. Mr. Frier has worked with group practices and has developed a strong background in the area of physician practice management services, which include analyzing and recommending medical practice software applications and performing medical practice administration functions. He specializes in facilitating change and establishing strategic direction to improve profitability. Mr. Frier is a popular speaker at both the local and national levels of the Medical Group Management Association (MGMA). He is also President-elect of the New York Medical Group Management Association.
4/1/2011
Freed Maxick announces Soluri to succeed Glaser as Managing Director
Glaser to remain Chairman of Board
Freed Maxick & Battaglia, CPAs announces that effective May 1st 2011, Ronald J. Soluri, Sr., CPA will succeed Robert M. Glaser, CPA as the Firm’s Managing Director. In his new capacity as Managing Director, Soluri will be responsible for the day-to-day management and operations of Freed Maxick. The move is part of Freed Maxick’s overall succession strategy, which will have Glaser remain as the Firm’s Chairman of the Board. In his capacity as Chairman of the Board, Glaser will continue guiding the strategic direction of the Firm, including mergers and acquisitions, client relations, and oversight of the Firm’s Alternative Practice Structure relationship with RSM McGladrey, the nation’s 5th largest accounting firm.
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| Ronald Soluri | Robert Glaser | |
“I’m excited about this opportunity,” Ronald Soluri said. “The transition will be seamless and we’re going to continue to do great things for our clients. Our Firm has a proud history serving clients in our communities across New York State, and I’m honored that I have the opportunity to help shape our course.” Soluri joined Freed Maxick as a staff accountant in 1973 and was elected Director in 1983. He currently serves as the Firm’s Vice Chairman. He is involved in litigation support, acquisitions, sales and contract negotiations, tax, accounting and auditing engagements.
“The Firm’s succession plan has been developing for several years,” said Robert Glaser. “Now is the time to turn over the day-to-day operations to Ron which will allow me to focus on longer-term strategies for the Firm and our clients.”
In his 20 years as Managing Director, Glaser presided over an expansion of Freed Maxick that saw revenues triple and the Firm become one of the Top 100 Largest Public Accounting Firms in the United States. Glaser and Soluri attribute the overall success of the Firm to the “the quality of the Directors, Managers and the professional staff that provide world-class service to our client base.”
Today, Freed Maxick has over 250 employees across Upstate New York with offices in Buffalo, Batavia and Rochester. Freed Maxick provides assurance, tax and consulting services to middle-market companies, not-for-profits and governmental entities. For the past several years, Freed Maxick has been voted “a Best Place to Work” in Western New York.
1/13/2011
Freed Maxick CPAs Launches Mobile Smartphone Initiative to Promote NY State’s High-Tech Tax Credits
QR code technology to bring mobile content to CFOs.
Freed Maxick has launched a mobile initiative to educate C-level executives and business professionals about the New York State Excelsior Jobs Program, which provides job creation and investment incentives to companies in the high-tech, bio-tech, pharmaceutical, green-tech, financial services, agribusiness and manufacturing sectors.
The Firm has launched a mobile site that provides targeted industry and eligibility information about the program, including its four fully refundable tax credits. The site will be accessible via mobile smartphone devices at www.freedmaxickmobile.com and promoted through the use of Quick Response (QR) Codes used in the Firm's traditional print and direct marketing campaigns, seminars and other outreach efforts.
The QR Codes, when scanned with smartphones, will allow users to receive instant expanded information about New York State's new program and the services Freed Maxick provides to help companies claim these new tax credits. Users will have options to connect with the Firm by calling direct, submitting questions about the program via their mobile device, subscribing to the Firm's tax newsletter or connecting via social media channels like Facebook and LinkedIn.
"It is essential for us to be innovative and leverage new technologies to address the fact that CFOs, CEOs and other business professionals are increasingly becoming more tech-savvy and mobile," said Eric Majchrzak, Marketing Director of Freed Maxick. "While the use of smartphones in the U.S. is relatively low today, 25% penetration by some estimates, the trends indicate that this figure will most likely more than double by the end of 2011. Our goals are to not only to stay on top of emerging business issues like the NY State Excelsior Program, but also to find unique ways to be visible and relevant within the emerging media channels our clients use to get their information," Majchrzak said.
The Firm contracted with the Philipson Group, based in Rochester, to create the mobile site and to consult about the usage of QR Codes. Freed Maxick's 2011 mobile initiative will also include campaigns for the federal R&D tax credit, energy and green-related tax and international tax.
