Smith Leonard PLLC, a number one Triad-based accounting agency, proclaims the retirement of Ken Smith, Founding and former Managing Companion, efficient December 31, 2023.

“After 54 years of devoted service and distinctive management, Ken has determined to embark on a well-deserved retirement journey. He has been a unprecedented associate and good friend to many throughout his profession. He leaves behind a legacy of management, neighborhood engagement, and enterprise experience,” says Darlene Leonard, Founding Companion.

Throughout his profession, Smith suggested each public and privately held manufacturing, distribution, and retail firms. Smith started his profession with Seidman & Seidman, now known as BDO Seidman, LLP or BDO, after graduating from Excessive Level Faculty (now Excessive Level College) in 1969. He labored in BDO’s Atlanta and Excessive Level workplaces, serving on the BDO board from 1995 to 1998. After retiring from BDO in 2006, Smith and three different companions based Smith Leonard PLLC. Throughout his time at BDO and Smith Leonard, Smith led the furnishings trade follow writing a month-to-month publication Furnishings Insights®, and conducting annual furnishings surveys. Smith is taken into account an trade thought chief and is continuously quoted by nationwide publications. His associate, Mark Laferriere, will assume management of the agency’s furnishings follow.

“Ken was an integral a part of Smith Leonard’s progress and success,” says Mark Bulmer, Managing Companion and Founding Companion. Smith has chaired and served on many native boards together with Excessive Level Regional Well being System, Enterprise Excessive Level/Chamber of Commerce, Excessive Level Financial Growth, Guilford County Financial Growth Alliance, and led the United Manner of Better Excessive Level’s 2016 Marketing campaign. Smith is a long-time member of the Kiwanis Membership of Excessive Level and has chaired and served on the Excessive Level Regional Well being Basis Board.

A retirement celebration in honor of Smith was held on December 6, 2023, at Smith Leonard’s Excessive Level workplace. Purchasers, colleagues, mates, and alumni have been readily available to rejoice and categorical appreciation for his exceptional profession and want him the easiest on this new chapter.

Smith grew up in Excessive Level the place he nonetheless lives along with his spouse Sandra. They’ve two kids and 5 grandchildren with whom he appears to be like ahead to annual journeys to the seaside. Ken enjoys Excessive Level College sports activities, golf at Willow Creek, and early morning walks with mates and different members of the Huge D Working Membership on the Excessive Level YMCA, adopted by breakfast at Tom’s Place.

About Smith Leonard PLLC 

 Smith Leonard PLLC is a number one skilled companies agency providing assurance, tax, and advisory companies to purchasers all through the Triad, central North Carolina, and southern Virginia. Headquartered in Excessive Level with workplaces in Hickory, Lexington, and Winston-Salem, the agency employs greater than 100 group members with trade data, technical experience, and professionalism to ship distinctive consumer experiences. Industries of focus embrace manufacturing and distribution, actual property, development, transportation, and specialties embrace tax and assurance, mergers and acquisitions, enterprise valuation, transaction advisory companies, worker profit plans, consumer accounting companies, worldwide companies, wealth advisory companies, and succession planning. Its affiliation with BDO Alliance USA gives a world community that connects purchasers to quite a lot of assets when purchasers have wants that transcend our native capabilities. For extra details about the agency, go to www.smith-leonard.com.