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Gilmore Jasion Mahler’s (GJM’s) Mary Jo Pitzen, CPA has been promoted to partner with the firm. Mary Jo has been with GJM for over 12 years. She is a member of the firm’s Construction Specialist Team. Mary Jo provides tax planning, compliance and business advisory services for individuals and all types of businesses in a variety of industries, including manufacturing, construction, healthcare, and professional services.

“This is a very well-earned promotion. Mary Jo provides great client service and has done an excellent job in helping to continue growth in our construction practice,” says GJM Managing Partner Kevin Gilmore.

Mary Jo is a member of the Construction Financial Management Association (CFMA) Northwest Ohio chapter. She is also a member of the local chapter of the National Association of Women in Construction (NAWIC), holding a board position with the organization for the last four years.

A graduate of The University of Toledo, Mary Jo joined GJM upon graduation and has been with the firm ever since.

“I love who I work with, both within the firm and the clients we serve. We have a great group of people at all levels who work well together, share and encourage each other to grow. I love our team-oriented atmosphere.”

Mary Jo is also a graduate of Leadership Toledo and will soon be a graduate of the Partner Development Program (PDP) through the RSM US Alliance. The program offers training to improve leadership skills.

“My biggest take away from PDP is a better understanding of who I am. It will make me a better coach for young people coming up in the firm and allow me to better serve my clients as well.”

Mary Jo lives in Waterville with her husband and 6-year-old son.

Established in 1996, Gilmore Jasion Mahler, LTD (GJM) is the largest public accounting firm in Northwest Ohio, with offices in Maumee and Findlay. Locally owned, GJM offers cloud-based accounting and provides comprehensive services including assurance, business advisory, tax, risk advisory, healthcare management and outsourced accounting. GJM’s professionals specialize in industries including construction & real estate, healthcare, manufacturing & distribution and utilities.

Business valuation is one of the most important financial decisions you can make for your business. Choosing an expert to work with should not be an impulsive decision. It is absolutely necessary to interview prospective business valuation experts to guarantee a high-quality, knowledgeable professional will handle your unique situation.

There are a few factors you should consider before committing to work with a business valuation professional.

1. Not All Business Valuation Professionals Are Created Equal

The field of business valuation has grown substantially in the last decade. Unfortunately, with that growth have come several inadequate training programs, generic software systems, and mediocre appraisers. There are some valuation professionals who will tell you exactly what you want to hear to gain your business, without offering in-depth, comprehensive service. 

2. Cost of Services

Costs associated with a business valuation can vary significantly. During the initial consultation, ask for an estimate of costs for your specific project. Receiving a verbal appraisal is more cost-effective than a written report. A written proposal will be much more expensive, but sometimes is the type of report a client will require. If a client is receiving an appraisal as part of litigation, costs climb even more. It is important to understand what type of appraisal you need and what type of appraisal you are willing to pay for.

Discuss costs upfront with the appraiser and be sure you are on the same page as to what the end product will be. Make sure the appraiser knows exactly what type of appraisal you need and be aware of low-cost appraisals, which can signify professional inexperience.

3. Professional Designation

Business appraisers come from a variety of backgrounds and possess different experience. To verify the professional has adequate education in the field, ask for their credentials. There are five accreditation program designations that are considered top-notch:

• ASA (Accredited Senior Appraiser)
• ABV (Accredited in Business Valuation)
• CVA (Certified Valuation Analyst)
• AVA (Accredited Valuation Analyst)
• CBA (Certified Business Appraiser)

If the professional does not have one of these professional designations, they should not be entrusted with your business.

4. Ask When You Will Receive Your Appraisal

This is a question to weed out other potentially inadequate appraisers. Ask how long the appraiser will expect the process to take and the steps involved. They should not offer an estimate until they have visited the site, performed personal interviews, and performed a hands-on inspection of company records.

If they offer a quick quote created from their “professional opinion” or generic software, cross them off your list of potential appraisers. It is better to hire someone who is willing to take the time to do things properly, rather than hire someone who may be unqualified or underprepared.

If you are actively searching for a business valuation expert, feel free to reach out to me at 419.794.2000 for a consultation.

Jeff Denning, CPA, ABV, CFF contributed this blog. Jeff has over 20 years’ experience in the field. He is ABV certified, and has heavy experience in litigation. Jeff’s multi-industry experience will guarantee that you receive the best business valuation service, regardless of business type.

Learn more about Jeff’s expertise in business valuation and forensic accounting, and get a better understanding of the process of business valuation in this video explainer from Jeff.  You can also sign up for Gilmore Jasion Mahler’s free quarterly newsletter The Expert with a focus on business valuation and litigation support. Just click here for quick and easy sign up.

Established in 1996, Gilmore Jasion Mahler, LTD (GJM) is the largest public accounting firm in Northwest Ohio, with offices in Maumee and Findlay. Locally owned, GJM offers cloud-based accounting services and provides comprehensive services including assurance, business advisory, tax, risk advisory and healthcare management. The Firm's professionals specialize in industries including construction & real estate, healthcare, manufacturing & distribution and utilities. 

Stamps were 32 cents. DVDs launched in Japan. Dolly the sheep was cloned and Tickle me Elmo was the holiday toy sensation. 

The year was 1996, the same year that two young professionals decided to go into business for themselves. Little did they know their decision would benefit thousands of businesses, families and individuals, and better our community as a whole.

In March of 1996, Adele Jasion and Kevin Gilmore were both working in the accounting industry in northwest Ohio. They decided to team up and break out on their own, establishing their own firm called Gilmore & Jasion. With only 11 employees, they launched their new business just a month before the April 15 tax deadline, a bold move in the accounting business.

”I was always confident that we could become the alternative to what is now the Big Four,” says Gilmore, referring to the top national firms. “I just wanted to be the best. I wanted to be the firm that people wanted to go to. That was my vision.” 

Partner Adele Jasion says there was a need at the time for a high quality local firm with diverse resources that provided personal attention to clients.  She says Gilmore & Jasion was able to meet that need.

“The timing was actually good. The big firms were shedding clients, reinventing themselves, more interested in the very large public company work, not so much in the privately-held companies. Right place, right time,” she says. “We had the skillset to service those clients.”

In the fall of 1996, Andy Mahler came on board as a partner, giving the firm its current name Gilmore Jasion Mahler, LTD. Mahler retired in 2008. Five years later, Pry Professional Group in Findlay merged into Gilmore Jasion Mahler. Now, with two offices and over a hundred employees, GJM is northwest Ohio’s largest public accounting firm.  

The last 20 years have brought remarkable change to the industry and to client service. There was no email when GJM was established. Tax returns were printed out and mailed. Now, technology has catapulted the Firm forward with cloud-based accounting services. Sharing information and documents with clients has never been faster, more convenient or as secure.  

Those choosing the profession have also changed. Adele Jasion says it wasn’t common to have a woman co-owner of a CPA firm in the mid 1990’s. She describes the accounting industry as a typically male-dominated field for decades. But, she says, that has changed slowly over time.  

“I’m very proud to say that of the fourteen partners we have today at GJM, six of them are women. We’re providing a good example for young women choosing our profession.”

“GJM is far from a “stuffy accounting firm” to say the least,” says one such young woman, Audit Associate Lauren Grana. “It is not an everyman for themselves environment where no one communicates and keeps to themselves. Everyone is encouraged to ask questions when they don’t understand, share discoveries that others may benefit from, and share victories together.”

Gilmore Jasion Mahler has challenged the typical CPA firm model from the very start, working closely with clients, getting to know their businesses and building a responsive, friendly relationship. The firm has developed expertise in particular industries, including healthcare, construction & real estate, utilities and manufacturing & distribution. Services cover a broad range from business advisory to tax to business valuation. The Firm has exceled as a community partner as well, supporting charitable causes in both the Toledo area and Findlay-Hancock County region. Many employees sit on the boards of local nonprofits and the Firm is involved in events year-round to support many organizations and causes.

Gilmore Jasion Mahler, LTD is ever evolving to meet client needs and attract new talent, but one thing that hasn’t changed is the supportive nature of a business that started twenty years ago with nothing more than a vision.

“Add good people, add good clients,” says Gilmore. “It wasn’t about being big, it was about being the best quality and with that would come success and growth. We have a great deal to be proud of.”

Excitement is building for this week's 2017 Buckeye Regional Conference hosted by CFMA Northwest Ohio. 

Mary Jo Pitzen is a senior manager in the Gilmore Jasion Mahler tax department. She works with clients across many industries, but has a focus on the construction industry. Mary Jo is also a board member for the Toledo chapter of the National Association of Women in Construction (NAWIC).

Established in 1996, Gilmore Jasion Mahler, LTD (GJM) is the largest public accounting firm in Northwest Ohio, with offices in Maumee and Findlay. Locally owned, GJM offers cloud-based accounting services and provides comprehensive services including assurance, business advisory, tax, risk advisory and healthcare management. The Firm’s professionals specialize in industries including construction & real estate, healthcare, manufacturing & distribution and utilities.