UB Ranks First in Graduates Managing Largest Accounting Firms in Baltimore Area
September 2, 2009
Contact: University Relations
Phone: 410.837.5739
Ten of the 25 largest accounting firms in the Baltimore area (as ranked by the Baltimore Business Journal's 2009 Book of Lists) are headed by graduates of the University of Baltimore's Merrick School of Business and the UB School of Law. That number is up from eight, as revealed by last year's BBJ list, making the University the leading area source for top-level managerial talent in accounting.
The 2009 list includes the category "head local executive," and the 10 cited firms have 11 UB graduates listed as principals, managing partners, chairmen and so on.
The number of UB alumni leading these firms in a concentrated geographical area is "remarkable," according to Merrick School of Business Dean Darlene Smith.
"To discover that many of our graduates are leading firms that handle a substantial volume of the region's accounting needs—that is a remarkable tribute to both our teaching and our reach into the market," Smith said. "It indicates that not only do we produce stellar graduates who are fully prepared for a career in accounting, but we also develop business leaders. No doubt tomorrow's accounting CEOs are taking classes at UB right now."
The 11 leaders and their firms' ranking in the 2009 Book of Lists are:
Gary Perlow, CPA, CERT '81, co-office managing principal of the Reznick Group (#3)
H. Terry Hancock, CPA, B.S. '80, managing partner of Clifton Gunderson (#7)
Alvin D. Katz, CPA, B.S. '63, president and CEO of KAWG&F (#8)
Simpson H. Gardyn, CPA, CVA, M.S. '80, managing partner of Gorfine, Schiller & Gardyn, P.A. (#10)
Donald N. Hoffman, CPA, B.S. '78, M.S. '84; and Jeffrey M. Kleeman, CPA, M.S. '94, members of the management committee at Hertzbach & Co. (#13)
Arthur Flach, CPA, M.S. '83, Baltimore office partner-in-charge and Mid-Atlantic tax practice leader of Grant Thornton (#17)
Thomas R. Moore, CPA, B.S. '75, chairman of Stegman & Co. (#19)
Howard J. Rosen, CPA, B.S. '71, president of RS&F Chartered (#20)
Jeffrey Coleman, CPA/ABV, CVA, J.D. '76, managing partner of Weil, Akman, Baylin & Coleman (#21)
Raphael Kahn, CPA, B.S. '67, president of Kahn, Berman, Solomon, Taibel & Mogol, P.A. (KBST&M) (#24)
These UB leaders, and others like them, frequently return to their alma mater to speak to current and prospective students about existing conditions in the accounting field, as well as to explore larger issues that affect their businesses, such as the sweeping Sarbanes-Oxley legislation from a few years ago.
"It's the best way for our students to get a picture of what the profession is facing now, and what it will face in future years," Smith said. "All of us get a lot out of having our graduates come back to the University."
UB offers bachelor's and master's degrees in accounting. Find out more here.
The University of Baltimore is a member of the University System of Maryland and comprises the School of Law, the Yale Gordon College of Liberal Arts and the Merrick School of Business.