CPAFMA Announces Raines and Tonkowich to Board

CPA Firm Management Association, leading the management of CPA firms by empowering and equipping them to success, today announces the addition of two board members. CPAFMA welcomes Jeremy Raines and Jon Tonkowich.

Jeremy Raines has over 15 years’ worth of experience in a variety of high-growth industries working in business operations management, five and a half years’ worth of experience serving as Director of Operations for CPA firms. He previously spent four and a half years working at Dean Dorton based out of Lexington, Kentucky, serving as their Director of Firm Operations, and currently works for Whitlesey Advising based out of Hartford, Connecticut, where he serves as Director of Operations. Jeremy resides in Kentucky and works in a hybrid capacity for Whitlesey in Connecticut. Prior to working in Public Accounting, Jeremy worked in higher education administration at Eastern Kentucky University.

“I am thrilled to join the CPA Firm Management Association Board of Directors”, expressed Raines. “When I transitioned to public accounting after a career in higher education administration, CPAFMA was a wonderful organization for me to get involved in early on in my new role. The organization quickly proved to be invaluable as I was beginning to learn a new-to-me industry. I’m excited to join the leadership team of the organization to be able to give back to a community that has certainly been a huge help to me over the years. I look forward to seeing everyone at Connections in Savannah this summer!”

Jon Tonkowich is the Chief Operating Officer at Summit West CPA Group in Lander, Wyoming. Tonkowich is fairly new to public accounting after spending much of his career in higher education administration. Tonkowich’s wife and six children love living near the mountains in Wyoming. When not working, he spends his time coaching his kids in sports, skiing, and spending time in the great outdoors.

“Professional associations like CPAFMA, have always been a part of my professional development and success,” shares Tonkowich. “Before I started in public accounting firm management, I researched CPAFMA. I had our firm join CPAFMA on my first day. Since then, I have been nothing but impressed with the quality of people and content that I have encountered. I am excited to serve this great
association and help them continue to thrive.”

“I am excited to welcome Jon and Jeremy to the Board,” shares Jana Cinnamon, Partner and Chief Operating Officer, Abdo Solutions, and CPAFMA Board President. “Their expertise, passion, and fresh perspectives will undeniably enhance our mission of empowering CPA firms to thrive through effective and forward-thinking management. I am eager to begin working with them and look forward to their
contributions.”

About CPAFMA

CPA Firm Management Association was founded on January 1, 1984, to enable accounting firm managers to communicate with one another and provide each other with the benefits of everyone's experiences in what was a new and emerging profession. Through a combination of local meetings and seminars, national conferences, publications and surveys, CPAFMA, a firm-based membership association, has continued to offer benefits to members at minimal cost.

The Association is the one representative voice of the profession. Many of our members put forth a great deal of effort toward educating the public accounting profession about the benefits of hiring professional firm managers to run the operations of their respective firms. They have also largely shaped the profession, determined the direction for manager career pathing, and have been on the cutting edge
of developments in our profession.