Author: Rachelle Ogun, Marketing Director

This is a new series of Q&A blogs highlighting a Maher Duessel team member who lives out our mission of Pursuing the Profession While Promoting the Public Good through their volunteer commitments.  First up Partner, Lisa Ritter. Lisa currently volunteers with WITF Public Broadcasting (Executive Committee Member, Finance and Audit Committee Member and Enterprises Board Member), United Way of the Capital Region Women’s Leadership Network, and the St. Patrick Cathedral Finance Committee. This Q&A will focus on Lisa’s involvement with WITF Public Broadcasting.

How did you get involved with WITF? I became involved with WITF when a Board Member asked me to join in support of the Finance and Audit Committee.

As a board volunteer wearing several hats with WITF, what are your overall responsibilities? I am currently the Chair of the Finance and Audit Committee and sit on the Executive Committee and the Enterprises Board. The Finance and Audit Committee reviews internally prepared financial statements, considers financial risks and risk management policies, appoints the audit firm and reviews the audit report. Other duties include review of IT and cyber risk and reviewing the actions of the Investment Committee. The Executive Committee exercises the authority of the Board in the management of WITF and generally supports the President’s activities.The Enterprises Board is charged with considering for-profit ventures WITF might undertake.

What do you like most about your role with WITF? WITF has been involved in some fascinating projects in the past couple of years including datacasting.  Datacasting  sends programming “over–the-air” so that it can be picked up by an antenna and played on a TV.  WITF is working with PA education stakeholders regarding the use of datacasting to benefit students learning remotely.  I have thoroughly enjoyed this project and learning about it.

What would you like to accomplish at WITF in the next 2-3 years? I am new to the role of Chair of the Finance and Audit Committee.  Given the Charter of the Committee there are plenty of issues on which to stay current on and I look forward to the challenge. I also also enjoyed meeting Daniel Tiger  in person recently!

How do you balance your volunteer responsibilities with a full time position? I don’t think of the time I spend on WITF functions as work.  I enjoy the opportunity to take my granddaughters to WITF programs and am fortunate Maher Duessel supports volunteer opportunities.

Maher Duessel is pleased to announce that Partner, Amy C. Lewis, CPA, has been named Director of Quality Control for the firm. As Director of Quality Control, Ms. Lewis will oversee the firm’s procedures and processes in ensuring the highest levels of service to our clients. This includes assisting in guiding firm-wide implementation of all new accounting and audit standards, providing technical expertise on Financial Statement Audit, Single Audit, and Employee Benefit Plan Audit reporting issues and tax compliance, monitoring the firm’s compliance with professional standards, leading annual internal quality control inspections, and coordinating our external peer review conducted by an outside CPA firm.

Maher Duessel, a regional accounting firm specializing in services to governments and non-profits, has named Timothy J. Morgus, CPA, CFE, CGFM as its next Managing Partner. After five plus years as President and Managing Partner, Elizabeth (‘Betsy’) E. Krisher, CPA, CGFM, will transition to the position of Chairman and Chief Executive Officer as she continues to serve her clients.

Mr. Morgus has been Vice President and member of the firm’s Board of Directors. As Managing Partner, he will be responsible for ensuring the firm evolves with the changing demands for services and talent in the public accounting industry. Mr. Morgus will also oversee Maher Duessel’s tradition of providing high quality and cost-effective solutions for non-profits and governments while preserving the firm’s core values and culture. He will also maintain his role as engagement partner for clients. Away from Maher Duessel, Mr. Morgus serves as a Technical Reviewer on the Government Finance Officers Association’s Special Review Committee for Annual Comprehensive Financial Reports and is the Chairman and Trustee of the Butler Health System. He has been with the firm since 1996 and routinely speaks on a wide range of accounting and auditing matters impacting governments and non-profits on behalf of professional associations throughout Pennsylvania.

Maher Duessel was founded in 1989 to provide high-caliber auditing, tax, and consulting services to the non-profit and governmental markets, segments which require an extraordinary degree of education, expertise, and compassion. Our mission statement, “Pursuing the Profession While Promoting the Public Good^®,” reflects the philosophy by which we do business. Maher Duessel has six office locations in Pennsylvania: Pittsburgh, Butler, Harrisburg, State College, Erie, and Lancaster, with statewide and regional capacity.

“I have been gratified to witness the growth of our firm over its 30-year history. Our success could not have been achieved without the exceptional people with whom I have been blessed to work with. Tim has been key to our growth and a model of our firm’s motto, ‘Pursuing the Profession While Promoting the Public Good.’  I look forward to working with Tim and our team as Maher Duessel continues this pursuit,” Ms. Krisher stated.

“We have a wonderful team of partners and professionals that truly care about providing exceptional client service in a team-oriented, career-fulfilling environment. The accounting profession continues to transform, and we are well-positioned to stay ahead of the curve. I’m thankful to have this opportunity and am excited about our future,” stated Mr. Morgus.

Maher Duessel has been named as one of the 2021 Best Places to Work in PA. The awards program began in 2005 and is promoted by the Central Penn Business Journal and Lehigh Valley Business in partnership with the Pennsylvania Department of Community and Economic Development, Team PA Foundation, the Society for Human Resource Management (SHRM) – PA State Council and Best Companies Group.

Elizabeth (‘Betsy’) E. Krisher, CPA, CGFM
President

The Pittsburgh Business Times has published an interview with President Betsy Krisher, CPA, CGFM in their featured special report of ’20 People to Know in Accounting’.

Partner Amy C. Lewis, CPA recently participated in a podcast with the Pennsylvania Institute of Certified Public Accountants (PICPA) regarding her career path to the Partner level here at Maher Duessel. You can listen to the podcast on the PICPA website.

Maher Duessel has been recognized by Inside Public Accounting (IPA) as an IPA Top 400 Firm for 2021.  IPA annually ranks the largest public accounting firms in the U.S. based on participating firm’s net revenues. Our firm was featured in a  recent article in the Pittsburgh Business Times. For the full list, check out the IPA website.

Shawn M. Strauss, CPA has been promoted to Senior Manager from Manager. Mr. Strauss began his accounting career in 2009 and joined Maher Duessel in 2013.  Mr. Strauss is a graduate of Elizabethtown College.

Hannah Maust, CPA, has been promoted to Supervisor from Senior Auditor. Ms. Maust began her public accounting career in 2016 with Maher Duessel as an Intern. Ms. Maust is a graduate of Westminster College. Ms. Maust has also recently received the 2021 PICPA Young Leader Award.