News/Press Press Releases

Berenfeld, Spritzer, Shechter & Sheer Launches Expansion Program

Rapidly Growing Miami Accounting & Consulting Firm Adds New Partners and Opens New Office

CORAL GABLES, Fla.-November 30, 2006-Berenfeld, Spritzer, Shechter & Sheer, CPAs LLP ("Berenfeld Spritzer"), celebrating 35 years of accounting and tax consulting services, announces staff additions and the opening of a third South Florida office in the downtown Las Olas business district of Fort Lauderdale.

Michael F. O'Rourke, CPA*/ABV, CVA, formerly a partner with Morrison, Brown, Argiz & Farra, LLP, joins Berenfeld Spritzer as a Partner in the Litigation Support Services practice. Mr. O'Rourke serves as an expert witness on accounting issues in commercial damages litigation and bankruptcy matters. He is a Certified Valuation Analyst experienced in the valuation of business enterprises, stock valuations, and gift and estate tax appraisals. He will work from the new Fort Lauderdale office.

John J. Schoendorf, a Principal in the firm, has been promoted to Partner in the Litigation Support Services practice. Mr. Schoendorf provides consulting services in the areas of forensic investigations, business damages, professional malpractice, financial reporting and bankruptcy. He was formerly a Director with Morrison, Brown, Argiz & Farra, LLP, and is based in the Coral Gables office.

Robert D. Moody, JD, CISA, CISM, a Principal in the firm, has been promoted to Partner in charge of the firm's Forensic Technology Services practice. Mr. Moody has fifteen years of experience in forensic and electronic discovery cases, including employee malfeasance, money laundering, bank fraud, trade secrets, computer hacking, child pornography and identity theft. He was formerly a Director in the Forensic Accounting and Investigations Services practice with Grant Thornton, LLP. Mr. Moody is based in the firm's Sunrise office, where he manages a team of e-discovery specialists and a sophisticated computer lab.

Madeline Elias, CPA, has joined the firm as a Principal in the Tax Consulting and Compliance Services practice. She was formerly a Senior Manager with KPMG LLP. Ms. Elias is a corporate tax specialist, with experience in federal, state and international tax planning and compliance; "Financial Accounting Standards Board Statement 109" tax consulting; tax consulting for mergers and acquisitions; and Sarbanes Oxley.

Gustavo Perez has joined the firm as a business valuation and litigation support consultant. He is an expert in business valuations and business damages, with extensive knowledge of valuation theory. Mr. Perez maintains a specialty in Financial Accounting Standards Board Statement 133 derivative valuations including puts, calls, swaps and options. He was formerly a Business Valuation Analyst and Supervisor in the Litigation department of Morrison, Brown, Argiz & Farra, LLP. He is based in Berenfeld Spritzer's Fort Lauderdale office.

Matthew E. Druckman, CPA, has joined the firm as a Principal in the Litigation Support Services practice. Mr. Druckman has over twenty years' experience in accounting and taxation, litigation support, and fraud investigations. He prepares commercial damage models and analyzes economic losses to individuals from personal injury, wrongful death, and wrongful termination. He has advised bankruptcy trustees on various aspects of recovery actions and tax compliance. Mr. Druckman was a Senior Manager with Grant Thornton, LLP and a Principal with Rachlin Cohen & Holtz, LLP prior to joining Berenfeld Spritzer. He is based in the firm's Coral Gables office.

"We are very excited about the addition of three new partners to the firm," said Walter "Butch" Gelnovatch, Managing Partner of Berenfeld Spritzer. "It makes me feel especially good about our future when two of the partners were promoted from within. As for our new hires, I am pleased that our aggressive hiring strategy has paid off and we have been able to acquire some of the best accounting and finance talent in South Florida. The Firm is still vigorously recruiting and I think we will see more high-caliber additions to our staff in the near future."

* Regulated by the State of Florida

About Berenfeld, Spritzer, Shechter & Sheer

Berenfeld, Spritzer, Shechter & Sheer ("Berenfeld Spritzer") is one of South Florida's fastest growing accounting firms. Founded in 1971, Berenfeld Spritzer now employs over 130 employees in three locations - Coral Gables, Sunrise, and Fort Lauderdale - serving the South Florida market. The firm provides accounting, auditing, tax and consulting services to public and private companies, partnerships, non-profit organizations, entrepreneurs, and high net worth individuals. Berenfeld Spritzer tax professionals assist clients in litigation matters, mergers, acquisitions, divestures, valuations, international accounting, wealth management and estate planning. For more information, call 305-274-4600 or visit www.bsss-cpa.com.

Contacts

For Berenfeld Spritzer, Coral Gables
Legal Expert Connections, Inc.
Margaret Grisdela, 561-266-1030
mg@legalexpertconnections.com