Testimonials
When it comes to tough business decisions, you often know what you should do, but you get lost in the maze of “what ifs; Bill reminds you of what really works and what really matters. As Bill would say “Don’t plan for the worst case scenario, plan for the likely scenario." Darsi Casey, CPA, Managing Partner, Casey, Neilon & Associates, LLC, Carson City, NV
We have used Succession Institute over the past several years for firm retreats, succession planning, 360 assessments and manager training. The knowledge and experience that Bill and Dom possess has been invaluable in helping our firm through various stages of growth and development. They have been instrumental to us in their guidance from the drafting to the implementation stages of our succession plan. Their knowledge of the CPA industry and trends for succession have guided us and helped us throughout the succession process as well as advising us with on other practice management best practices. Abby Dupree, Kathleen Brothers, & Stephanie Zottoli, Carroll and Company CPAs, Tallahassee, FL
Dom has become a great resource for our firm. As a new managing partner, I have contacted Dom many times about how to implement new strategy or deal with issues. He has a way of breaking down any issue and making it much easier to tackle. He has always provided sound advice and a process that makes sense and is possible to implement. Roz Alyson, CPA, Shareholder, Mahoney, Ulbrich, Christiansen & Russ, P.A., Saint Paul, MN
Our hope in hiring a consultant was to get practical, useful, and personalized data and advice. Dom and Bill's skills got our partners to accomplish tasks that we had never achieved on our own. Joel Olbricht, President & CEO, Olbricht Storniolo Group, Hampstead, NH
We had a great experience with Succession Institute utilizing their customized leadership training program for our future partners. It’s focus was directly on point emphasizing development of these important attributes; management of employees, management of client relationships, and firm growth. We highly recommend Succession Institute for this critical training of our current and future leaders. Stephen A. Palmerton CPA, Assurance and Tax Shareholder, Harper & Pearson Company, P.C., Houston, TX
The Situational Leadership® workshop provided excellent training on how and when to apply different leadership styles. It was very eye-opening as it showed me what was and wasn’t working in my current approach to supervising staff. I would highly recommend it to anyone genuinely concerned about developing their team members. Joel Knopp, Audit Manager, Moore Stephens Lovelace, Orlando, FL
Their first-hand knowledge of our industry really gives them the ability to provide extremely useful training and real-life examples of what we face on a daily basis, and their light-hearted approach makes it easy to participate. I would highly recommend this program not only to partners/managers but to all members of an organization, no matter what level. Carrie St. John, Healthcare Manager, Moore Stephens Lovelace, Orlando, FL
I just wanted to thank you again for the insightful session we had earlier this week in Detroit. I really got a lot of value in what we covered over the course of the last year and I think both you and Dom do an excellent job of providing us with a program that is useful and pertinent. Kristina Ashqar, CPA, CA, Directrice Audit & certification / Manager Audit & Assurance, PSBBOISJOLI, Montréal (Québec), Canada
Thanks for presenting to us. I got a lot out of it and greatly enjoyed it. There were great benefits of learning to apply different styles of leadership based on tasks and situations rather than just using one basic style. This workshop can be a game changer for anyone wanting to improve their leadership style and help further develop their people. Bryce Bowley, CPA, CFE, Audit Senior Manager, Robinson Burdette Martin & Seright LLP, Lubbock, TX
Thanks for a great workshop, Dom! I gained valuable new perspective, which I can already see has made me a better leader. Angie Hardy, CPA, Revenue Recognition Manager, Epicor Software Corporation, Austin, TX
The presentation to the MICPA team back in February was a preview, but you drove home your message regarding the change and evolution of the profession at our Members Advisory Symposium. Your insights and enthusiasm were so impactful and I was pleased to hear all the positive feedback on your keynote and breakout sessions. Thank you for being part of our MICPA family. Peggy A Dzierzawski, CAE, President & CEP, Michigan Association of CPAs
Thank you for (1) Being tough, but fair with me and all of my partners. (2) Always being direct and honest with us. (3) Giving out compliments when deserved, but not every day just for getting out of bed.
(4) Helping us through many difficult conversations. (5) Helping us recognize when things were good but seemed not so good. (6) Your responsiveness to our needs. (7) Your sage advice. (8) Being a friend.
(9) Being a professional in every sense of the word. (10) Caring about what you do so much that it oozes out of you. Most of all, thanks for being someone I felt like I could discuss anything with and know that you would not judge me, but would take what I said and try to help my firm and me be more successful. Rick Baumeister, Jr., CPA, CliftonLarsonAllen LLP, CLA Dallas, TX
The CPA Firm Management Association engaged The Succession Institute, more importantly Bill Reeb and Dom Cingoranelli, to lead our first Leadership Institute in 2017. The program was designed for CPA firm managers looking to enhance their key skills through a high impact customized four-day workshop focused on Situational Leadership, trends, business models, governance, accountability and the development of people. The customized tailoring of the program and the Succession Institute’s commitment to knowing our group will lead to class members being able to apply lessons learned and success both personally and professionally. We couldn’t be more pleased with our partnership with the Succession Institute. Kim Fantaci, President, CPA Firm Management Association (CPAFMA), Dayton, OH
I just wanted to thank you for the last two days. You have an amazing talent and the knowledge and experience to go with it. That was in my mind the best retreat we have ever had in the last 27 years. David J. Cassady, Chief Growth Officer, Cassady Schiller CPAs & Advisors, Cincinnati, OH
The guidance that Bill Reeb & The Succession Institute have provided our firm in making key strategic management decisions has been invaluable. Bill’s experience and guidance have proven to be highly insightful and have given us the confidence to take our firm to the next level. Bill has demonstrated genuine interest in helping our partners and team members become more successful. Tammy R. Vogsland, CPA, Managing Partner, C&D LLP, Solvang, CA
Hearing Bill Reeb speak at our HBK 2017 November Partners Meeting was clearly the highlight of the event. Not only was he spot-on in his assessment of accountability, motivation and paradigms (just to mention a few topics offered with laser-pointed insight) but also, he was able to broach difficult subjects with empathy and humor. I cannot imagine anyone walking out of his lecture who didn’t share my opinion that Bill is one of the best motivational speakers out there. The fact that he has a wealth of experience in the accounting/finance industry is quite fortunate for our firm and any wise enough to hire him as a guest speaker. This man isn’t just worth the price of admission; his recommendations are invaluable. If followed, any firm would increase morale, operations and profitability in very short order. James G. Fahey, PAFM, Chief Learning Officer, HBK CPAs & Consultants, Canfield, OH
Bill and his team, as usual, deliver a high quality program filled with pragmatic solutions and approaches to the challenges of running a CPA firm and developing the next generation of leaders. Nick Magone, CPA, CGMA, CFP®, Managing Partner of Magone & Company, PC
Bill is the consummate professional. Always knowing not only the best course of action, but how to provide momentum towards implementation.
Brian P. Weber
Applied Business Concepts
I have worked with Bill on projects over the years. Bill always knows what is going on in the profession and gives great recommendations. He has helped us in the past on some edits to our partnership agreements and he and Tommye are currently working with us on the managing partner transition. I recommend Bill and Tommye and would always be happy to discuss with anyone that is interested in using their services.
G. Alan Long, CPA, CITP, CGMA Baldwin CPAs
Succession Institute has been the most effective consulting firm we have ever worked with. Bill and Tommye saved us months of negotiations with our latest merger with their practical leadership approach to fairly settling issues. Post- merger, they have been instrumental in redesigning our systems to meet the challenges of our larger firm. Without their guidance, we would be six to eight months behind in reaching our goals.
Kelly Puryear, CPA, CGMA TRP Sumner PLLC CPAs+Advisors
Jay-Reese Contractors has enjoyed great assistance, guidance, and insight from our relationship with Succession Institute. Bill has been invaluable in helping us to recognize the directions we need to head in our succession process. He has helped us maneuver the many emotions and technical issues that make transition a difficult process. I highly recommend Succession Institute and their expertise.
Ron Albee, PE, President, Jay-Reese Contractors, Inc.
I attribute part of my success in my career to my work with Bill Reeb and the Succession Institute. I have engaged Bill multiple times over the past 15 years because he delivers straight-talking, substantive, experience-based, solid business management guidance.
Michael J. Delehanty, The Whisler Law Firm, P.A.
“Tommye’s guidance helps me stick to the plan. Too often I and other accountants can get sidetracked into taking on the wrong clients. Tommye keeps me in line to ensure I am working with the right people.”
“For years I never thought a coach was necessary. Now I wonder how people succeed without it. Self-awareness is a difficult skill to notice and understand. I cannot thank Tommy and Bill enough for opening my eyes to a better way of doing things.”
Zack Ryan, CPA/ABV, CEPA, Value Forward Advisory, LLC
“We appreciate Bill’s straight forward, direct and honest approach to consulting. He has great insight into firm structure, organization and governance. In addition, we have implemented a Partner retirement and transition plan recommended by Bill and have successfully retired 6 Partners in 7 years under that model. His guidance was critical in allowing us to reorganize our firm from an eat what you kill model to a true partnership, transition firm leadership to the next generation and allow us to grow substantially during the process.”
Nate Lilleodden, CPA, Copeland Buhl & Company PLLP
“Bill and Succession Institute has helped our Firm at critical points in our growth. Bill’s no-nonsense style and unmatched industry knowledge really catalyzed our evolution. We really value our relationship.”
Chris Perkins, Managing Partner, Holtzman Partners
SI has done a terrific job in guiding our firm from the EWYK form of practice to the one-firm operating model. The SI team has significant experience and uses impactful tools and techniques when facilitating meetings and discussions. The progress we have made would not have been possible without them.
Leonard Sommer, Shareholder, Hancock/Dana
"The guidance that Bill Reeb & Tommye Barie of the Succession Institute have provided our firm in making key strategic management decisions has been invaluable. Their experience and involvement have proven to be highly insightful and have given us the tools and confidence to take our firm to the next level and successfully transition through multiple partner retirements. Bill and Tommye have demonstrated a genuine interest in helping our partners, team members and firm become more successful."
Tammy Vogsland, CPA, Partner
C&D CPAs and Advisors
We have been more than pleased with Bill and his Succession Institute team. He’s played a vital role in our firm’s development, growth and sustainability over the past 15 years. He has been instrumental in creating our organizational structure, crafting partner succession plans, and resolving partner conflicts. Most importantly, he has a common sense approach to developing leaders to enhance communication, accountability and performance. As managing partner, Bill is my “go to” guy for firm management advice and guidance. David Price, Managing Partner, Jones, Nale & Mattingly PLC
The program was really well designed and effectively delivered. Bill and Tommye were both highly engaging and delivered the course in a thought provoking manner. Moshe Gruber, Tax Manager, Mazars USA, New York, NY
Situational Leadership training program was great because it gave me a proven model that I can intentionally follow to help become a more effective leader/manager. Cristian Campos, Senior Accountant, Kickstarter PBC, New York, NY
High impact two days for our team. Thanks Bill and Tommye! Myron Fisher, Member, Baldwin CPAs, Richhmond, KY
I thought the instructors made the workshop fun and everyone seemed engaged. Sarah Grayson, Baldwin CPAs, Richmond, KY
Situational Leadership is a great approach for any organization ... but if you're a CPA firm, these are the trainers you need! David Prewitt, Baldwin CPAs, Richmond, KY
Very informative course on the right way to manage people. Rania Roshdi, Baldwin CPAs, Richmond, KY
In succession planning the objective is to combine the past with the future and make it a present feasible plan beneficial to the entities involved. Bill Reeb accomplished this mission! Another part of the equation is completing the task from beginning to end. Bill Reeb accomplished this mission! Nik Pry, Retired Founding Partner, Pry Professional Group, Findlay, OH
Bill has a great ability to cut through the crap and get to the point, We are certainly better because of him. Ray Roberts, CPA, Managing Partner, Accounting and Consulting Group, Albuquerque, NM
Bill has an ability to cut through the politics and tell it like is without alienating the partner group. His observations are on point and his systems and insights are invaluable to any firm wishing to grow and prosper. I highly recommend Bill's organization. You won't be disappointed. Nick Magone, CPA, Couto, DeFranco and Magone, New York and New Jersey
Bill Reeb has helped us change our firm - and more importantly my life! We used to work like crazy, sweat the small stuff, and not make that much money for a tremendous amount of effort. Now we work no overtime, treasure our employees, make a great living, and really enjoy helping our clients! How does he do it - Call him or more importantly call me I will share with you how vital Bill has been to our firm. Eric Rigby, CPA/PFS, Rigby Financial Group, New Orleans, LA
A few weeks after graduating from college, I substituted for my father's attendance at a seminar since he was struggling w/ diabetic complications and couldn't attend. The seminar was led by Bill Reeb. I was blown away. When my father later died the following year and my family's (now) third-generation firm almost collapsed, I bought and read from cover to cover Bill's book Start Consulting: How To Walk The Talk & used the principles therein to formulate a strategic approach to resurrecting the firm and servicing its clients. Whether he'll admit it or not, Bill has played a critical role in my success throughout my career. Matthew Roger, CPA, Managing Partner, Roger and Keith, CPAs, New Orleans, LA
Bill Reeb is one of the best speakers I have ever heard. Audiences love him because he is both knowledgeable and entertaining. He provides practical and valuable insight into how organizations can improve and achieve success. John M. Sharbaugh, CAE, CEO, Texas Society of CPAs
Bill Reeb is a sure-bet. CPAs love him because he brings real, useable content to the table. Jane Egan, Executive Director, Montana Society of CPAs
What began before engaging Bill for an Information Technology project was redirected and expanded with Bill's leadership and practical approach to become a dynamic process improvement initiative and strategy. This endeavor ultimately resulted in the redesign and automation of all processes supporting operations while stimulating a cooperative cross-functional process likely never experienced in the 100+ year history of our organization. Bill became a director of strategy, cultural change agent, project leader and personal mentor which helped to transform and dramatically strengthen our Company for the future. He is clearly the best consultant I've worked with in my 30+-year professional career. John Gordon, CPA, CITP, Former Vice President-Finance and Chief Financial Officer, National Lime & Stone Co., Findlay, OH
I have known Dominic Cingoranelli for 10 years. The advice and focus Dominic provides his customers is forthright, timely, and useful. Dominic provides plans and solutions for the long-term success of his clients. He is not a typical consultant where a client spends a lot of money and is left with a stale ‘business plan.’ His persistence and dedication to his clients' success is remarkable. Because of Dom’s reputation and track-record we have long recommended Dominic to various clients over the years. Donald Appleby, Vice President, HRH of Colorado, Denver, CO
Dom Cingoranelli made our family aware of succession topics in a very convincing way. Without meeting with Dom, our family would never have been jump started into getting the third-generation family member installed as company president. Larry Hollar, Chairman, Hollar Seeds, Rocky Ford, CO
Dom Cingoranelli has been my accountant/business consultant for over 25 years. He has helped me through many business changes, including relationships with a partnership, financial planning, start-up (and closing later) a new corporation, and approaches to business problems over the years. His business acumen is exemplary. He is easy to work with, understanding, but definite in his recommendations. All my experiences with Dom have been good ones, and I certainly recommend him. Paul Radway, MD, Pueblo, CO
Dom Cingoranelli has helped Gobins Inc. with succession planning and management training. I have been involved in many Succession Planning and Management Training Seminars but the advice and training that we received from Dom was the best. Bob Gobin, President, Gobins Inc., Pueblo, CO
My professional experience with Dom Cingoranelli has always been positive. He is a resourceful, creative and practical advice giver on all levels. Don Banner, Attorney at Law, Pueblo, CO
Bill Reeb's Leadership Course has been an overwhelming success for CalCPA. It seems like everywhere you turn, behind the leadership in the Society, in firms, and in industry is a graduate of Bill's course. For many of us, the experience has been a life and career focusing event. I highly recommend this course for any CPA at any level in any organization. Rusty Roy, CPA, CalCPA Central Coast Chapter President, past Chair of CalCPA MAP Committee, Roy & O'Connor, CPAs Inc., Paso Robles, CA
Although I had heard great things about the California Society's Leadership Institute, it more than exceeded my expectations. Bill Reeb is a gifted teacher, and the skills I learned will continue to serve me throughout my career. Johanna Sweaney Salt, CPA, CGMA, Gray, Salt & Associates, LLP, Claremont, CA