Several RBF partners attended the Russell Bedford International annual conference held October 17-21 in New York City. Joining the record-breaking number of attendees in celebration of the network's 35th anniversary were Bill Rucci (who serves as RBI's chairman), Paul Bardaro, Sal Falzone, Ron Baptista and Jack Malley. RBF is the New England area affiliate of this leading global network of accounting and business advisory firms.
Members of the RBF Women's Initiative attended a late-October reception celebrating the 2018 Top 100 Women-Led Businesses in Massachusetts. Every year, the Commonwealth Institute and the Globe Magazine partner to name the most noteworthy companies and nonprofits helmed by women. A complete list of honorees can be found here.
Also in late October, Bill Rucci presented a noontime webinar about the recent Tax Cut and Jobs Act to members of the Builders and Remodelers Association of Greater Boston. The presentation, titled "What Tax Reform Means to You and Your Business," focused on the financial and reporting impact of new tax provisions on construction-related companies.
RBF partner Paul Bardaro was a guest panelist at a Morgan Stanley-sponsored panel discussion for business owners held November 13 at Brae Burn Country Club in Newton, MA. Paul spoke on the topics of business valuations and tax considerations around various business buy-out strategies.
In RBF client news, congratulations to RBF client Gotham Therapeutics, a biotechnology company developing drugs targeting RNA-modifying proteins, for securing a $54 million Series A round of financing. Gotham is part of New York's growing biopharma community. Congratulations also to RBF client Archipelago Strategies Group for its role in helping their client Ayanna Pressley become the first black woman to represent Massachusetts in the U.S. House of Representatives.
In the spirit of giving, RBF partner Vincenzo "Vinny" Botta has been volunteering in several community service capacities. He is currently working as a coach with the Reading Youth Hockey League, and in December will volunteer with Christmas in the City helping to distribute gifts to the children of homeless families during the holiday season.
In personnel news, we welcome the following recent additions to the RBF team:
Brian Boyce, CFO Consultant;
Kathleen Brittan, Executive Assistant;
Nicolette DelVecchio, Semi Senior Tax Accountant;
Robert Knight, Staff Accountant;
Donnie McQuaid, Senior Staff Accountant Consultant;
Jennifer Mutunga, Semi Senior Accountant;
Colin O'Shea, Semi Senior Tax Accountant;
Chris Schuster, CFO Consultant;
Cori Smith, Audit Manager;
Cuthbert "Cutty" Thomas, Controller Consultant; and
Melanie Ward, Administrative Assistant.