Today's Technology for Tomorrow's Firm.
Issue link: https://cpapracticeadvisor.epubxp.com/i/40356
Jason Lawhorn, CPA.CITP.MAcc — 36 President & CEO — Lawhorn CPA Group, Inc. Knoxville, Tennessee Education: Bachelor of Science, Accounting, Master of Accountancy, University of Tenn., Knoxville Professional Associations/Memberships: AICPA, TSCPA, NACVA, Boomer Knowledge Network, CEO Advantage Hobbies: Fly Fishing, Cheffing, Fine Dining, Writing and Performing Music, Leisure Travel What ONE piece of technology could you absolutely not live without? Well, this used to be The CPA Technology Advisor, and to say I couldn't live without it [technology] would be taboo. Since this is now CPA Practice Advisor, I can safely say that I can live without all of it [technology]. BUT I am currently using my iPad more than anything right now. NOT including your current employer, what company do you most admire and why? Right now, it's a company I read about in BusinessWeek called Qliance. It's a group of doctors that is refusing to accept insurance, and for a nominal fee per month you can see your doctor with a day's notice. The patients are getting better care, and the doctors are taking back their profession from the insurance companies. I hope to see the trend continue. What are some ways your firm/business has gone "paperless" and/or "green" in the last two years? We've handed out company handkerchiefs in place of Kleenex, installed air dryers in place of paper towels, and installed bidets in the restrooms in place of toilet paper. We also have a "bring no paper to work" policy that is enforced by unscheduled and frequent office raids. Do you embrace cloud computing? Yes, we use Thomson Reuters Tax and Accounting's Virtual Office, and we use the portals, as well. We also use Right Networks for client ASP service. How is cloud computing changing the accounting profession, and how concerned are you with the security issues related to cloud computing? Cloud computing has completely revolutionized the experience of operating and working with accounting firms. It is changing the way firms operate and how they present themselves for business with the public. It is also changing the public's perception of the profession. Where security is concerned, I believe that if you have a reliable provider then security is not an issue. What are some of your favorite books, movies, music, websites, and TV shows? My favorite website right now is Quibids. My favorite book that I am reading right now is "Abraham Lincoln Vampire Hunter." My favorite movie of the summer so far is Super 8, though admittedly I haven't been to see the last installment of Harry Potter. Sponge Bob is always a go-to favorite for television, but right now I am really into Hell's Kitchen, Master Chef and Love in the Wild. I am extremely excited about the new fall lineup at NBC though. Musically, right now, I am listening to a lot of Avett Brothers; Mumford & Sons; and Edward Sharpe & the Magnetic Zeros. Do you foresee the majority of firms still implementing servers for the majority of their computing in their offices five years from now or do you think they will be outsourcing this component to vendors who specialize in this area? I believe it will primarily be outsourced to smaller firms. Larger firms today are finding that it is cost prohibitive. We'll see what the future and the economies of scale hold for firms large and small. Are you using social networking (such as Twitter, LinkedIn, Facebook, Google+) as a marketing tool for your practice … or do you use such sites for personal use only? Have you gained any clients or seen other demonstrable benefits from the use of social networking? This is an area that we are really going to be focusing on the last half of this year. We are working towards complete integration between our website and our social media presence. More and more, I believe that it is essential that the two be presented as one. Cell phone: Still just a regular old BlackBerry, but I am researching its replacement. an Android phone I think…… I'm leaning towards What is your favorite smartphone or tablet app? I don't necessarily have a favorite overall app. It's really what app am I into most at the moment. At this moment, I am using an app called iDesk that I am using to sketch and share ideas. For fun, I've been playing Words HD. I never knew a Scrabble App could be so much fun! How many monitors do you have on your desk? I am using three. There are others here that use four, and I've been in firms that use more. But I have found that I don't need more than three. Other than SMS on your cell phone, what is your favorite way to IM with your friends and family? I primarily use the BlackBerry messenger, but I also use Windows Live Messenger and Google Talk. COOL COMPANIES Apple and Google were named the most admired large businesses by most of our 40, but Zappos and TOMS Shoes were also referenced for their unique business models and charitable efforts. 28 Back to Contents Page 3