Daszkal Bolton, a leading South Florida accounting and advisory services firm, recently announced the addition of Alexander E. Petrone and Roger A. Cole as directors.
In the early 1990s, Petrone and Cole joined Barnes & Associates, a Fort Lauderdale based CPA firm founded by Joseph Barnes in 1976. Petrone and Cole bring with them to Daszkal Bolton a practice of multinational and domestic corporate clients that will be served by Daszkal Bolton.
With their departure, the Barnes firm will focus on its remaining long-term tax clients and new clients referred by decades-long, global relationships. The Barnes firm has strategic alliances with Barnes, Small, and McGee CPAs in Boca Raton and MIA Global in Coral Gables, thus enhancing its ability to serve domestic and international tax clients. “This change to a more personal based professional environment enables me to spend more of my time in direct contact with my clients, rather than managing and administering the needs of the large firm we had become,” said Joseph Barnes. The Barnes firm will continue to publish its signature tax book “Common Questions Asked by Foreign People about U.S. Taxes.” Amy Preston CPA of MIA Global will return as the primary editor.
“We are pleased to welcome Alex and Roger as well as their clients into our firm,” says Michael I. Daszkal, Managing Partner of Daszkal Bolton. “These professionals bring a vast amount of knowledge and skill. With the ever increasing demand for international expertise, we’re excited to add to our existing capabilities and resources. Furthermore, the synergy between their clients and those that we have served for years makes this an easy transition for a number of high growth businesses. In addition to international interests, we see tremendous overlap in our construction and real estate practices as well as manufacturing and distribution. Alex and Roger are able to offer fresh perspectives for many of our legacy client relationships as are our colleagues able to offer the same for those relationships they are introducing to our firm.”
Petrone is specialized in comprehensive business succession planning as well as retirement and estate planning. He has extensive experience with clients in the construction, manufacturing, wholesale distribution, and pension plan industries. He holds the designations of Certified Public Accountant in Florida, Personal Financial Specialist, Accredited in Business Valuation (ABV), and Certified Financial Planner™. Petrone earned degrees in accounting and international business from Florida Atlantic University.
A naturalized citizen himself, Cole has specialized in consulting with clients involved with tax planning in the immigration process as well as corporate tax obligations for businesses operating in multiple states and countries. In addition to his career in public accounting, Cole served as a financial controller for a foreign owned subsidiary based in Fort Lauderdale. He holds the designations of Certified Public Accountant in Florida and Colorado as well as a Chartered Accountant in South Africa. Cole earned an accounting degree from the University of South Africa.
“Joining Daszkal Bolton marks an exciting new chapter in my career,” shares Petrone. “We’re excited to offer our clients the resources of one of the largest firms in the region. We’ve been speaking with clients and the response is consistently positive. They know the Daszkal Bolton name and reputation and appreciate knowing that the service they’ve experienced in the past will continue and grow. The entire Daszkal Bolton team is already making us feel welcome.”
“We’ve been greeted with professionalism,” adds Cole. “The Daszkal Bolton culture is a great fit for us and our clients. There is a sense of pride in being forward looking. This sentiment was as clear in how our transition was approached as it is in how all members of the Daszkal Bolton team are encouraged to interact with their clients and plan for the future.”
Alex Petrone may be reached at [email protected]. Roger Cole may be reached at [email protected].
Joseph Barnes may be reached at [email protected]. Amy Preston may be reached at [email protected].
