CPA Practice Advisor

40UNDER40 2011

Today's Technology for Tomorrow's Firm.

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Kurt J. Rickhoff, EA, ABA — 39 (continued) various news and sports websites gives me enough "knowledge" to be able to initiate conversations with my clients and prospects. What is your favorite smartphone or tablet app? My favorite phone and tablet apps tend to be "information" Kerri Gibson, CPA — 35 Small Professional Product Line Manager, CCH Small Firm Services Atlanta, Georgia Twitter ID: twitter.com/klgibson612 Education: BSBA in Business Administration, concentration in Accounting and Corporate Finance, Western Carolina University Professional Associations/Memberships: AICPA, NCACPA, NATP Hobbies: Travel, Finding new adventures, India- napolis Colts football Do you embrace cloud computing? Absolutely; I travel for work and staying connected personally and profes- sionally is vital. Accessibility to the tools I need is critical, and cloud computing enables this on many fronts. Additionally, working in the technology side of the accounting industry, it is important that we understand the needs of the accounting profession. There is a definite shift toward the acceptance of cloud computing. More firms are looking for solutions that provide the flexibility that cloud computing does. So in addition to leveraging it in our business, we have to be ready to help others make the transition. How is cloud computing changing the accounting profession, and how concerned are you with the security issues related to cloud computing? Cloud computing enables the accounting profession to break away from the office and become mobile. We can now work anywhere, anytime while maintaining (and often exceeding) client expectations. Of course, security is a big concern for many in making the switch to cloud computing. This is understandable, as we are responsible for maintaining the integrity of our clients' most important financial data. Security is on the radar of every financial institution, including the IRS, so we must also remain diligent in ensuring that we are taking precautions in protecting that information. What are some ways your business has gone "paper- less" and/or "green" in the last two years? Our company has been progressively getting involved in the "green" movement. Our largest investment has been moving into an LEED certified building a year ago. In addition, we have a strong push toward internal electronic document exchange and storage. Our biggest forms of client/prospect outreach and communication no longer occur with paper documents; instead we leverage PDF documents, e-mail, chat, blogs and user forums. NOT including your current employer, what company do you most admire and why? TOMS shoes - The goal of their business is to give back to those in need. Even as the company's success grows, their commitment to their founding purpose has not wavered. Consumers want to purchase their product because they want to be a part of giving back. 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? Small to mid-sized firms will likely continue to move toward outsourcing their technology infrastructure to third parties as it is not only a cost savings, but it also allows them to leverage expertise they may not otherwise have easy access to for maintaining their systems. An additional perk is that outsourcers are also able to leverage security technology that otherwise may not be economically feasible for small to mid-sized firms to implement. As society's comfort level with electronic data storage grows, businesses will be more comfortable with making this transition. Are you using social networking (such as Twitter, LinkedIn, Facebook, Google+) as a marketing tool for your business … or do you use such sites for personal use only? Our company does have social networking sites setup on Facebook and LinkedIn. We see that the adoption of social networking is evolving in our market space, so the value of social networking will continue to grow. What pitfalls or what unwritten rules of social networking etiquette exist, which are frequently missed by others in the profes- sion? Don't forget that personal accounts are public and are not exempt from professional scrutiny. One bad comment can haunt your career. Regardless of the networking site, people should only post something they would either: 1. Walk into their CEOs office and tell them or 2. Tell their grandmother. If it doesn't pass both of those tests, definitely don't post it! What ONE piece of technology could you absolutely not live without? Definitely my smartphone. It allows me to stay connected to my colleagues, family and friends at all times. What sports team/championship event do you absolutely refuse to miss? Indianapolis Colts and the Super Bowl. What are some of your favorite books, movies, music, websites, and TV shows? Books – Any Jane Austen book & "Nice Girls Don't Get the Corner Office." Movies – Love Actually & Gone Baby Gone. Music – I listen to a little bit of everything; current favorites are Matt Nathanson and David Gray. Websites – www.littlepinkbook.com; www.hautelook.com. TV Shows – How I Met Your Mother. Cell phone: BlackBerry Bold, Droid Incredible What is your favorite smartphone or tablet app? Google Maps — I am directionally challenged, and it makes sure I get where I need to be! How many monitors do you have on your desk? Two, but I would love to have another! Other than SMS on your cell phone, what is your favorite way to IM with your friends and family? Definitely Skype, the video feature makes it a "cannot live without," especially in keeping up with my younger brother and sister who are in college. type apps. I read AppAdvice and SlashGear daily for technology news. Monitors on your desk? I currently have two monitors — a 24-inch and a 21-inch. Other than SMS on your cell phone, what is your favorite way to IM with your friends and family? Currently, I use Facebook to IM friends mostly. I've used Skype in the past, but not much recently. I look forward to using FaceTime for the Apple products more in the near future. Cell phone: I carry an IPhone 4, which gets used heavily every day. 36 Back to Contents Page 3

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