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 Since 1990, Joel Sinkin has personally been involved with and consulted on over 700 transaction closings of accounting firms from coast to coast. Joel has taught and advised accounting professionals about Mergers & Acquisitions through CPE, professional writing, workshops, web casts and coaching programs on behalf of the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants, national associations, and state societies. He has worked with thousands of firms including start-ups, sole proprietors, local, regional, and national firms.
Joel believes that the needs of the parties in every merger and acquisition are unique and successful execution requires a thorough understanding of each party’s objectives. The chemistry between the partners in the two firms is a key component to making the deal work. “A good deal is a fair deal. I also believe it’s beneficial to both parties for retiring practitioners to transition at a pace that meets their clients’ needs and is consistent with their personal plans. The best deals are win-win propositions.”
 Terry has over 25 years experience in the CPA profession. For six years, he was Managing Director-Mergers and Acquisitions for RSM McGladrey, the fifth largest accounting firm nationally, and held several executive positions with its corporate parent. He structured and negotiated many transactions resulting in the acquisition of accounting and consulting firms ranging in size from sole proprietors to firms with hundreds of professionals and multi-state operations. Prior to joining McGladrey, Terry was the Managing Partner of Donnelly Meiners Jordan Kline, a 60 associate CPA firm in Kansas City.
Terry thinks it is imperative that practitioners have a clear understanding of their objectives when pursuing a sale of their practice or the merger with or acquisition of another practice. “I've seen deals not work or not materialize because one of the parties to the succession plan had not thought through what they really wanted to accomplish. Accounting Transition Advisors will make sure the approach to executing your plan will meet your objectives. Because we are consultants and not brokers, we can be much more flexible in helping a firm succeed with its transition plan.”
 As the Chief Operating Executive of the Mid-Atlantic region of ATA, Ira has the unique perspective of someone who has achieved success as an entrepreneur leading a mid-size accounting firm, as a practice director in the corporate environment of a top-20 firm and most recently, as a sought after consultant advising on practice management solutions. During his 15 year leadership as managing member of a highly profitable 50-person firm, Ira tripled sales volume, introduced several new lines of service, effectively negotiated the retirement of four founding members, completed successful tuck-in mergers and ultimately positioned the practice for merger and oversaw its successful integration with a top regional firm. Ira’s involvement in ATA’s merger activities will serve as a valuable compliment to Optimum Strategies, his ongoing practice management consulting practice.
Ira's CPA firm career path provides a perspective that stimulates strong interest in his speaking and writing. He has presented to industry associations as well as state and national societies. Ira is a long time member of the advisory board of CPA Practice Management Forum and is a contributor to Accounting Today. Licensed in both New York and New Jersey, Ira served with distinction on AICPA’s prestigious Management of an Accounting Practice Committee. Ira has served as a Trustee of the New Jersey Society of Certified Public Accountants and has directed many initiatives for local chapters.
Ira graduated cum laude from New York University with a Bachelor of Science degree in Economics, and received his Master of Science degree in Accounting with honors from Northeastern University. To read more about Ira’s addition to the ATA team AccountingWeb Firm News link.
 Russ Best has over 30 years experience in consulting with management in numerous industries, including professional services. He has practiced across a broad range of disciplines including: Mergers and Acquisitions, Strategic Business Planning, and Information Technology.
Prior to joining Accounting Transition Advisors, Russ was a Principal with Merger and Acquisition Services, a national firm that assists companies through successful transition prior to, during and following a merger or acquisition. He recently also founded Strategic Horizons Inc., a consulting firm specializing in assisting fast growth companies.
Russ has spent over 20 years of his career in Public Accounting in consulting and practice development. As the Kansas City Partner in Charge of General Management Consulting with Arthur Young, later Ernst & Young, Russ built one of the most successful practices of its kind in the nation. As Partner in Charge of Consulting with Donnelly Meiners Jordan Kline, a local Kansas City based CPA firm, he developed a successful practice based largely upon Profitability Improvement and Information Technology. As Director of Consulting with Coopers and Lybrand, he oversaw the growth of the consulting presence in the Kansas City Area.
As one of the original Independent Facilitators, Russ has assisted in the development of The Alternative Board (TAB) a concept that brings business owners together to form an alternative to a formal board of directors.
Russ has a Bachelor of Science degree from Akron University in accounting and a MBA from North Texas University. He is a Certified Management Consultant. He is a recognized public speaker on topics including Strategic Business Planning, Advanced Cost Management, Total Quality Management and Succession Planning.
 Mike Farinelli has over 25 years experience working for a FORTUNE 500 Company as a Regional Director in sales and marketing managing the central part of the United States, Canada and Mexico. Upon leaving Corporate America, Mike started his own successful company from 2000 through 2007. His experience in developing partnership agreements with large companies, independent distributors and dealers led to joining ATA in the spring of 2007.
Mike has responsibility for establishing new relationships with accounting firms nationwide seeking to find solutions to succession issues, and new growth opportunities through mergers and acquisitions.
 For more than 25 years Mr. Goforth has been a nationally recognized speaker and respected consultant. In his capacity with Accounting Transition Advisors LLC, Mr. Goforth has consulting and advisory responsibility within the states of Michigan and Illinois. His specialization is strategic transition and succession planning, practice valuation, merger and acquisition consultation exclusively within the accounting profession. Mr. Goforth consults to a wide range of clients from smaller firms lead by a sole practitioner to several of the AccountingToday Top 100 firms. Mr. Goforth has presented CPE classes and seminars for the Michigan Association of Certified Public Accountants (MACPA), the Illinois CPA Society (ICPAS), the Indiana Certified Public Accountants Society (INCPAS) and the Independent Accountants Association of Michigan (IAAM). Your interest in working together is greatly appreciated.
 Cheryl has spent the majority of her professional experience in consulting and marketing. She has a degree in Business Administration from Boston University where she graduated Magna Cum Laude. She has a proven track record of success in the telecommunications and real estate industries. Before coming to Accounting Transition Advisors, she was the owner of a corporate services firm and handled accounts across the nation. In her capacity with Accounting Transition Advisors, Cheryl is consulting with CPA firms as Managing Director in the New York and New Jersey Metro areas including managing Mergers and Acquisitions with virtually every one of the Managing Partners of the Top 50 largest firms in the Tri-state New York region.
 Mark Mazur brings 25 years of leadership and multifaceted experience in sales, marketing, publishing and consulting for the accounting asset management, insurance and banking industries.
Before joining Accounting Transition Advisors, Mark’s most recent professional experience has included merger and acquisition consulting and recruiting for fee-based financial planning firms, along with coaching, business development and marketing for both national and local consulting firms and consortiums. His own experience having merged his company and later selling it, brings an added depth and dimension to ATA’s focus on providing transition and succession solutions to accounting firms.
Through Mark’s own company Pencor Mazur, a national marketing communications firm serving the accounting and financial services industries, he has developed numerous brand-building and turnkey marketing systems. Among his contributions and accomplishments, Mark pioneered the first fully customizable mass produced client-marketing newsletter for the insurance industry in 1989.
Mark is a graduate from Southern Illinois University and is a Masters level participant in The Strategic Coach Program for Entrepreneurs.
He is married 33 years to Catherine and his many interests include art, sports, Middle East history, travel, tennis and golf.
 William McPherson joined Accounting Transition Advisors in mid 2009 as Regional Director for the State of Michigan. With over 30 years of financial industry experience, Bill brings expertise and knowledge in many areas of commercial finance to his client relationships. As both a lender and a consultant, Bill has assisted his clients in preparation of business plans, in refinancing their businesses as well as in funding business growth and the acquisition of both businesses and commercial real estate. Additionally he has assisted them in negotiations with lenders and provided them with guidance regarding how to best structure the business finances to meet current and long term needs Bill's varied transaction experience provides him unique perspective and knowledge that his clients appreciate. Bill is a graduate of the University of Michigan Ross School of Business, holding both BBA and MBA degrees. He currently serves as a Director of the New Enterprise Forum, an Ann Arbor, Michigan Not-for-profit corporation founded in 1986 to help new entrepreneurs prosper and grow.
 Scott is the Managing Director for Florida of Accounting Transition Advisors LLC a firm that exclusively consults on Mergers & Acquisitions for Public Accounting Firms.
Prior to joining ATA Scott was a Registered Representative with his own firm Stephens Investment Advisors. Scott’s background includes roles in Respiratory Manufacturing, Home Health and Office Automation.
Scott is a Graduate of the University of Mississippi with a Degree in Public Administration 1990.
Scott has been involved in Civic Organizations ranging from Kiwanis to Habitat for Humanity. He has served as Past Chairman of the Satellite Beach Planning Council and served on various boards with different organizations in Central Florida.
Scott resides in Melbourne FL with his Children Amelia, Ryan and Christina.
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