Top 100 CPA Firm Expands Presence In The Buckeye State, Names Regional Presidents
New Philadelphia, Ohio – Rea & Associates, Inc., a regional accounting and business consulting firm has successfully merged in Walthall CPAs on Nov.1. Now combined, the practice boasts a workforce of nearly 300 professionals, all of whom are ready to serve clients from the firm’s 12 offices situated across the state. As a result of this larger presence, Rea & Associates has implemented a regional structure. Each region – Northeast Ohio Region, East Central Ohio Region, Southeast Ohio Region and West Central Ohio Region – will be led by a regional president. In turn, these regional presidents will support the firm’s CEO, Don McIntosh, CPA, on a number of initiatives while maintaining the “One Firm” culture Rea continues to promote.
“This merger brings with it so many great opportunities for all of our clients, including new services, expanded services and access to a greater variety of professional resources,” said McIntosh. “We were a large firm before the merger. Now, with the addition of Walthall CPAs and two of their Cleveland-area offices, it only makes sense to streamline our internal structure by adopting a regional approach. This will ensure that our dedication to providing excellent, timely service does not falter and that the lines of communication between each region are always open. Additionally, our new operating structure will provide even greater support to our firm’s “One Firm” mentality.”
Rea’s new regional structure is broken down into four parts:
The Northeast Ohio Region, which includes offices in Amherst, Cleveland, Medina and Mentor, will be led by Rick Lash, CPA. Lash is the former managing partner of Walthall CPAs and brings more than 30 years of experience in the accounting industry to his new position. He is a principal and also sits on Rea’s board of directors.
The East Central Ohio Region, which includes offices in New Philadelphia, Millersburg and Wooster, will be led by Kyle Stemple, CPA, CGMA. In addition to his new position as regional president, Stemple serves as a principal and the firm’s director of manufacturing services. A Lean Six Sigma Green Belt, he has been with Rea since 2002.
The Southeast Ohio Region, which includes offices in Cambridge, Marietta, and Zanesville, will be led by Chad Bice, CPA. Bice began his career in the accounting industry in 1995. A principal with Rea, he was previously the manager of the firm’s Zanesville office.
The West Central Ohio Region, which includes Rea’s Dublin and Lima offices, will be led by Mark McKinley, CPA, a principal and former manager of the firm’s Lima office. McKinley has more than 20 years of public accounting experience.
“As the regional president of our new Northeast Ohio Region, I look forward to helping our teams facilitate even greater growth while promoting the benefits of our expanded team,” said Lash. “I really think adopting a regional structure is a great approach for our newly combined firm and I am looking forward to the positive impact this merger will have on our clients.”