Thomas E. Gard: Partner-In-Charge, Audit Partner

The following is a short inside look at this partner's views on business as well as some personal insight. To view their entire profile, click the read more link at the end of each short bio.

Q and A

Q. Describe your most memorable Armanino moment.

Seeing the recent and tremendous growth within our company, especially in the Audit Department, and the addition of public companies with multi-location issues; it's really exciting.

Q. Make a prediction. Describe your vision of the business future.

Armanino will continue to grow and diversify. Our recent increase in IT and risk management services, as well as the addition of public companies, has positioned us to become a formidable force within the accounting industry throughout the Western US.

Daniel Bowen: Audit Partner

The following is a short inside look at this partner's views on business as well as some personal insight. To view their entire profile, click the read more link at the end of each short bio.

Q and A

Q. What is it about accounting and consulting that first drew your interest?

As an engineering student, I struggled to understand Einstein's force vectors. Fortunately, my mathematical abilities transitioned easily into accounting. I liked the problem-solving aspect of accounting.

Q. What can we learn from the past in our profession?

Stay focused on integrity. The best thing we have is our reputation.

Bill Brause: Audit Partner

The following is a short inside look at this partner's views on business as well as some personal insight. To view their entire profile, click the read more link at the end of each short bio.

Q and A

Q. What is it about accounting and consulting that first drew your interest?

In college, accounting was the hardest degree in which to major. My friends and I all enrolled in it to see who could survive. You could say that the competition was my drive to succeed in it, but I found that I really liked accounting. I did well and got decent grades, plus I knew I would make a good living in the profession. I was the only one among our group to succeed in making it my major.

Q. Who is/was the most influential person in your life?

My dad. He taught me a great work ethic—to work hard to get the advantage; it's important to earn it. I feel like it gave me a leg up on those around me who don't quite understand that hard work usually pays off. Nothing is free.

Matthew Chavez: Audit Partner

The following is a short inside look at this partner's views on business as well as some personal insight. To view their entire profile, click the read more link at the end of each short bio.

Q and A

Q. What is it about accounting and consulting that first drew your interest?

While in school, accounting came easy for me. I had always liked math and was good at it – that’s why I stayed with it. I also consider myself more of a ‘people person’ than the actual technical-type. I’m able to combine something I enjoy doing, working and helping people solve problems, with my expertise – accounting.

Q. What’s the toughest business decision you’ve ever made?

My toughest business decision was my change in firms. I went from the safety/security of a larger firm to come to an emerging and growing firm; an environment where I thought I would be able to add more value.

Q and A

Q. What accounting law or regulation would you like to see changed?

Sarbanes-Oxley. It just doesn't make sense for the small and middle market companies; it needs to be streamlined to make it more workable and practical.

Q. What's it like working for a company that's been around for so long?

I see AMLLP as being a young, nimble company. Our 50 years of existence simply shows longevity, that we've been around the block. The constantly changing dynamics of our industry keep us young. We're perpetual new kids on the block going head-to-head with Big Four and other regional firms on virtually any issue. Bigger firms are becoming increasingly hard-pressed to show that they have a resource advantage.

Josh Nevarez: Audit Partner

The following is a short inside look at this partner's views on business as well as some personal insight. To view their entire profile, click the read more link at the end of each short bio.

Q and A

Q. What are you most proud of at Armanino?

I am most proud of having built a thriving Mortgage Pool practice and helping the firm grow to one of the top 40 largest firms in the country. It has created great opportunities for me to speak at related industry conferences, work with top mortgage pools across the country and establish this firm as an industry leader. But the greatest pleasure truly comes from developing staff and building their knowledge and expertise so that we can continue to be the preeminent firm in the country providing accounting and consulting services to the mortgage pool industry
I am also proud of the work I do in the non-profit and private education sector that offers personal balance and great satisfaction.

Paul O'Grady: Audit Partner

The following is a short inside look at this partner's views on business as well as some personal insight. To view their entire profile, click the read more link at the end of each short bio.

Q and A

Q. What is it about accounting that first drew your interest?

My stepfather, who was a real estate developer, always told me that good accountants and good lawyers are worth their weight in gold. So I thought it would be an interesting career, and a profession that I could be passionate about pursuing.I also wanted a diversified business exposure which I felt public accounting could provide. It is a very dynamic profession and career. It's constantly changing and every day is different. As a result, it's exciting and something you can be passionate about.

Q. Describe your most memorable Armanino moment:

When we became the fifth largest firm in the Bay Area, just behind the Big Four, making us the largest regional firm in the area and the largest California-based firm. It was the culmination of lots of hard work on behalf of a staff of extremely dedicated and talented individuals.

Q and A

Q. What can we learn from our past in your business?

Trust your intuition and don’t be afraid to disagree with the majority.

Q. What is the toughest decision you have ever made?

Leaving Ernst & Young to join Armanino because it was a big unknown for me. But Andy Armanino, Tom Gard and Paul O’Grady convinced me that Armanino was a special place.

Q. Without naming names, tell us about your favorite client and why you enjoyed working with them.

I like privately held companies that tend to be smaller to mid-sized because I can get my arms around the whole company. And I like to work with owners who are passionate about their business.

Matthew Perreault: Audit Partner

The following is a short inside look at this partner's views on business as well as some personal insight. To view their entire profile, click the read more link at the end of each short bio.

Q and A

Q. What can we learn from the past in our profession?

Quality is better than size. Misperception that the Big Four firms have greater quality control measures in place. People are more important than process.

Q. What accounting law or regulation would you like to see changed?

Sarbanes–Oxley, to provide relief to mid-cap companies.

Q. Tell us about one of your favorite clients and why you enjoy working with them?

I have quite a few favorite clients. They share the same characteristics— they're cooperative, fun, and understand the value that we provide.

Q and A

Q. What is it about accounting and consulting that first drew your interest?

It actually came easy to me and I just liked it. It was an opportunity to use my skills in a way that could be helpful to others.

Q. Describe your most memorable Armanino moment.

The first time I pulled an all-nighter with Joe Moore, our former managing partner. I remember him at 11:30 p.m. saying something like "Okay, it looks like we will be here for awhile. Shall we get dinner?" The only nearby business that was open turned out to be a 7-11. We dined on chips and donuts that night.

Q and A

Q. What is it about accounting and consulting that first drew your interest?

I always knew how to figure out operationally what was going on with a company and its products, but I was always curious about how the company communicated their results and I wanted to know if those results were accurate.

Q. Describe your most memorable Armanino moment.

When Joe Moore, former managing partner, asked me for my resume.