Whitley Penn announced on Tuesday that seven will be promoted to partner effective Jan. 1.
“We are proud of these talented professionals for reaching this career milestone,” said Larry Autrey, Whitley Penn CEO and managing partner. “Their dedication to client service and focus on firm growth has been instrumental in our success. We congratulate and welcome them to the Whitley Penn Partnership.”
The news comes in the days following the firm’s announcement that Autrey would become executive chairman on Jan. 1. Nathen McEown, currently serving as partner-in-charge of consulting and chief growth officer, has been appointed Autrey’s successor as CEO. Toby Cotton, who currently serves as partner-in-charge of tax, will transition to the role of COO.
The new partners follow (bios from the Whitley Penn website):
Amy Allen, Brittany Flemming, Brandon Newton, Kevin Wood, Austin Grigsby, Anna Hardy, and Eric Goff.
Amy Allen, Tax Partner: Allen is a CPA with over 15 years of experience in tax public accounting, serving a diverse clientele of private entities. She is an active member of the AICPA and the TXCPA, as well as a board member of the TCU Accounting Advisory Board. B.B.A and M.S. in Accounting and Finance, TCU.
Brittany Flemming, Client Accounting & Advisory Services Partner: Flemming is a CPA with more than seven years of tax and accounting experience. She primarily serves clients in the construction, oil & gas, healthcare, and nonprofit industries. B.S. Business Administration and Accounting, California State University — San Bernardino; M.S. in Taxation, Golden Gate University.
Eric Goff, Tax Partner: Goff, a CPA, has more than 10 years of public accounting experience focusing on federal and state tax consulting for a wide variety of tax clients including small and medium-sized businesses, individuals, and nonprofit organizations. B.A. in History, Abilene Christian University; Master of Accountancy, Abilene Christian.
Austin Grigsby, Audit Partner: Grigsby is a CPA with more than 12 years of audit and assurance experience working alongside both public and private companies. B.A. in Business Administration, Rhodes College; M.S. in Accounting, University of Houston.
Anna Hardy, Forensic, Litigation and Valuation Services Partner: Hardy is a CPA and holds the Accredited in Business Valuation credential issued by the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants. Anna has spent almost 20 years providing expert testimony and opinions on accounting, tax, financial, and business valuation issues in litigation cases across the state. B.B.A. in Accounting, University of Dallas; M.S. in Accounting, University of Dallas.
Brandon Newton, State and Local Tax Partner: Newton is a CPA with more than 16 years of state and federal tax experience. He has managed the state and local tax buy-side due diligence process, written reports and advised buyers with respect to purchase agreement disclosures and tax indemnity. He regularly presents for the Council on State Taxation, Taxpayers Executive Institute, and the Texas Society of CPAs. Newton primarily serves the private equity, manufacturing and distribution, software, and energy industries. B.S. in Accountancy, University of Illinois
Kevin Wood, Audit Partner: Wood, a CPA, has more than eight years of public accounting experience heavily concentrated in audits of financial institutions and financial services companies, including community banks, bank holding companies, and credit unions. B.B.A. in Accounting, University of North Texas.