McConnell & Jones Leadership
Ira Wayne McConnell,CPA
Managing PartnerIn his role as managing partner, Wayne is responsible for guiding the firms’ strategic direction and has overall responsibility for management of administrative functions, including human resources, marketing and business development, accounting, and information technology.
Wayne also serves as Partner-In-Charge of McConnell & Jones’ assurance practice, and has oversight responsibility of the audit division’s quality control system; making sure that it adheres to the peer review and inspection requirements of the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants (AICPA) and the Public Company Accounting and Oversight Board (PCAOB). He also conducts engagement partner and concurring partner technical reviews of audit reports and the related financial statements, ensuring that the engagements have been performed in accordance with generally accepted auditing standards and the financial statements are being presented in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles.
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Thomas Jones, Jr., CPA
Partner, Tax and Small Business SolutionsThomas Jones is a passionate advocate for small business owners and entrepreneurs who want to take their business to the next level.
Thomas Jones, Jr., serves as partner of tax and small business solutions; as such he thrives on working with small business owners and risk-taking entrepreneurs. He enjoys learning the various facets of their business and providing comprehensive tax planning strategies. A seasoned, well-connected professional, Thomas is proud of how he has been able to use his influence and connections to help companies grow and acquire financing. "I like to build things", says Thomas.
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Tene' Thomas, CPA
PartnerTene is a licensed CPA with more than 15 years of technical experience in tax compliance and accounting services. As Partner of the Tax and Accounting practice, Tene is responsible for the organization’s strategic growth initiatives as well as providing leadership and mentoring to the firm’s tax and accounting staff.
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Rance Buss, CPA
PartnerWith more than 21 years of experience in providing auditing and accounting services to various industries and employee benefit plan sponsors, Rance serves as the ERISA Partner over the firm’s Employee Benefit Plan Assurance and Compliance Services division.
Rance has worked and consulted on over 500 employee benefit plan engagements for a variety of plan sponsors including Fortune 500 companies, privately owned companies and numerous nonprofit organizations and governmental agencies. His experience also includes the preparation and assistance in the design and implementation of pension, profit sharing, employee stock ownership and various types of employee welfare plans.
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Edward Hlousek, CPA
PartnerWith more than 30 years experience in accounting, financial and consulting services, Edward has worked with both SEC registrants and privately-held companies throughout the United States as well as in Latin America and Europe. His background consists of serving large accelerated filers, as well as smaller capitalized companies, doing reverse mergers or IPOs. Edward was a Partner at Arthur Andersen and Deloitte, he also led the Merger Integration Practice. Edward’s expertise also includes M&A, internal controls, change management and process improvement services.
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John Braden, CPA/PFS
PartnerWith more than 40 years experience in accounting, financial and consulting services, John has worked with a variety of engagements including public companies, large governmental entities, private companies, and individuals. He has also prepared tax returns which included complex consolidations with international operations, personal income tax returns, and estate tax returns.
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Godwin Okoye, CPA
Director, Assurance ServicesWith more than 17 years experience in nonprofit and governmental auditing, Godwin is an expert in these highly complex and unique auditing standards. His background includes developing and implementing procedures that assist clients with proper reporting of financial information, improvements in internal controls, enhancement of operating efficiency, compliance with regulations, and becoming more familiar with relevant accounting standards and regulatory requirements. He also adds value to clients’ business by assisting clients with interpreting and implementing sound accounting and audit policies.
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Eric Ernest, CPA, FCCA
Assurance DirectorEric is one of our dedicated Employee Benefit Plan Assurance Audit. With more than 18 years of accounting and financial audit experience in a variety of industries, he has planned, supervised, and managed numerous financial statement and compliance audits of governmental, non-profit, and private sector clients and employee benefit plans. Eric mentions how he finds the “ever-evolving role of accountants and the possibilities of permeating into every aspect of business and commerce an exciting concept.”
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Shannon Norman, CPA
Director of Accounting and Administration
Ms. Norman serves as the accounting and administration director and is responsible for overseeing the accounting, financial reporting and other firm wide administrative initiatives. Ms. Norman plays a key role in strategic planning working closely with firm leadership to record, analyze and report financial and accounting practices. In addition to budgetary and fiscal responsibilities, Ms. Norman develops, documents and implements administrative policies and procedures for the efficient organization and operation of the firm.
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Will Hampton, MBA
Director of ContractsMr. Hampton serves as the Director of Contracts and is responsible for overseeing firm-wide contract negotiations, policies and procedures, analysis and compliance.
With more than 33 years of federal and commercial contract management and administration experience, his proficiency ranges from developing policies and procedures for the Naval Supply Systems Command as a Procurement Analyst to developing Acquisition Plans and the award of contracts in excess of $250 million for complex R&D projects, engineering development models, engineering studies, scientific analysis and base support services as a warranted Contracting Officer.
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Mandy Szabo, SHRM
Director of Human Resources
Ms. Szabo serves as the Human Resource Director for McConnell & Jones CPAs and is responsible for developing human resource objectives that provide an employee-oriented, high performance culture emphasizing empowerment, quality, productivity and standards, and goal attainment. With more than 14 years experience, Ms. Szabo has a strong passion for people and service. Her outlook about Human Resources is to have an open-door policy where employees can feel welcomed and understood.
