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CliftonLarsonAllen
USINFO | 2013-06-21 15:03
CliftonLarsonAllen LLP (branded as CliftonLarsonAllen or CLA) is a professional services network in the United States. It was established in 2012 when two top 20 U.S. firms merged: Clifton Gunderson LLP (based in Milwaukee, Wisconsin) and LarsonAllen LLP (based in Minneapolis, Minnesota).[2] The new firm retains dual headquarters in Milwaukee and Minneapolis. It is a member of the Nexia International accounting network.
History
Clifton Gunderson
Clifton Gunderson was founded in 1960 in Peoria, Illinois, as Clifton, Gunderson, Coker and DeBruyn. The firm's first acquisition occurred in Illinois in 1965. In 1973, its name was shortened to Clifton, Gunderson; it became a limited liability partnership (LLP) in 2001. From 1976 to 1978, Clifton Gunderson added firms in Colorado, Wisconsin, and Missouri. From 1982 to 1987, it expanded to Maryland, Arizona, Indiana, and Iowa. Expansion continued into Ohio and Texas in the 1990s, and by the end of the decade, Clifton Gunderson had grown to become a well-known regional player within the accounting profession.
In 2009, Kris McMasters became the firm's fourth chief executive and the accounting profession’s first female CEO among the top 50 firms. The year 2010 brought five acquisitions, and by 2011, Clifton Gunderson had expanded into California and Pennsylvania, becoming strongly established in the middle market. It was the 14th largest accounting firm in the US in 2010, and the largest member firm of HLB International until it left that network in 2012 after the merger with LarsonAllen.
LarsonAllen
LarsonAllen was founded by young entrepreneurs Rholan Larson and John Allen who started a small public accounting practice in the suburbs of Minneapolis in 1953. Bob Weishair joined their firm in 1957 to form Larson, Allen, Weishair & Co., LLP.
By 1987, the firm had grown to 165 employees and moved its headquarters to downtown Minneapolis. Gordy Viere was elected CEO in 1989. Under his leadership, the firm began expanding throughout Minnesota, adding offices in St. Cloud, Brainerd, and St. Paul by 1990. In the following decade, locations were opened through a series of acquisitions in Austin, Minnesota (1993); St. Louis, Missouri (1995); Charlotte, North Carolina (1998); and Philadelphia, Pennsylvania (1999).
In the 2000s, LarsonAllen expanded into Arizona, Florida, Idaho, Massachusetts, Texas, Washington DC, and Wisconsin. The firm changed its legal name to LarsonAllen LLP (LarsonAllen) in 2007. In 2010, LarsonAllen moved into the Pacific Northwest, adding locations throughout Washington and Idaho, becoming the 18th largest accounting firm in the United States.
In 2009, LarsonAllen was named a Best Place to Work in Charlotte, Minneapolis, Philadelphia, Phoenixand St. Louisby local business journals, and the firm’s learning and development team was honored by the American Society for Training & Development (ASTD).
CliftonLarsonAllen
Merger discussions between Clifton Gunderson and LarsonAllen commenced in the spring of 2011 and progressed rapidly, so that in the fall of that year they announced plans to merge the two firms. The merger occurred January 2, 2012. The decision to affiliate to Nexia rather than HLB International was taken after the merger.
CliftonLarsonAllen emphasizes industry-specific services, as well as a focus on privately held companies and their owners, nonprofits, and governmental entities. Accounting Today reported speculation that the merged firm may expand into public company audits.
Kris McMasters was the first CEO of CliftonLarsonAllen LLP while Gordy Viere became CEO of CliftonLarsonAllen Holdings. McMasters retired April 1, 2013, leaving Viere as sole CEO.
History
Clifton Gunderson
Clifton Gunderson was founded in 1960 in Peoria, Illinois, as Clifton, Gunderson, Coker and DeBruyn. The firm's first acquisition occurred in Illinois in 1965. In 1973, its name was shortened to Clifton, Gunderson; it became a limited liability partnership (LLP) in 2001. From 1976 to 1978, Clifton Gunderson added firms in Colorado, Wisconsin, and Missouri. From 1982 to 1987, it expanded to Maryland, Arizona, Indiana, and Iowa. Expansion continued into Ohio and Texas in the 1990s, and by the end of the decade, Clifton Gunderson had grown to become a well-known regional player within the accounting profession.
In 2009, Kris McMasters became the firm's fourth chief executive and the accounting profession’s first female CEO among the top 50 firms. The year 2010 brought five acquisitions, and by 2011, Clifton Gunderson had expanded into California and Pennsylvania, becoming strongly established in the middle market. It was the 14th largest accounting firm in the US in 2010, and the largest member firm of HLB International until it left that network in 2012 after the merger with LarsonAllen.
LarsonAllen
LarsonAllen was founded by young entrepreneurs Rholan Larson and John Allen who started a small public accounting practice in the suburbs of Minneapolis in 1953. Bob Weishair joined their firm in 1957 to form Larson, Allen, Weishair & Co., LLP.
By 1987, the firm had grown to 165 employees and moved its headquarters to downtown Minneapolis. Gordy Viere was elected CEO in 1989. Under his leadership, the firm began expanding throughout Minnesota, adding offices in St. Cloud, Brainerd, and St. Paul by 1990. In the following decade, locations were opened through a series of acquisitions in Austin, Minnesota (1993); St. Louis, Missouri (1995); Charlotte, North Carolina (1998); and Philadelphia, Pennsylvania (1999).
In the 2000s, LarsonAllen expanded into Arizona, Florida, Idaho, Massachusetts, Texas, Washington DC, and Wisconsin. The firm changed its legal name to LarsonAllen LLP (LarsonAllen) in 2007. In 2010, LarsonAllen moved into the Pacific Northwest, adding locations throughout Washington and Idaho, becoming the 18th largest accounting firm in the United States.
In 2009, LarsonAllen was named a Best Place to Work in Charlotte, Minneapolis, Philadelphia, Phoenixand St. Louisby local business journals, and the firm’s learning and development team was honored by the American Society for Training & Development (ASTD).
CliftonLarsonAllen
Merger discussions between Clifton Gunderson and LarsonAllen commenced in the spring of 2011 and progressed rapidly, so that in the fall of that year they announced plans to merge the two firms. The merger occurred January 2, 2012. The decision to affiliate to Nexia rather than HLB International was taken after the merger.
CliftonLarsonAllen emphasizes industry-specific services, as well as a focus on privately held companies and their owners, nonprofits, and governmental entities. Accounting Today reported speculation that the merged firm may expand into public company audits.
Kris McMasters was the first CEO of CliftonLarsonAllen LLP while Gordy Viere became CEO of CliftonLarsonAllen Holdings. McMasters retired April 1, 2013, leaving Viere as sole CEO.
