CPa Archives - Page 2 of 10 - Business RadioX ®

Olivia and Carmen Amyette, Infinite Energy Advisors, and Gary Massey, Massey and Company CPA

August 10, 2023 by John Ray

Family Business Radio

Olivia and Carmen Amyette, Infinite Energy Advisors, and Gary Massey, Massey and Company CPA

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Olivia and Carmen Amyette, Infinite Energy Advisors, and Gary Massey, Massey and Company CPA (Family Business Radio, Episode 47)

Family business owners Olivia and Carmen Amyette, Infinity Energy Advisors, and Gary Massey, owner of Massey and Company CPA were the guests on this episode of Family Business Radio. Olivia and Carmen, her mom, talked about Olivia’s accomplishments and drive and her devotion to her grandfather that led her to start her own company after college. They discussed the generational influence in their family on the business, how they run their solar energy business, and more.

Gary Massey talked about how he became a CPA, starting his own firm, and his approach to helping business owners. He discussed how he advises his clients to properly set up a business and stay out of tax trouble, tax planning, and much more.

Anthony then asked his guests to reflect on the obstacles they found when starting their business and what keeps them inspired and motivated.

Anthony concluded the show with comments about the most valuable legacy a family can leave to preserve wealth.

Family Business Radio is underwritten and brought to you by Anthony Chen with Lighthouse Financial Network.

Infinite Energy Advisors

Infinite Energy Advisors (IEA) is a boutique solar energy and energy-efficient home improvement firm. Their mission is to empower individuals, communities, and businesses to foster a better, brighter, cleaner future by taking control of their energy.

IEA specializes in creating cost-effective solar solutions to help their clients save money on power bills and achieve sustainability goals.

They are proud to be named a Best of Gwinnett nominee!

Company Website | Instagram | Facebook

**Olivia and Carmen Amyette, Infinite Energy Advisors**

Olivia is the owner of Infinite Energy Advisors. In this family business, her mother Carmen works as a Customer Relations Manager and her father John is the Installation Manager.

Olivia developed a passion for solar energy at Georgia Tech, where she engaged in research projects relating to environmentalism and energy conservation. Olivia took the leap of faith to start her solar company 7 months after graduating from Georgia Tech to follow her passion for renewable energy while also fulfilling her duties as a caretaker of her grandfather.

With more than 4 years of experience as a Technical Program Manager for the Georgia Tech Grand Challenges LLC, Olivia has extensive experience in optimizing technology according to a client’s needs, creating efficient systems, and enriching customer experiences. Having facilitated upwards of 53 research projects during her role as a facilitator at Georgia Tech, Olivia is well versed in project management and has optimized the solar purchasing/installation process to be seamless.

Olivia holds a BS from the Georgia Tech College of Computing, Solar Energy Certifications from Georgia Tech and Solairgen, and is currently working to get NABCEP certified. Her mission is to empower individuals, communities, and businesses to foster a better, brighter, cleaner future by taking control of their energy.

Olivia’s LinkedIn

Massey and Company CPA

Massey and Company CPA is an accounting firm located in Atlanta serving the needs of small businesses and individuals throughout Georgia.

Over the years, they noticed that CPA firms tend to be cold, unfriendly, hectic places. Maybe they are just so busy with tax season.

At Massey and Company, their team is bright, friendly and eager to please. Thanks to the team and their guiding principles, they are a different kind of accounting firm.

Gary Massey founded the company in 2013 with these principles which still guide them today:

Treat people with respect
Be kind – we are all human
Make complex issues less stressful
Charge fair prices

You won’t find stress or drama at the Massey office. Instead, you will find patient, understanding people who sincerely care. All year long.

Website | LinkedIn | Facebook | Instagram | YouTube

Gary Massey, Founder, Massey and Company CPA

Gary Massey is the founder of Massey and Company CPA, based in Atlanta. He has over 30 years of experience in tax preparation, tax planning, and IRS and state tax problem resolution. He holds a CPA, a Master’s degree in Accounting and Master’s degree in Business Administration with a specialization in taxation. Gary is also a Certified Tax Representation Consultant.

Gary’s focus includes helping clients with tax problems. This includes representing clients in front of IRS and state agencies to resolve difficult tax issues, including audits, unpaid taxes, liens, levies, penalties, and notices. His work requires negotiation on a wide variety of tax matters, including offers in compromise, installment agreements, currently not collectible status, and penalty abatement.

Gary enjoys collecting art and spending time with his children and grandchildren. He is married to Chelly, a native of The Netherlands.

Anthony Chen, Host of Family Business Radio

**Anthony Chen, Lighthouse Financial, and Host of “Family Business Radio”**

This show is sponsored and brought to you by Anthony Chen with Lighthouse Financial Network. Securities and advisory services are offered through Royal Alliance Associates, Inc. (RAA), member FINRA/SIPC. RAA is separately owned and other entities and/or marketing names, products, or services referenced here are independent of RAA. The main office address is 575 Broadhollow Rd. Melville, NY 11747. You can reach Anthony at 631-465-9090 ext 5075 or by email at anthonychen@lfnllc.com.

Anthony Chen started his career in financial services with MetLife in Buffalo, NY in 2008. Born and raised in Elmhurst, Queens, he considers himself a full-blooded New Yorker while now enjoying his Atlanta, GA home. Specializing in family businesses and their owners, Anthony works to protect what is most important to them. From preserving to creating wealth, Anthony partners with CPAs and attorneys to help address all the concerns and help clients achieve their goals. By using a combination of financial products ranging from life, disability, and long-term care insurance to many investment options through Royal Alliance. Anthony looks to be the eyes and ears for his client’s financial foundation. In his spare time, Anthony is an avid long-distance runner.

The complete show archive of “Family Business Radio” can be found at familybusinessradioshow.com.

Tax Planning vs. Financial Wellbeing, with Chris Smith, CB Smith & Associates

August 1, 2023 by John Ray

North Fulton Studio

Tax Planning vs. Financial Wellbeing, with Chris Smith, CB Smith & Associates

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Tax Planning vs. Financial Wellbeing, with Chris Smith, CB Smith & Associates

Chris Smith: Tax planning isn’t the end all be all. Improving your wealth is the end all be all. And so we’re not going to implement or suggest a tax solution. That isn’t necessarily in line with improving our clients overall financial well being. And and so that’s, it’s always secondary to financial well being.

But it’s a very important piece. We’re in a segment, we’re not, we’re not a large national firm, so we don’t have a lot of clients that are publicly traded or anything like that. Our clients don’t have investors to impress. They gotta impress the bank every once in a while, but but, so our focus is going to be on tax planning.

Chris Smith: It’s a heavy part of our relationships with our clients. And that’s, that is the business we’re in, by the way, is the relationship business. We may be accountants, but that’s what it is. And and so we’re going to work with our clients to ensure that their financial wellbeing is in place and they’re doing it as a tax efficient manner as possible.

Listen to Chris’s full ProfitSense with Bill McDermott interview here.

The “One Minute Interview” series is produced by John Ray and the North Fulton studio of Business RadioX® in Alpharetta. You can find the full archive of shows by following this link.

Renasant Bank has humble roots, starting in 1904 as a $100,000 bank in a Lee County, Mississippi, bakery. Since then, Renasant has grown to become one of the Southeast’s strongest financial institutions with over $13 billion in assets and more than 190 banking, lending, wealth management and financial services offices in Mississippi, Alabama, Tennessee, Georgia and Florida. All of Renasant’s success stems from each of their banker’s commitment to investing in their communities as a way of better understanding the people they serve. At Renasant Bank, they understand you because they work and live alongside you every day.

Vivian Dempsey, Wilson Lewis, and Scott Williford, vLink Solutions

May 12, 2023 by John Ray

North Fulton Studio

Vivian Dempsey, Wilson Lewis, and Scott Williford, vLink Solutions

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Vivian Dempsey, Wilson Lewis, and Scott Williford, vLink Solutions (ProfitSense with Bill McDermott, Episode 45)

On this episode of ProfitSense, host Bill McDermott welcomed Vivian Dempsey, Partner at Wilson Lewis, and Scott Williford, CEO of vLink Solutions. Vivian talked about Georgia’s personal income tax rebate, the advantages and disadvantages of an S Corp, the IRS tax inflation adjustments for the tax year 2023, and much more. Scott discussed his experience in being an entrepreneur for over 30 years, lessons he has learned from past startups, marketing trends, and much more. Bill closed the show by talking about how to know if your business is scalable.

ProfitSense with Bill McDermott is produced and broadcast by the North Fulton Studio of Business RadioX® in Alpharetta.

Wilson Lewis

Wilson Lewis, a Gwinnett-based Certified Public Accounting (CPA) firm, provides a variety of tax, accounting, and consulting services to meet the changing needs of both individuals and businesses. There are services designed to help address “once in a lifetime” issues such as estate, succession, and retirement planning, fraud prevention and detection, and even strategic business planning. The combination of these provides the direction and confidence that many seek in their accounting relationships. While the main work is ensuring accurate and timely reports and tax filings, team members are proactive and often bring new ideas to the table when appropriate. Concurrently, there is also an emphasis on consistent communication throughout the year to ensure new opportunities are properly leveraged.

Wilson Lewis is a philanthropic star in Atlanta’s business community and proudly supports Rainbow Village, Arthritis Foundation, Ahimsa House, CHOA Children’s Healthcare of Atlanta, Happy Feat, and The NSORO Foundation to name just a few. The firm is also very involved with the Gwinnett Chamber of Commerce and has been named The Best of Gwinnett Accounting Firms 2016-2022.

If you are looking for a proactive CPA firm focused on client service and capable of growing with your needs, then Wilson Lewis is the firm to consider. With locations in Atlanta, Duluth, Sandy Springs, and availability online, Wilson Lewis is right around the corner. Additional information is available at wilsonlewis.com or by calling 770-476-1004.

Website | Facebook | Twitter | LinkedIn

Vivian Dempsey, Partner, Wilson Lewis

Vivian Dempsey specializes in federal and state compliance and tax consulting services. Her work spans the full spectrum, including corporations, partnerships, limited liability companies, trusts and estates, not-for-profit, and individual planning and returns. Vivian is a graduate of Georgia State University with a Bachelor of Business Administration in Accounting.

She came to Wilson Lewis in 2014 from a firm in Atlanta and was named partner in 2017. Vivian’s professional memberships include the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants and the Georgia Society of Public Accountants.

Vivian currently resides in Buford, Georgia with her husband, Robert, and their 5 children.

vLink Solutions

Engaging your audience whether they are prospects, employees, or event attendees is critical to reaching your goals. Video and live streaming are powerful communication tools but they can be complicated and expensive. vLink Solutions has mastered the art of creating effective video and live streams at a price point that’s affordable. Let us help you engage your audience.

vLink produced over 1500 videos and live-streamed over 4000 hours in 2022. They are the owners of vlink Events, a complete virtual events platform.

vLinks current and past clients include UPS, Google, Comcast, LeasePlan, Fleetcor, ParkMobile, and many many more. For more information about vLink please visit www.vlinksolutions.com.

Website | Facebook | Twitter | LinkedIn

Scott Williford, CEO, vLink Solutions

Scott is a serial entrepreneur, consultant, and family man. He has played a major role in several successful organizations and helped countless others as an investor, consultant, and executive. Scott has a passion to help businesses and professionals differentiate themselves in their marketplace. He is currently the CEO of vLink Solutions.

vLink is a video marketing agency that helps businesses create cost-effective, high-quality videos, virtual events, and live streams. As CEO and Founder of vLink Solutions, Scott is the visionary leader and spokesperson for the company.

Scott is also the managing partner in Iuvo, LLC, a boutique management consulting practice, specializing in all areas of technology, marketing, business planning, and more. Scott brings a wealth of knowledge from his CEO and COO background that provides clients access to a unique blend of technology, marketing, sales, and operational expertise.

About ProfitSense and Your Host, Bill McDermott

ProfitSense with Bill McDermott dives into the stories behind some of Atlanta’s successful businesses and business owners and the professionals that advise them. This show helps local business leaders get the word out about the important work they’re doing to serve their market, their community, and their profession. The show is presented by McDermott Financial Solutions. McDermott Financial helps business owners improve cash flow and profitability, find financing, break through barriers to expansion, and financially prepare to exit their business. The show archive can be found at profitsenseradio.com.

Bill McDermott is the Founder and CEO of McDermott Financial Solutions. When business owners want to increase their profitability, they don’t have the expertise to know where to start or what to do. Bill leverages his knowledge and relationships from 32 years as a banker to identify the hurdles getting in the way and create a plan to deliver profitability they never thought possible.

Bill currently serves as Treasurer for the Atlanta Executive Forum and has held previous positions as a board member for the Kennesaw State University Entrepreneurship Center and Gwinnett Habitat for Humanity and Treasurer for CEO NetWeavers. Bill is a graduate of Wake Forest University and he and his wife, Martha have called Atlanta home for over 40 years. Outside of work, Bill enjoys golf, traveling, and gardening.

Connect with Bill on LinkedIn and Twitter and follow McDermott Financial Solutions on LinkedIn.

Matt Fain, PopCapacity®

April 25, 2023 by John Ray

Business Beat

Matt Fain, PopCapacity®

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Frazier & Deeter’s Business Beat: Matt Fain, PopCapacity®

Matt Fain, Co-Founder and CEO of PopCapacity®, joined Business Beat and host Roger Lusby to discuss his company’s tech solution for the warehousing and supply chain industry. Founded at the time of the pandemic, Matt addressed the challenges they encountered, why PopCapacity’s solutions were adapted by enterprise level companies so quickly, ongoing supply chain issues, how they serve the needs of both suppliers and shippers, and much more.

Business Beat is presented by Alpharetta CPA firm Frazier & Deeter and is produced by the North Fulton studio of Business RadioX®

PopCapacity®

Established in March 2020, PopCapacity® had a vision to digitize the procurement of 3PL warehousing and fulfillment capacity. By offering enhanced visibility and frictionless connectivity within our digital marketplace, they were able to offer the logistics industry a new modern way to procure space.

After launching a successful marketplace they saw an opportunity to introduce their frictionless process and technology to other nodes of the supply chain, thus creating the first ever digital procurement platform for logistics.

Company website | LinkedIn | Facebook | Twitter

Matt Fain, Co-Founder, & CEO, PopCapacity®

Matt Fain has been in the Supply Chain & Logistics industry for over a decade. His career in supply chain began in transportation technology, starting a franchise based 3PL called, Bluegrace Logistics.

After selling his 3PL he then started a transportation company called, GO Expedited which led him to the ideas behind PopCapacity®.

Frazier & Deeter

The Alpharetta office of Frazier & Deeter is home to a thriving CPA tax practice, a growing advisory practice and an Employee Benefit Plan Services group. CPAs and advisors in the Frazier & Deeter Alpharetta office serve clients across North Georgia and around the country with services such as personal tax planning, estate planning, business tax planning, business tax compliance, state and local tax planning, financial statement reviews, financial statement audits, employee benefit plan audits, internal audit outsourcing, cyber security, data privacy, SOX and other regulatory compliance, mergers, and acquisitions and more. Alpharetta CPAs serve clients ranging from business owners and executives to large corporations.

Roger Lusby, host of Frazier & Deeter’s Business Beat, is an Alpharetta CPA and Alpharetta Office Managing Partner for Frazier & Deeter. He is also a member of the Tax Department in charge of coordinating tax and accounting services for our clientele. His responsibilities include a review of a variety of tax returns with an emphasis in the individual, estate, and corporate areas. Client assistance is also provided in the areas of financial planning, executive compensation and stock option planning, estate and succession planning, international planning (FBAR, SFOP), health care, real estate, manufacturing, technology, and service companies.

You can find Frazier & Deeter on social media:

LinkedIn | Facebook | Twitter

An episode archive of Frazier & Deeter’s Business Beat can be found here.

Karen Cashion, Tech Alpharetta

March 21, 2023 by John Ray

Business Beat

Karen Cashion, Tech Alpharetta

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Frazier & Deeter’s Business Beat: Karen Cashion, Tech Alpharetta

Karen Cashion, CEO of Tech Alpharetta, joined host Roger Lusby and his colleague at Frazier & Deeter, Reid Blalock, on this edition of Business Beat. Karen discussed how and why Tech Alpharetta was founded, their work as an incubator for tech startups, their strong graduation rate, available programs and educational opportunities, their dedicated, experienced board, tech trends locally, and much more.

Business Beat is presented by Alpharetta CPA firm Frazier & Deeter and is produced by the North Fulton studio of Business RadioX®

Tech Alpharetta

Tech Alpharetta is an independent, 501c(6) nonprofit organization whose mission is to help grow technology and innovation in Alpharetta. There are nearly 700 tech companies located in the City of Alpharetta today. Tech Alpharetta helps to recruit and retain tech companies, grow new tech startups and innovation, create jobs, and grow the next generation of skilled tech workforce for the many employers in the Alpharetta and north metro region.

Tech Alpharetta also focuses heavily on giving back to the community, through its Women’s Forum, which supports area women in STEAM-related careers and provides STEAM mentoring to high school girls. Tech Alpharetta is partnered with the new, Innovation Academy Fulton County public STEM high school in Alpharetta. Tech Alpharetta, through its Board companies and its Women’s Forum, will be providing mentorship, classroom challenges, and internship opportunities to the school’s students.

Tech Alpharetta helps to effectuate its strategy through its Strategic Board of Directors, by operating a thriving tech startup incubator and its Women’s Forum, and by hosting year-round, locally-based, educational and tech thought leadership events for technology executives.

Company website | LinkedIn | Facebook | Twitter

Karen Cashion, President and CEO, Tech Alpharetta

Karen Cashion is President & CEO of Tech Alpharetta, which was created by the City of Alpharetta in 2012 and is now a 501(c)6 nonprofit organization.

Karen is an attorney with twenty years of experience as a commercial litigator and corporate technology lawyer. Karen began her career at Simpson Thacher & Bartlett in New York City, and in addition to law firm practice, has served as Assistant General Counsel for EarthLink and Legal Counsel, Global Technology for Travelport, LP in Atlanta.

Karen received her J.D. with high honors from Duke University School of Law, where she served as Senior Editor of the Law & Contemporary Problems Journal. Karen received her Bachelor of Arts degree, summa cum laude, from Emory University, where she graduated Phi Beta Kappa.

Karen has served as a Commissioner on the City of Alpharetta’s Planning Commission, is a 2014 graduate of Leadership North Fulton, and is a graduate of the 2015 Georgia Academy for Economic Development. She has also served on the Board of Directors for the North Fulton Bar Association and the Advisory Board for the University of North Georgia’s Center for Entrepreneurship and Innovation. In addition, Karen is a member of the Advisory Board for Vinings Bank.

Karen and her family are longtime residents of the city of Alpharetta.

Frazier & Deeter

You can find Frazier & Deeter on social media:

LinkedIn | Facebook | Twitter

An episode archive of Frazier & Deeter’s Business Beat can be found here.

John Hanning and Brian Wages, Specialty Tax Group, LLC

December 13, 2022 by John Ray

North Fulton Business Radio

John Hanning and Brian Wages, Specialty Tax Group, LLC

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John Hanning and Brian Wages, Specialty Tax Group, LLC (North Fulton Business Radio, Episode 588)

John Hanning and Brian Wages of Specialty Tax Group joined host John Ray to discuss how they help businesses secure tax credits and deductions they might not otherwise receive. John and Brian covered cost segregation as well as the R&D and green energy tax credits, businesses who are eligible, how they partner with CPA firms to work with clients, and much more.

North Fulton Business Radio is produced and broadcast by the North Fulton studio of Business RadioX® inside Renasant Bank in Alpharetta.

Specialty Tax Group, LLC

Specialty Tax Group is on a mission to help CPA firms and taxpayers by advancing the specialty tax industry through the use of technology. STG provides innovative tax planning strategies to secure tax credits and deductions with audit-ready deliverables.

They provide detailed benefit estimates prior to beginning work to ensure clients get the value they are looking for. For client conveyance, STG has the expertise to implement their delivered solutions.

STG is a nationwide specialty tax firm focused on engineered tax services.

Website | LinkedIn

John W. Hanning, Founding Principal, Specialty Tax Group, LLC

John W. Hanning is the Founding Principal of Specialty Tax Group, LLC (STG) a consulting group focused on servicing capital-intensive clients with value-added services relating to cost segregation, fixed asset reviews, repair & expense studies, 263(a) compliance, 45L, and 179D.

Prior to founding STG John worked with several large and small CPA firms helping clients to secure cost-recovery solutions. Over the past 15 years as a Fixed Assets specialist, John was responsible for fixed asset services including new client identification, proposals, and client deliverables. John has led and executed cost recovery studies on thousands of facilities including; healthcare, retail, manufacturing, commercial office, multi-family, power generation, and dealerships. He has performed inspections of machinery, equipment, buildings, and construction projects estimated construction costs using nationally recognized costing manuals, and analyzed technical specifications, construction drawings & construction invoices. John generated sales utilizing both internal and external networks. John also provided numerous continuing education presentations relating to tax incentives related to real estate.

John received his Bachelor’s in Economics Management from Ohio Wesleyan University and graduated with his MBA from Ohio University. John is a certified member of the American Society of Cost Segregation Professionals (ASCSP) and President (2019 – 2021) of the Board of Directors. He began his service to the ASCSP as an active member of the Education Committee, where he co-authored the Senior Exam Study Guide in 2012. From 2017-2019, he served as Treasurer on the Board of Directors. He also holds his LEED Green Association credential.

Affiliations: ASCSP Certified Cost Segregation Specialist: Member # C0139-10; ASCSP President (Current), ASCSP Treasurer (Past), Author for numerous national educational groups, “Big Four” industry experience, Real Estate Roundtable – Associate Council Member.

Brian Wages, Senior Manager, Specialty Tax Group, LLC

As a senior manager with Specialty Tax Group, Brian specializes in cost segregation, which in turn saves his clients money and helps them to better grow their companies. He can be found completing cost segregation studies for clients and reviewing credit and incentive deliverables. Beginning his career in 2011, Brian has worked for Deloitte Tax, McMillian & Associates, and Reliance Trust Company.

He has a focus on the Georgia retraining tax credit, Georgia jobs tax credit, Georgia quality jobs tax credit, Georgia investment tax credit, and federal work opportunity tax credit.

Brian earned his bachelor’s degree in business management from the University of Georgia. He is a member of the Institute for Professionals in Taxation (IPT), while also serving as a leader for middle school boys at Woodstock City Church.

Questions and Topics in this Interview

What is the focus of Specialty Tax Group?
What are some of the tax credits businesses need to look at?
What is cost segregation?
How it works
Avoiding risk
How do I qualify to work with STG?
What industries can take advantage of cost segregation?

North Fulton Business Radio is hosted by John Ray and broadcast and produced from the North Fulton studio of Business RadioX® inside Renasant Bank in Alpharetta. You can find the full archive of shows by following this link. The show is available on all the major podcast apps, including Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Google, Amazon, iHeart Radio, Stitcher, TuneIn, and others.

Since 2000, Office Angels® has been restoring joy to the life of small business owners, enabling them to focus on what they do best. At the same time, we honor and support at-home experts who wish to continue working on an as-needed basis. Not a temp firm or a placement service, Office Angels matches a business owner’s support needs with Angels who have the talent and experience necessary to handle work that is essential to creating and maintaining a successful small business. Need help with administrative tasks, bookkeeping, marketing, presentations, workshops, speaking engagements, and more? Visit us at https://officeangels.us/.

Chris Smith, CB Smith & Associates

November 8, 2022 by John Ray

North Fulton Business Radio

Chris Smith, CB Smith & Associates

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Chris Smith, CB Smith & Associates (North Fulton Business Radio, Episode 560)

Chris Smith made a return visit to the North Fulton Business Radio studio to discuss recent tax law changes business owners should be aware of, including an important change of pass-through entity elections which Georgia-based businesses can make for the 2022 tax year. Chris also chatted with host John Ray on his firm’s growth, the talent acquisition challenge which all accounting firms face today, what clients should look for if they’re thinking about selecting a new CPA, and much more.

North Fulton Business Radio is produced and broadcast by the North Fulton studio of Business RadioX® inside Renasant Bank in Alpharetta.

CB Smith & Associates

CB Smith & Associates is a Georgia-based business advisory and CPA firm that delivers big-firm expertise and acumen with small-town thoughtfulness and warmth.

They help bring to light the stories that numbers tell — about the health of your business, the soundness of your financial or tax plan, and the options that can lead you to a path of success. They believe that awareness makes opportunity visible.

As trusted advisors, they have a partnership philosophy that is designed to help you better understand your financial outlook. Whether you have a small or midsize business or you need to enhance your personal financial strategy, the team at CB Smith & Associates is committed to providing you with responsive accounting consultation and business guidance that moves you closer to your goals.

Their mission is to be a strategic partner in the preservation and enhancement of your wealth. They listen first, take a personal interest in your goals and aspirations, understand your obstacles and challenges, and present and implement valuable solutions with integrity, quality of service, and professional expertise.

Company website | LinkedIn | Facebook | Twitter

Chris Smith, CPA, CGMA, Founder and Partner, CB Smith & Associates

With 30 years of financial experience, Chris Smith is passionate about his work. Since founding CB Smith & Associates in 2003, he has led the accounting firm’s growth from one to three office locations in Georgia. It now has 21 employees, including a solid team of certified public accountants and other tax professionals.

CB Smith & Associates is a business advisory and full-service accounting firm that works in tandem with its sister company, Reliance Payroll LLC, a full-service payroll and human resources outsourcing firm. Prior to starting his own firm, Chris was a corporate controller.

He earned a degree in accounting from Georgia State University’s J. Mack Robinson College of Business and is active in local community groups such as the Rotary Club and numerous CPA groups.

Questions and Topics in the Interview

Tell us about CB Smith & Associates
Where are your offices?
As a public accounting and business advisory firm, what do you do for businesses and individuals?
What are some tax Law changes in Georgia that individuals and businesses need to know?
Last year, the Georgia Governor signed House Bill 149 into law (resulting in Rule 560-7-3-.03 being adopted). Explain the law to us and tell us more about pass-through entity elections and what business owners need to know.
What should companies know about the new lease accounting standards?
Why is it important for a business owner to have a CPA (or team of CPAs) on their team?
Are you currently hiring/recruiting?

Special thanks to A&S Culinary Concepts for their support of this edition of North Fulton Business Radio. A&S Culinary Concepts, based in Johns Creek, is an award-winning culinary studio, celebrated for corporate catering, corporate team building, Big Green Egg Boot Camps, and private group events. They also provide oven-ready, cooked-from-scratch meals to go they call “Let Us Cook for You.” To see their menus and events, go to their website or call 678-336-9196.

Sean Taylor, Smith + Howard

October 4, 2022 by John Ray

North Fulton Business Radio

Sean Taylor, Smith + Howard

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Sean Taylor, Smith + Howard (North Fulton Business Radio, Episode 532)

On this episode of North Fulton Business Radio, Sean Taylor, Managing Partner of Smith + Howard, joined host John Ray to discuss his award-winning firm’s growth and culture. Sean discussed the firm’s recognition as “Best of the Best” by Inside Public Accounting, how the firm’s culture contributes to employee retention and talent acquisition, expansion beyond traditional accounting services, and much more.

North Fulton Business Radio is broadcast from the North Fulton studio of Business RadioX® inside Renasant Bank in Alpharetta.

Smith + Howard

While many advisors say clients are their priority, Smith and Howard lives and breathes a promise of personal, responsive client service.

They hire smart, engaging professionals who find motivation and satisfaction in learning about their clients’ businesses, challenges, and goals. From that vantage point, they are positioned to provide key strategic advice and national-firm services that enable our clients to move their mission forward.

Service is such an important part of the Smith and Howard culture that if they are not serving clients, they’ll often be found serving in other ways. Many of them plant roots deep in their communities and find value and satisfaction in serving others where they live. When the needs expand beyond their neighborhoods, they can also be found on nonprofit boards or joining service projects that broaden their reach and impact.

Company website | LinkedIn | Facebook | Twitter

Sean Taylor, Managing Partner, Smith + Howard

Sean drives the vision, innovation, and growth of the firm, and was named a Most Admired CEO by the Atlanta Business Chronicle in 2020 in recognition of his leadership.

Sean Taylor became managing partner of Smith and Howard in January 2019 after 25 years of leadership progression in the Assurance practice. He joined the firm as an intern and was ultimately named partner in charge of the Assurance practice in 2010, a role he held for nearly a decade.

A recognized and respected leader, Sean presents to many for-profit and nonprofit businesses, lenders, and other professional service providers. He has both served on and moderated numerous workshop and conference panels, as well as presented to local and national audiences on various topics.

Sean is an active participant and advocate at Smith and Howard for our mentoring program, personally mentoring many of our professional and administrative staff through career progression and advancement.

Sean is actively involved as a multi-year member of various committees at Dunwoody United Methodist Church (DUMC), including finance, staff parish relations, leadership roundtable, missions and evangelism. He also had led strategic planning initiatives as well as capital campaigns for the church. Additionally, Sean served seven years on the Council on Finance and Administration at the North Georgia Conference of the United Methodist Church, including time as the vice chair and chair.

Sean is currently a member of the Board of Trustees for Wesleyan School, serving actively on the finance and investment committees, and is also a member of the finance committee for the Community Foundation for Greater Atlanta.

In 2012, Sean co-founded FoodStock, an annual food packaging event in Dunwoody, Georgia, where over 1,000 community members pack 300,000 meals in one day for children in school feeding programs around the globe. This is the largest single-day food packaging event of its kind in Georgia and, to date, this event and other food packaging events in the Dunwoody community associated with FoodStock have packaged over 3.6 million meals.

Additionally, Sean serves as a mentor to 13 young men through a group he founded called Fit 4 Life, discussing various aspects of faith and life for these 13 young men.

Sean graduated from the University of Georgia with a Bachelor of Business Administration in Accounting.

Affiliations: American Institute of Certified Public Accountants Georgia Society of Certified Public Accountants (Leadership Academy Inaugural Member) Wesleyan School (Board of Trustees) Dunwoody United Methodist Church Awards Georgia Society of Certified Public Accountants’ Public Service Award (2020) Atlanta Business Chronicle Most Admired CEOs (2020).

Questions and Topics in this Interview:

Inside Public Accounting “Best of the Best”
New Areas in which the firm is growing
#1 issue CPA profession is facing
Let’s talk about where you are innovating
What are you most excited about at Smith + Howard
How do you live your values
What is the culture like at Smith + Howard
Where do you see the firm 5 years from now

Ron Bracewell, BatesCarter, and Grant Brim, Brim Law, LLC

July 14, 2022 by John Ray

North Fulton Studio

Ron Bracewell, BatesCarter, and Grant Brim, Brim Law, LLC

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Ron Bracewell, BatesCarter, and Grant Brim, Brim Law, LLC (ProfitSense with Bill McDermott, Episode 34)

Host Bill McDermott was joined by two superb guests on this edition of ProfitSense. Ron Bracewell of BatesCarter discussed business valuation from his perspective as a CPA. Ron covered how a valuation can be used in planning an exit, issues a business owner needs to consider in getting a valuation, and more. Business attorney Grant Brim also joined the show to discuss various legal problems he’s seeing among small businesses today, including trademark infringement. Finally, Bill closed with a commentary on key performance indicators.

ProfitSense with Bill McDermott is produced and broadcast by the North Fulton Studio of Business RadioX® in Alpharetta.

BatesCarter

BatesCarter is a full-service firm founded in 1962, offering traditional accounting, tax and audit services, enhanced with a range of advisory, valuation and consulting services. Their clients are closely held businesses, not-for-profit organizations, government entities and individuals.

They are uniquely experienced and trained to assist clients at every stage of growth, helping them reach their goals and build value, now and in the future. Just like their clients, they are business people, sharing the same challenges and facing the same decisions their clients do. They know that the financial decisions their clients make today will shape their future.

For that reason, they are dedicated to doing their very best every day. As trusted advisors they know that their clients rely on them for timely, relevant guidance. They look forward to exceeding expectations. Always.

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Ron Bracewell, CPA, APV, Managing Partner, BatesCarter

Ron Bracewell is a CPA with nearly 40 years experience in a variety of areas of public accounting including audit, tax and consulting. He is also Accredited in Business Valuation (ABV) recognizing his substantial experience and knowledge in valuations of closely held businesses.

In addition to his technical responsibilities to his clients, he is the Managing Partner of BatesCarter attending to its administrative and strategic needs. Much of Ron’s time is devoted to his clients’ business transfer challenges including estate, gift and valuation consulting for succession planning as well as M&A consulting for sales of entire companies or controlling interests.

Ron and his wife, Susan, just celebrated their 35th anniversary and are the proud parents of 3 sons. They are also blessed with 2 grandsons. Over his career, he has held a variety of leadership positions in community, religious, and business organizations.

When not working or volunteering, he enjoys golf, guitar, and of course, grandchildren!

Brim Law, LLC

Brim Law represents businesses throughout the state of Georgia as their outsourced in-house counsel. The firm’s services cover a variety of issues, including consultation and document preparation, employment relationships, vendor agreements, general contract review, asset purchases, mergers, and brand protection, to name a few.

Brim Law strives to provide the highest quality legal representation to each and every client. The firm works closely with its clients to answer their questions, explain their rights and obligations, and ultimately to protect their interests.

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Grant Brim, Founder, Brim Law, LLC

Grant Brim is a business attorney in Roswell, and the founder of Brim Law, LLC. Grant has been in practice for fifteen years and started his firm in 2011. After graduating from Georgia State University Law School in 2007, Grant practiced primarily as a litigator for several years. His litigation experience informs his work daily as he understands the mistakes and pitfalls that can expose companies to unforeseen and costly liabilities. Over the years, Grant’s practice evolved from litigating business disputes to helping prevent them in the first place.

His legal services are geared towards helping clients navigate the often treacherous legal landscape that comes with running a business. Grant is focused on providing quality representation to his clients. He appreciates the opportunity to develop relationships with his clients that will endure over the life of their businesses. Grant’s goal is to be a trusted advisor for his clients for the myriad of legal issues that small and medium size businesses face.

Grant has lived in Roswell since 2009 with his beautiful wife and best friend, Elina, and their son, Nathan.