PASSING THE BATON: REA WELCOMES NEW CEO
Passing the Baton
Dear Friends,
It’ s always exciting to reflect on the accomplishments we’ ve achieved and the lessons we’ ve learned as a firm. Equally gratifying is the ability to look ahead and clearly see where we’ re headed.
Last year, we introduced our firm’ s strategic plan, The Rea Advantage. And as CEO, one of my top priorities in the past 12 months has been to help the firm fully embrace this new direction. Throughout this process, one thing I have learned is that redirection isn’ t always easy. But with the right approach, it can bring focus and clarity to otherwise differing views. And it’ s this focus and clarity that has allowed everyone at Rea to view our firm’ s future through the same lens. These days we’ re marching to the beat of the same drum, all of us moving in the same direction. And that’ s thrilling.
The following pages validate the hard work and dedication we’ ve put in over the last year. In that time we’ ve introduced new service offerings to clients, achieved inorganic growth through mergers and strengthened our training and development programs for employees. But perhaps one of the most exciting moments of 2016 was identifying the right person to lead our firm into its next chapter, as Don McIntosh( New Philadelphia) takes the helm as Rea & Associates’ fifth CEO.
As I step down as CEO and begin to transition into retirement, I know the firm is in good, capable hands. During our succession planning meetings, the leadership team conducted a precise and thoughtful selection process, similar to how we advise our own clients as they embark on their own succession planning journey. I know that we tapped the right person for the job. Why? Because over the last 20 years Don has
grown and embraced change in much the same way our firm has continued to grow and embrace change. Don’ s vision for the firm perfectly aligns with The Rea Advantage, and I’ m so excited to see how the firm will continue to grow and evolve under his leadership.
It’ s been an honor to serve as Rea’ s CEO for the past eight years. I will cherish the relationships I’ ve built with my clients, my co-workers and the business professionals I’ ve had the privilege to work with over the years.
As for me, I’ m not going anywhere just yet. I plan to stay with the firm throughout this year and into the next to help keep some of our key initiatives in motion.
My hope for all of you is that you’ ll have fun, and enjoy the journey – wherever it may take you.
Sincerely,
Lee Beall, CPA Chief Executive Officer( 2008-2016) Rea & Associates
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Pictured above: Outgoing CEO Lee Beall( pictured left) passes the torch to incoming CEO Don McIntosh.