BKR International Worldwide Bulletin
January/February 2021
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Letter from the Worldwide Chair |
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Happy New Year!
Indeed, I suspect that all of you are hopeful for 2021 as a happier year. We are anticipating a return to in-person events later in the year, which will be a welcome relief and celebration. In the meantime, we will continue to reach out virtually and strengthen our relationships throughout the global industry.
First of all, I want to congratulate and welcome our newest member in the Americas Region, Despacho Murillo Marchini SRL (San Jose), established more than 30 years ago. We look forward to getting to know your firm and team in the coming year.
I mentioned in the last Worldwide Bulletin that Tim Morris takes over as our new Worldwide CEO. The EMEA Regional Board has selected Alistair Bryant as Tim’s replacement as executive director. Alistair has an international and diplomatic background, and will start on January 11. He will be based in London. I look forward to working with him, and I am sure you will all make him feel welcomed at BKR International.
I also want to highlight some updates for you on important upcoming events, culminating in our 2021 Worldwide Meeting, October 29 to November 2, in Washington, D.C. I hope you will plan to participate. We will keep you updated on any details regarding a change in dates or venues as soon as possible.
- 2021 Americas Regional Meeting in Mexico City, from May 23 - 25 (TBC)
- 2021 Joint Asia-Pacific and EMEA Regional Meeting in Athens, Greece, from June 4 - 7 (TBC)
- 2021 Annual Worldwide Meeting, Washington D.C., USA, from October 29 - November 2
Take a few moments to review BKR International’s 2021 Annual Report, as well as register with your practice groups for scheduled telemeetings. It is of vital importance that we maintain strong relationships in order to serve clients and develop our future leaders in the industry.
I look forward to hearing from you or seeing you in this new year.
Best Regards,
Graeme Boake
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New Contact Details for CEO Tim Morris |
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BKR's incoming CEO, Tim Morris, has a new e-mail address! Feel free to contact Tim at tim.morris@bkr.com.
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Catch Up with the EMEA Region |
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The December 2020 edition of the EMEA Regional E-Update is now available to download here.
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Check Out the Latest from Asia-Pac |
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Download the latest Asia-Pacific Regional E-Newsletter here.
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Business Development and Lead Generation in the Virtual World Video Now Available |
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The recording of BKR's Business Development and Lead Generation in the Virtual World meeting, which was held on December 1, is now available to view here. The password is "BDOnline2020".
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Member Firm Profile:
Bland & Associates, P.C. (Omaha)
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Bland & Associates, P.C. (Bland), a Certified Public Accountant (CPA) firm, was founded in 1976 by Jerry Bland as the sole proprietor. In 2006, Jerry Bland sold the firm to Jason Tonjes, Jeremy Vokt, and Troy McKinney. Bland employed about 17 people in 2006, and currently has approximately 80 employees.
When Managing Partners Vokt, Tonjes, and McKinney took over the firm 14 years ago, they decided to focus on firm culture and putting employees first. This is reflected in Bland’s Mission Statement: "At Bland & Associates, P.C., we are passionately committed to sustaining a fulfilling, dynamic workplace culture, providing innovative solutions to our clients, and serving the communities in which we live.” By striving to provide an employee-centric culture, Bland has a more engaged workforce, which drives employees to provide exceptional client service.
At the core of Bland’s mission statement are our employees, clients, and community. To reward our employee first culture, on January 2, 2020, Bland became the first Nebraska-based Employee Stock Ownership Plan (ESOP) CPA firm. Vokt was part of the team that was instrumental in changing the legislation that took effect on September 1, 2019, which allowed Bland to make this change and sell the firm to its employees. Making this transition to an ESOP is crucial to retaining the top talent in Bland's organization, and will be instrumental in the firm's future growth plans. Being one of only a handful of ESOP CPA firms in the United States definitely sets Bland apart and contributes to positive client experiences.
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Call for Submissions: EMEA Tax Newsletter |
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The next EMEA Tax Newsletter is due out at the end of January. We would really appreciate any articles or updates you may have for inclusion.
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What Does the BKR Advantage Mean to You? |
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We will be launching a marketing campaign that focuses on the BKR Advantage. Members are encouraged to submit a short video (maximum of two minutes in length) describing what one or more of the following BKR benefits mean to you and your firm:
- Practice Management
- Professional Development and CPE
- Strategic Alliance Partners
- Networking - How members are working with each other - #BKRelationships
- Market exclusivity
Submit your video to bkr@bkr.com, and we will feature it on our website and social media.
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Practice Group and Committee Updates |
Download the recordings, presentations, and other documents from BKR's recent practice group and committee events by visiting the BKR Meeting Archive here.
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Submissions for the March/April 2021 issue of the BKR International Worldwide Bulletin are due by Wednesday, February 3, 2021. |
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