News of the Firm – Cottrill, Arbutina Professional Services and its talented team regularly make news with a variety of professional and community activities.

2010 News

Renz

Aug. 30, 2010 - Michele L. Renz, an accountant with Big Four experience who has worked in-house in both Fortune 500 and startup entrepreneurial companies, has joined the firm as a senior accountant. She will provide audit and accounting services for governmental entities including public school districts, municipalities and municipal authorities as well as credit unions. Previously, she was a project manager and controller for a marketing services firm in Illinois, and earlier was a senior accountant at Honeywell International's Sensing and Control Division. She obtained her bachelor of science degree in accounting, magna cum laude, in 1993 from Indiana University of Pennsylvania.

Children of the Twa community in Burundi

Kennedy

June 14, 2010 - Former Cottrill Arbutina accountant and small business advisor Andy Kennedy shares his report from Burundi, a central African nation where he and his wife Amy are involved with the work of For His Glory International, a Christian ministry of which they are co-founders. [ more ]

Majors

June 14, 2010 - Staff accountant Brodie Majors, based in the firm's New Brighton office, receives his master's degree in business administration from Robert Morris University. He performs a wide variety of auditing and accounting services for small business, governmental entities and not-for-profit organizations and credit unions. He obtained his bachelor of science degree in business administration in 2005 from Geneva College, with a concentration in finance and economics.

Left to right: Cottrill Arbutina's Joseph Bevevino; BBBS executive director Pamela Webb; and Maureen Donnelly Distinguished Service Award recipient Fred Clerici. Missing from photo: Pamela Roesch.

April 26, 2010 - Cottrill Arbutina receives the 2010 Outstanding Support of Program Award from the board of directors of Big Brothers Big Sisters of Beaver County. On behalf of the firm, shareholder Joseph Bevevino and Pamela Roesch accept the award, which honors a business, group or individual who has gone above and beyond in supporting the agency. In her remarks BBBS board president Mara Pritchard says that: "Cottrill Arbutina and their staff members have raised thousands of dollars for our children's programs over the last five years through corporate and individual support of our special events. As past treasurer of the board, Tod Arbutina provided invaluable financial expertise to the agency. Additionally, Tod co-chairs our Autumn Auction Dinner with wife Tawnya and co-chairs Brad and Tammy Homan, and thanks to their combined leadership, the auction grew by 25 percent last year.  Finally, Cottrill Arbutina sold its former headquarters to BBBS at a substantially below-market price, helping the agency to realize our vision of a permanent location.” Staff from the office of State Representative Daryl Metcalfe announce that Arbutina is being recognized for five years of service through a House of Representatives Citation. 

Above, left to right: Jack Ellsworth, John Horvatich and Julie Herstine. Below, Cottrill Arbutina's four teams, organized by Pamela Roesch (back row, far left).

March 14, 2010 - Cottrill Arbutina fields four teams in support of the 26th annual "Bowl for Kids Sake" event, the largest, most successful fundraiser benefit for Big Brothers Big Sisters of Beaver County. The teams include "Dual Tools," with Julie Hines serving as captain; "Tax Masters" (led by William Lincoln); "Morning Stars" (Pamela Roesch); and "Significant Deficiencies" (Julie Herstine). The competition is held held at Sim's Lanes in Beaver Falls, PA.

Jan. 31, 2010 - The Beaver County Times covers the news of the firm's headquarters construction in a story entitled "Downtown Beaver Project to Begin Anew," quoting firm president Dale Cottrill. [ Full text ]

Construction of the firm's new headquarters in the heart of Beaver's business district began Feb. 1, 2010

Jan. 28, 2010 - Construction of the firm's new headquarters building, at 525-535 Third Street in Beaver, PA, will start on Feb. 1, 2010. “We have every intention of taking occupancy by the first of September this year,” said Dale Cottrill, the firm's president, and one of the principals of building owner Third Street Renaissance. “The building will be a major landmark on Beaver's Third Street and a place we will proudly call home." [ more ]

2009 News

Nov. 9, 2009 - As a service for other CPA firms, and faced with the Statement on Auditing Standards No. 115 (SAS 115) “material weakness” independence issue and Accounting for Uncertainty in Income Taxes No. 48 (FIN 48), Cottrill Arbutina provides a trusted outsourced solution that works to the benefit of all parties involved. This approach allows CPA firms to maintain their current auditor status with their client and with full independence. [ more ]

Oct. 9, 2009 - In its annual special edition featuring the accounting field, the Pittsburgh Business Times ranks Cottrill Arbutina as a "Top 20" regional certified public accounting firm for the second straight year. The list is based on the number of professional staff employed by CPA firms in Southwestern Pennsylvania.

July 2009 - Tod Arbutina, managing shareholder of Cottrill, Arbutina Professional Services, and a registered representative of LPL Financial, is named by Pittsburgh Magazine as a Five Star Wealth Manager and one of the “best personal wealth managers in the Pittsburgh area” based upon an extensive survey of client satisfaction. He is among less than seven percent of wealth managers in the region to receive this honor. [ more ]

Herstine	Rihely

May 21, 2009 - The firm announces that Julie Herstine, MBA, and Lucas Rihely have received their licenses as certified public accountants (CPAs) by the Pennsylvania State Board of Accountancy. Herstine has been an auditor with the firm since 2007. Earlier, she was an auditor with USX Corporation, now U.S. Steel Corporation, in Pittsburgh. She holds a masters of business administration degree and a bachelor of science degree in business administration, both from Robert Morris University. Rihely received his bachelor of science degree in accounting in 2006 from Robert Morris University. He joined Cottrill Arbutina in 2008, having previously been employed as an accountant with Charles J. Loll, Inc. and S.R. Snodgrass, A.C.

Cottrill Arbutina's 2009 Bowl for Kids Sake teams

March 14-15, 2008 - Cottrill Arbutina once again is a corporate sponsor and fields two teams for the 25th annual "Bowl for Kids Sake" event benefitting Big Brothers Big Sisters of Beaver County.

Frueh	Hines	Sutton

March 13, 2009 - Three accountants have joined the firm – Ryan Frueh, Julie Hines and Andrew Sutton.

• Frueh formerly was an assistant controller with Maronda, Inc., where he had financial oversight for more than 20 homebuilding and land holding divisions in Florida, Georgia, Kentucky, Ohio and Pennsylvania. In this role, he was responsible for balance sheet and income trend analysis and reporting. Earlier, he was a loan processor for West Suburban Bank. He holds a bachelor's degree in economics from Duke University.
• Hines previously was a staff cost accountant and payroll and inventory analyst with BEA, Inc., a Pittsburgh-based manufacturer of sensors for automatic doors. Her responsibilities included cost accounting for inventory and manufacturing processes, reviewing cost variances and generating sales reports. From 2001 to 2003, she was a staff accountant with Interstate Hotels in Pittsburgh. She obtained her bachelor of science in accounting from the Pennsylvania State University.
• Sutton, a CPA, previously was a staff auditor with a Pittsburgh accounting firm, where he conducted audits and compiled financial statements. Before that, he was a financial and payroll supervisor with the Controller's Office of the County of Beaver, handling general ledger and annual financial reporting. He received his bachelor of science degree in accounting from Geneva College.

 

Jan. 5, 2009 - The Beaver County Times publishes an article authored by managing shareholder Tod Arbutina entitled "After a Turbulent 2008, Some New Year's Resolutions for a Financially Healthy 2009." The issue is produced in cooperation with the Beaver County Chamber of Commerce. [ full text ]

2008 News

Arbutina	Bevevino	Helsing

Dec. 23, 2008 - Tod Arbutina is elected managing shareholder of Cottrill, Arbutina Professional Services, while Joseph Bevevino has been named vice president and Thomas Helsing has been promoted to shareholder and chief operating officer. Firm founder Dale Cottrill continues as president. The firm now has seven shareholders and more than 40 employees in offices in New Brighton, Beaver Falls, Pittsburgh and Peters Township. [ more ]

Dec. 12, 2008 - Eleanor Wagner, CPA, joins the firm as senior tax manager. She previously was ontroller with the executive search firm of Boyden in Pittsburgh. Earlier, she was a principal and vice president with S.R. Snodgrass, A.C. She also has worked in the accounting field with firms in Michigan and Ohio since 1983. Wagner holds a masters of taxation degree from Robert Morris University (2006) and received her bachelor of science in business administration degree in 1983, cum laude, from Aquinas College in Grand Rapids, Mich. She holds a CPA certification in both Pennsylvania and Michigan. Wagner is a past treasurer of the Grand Rapids Opportunities for Women, past president of the Professional Women's Network and past treasurer of Zonta International.

Bevevino	Zahn

Nov. 24 , 2008 - Cottrill Arbutina – the region's fastest growing certified public accounting firm as ranked by the Pittsburgh Business Times – has acquired an eight-person tax and audit group from S.R. Snodgrass, A.C. in Chippewa Township, led by Joseph Bevevino and Lawrence Zahn. The group's client portfolio includes more than 40 automobile dealerships, among them some of the largest multi-site stores in the region, as well as scores of closely held businesses in Western Pennsylvania. In addition, the group serves a “who's who” of high net worth business leaders, professionals and entrepreneurs in Beaver County. [ more ]

Dale Cottrill (left) and Tod Arbutina (right) receive the Benjamin Franklin Entrepreneurship Award from Beaver County Foundation president Charles O'Data. Linda Papa accepts the charitable award grant on behalf of Big Brothers Big Sisters of Beaver County.

Nov. 13, 2008 - The Beaver County Foundation presents firm founders Dale Cottrill and Tod Arbutina with the 2008 Benjamin Franklin Entrepreneurship Award at a luncheon at Seven Oaks Country Club.  In turn, Cottrill and Arbutina bestow their $500 award grant to Big Brothers Big Sisters of Beaver County, represented by board member Linda Papa. The annual award honors local companies that best capture Franklin's pioneering and entrepreneurial spirit. The funds are a dividend from an original $5,000 investment by Franklin in 1790 to be held in trust for the citizens of Pennsylvania. In 1991, the funds matured at a value of more than $2 million and were distributed to community foundations throughout the commonwealth.

Oct. 10, 2008 - In its special accounting edition, the Pittsburgh Business Times lists Cottrill Arbutina as a "Top 20" regional certified public accounting firm for the very first time. The list is based on the number of professional staff employed by CPA firms in Southwestern Pennsylvania. It is the second major ranking for the firm in the past two months. In August, the Business Times named Cottrill Arbutina the fastest-growing CPA firm in the region and among the 100 fastest-growing privately held companies in its annual "Pittsburgh 100" awards program.

Sept. 15, 2008 - A letter from Lincoln Anderson, managing director and chief investment officer for LPL Financial, comments on the recent major steps taken to resolve financial market crises. Full text.

Cottrill Arbutina's Jack Ellsworth explains the importance of management adherence to internal controls set by their boards. Click for a summary.

Sept. 5, 2008 - Cottrill, Arbutina hosts a seminar to help non-profit organizations understand new tax and audit reporting obligations to the Internal Revenue Service under the revised Form 990. The seminar covers expanded disclosures that federally funded non-profits need to make in the areas of special events and gaming, political expenditures, excess benefit transactions, donor advised funds, and liquidations, dissolutions, terminations or substantial contractions. Also speaking at the seminar are Cottrill Arbutina shareholders John Ellsworth and Joel Martin. Click for a summary.

Sept. 5, 2008 - A letter from Lincoln Anderson, managing director and chief investment officer for LPL Financial, provides an analysis of the downturned financial markets during the summer of 2008. Full text.

Left to right: Joel Martin, Jack Ellsworth, Dale Cottrill and Tod Arbutina proudly display their Pittsburgh 100 award.

Slippery Rock University President Robert Smith reports Cottrill Arbutina as the 19th fastest growing professional services/ consulting firm.

Aug. 22, 2008 - Cottrill, Arbutina Professional Services is honored as a “Pittsburgh 100” finalist by the Pittsburgh Business Times. The award recognizes the 100 fastest-growing privately held businesses in the Pittsburgh region. With sales growth of 69.52 percent since 2005, and employment growth of 86.7 percent over the same timeframe, Cottrill Arbutina is ranked as the 19th fastest growing professional services/consulting firm, and as the 64th fastest growing business in all categories. Firm shareholders Dale Cottrill, Tod Arbutina, John Ellsworth and Joel Martin attend the upscale awards celebration at Pittsburgh's venerable Duquesne Club. Cottrill Arbutina clients Ideal Integrations and Pegasus Associates Lighting also are among the finalists.

April 17-May 10, 2008 - Accountant Andy Kennedy, of the firm's Small Business Services Group, takes a leave of absence to travel to the Republic of Burundi in the Great Lakes region of East Africa. While there, he leads a Christian-focused, intercessory prayer mission trip sponsored by For His Glory International. During this time, his wife Amy maintains an active website and blog.

Jenkins	Majors

April 23, 2008 - Kristy Jenkins and Brodie Majors have joined the firm as auditors, the 10th and 11th new employees the firm has added since the start of 2007. Jenkins will provide auditing services for business, governmental entity and credit union clients. She also will assist clients with the implementation of computer systems. Previously, she served for seven years as financial/payroll supervisor with the County of Beaver, where she prepared the county's Comprehensive Annual Financial Report, coordinated the county's single audit and trained employees on how to use the organization's accounting system. Majors formerly was an accountant with Lutz & Myers, an Ellwood City-based company that specialized in commercial construction, roofing and painting. While there, he managed the reconciliation and recording of payroll accounts, coordinated accounts payable and prepared reports tracking usage of materials and sub-contractors.

Cottrill Arbutina's "Bowl for Kids Sake" teams

March 9, 2008 - Cottrill Arbutina is a corporate sponsor and fields two teams for the annual "Bowl for Kids Sake" event benefitting Big Brothers Big Sisters of Beaver County. Together, all 100 teams competing in the fun-filled event raised more than $60,000, the largest amount in the event's 24-year history.

March 2008 - In an article headlined "Feeling Taxed?", Pittsburgh Magazine publishes five ideas by Tod Arbutina on "practical, little-known tips that will come in handy when you're filing taxes for 2007 and beyond." Hardcopy reprints are available upon request.

Click for the 2004-2007 news archive

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