“We are looking to continually increase our commercial business practice,” states James Bartolomei, Managing Partner of Bartolomei Pucciarelli. “As the Ballezzi practice grew, they sought to join a firm with a diverse team of professionals and broader resources to support them in delivering the progressive services which both firms are known for. In addition to increasing our privately held business client base, we are thrilled to add experienced partner level talent to our team. This deal is a home run for us as we continue to expand our operations."

Ballezzi & Associates has provided accounting and business advisory services in the tri-state region, as well as to international accounts, for 40 years. With a majority of their customer base being commercial businesses, Ballezzi developed unique expertise in several key markets while honing a specialty within the information technology sector. Many of these clients are innovative software development companies that require a wide platform of services, such as outsourced CFO, business consulting, performance analysis and capital procurement. "Our firm is a lot like BP, states Ric Ballezzi. "We have a wide diversity of clients that have been with our firm for over 35 years because we go beyond the typical compliance services".

The relationship between Mr. Bartolomei and Mr. Ballezzi goes back 15 years. Throughout this period of time, the two firms have collaborated on many projects giving both a very solid understanding of each other's capabilities and approach to client services. According to Ric Ballezzi, managing partner of Ballezzi & Associates, this long-standing relationship made the decision to merge with Bartolomei Pucciarelli a lot easier and very exciting.

“There is a true alignment with regard to integrity, values and shared concern for our clients’ best interests,” states Mr. Ballezzi. "This was very important to me and my partner. We are energized by this merger knowing that the BP team will increase our ability to provide the high-tech and high-touch services our customers have come to expect. In fact, when we made the decision to merge up, BP was the only firm we considered, concludes Mr. Ballezzi.

We also take advantage of remote access technologies in the reverse direction. In one stunning meeting which took place during the past year, potential investors for a client in the growth stage desired a presentation of the client’s financial projections. Holding the meeting in a virtual format decreased costs and time commitment for the client, the investors, and our firm. Everyone accessed the client’s financial model on my machine and we hosted a full demonstration and discussion of the assumptions and projected results. Thus the investors were also able to control the financial model in a moderated setting, manipulating the assumptions and reviewing the instantly-updated financial projections while discussing the assumptions and business environment with the client. The investors were pleased, and therefore our client was thrilled!

Other remote access tools as alternatives to desktop applications include cloud tools such as QuickBooks Online Edition and Office Live; in our firm we also access our terminal server remotely. This gives us access both to our files and to our applications, making the local machine a throwback to the “dumb terminal” of yore.

Be attuned to the following when selecting your remote access tools:

• Who has the ability to control the target machine?
• Who has permission to access what parts of the target machine?
• Is it necessary to have someone on the target computer to approve the connection?
• How many simultaneous users do we need?

-Jaime Campbell-
"We uncover information not described by the client and pinpoint firsthand the exact mouse click in which the client went astray in a procedure"

Office 2010 and Other Collaboration Tools

Microsoft Office 2010’s expanded capabilities facilitate collaboration directly and also help users manage the process.

SharePoint Workspace, included in the Microsoft Office 2010 suite, is an excellent collaboration choice for small-to-medium-sized businesses. Known in Office 2007 as Microsoft Groove, it can be used not only to share files internally and externally but also to communicate with an Instant Messenger tool. The files are stored locally, but can be accessed, shared, and managed by approved users.

Office Live, now also known as SkyDrive, further leverages the cloud by providing an online space for hosting files to be accessed by multiple users alone or simultaneously. We recommended Office Live to a small business client so that multiple employees can work in an operations management tool and keep it up-to-date with new projects, costs, and manpower requirements while managers monitor and allocate resources.

Using the File menu in three of the most popular elements of the Office suite – Excel, Word, and PowerPoint – quickly reveals how easy it now is to send a file as an attachment in its native format or as a PDF, send a link to a file if the file is in shared location, post it to a SharePoint site, or saved directly to a SkyDrive account.

Like its predecessor Office 2007, it is also easier to access other collaboration settings including the ability to protect all or some areas of the file and add a password. The review features not only enable multiple users to track changes and add comments but also to compare and merge documents with multiple authors.

Consider the following when selecting your collaboration tools:

• How smoothly does the tool deal with a multi-user conflict in a file?
• Must the software needed to open a file be installed locally?
• Does it matter if the type of computer accessing the information is a PC or a Mac?
• Can the tool be used externally or only internally?
• What kind of file management is required?

An internal server as well as file transfer services successfully facilitate file-sharing, but make your long-distance client interactions dynamic with remote access; dissolve the walls of your office with cloud applications; expand your use of the Office suite to make connections and to create possibilities!

Jaime Campbell, CPA, M.B.A., CTT, MCT, Bartolomei Pucciarelli, LLC, leads the technology training services at the firm. She is a member of the New Jersey Society of CPAs Technology Interest Group. Contact Campbell at jcampbell@bp-cpas.com

“We are thrilled to have someone of Joe's caliber as a member of our team,” states James Bartolomei, Managing Partner of Bartolomei Pucciarelli. “Merging with quality accounting practices has been a component of our growth strategy and this deal fits well from a client base perspective, but having the opportunity to include Joe as a team member is really special," adds Mr. Bartolomei.

The relationship between Mr. Bartolomei and Mr. Schwendt goes back many years. In fact, Mr. Bartolomei was a student of Mr. Schwendt while attending Rider. Their mutual respect began very early and both parties remained in regular communication. Keeping track of each other's growth and career development resulted in many important synergies.

“I interviewed several accounting firms looking for the right culture and capability to securitize my customers” said Mr. Schwendt. "When I approached Jim, I realized quickly that I had to look no further. Bartolomei Pucciarelli's customer service ethic, scope of services, resources and unique approach to helping growth-oriented companies was unlike anything I had seen. I'm looking forward to working with this outstanding group of professionals and excited about the access my customers will now have to so many enabling solutions," concludes Mr. Schwendt.

They are extremely active in many philanthropic efforts that focus on local children-based charities. Perhaps most notable about this year’s Special Strides Honorees, even beyond their personal generosity, is their innate ability to inspire generosity in those around them through their actions.

Bartolomei Pucciarelli congratulates Bob and Dorene McDaid on their recognition by Special Strides.

Peter Miceli, Bartolomei Pucciarelli Partner and Bob McDaid, President of Renaissance Properties, Inc. enjoy the festivities at the Special Strides “2009 Annual Barn Benefit Dance.”

This survey and award program is designed to identify, recognize and honor the best places of employment in the accounting industry, benefiting the nation's economy, its workforce and businesses. The 2009 Best Accounting Firms to Work for list included 60 companies split into three groups. Bartolomei Pucciarelli was ranked in the top 5 of all small-sized accounting firms participating.

“We’re proud to be recognized as a great place for CPAs to succeed”, states Doug Smith, partner at Bartolomei Pucciarelli. “Our reputation for delivering unique and diverse services to our clients is becoming well-understood within our markets, so being recognized for our corporate culture and entrepreneurial work environment is significant in supporting our growth”, concludes Smith.

Companies from across the country entered the two-part survey process to determine the Best Accounting Firms to Work for. The first part consisted of evaluating each nominated company's workplace policies, practices, philosophy, systems and demographics. The second part consisted of an employee survey to measure the employee experience. The combined scores determined the top companies and the final ranking. Best Companies Group managed the overall registration, survey and analysis process and determined the final rankings.

The mission of the Crystal Vision Awards is to recognize individuals who promote, expand and encourage the role of women in the construction industry. Judith Ritter is the recipient of the Crystal Vision Award, which is awarded to a nonmember of NAWIC, and Catherine Escobar, is the recipient of the Crystal Achievement Award, which is awarded to a NAWIC member.

Judith Ritter is the owner of Ritter Contracting, a commercial union subcontracting firm. In 1992, after seven years with an electrical subcontractor and supply house, Ritter became a partner in J.A.Woodworking, a small, residential construction company on the verge of bankruptcy. Within a year, she transformed it into a profitable commercial union contracting firm, becoming 100 percent owner when her partner chose to start another company. She renamed the company Ritter Contracting Inc. Ritter is considered a pioneer, mentor and advocate of advancing women in construction. Her tenacity, high level of professionalism and ability to deliver high quality have made the last 16 years memorable, having contributed to many of the premier commercial buildings in Philadelphia. She has accomplished this while significantly exceeding the mandated percentages of women and minorities working on her projects.

“She has dedicated countless hours to the assistance of small, women and minority businesses,” says Peter Coyle, Director of Business Development at Hunter Roberts Construction Group. Ritter’s legacy continues to build through her support for small business owners in her work with General Building Contractors Association (GBCA), Women’s Business Enterprise National Council (WBENC) and the Greater Philadelphia Chamber of Commerce (GPCC). With each organization, she has been instrumental in developing systems that help small, women and minority-owned businesses gain the skills and networking opportunities they need to be competitive.

Judy Ritter will be added to the elite group of Crystal Vision Award winners and honored for her achievements during the 15th Annual Crystal Vision Awards Gala at NAWIC's 54th Annual Convention in Phoenix, Ariz., August 29 at 7 p.m. More than 700 members in various facets of the construction industry are expected to attend the Convention, August 26 to 29 at the J.W. Marriot Desert Ridge Resort. Convention affords attendees the opportunity to enhance their success by attending educational seminars, attaining certifications and networking with other women in the construction industry.

To learn more, visit www.nawicconvention.org

“Our regional client base is increasingly exploring business opportunities in other domestic markets and foreign countries. The BDO Seidman Alliance allows us to better serve these clients as they expand regionally, nationally and globally, while maintaining our autonomy,” said James Bartolomei, Managing Partner of Bartolomei Pucciarelli. “In addition to the geographic benefits, our firm will have access to greater technical knowledge and specialty services of BDO Seidman and its international organization.”

The BDO Seidman Alliance enhances member firm capabilities through the availability of supplementary professional services, comprehensive management consulting services, focused industry knowledge, customized state-of-the-art computer systems, and internal training programs, as well as, marketing and human resources support.

“We believe the professionals of Bartolomei Pucciarelli share BDO Seidman’s commitment to exemplary client service and we want to welcome them into the BDO Seidman Alliance,” said Michael G. O’Hare BDO Seidman, LLP Partner and Executive Director of Alliance Services.

About the BDO Seidman Alliance

TThe BDO Seidman Alliance is a nationwide association of independently owned local and regional accounting and consulting firms sharing a dedication to exemplary client service. These firms use the BDO Seidman Alliance to strengthen technical knowledge in all disciplines, gain extensive domestic and global coverage, explore new business opportunities, and secure and maintain clients. Members of the BDO Seidman Alliance are independent firms and are referred to as “An Independent Member of the BDO Seidman Alliance.”

This marks the second consecutive year the firm has earned a #1 ranking among United States firms surveyed in a management consulting category. Based on the percentage of change in revenue growth versus the previous year, the firm ranked 14^th on the list, which is up from 30^th a year ago and 52^nd two years ago.

The PAR Top 100 Fastest Growing Accounting Firms reflects data for participating firms' most recently completed fiscal years and U.S. net revenue growth rate.

According to James E. Bartolomei, CPA, Principal, Bartolomei Pucciarelli, LLC, the firm's success is clearly attributed to team performance.

"Our firm's growth validates our corporate culture and holistic service model. Because every employee in our company participates in the ongoing development of the firm, our internal focus and responsiveness is consistent with our customers expectations," said Bartolomei.

The company addresses client needs by complementing its core tax and accounting work with advisory services that enhance performance, revenue and profitability. As an affiliate of RAN ONE – a world-wide network of independent accountants specializing in the growth of small-to-medium sized businesses – Bartolomei Pucciarelli is well equipped to offer expert counsel on risk management, team training and retention, marketing, information security, customer service and other strategies for maintaining a healthy bottom line.

"We provide structured programs with clear deliverables, which is unique for firms of our size," explained Bartolomei.

Management consulting services continue to represent a strong growth area of Bartolomei Pucciarelli's overall business, positioning the firm at the forefront of industry trends as accounting practices assume wider responsibilities in the small to mid-sized business arena.

"Our goal is to provide more value to our clients, which translates into mutual growth and success," added Bartolomei.