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2025 Virginia Black Business Leaders Awards: Lee Mariano
With more than 20 years in human resources, Mariano now heads the HR department at one of the largest regional public accounting firms, a job she has held since 2023. Before that, she started her own executive coaching firm and held executive HR positions at multiple companies, including AgEagle Arial Systems and LookingGlass Cyber Solutions. […]
Virginia 500: The 2024-25 Power List
Who are Virginia’s most powerful and influential leaders in business, government, politics and education this year? Find out in the fifth annual edition of the Virginia 500: The 2024-25 Power List. Read more about how we assembled the Virginia 500 from our editor. Executives are listed in alphabetical order by industry. Below you will find links […]
Virginia 500 Spotlight: THOMAS L. MILBURN
THREE WORDS TO DESCRIBE ME: Innovative. Compassionate. Driven. HOW I CHOSE MY CAREER: I initially majored in English [because I was] interested in storytelling and communication. I even spent some time in seminary, where I developed a strong sense of purpose and leadership. Ultimately, I realized that I could combine my analytical skills and desire […]
Grant Thornton taps new D.C. market managing principal
William “Bill” Marx Jr. is Grant Thornton’s new market managing principal for the Washington, D.C., area, the Chicago-based U.S. arm of the global accounting firm network announced Wednesday. Marx succeeds Greg Wallig, who was the company’s metro D.C.-Arlington County market managing principal and added the role of public policy head in June 2023. Wallig left […]
SARAH STRASSHEIM
One of Sarah Strassheim’s University of Mary Washington professors once told her that if she started out in finance and understood the numbers, she could go anywhere in an organization. “As a result, I started out as a finance analyst and haven’t really ever left,” says Strassheim, who now serves as chief financial officer for […]
FRAN RANDALL
In college, Fran Randall formulated her career goal: She wanted to specialize in international tax transactions. While she initially envisioned herself working at a law firm, Randall realized there were other career paths — and that her comfort working with and analyzing data made accounting a good fit. One thing Randall never fathomed — all […]
KPMG names D.C. area managing partner
Patrick Ryan has been named managing partner of Big Four accounting firm KPMG’s Washington, D.C.-area office, the company announced Thursday. In the role, Ryan will oversee more than 3,000 employees and also will be the firm’s U.S. federal business leader and sector leader. He succeeds Tim Gillis, who is retiring Sept. 30 after 26 years […]
Out of balance
Kate Austin had a job waiting for her when she graduated last year from Christopher Newport University with a bachelor’s degree in business administration. “I love it,” she says about her work as a tax associate at Keiter, a certified public accounting firm in Henrico County. Unlike two of her friends, who are still looking […]
Brown Edwards CEO to retire in June
Brown Edwards partner and CEO Jason Hartman will retire this summer, the Roanoke-based public accounting firm announced Tuesday. Hartman joined Brown Edwards in 1986 and has led the firm for the past seven years. Laura Sprouse, Brown Edwards’ chief operating officer and partner, will become the next CEO on June 1. Under Hartman’s leadership, Brown […]
Forvis to acquire Mazars’ U.S. operation
Top 10 U.S. accounting firm Forvis, which has about 270 employees in Virginia, announced Wednesday it will acquire Paris-based audit, tax and advisory firm Mazars’ U.S. arm, creating a new top 10 global accounting network to be known as Forvis Mazars. The merger is set to go in effect June 1, 2024, and the combined […]
Professional Services 2023: JASON A. HARTMAN
In 1986, Hartman joined Roanoke-based accounting firm Brown Edwards, which has made Inside Public Accounting’s list of the top 100 U.S. accounting firms based on net reviews for six years running. (It’s ranked at No. 72 this year, rising one spot from 2022.) Responsible for spearheading the company’s financial management, strategic plan, growth and direction, […]
