SUMMARY OF BKR’S U.S. TAX PRACTICE GROUP TELEMEETING
January 7, 2013; 2:00 p.m. Eastern Time
I. Convention
Maureen Schwartz (Executive Office) convened the telemeeting at 2:00 p.m. Eastern
Time. Participating were:
Richard Ary (Columbus)
Jeff Calderon (Louisville)
Stephen Custer (Louisville)
Bob Creed (Boston)
Greg Dondelinger (Omaha)
Larry Feibel (New York)
Katie Fuetter (Canton)
Byron Ishiwata (San Jose)
Bob McDonald (Houston)
Troy McKinney (Omaha)
Jeanne Morelli, Chair (Rochester)
Howard Rosen (St. Louis)
Paul Sander (Portland)
Mike Seelhoff (Omaha)
John Skakun (Canton)
Paul Wallace (Baltimore)
Wayne Williams (Atlanta)
Jason Whaley (Memphis)
Maureen Schwartz – Executive Office
rary@armcpa.com
jcalderon@dmlo.com
scuster@dmlo.com
rcreed@kpm-us.com
gdondelinger@blandcpa.com
larry.feibel@anchin.com
katie@hallkistler.com
byroni@jyac.com
bmcdonald@bvccpa.com
tmckinney@blandcpa.com
jmorelli@daviekaplan.com
hrosen@connerash.com
paul.sander@fordhamgoodfellow.com
mseelhoff@blandcpa.com
johnj@hallkistler.com
pwallace@gma-cpa.com
wwilliams@metcalf-davis.com
jwhaley@wucpas.com
bkr@bkr.com
II. Staff Training/Retention
Troy McKinney advised that his firm would be interested in participating in staff training with
other BKR members. Jeff Calderon’s firm is also interested, and said they look at it as a staff
retention perk. Jeff said prospective candidates always ask about training and that they consider
it to be an important indication that the firm is interested in their career development. Troy
agreed. Maureen advised that BKR’s Canton and Dallas firms had previously inquired about
joint training. She will contact them and ask for commitments for each of the four levels, and
then distribute it to all firms to gauge additional interest.
Wayne Williams reported that his firm recently lost a significant number of staff and asked if
other firms were experiencing the same thing. Jeanne Morelli reported that she has been seeing
more movement in Rochester in terms of raising salaries to stay competitive, but her firm has not
had any unusual turnover. Jeanne suggested that Wayne consider giving interim bonuses and/or
accelerate raises, etc. Jason said his firm’s turnover has been slightly higher. Jeff’s firm offers
flex hours beginning right after tax season through July, and also eliminated mandatory Saturdays
as long as the staff gets their work done during the week. Jeanne’s firm offers comp time, some
of which they must use on Fridays in the summer, when the office officially closes early. John
Skakun’s firm gives 16 hours of flex time per month. Several on the call reported that flexibility
is the number one request from staff.
IV. Extensions – client permission
Troy asked what firms are doing with clients who do not respond to requests for their tax
information – do they automatically file extensions? His firm and Atlanta currently do.
Louisville and Rochester consider it on a case-by-case basis depending upon whether it’s a longterm or new client, and then always send a follow-up e-mail advising them.
V. Has anyone successfully implemented a Women’s Leadership Initiative in their firm?
Jason Whaley asked if anyone has implemented a Women’s Leadership Initiative in their firm.
Larry Feibel indicated that his firm has one, and suggested that Jason contact his partner, Terry
Pissi, who heads it up.
VI. New Tax Legislation
The group discussed the provisions in the new tax law. Everyone on the call reported that they
had sent out information to clients and/or held or will be holding client seminars. Maureen
advised that PDI is developing a client “Seminar in a Box,” to be released the week of January
14th. BKR members will receive a $100 discount off the retail price of $300. Maureen will send
details as soon as PDI makes them available.
VII. Adjournment and Next Telemeeting
The group agreed to hold their next teletmeeting on April 22 at 2:00 p.m. Eastern Time. Jeanne
then adjourned the telemeeting at 3:00 p.m.