Gainesville, Fla. (January 8, 2021) – Gregory Hammonds, leading partner of Whaley Hammonds Tomasello Accountants & Advisors is the new chair of the board of CPAmerica, Inc., an accounting association of independent certified public accounting firms. He succeeds Ernie Gelpi, leading partner of Kushner LaGraize, L.L.C.
The new board will have its first meeting of the year on January 25 to discuss 2021 initiatives and other long-term goals.
“Like many businesses, we experienced unique and unexpected challenges in 2020. The relationships built through more than a decade of membership in CPAmerica helped steer us through uncharted waters,” said Gregory Hammonds, chair of the board. “If there is one thing we learned in 2020 it is that adaptability is the key to long-term success. I look forward to helping the association and member firms use those lessons learned as we all change and become stronger in the future.”
Jackie Cardello, president and managing partner of GRF CPAs & Advisors, located in Bethesda, Md., has been elected to the vice chair/chair-elect position.
“Last year proved to be a great year of growth, even with the challenges from the pandemic,” said Alan Deichler, president of CPAmerica. “As a member-driven association, the board represents the membership within CPAmerica.”
Among the nine elected board members, returning board members include: Jackie Cardello of GRF CPAs & Advisors, Greg Denning of Larson & Company, PC.; Ernie Gelpi of Kushner LaGraize, L.L.C.; and Gregory Hammonds of Whaley Hammonds Tomasello Accountants & Advisors.
The five newly-elected board members include Shelly Bedford of Dennis, Gartland & Niergrath, Mark Dreher of Wallace, Plese + Dreher, L.L.P., David Farnsworth of McGowen Hurst Clark Smith, Mike Gillis of DMJ & Co., PLLC, and Seth McDaniel of Frazier & Deeter, LLC.
CPAmerica’s support to its members is a unique blend of sharing best practices between members, headquarters staff support, and access to expertise from established relationships with outside providers and consultants.