Mergers and Acquisitions Conference (E1505320)

Bill Hagaman is the Managing Partner and Chief Executive Officer of WithumSmith+Brown, PC, and has been a member of the firm’s management for over 20 years. He is a licensed certified public accountant in the states of New Jersey, New York and Florida, as well as a Chartered Global Management Accountant (CGMA), specializing in merger and acquisition services and international business. With over 30 years of professional experience, he serves local, national and global clients in a variety of industries including bio-medical and pharmaceutical.

A graduate of Richard Stockton College of New Jersey with a bachelor’s degree in accounting, Mr. Hagaman joined WS+B in 1980. He is a member of the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants (AICPA) and the New Jersey Society of Certified Public Accountants (NJSCPA). He has also demonstrated a leadership role in expanding the firm’s global capabilities, serving as a current executive committee member of HLB International’s U.S. organization and as the former chairman of Nexia International USA – both of which are worldwide networks of independent accounting firms and business advisors.

Mr. Hagaman’s professional and philanthropic involvement at both the local and state levels is exemplary. He is currently a member of the Board of Trustees of the Francis E. Parker Memorial Home; Treasurer of the Hyacinth AIDS Foundation; and a member of the Board of the NJ State Chamber of Commerce. He is current Chairman and former Treasurer of the New Brunswick Cultural Center, Inc., and former Chairman of the George Street Playhouse. He is also an executive committee member of HLB International. In 2010, he received the Thomas H. Kean Arts Advocacy Award, honoring him for his dedication to the arts. Past roles include vice president of Ocean Day School, Inc. and membership with the Kiwanis Rotary and the Jaycees. In 2002, he was appointed to serve on the BEST Commission (Budget Efficiency Savings Team) for the state of New Jersey. A longtime treasurer and former chairman of the Middlesex County Regional Chamber of Commerce, Mr. Hagaman was honored by the MCRCC as a “2002 Community Leader of Distinction.” He has also coached his children’s little league, basketball and in-line hockey teams.

Mr. Hagaman has been interviewed on Executive Leaders Radio regarding topics of leadership, and has appeared on the News 12 New Jersey television show, “New Jersey Business,” discussing topics related to managing a business in today’s economy. He is frequently quoted in accounting and business publications, and has authored many articles over the years on topics ranging from fixed asset management to mergers and acquisitions to leadership within the profession.

Kevin J. Keane serves as the firm’s Managing Partner and a member of the Executive Committee. He has led the firm in expanding its capabilities in order to serve a growing clientele with the exceptional expertise and service that also propel it to stand apart from its peers. Over the last 10 years, Mr. Keane has pioneered the firm’s growth and quadrupled the organization’s revenues. Honored as “Best Managing Partner” in 2014 by the Westchester Business Journal, he observed, “We are proud of the culture we have built where teamwork, collaboration and collegiality are just as valued as skill and expertise.”

With more than 30 years’ experience, Mr. Keane is recognized for delivering exceptional accounting and business advisory services to family-owned companies in the manufacturing, distribution, real estate and construction industries. His insights are key to addressing the specific issues his clients face in light of continuing industry shifts and economic volatility.

Mr. Keane drives the delivery of superior client service on an enterprise-wide basis while overseeing strategic growth initiatives. To this end, he is vigilant in engaging top-flight talent to provide professional, managerial, information technology, marketing and staff support. He leads the firm in deepening its specialty practice areas through numerous acquisitions and the recent launch of a Risk Advisory Group. Its noteworthy expansion into the Washington, D.C. area reflects O’Connor Davies’ long-standing dedication to affordable housing, evidenced by the expert advisory services it offers on low-income housing tax credit partnerships, housing and urban development-assisted properties and other government-subsidized and supported housing entities.

Mr. Keane’s commitment to the local and regional community is equally profound. He is an active participant on boards and finance committees for many area non-profit organizations and clubs including Archbishop Stepinac High School, the Westchester Community College Foundation, the John A. Coleman School of the Elizabeth Seton Pediatric Center, Lititz Watch Technicum and the Irish Arts Center. He is a director and founder of The Westchester Bank.

Christopher D. Petermann is a Partner of the Firm and serves as Co-Partner-in-Charge for the Private Foundation Practice. He has over 30 years of specialized experience in accounting for exempt organizations and private foundations, as well as closely-held businesses and financial services entities. Mr. Petermann also holds a number of professional committee and community board positions. A regular speaker on accounting, tax and governance matters, he also contributes informational pieces to the firm’s monthly bulletins and has authored numerous articles for industry publications.

John oversees the industry specific expertise and risk management for McGowanPRO’s accounting and financial clients. Mr. Raspante is the former Director of Compliance and Risk Management as well as the Director of Education for Graf Repetti & Co. LLP, Certified Public Accountants & Business Advisors. Prior to joining Graf Repetti, Mr. Raspante worked nine years for CAMICO Mutual Insurance Company, a provider of accountants’ professional liability insurance. Mr. Raspante’s primary responsibility at CAMICO was providing loss prevention services to the organization’s largest insured’s. Mr. Raspante is a frequent speaker within the accounting profession on issues relating to risk management and professional ethics. He presents regularly at different conferences for accounting firm associations and CPA State Societies. He is a published author and contributor for accounting firm periodicals such as Journal of Accountancy and Accounting Today.

Joe founded the Accountants Advisory Group, LLC to assist the leaders of public accounting firms in structuring and managing their practices to increase profitability, maximize value and achieve long-term success. He advises CPA firms on how to achieve higher levels of competitiveness, profitability and longevity. Joe is experienced in all areas of firm practice management, including succession planning, firm governance, mergers and acquisitions, partner compensation structure, selection of new partners, practice development and career development for partners and staff. When facilitating partner retreats, he draws on his extensive experience to provide partners and practice leaders with effective and innovative strategies to enhance the value of their practices. He began his accounting career with a Big 4 firm and his experience includes 15 years as the managing partner and executive committee member of a 125-person CPA firm based in New York City.