Leslie Balmforth, CPA
Principal, Chief Operating Officer
Tauber & Balser, P.C.
“Our firm has grown from 11 people to 70 and the period of most rapid growth occurred during Jean’s participation as our Marketing Consultant. We have grown from servicing one public company to twelve and have national recognition in several of our niches. Jean brings enthusiasm and expertise, each of which has impacted our shareholders and staff. Over the last two years our firm has been listed as one of the Top 25 CPA firms in the country and Jean has been an integral part of the process that enabled us to achieve the goals we set forth in our planning process. We continue to gain from her participation as our Marketing Consultant and believe she is an integral part of our firm’s management structure.”
Mark Murovitz, CPA
Managing Shareholder
Tauber & Balser, P.C.
"Our timing with Capstone could not have been better. We had determined a critical component of our partnership's success would be sustained profitable growth. Jean's contributions ranged from organizing our initial focus, challenging our thinking and helping us remain accountable. Her style fit comfortably within our firm's culture. In the end, she provided so much initiative and value that she worked herself out of a job by assisting us in finding the perfect marketing director. Count us among the many satisfied clients."
Phil Moore, CPA
Managing Partner
Porter Keadle Moore, LLP
“In the arcane world of professional
services marketing, there’s a profound
difference between mundane marketing practice
and marketing wisdom. Jean Caragher has always
been a font of marketing wisdom, and a significant
leader in a difficult and constantly emerging
marketing practice. She is one of the few
practitioners who has truly helped shape the
way professional service marketing is practiced.
Jean, congratulations on your anniversary.”
Bruce Marcus
Editor
The Marcus Letter on Professional Services
Marketing
"I wanted to express my appreciation for your workshop with Alliott Group members in San Diego. Your materials provide great support to the existing plans for our firm and in fact will help us focus our efforts to a much greater extent. I received similar comments from many other members in attendance. Personally I have learned enough at your session to keep busy for the next two years."
Barry Brownlow, F.C.A.
Founding Partner
Brownlow & Associates
Chartered Accountants
“I first met Jean in 1986 when she
was the marketing director at Israeloff,
Trattner & Co. Accounting marketing
was a burgeoning industry and she was at
the forefront. Over the years, I’ve
watched her become a leader – sharing
her knowledge, gaining the respect of her
clients and colleagues, and helping CPAs
create and implement focused, effective
marketing programs. Congratulations, Jean!
I wish you many more years of success with
Capstone Marketing.”
Allan D. Koltin
President & CEO
PDI Global, Inc.
"As Moore Colson has focused on its future and the marketing efforts needed to grow this firm, the decision to work with Jean Caragher and Capstone Marketing, Inc. has proven to be a great investment. Your sound marketing advice and technical skills as well as your ability to keep people focused on the task ahead have been invaluable and have led to a marketing process and product that makes Moore Colson proud."
Jeffrey L. Hays, CPA
Director of Finance and Administration
Moore Colson
“As managing shareholder of our firm, I am very involved in the marketing function within our firm. We have worked with Jean Caragher of Capstone Marketing for over two years and she has had a profound impact on the marketing function and effectiveness at our firm. With Jean's assistance, we have successfully established a number of thriving niches, have implemented a progressive marketing tracking and rewards program and established our firm as one of the premier service providers in our market. Prior to Jean joining our team as a consultant, marketing was an afterthought. Now, marketing is an integral part of our culture.”
Martin Einhorn, CPA/ABV, CVA
Managing Shareholder
Wall, Einhorn & Chernitzer, P.C.
As usual, you did an outstanding job facilitating the marketing strategy session for our Manufacturing Industry Group. The research you gathered prior to the session and your ability to keep us focused were extremely valuable. I now have the excitement and direction at the team level to get some big things accomplished.”
Ronald W. Benoit, CPA
Partner
Moss Adams LLP
“Jean Caragher is one of the thought leaders in the field of marketing. She takes a 10,000 foot view of the situation within a firm to develop strategies for marketing, management, and leadership. Having run successful marketing departments for several CPA firms in large markets, and an accounting association, Jean is ideally equipped to consult on the tough issues facing firms today. And, she is a hellova karaoke singer.”
Neil Fauerbach, MBA
Partner - Director of Business Development & Marketing
Smith & Gesteland, LLP
2007-08 President, Association for Accounting
Marketing
"I would like to commend you on the superior handling of the recruitment of a marketing director for Grassi & Co. As you know, I am a person with high expectations; however, your preparation of the job description, and your thorough screening procedure ensured that the entire recruitment process was flawless."
Louis C. Grassi, CPA
Managing Partner
Grassi & Co.
“I have known and worked with Jean Caragher and Capstone Marketing for about five years. Jean is a true professional, with a solid grasp of both strategic and tactical issues facing the accounting profession. She is also extraordinarily knowledgeable about a number of products and services. When these capabilities are coupled with her innate sense of practical business solutions, Jean represents a rare combination that makes her one of the top advisors in the profession today."
Granville Loar
Executive Director
Association for Accounting Marketing
“Jean Caragher is a talented professional.
She is unyielding in her pursuit of the
perfect campaign, tenacious in her determination
to give her clients the best strategy for
success and meticulous in planning, implementation
and follow through. Through every phase
of her work she never loses her perspective
or her integrity and most especially her
sense of humor. I have known Jean for almost
20 years. She is a pioneer in the accounting
marketing profession and understands the
value of a structured, well thought out
marketing program. As a result of this understanding,
her work has a measurable impact on a firm's
growth and profitability for years after
she's out the door.”
Carol Schrager
Director of Marketing
Friedman LLP
“I have known Jean Caragher since I became involved with the Association for Accounting Marketing and I am always amazed at her depth of knowledge! More importantly, though, I appreciate her willingness to share all that she has learned. She is one of those founders who have never abandoned those who came after her. As a professional, as a friend and as a colleague in the world of accounting marketing, Jean has definitely had a strong positive impact on us all.”
Sally Glick
Chief Marketing Officer
Sobel & Co., LLC
"I want to thank you for the fine job you did helping us maintain our marketing efforts … A number of our partners commented to me that they appreciated having someone with your industry knowledge and background work with them to develop their marketing plans. That outside, "big picture" view along with your structured approach to planning resulted in a more focused approach to our marketing activities … My partners and I enjoyed working with you and would definitely recommend you to any firm looking for assistance with their marketing program."
Jonathan Miller, CPA
Managing Partner, Habif, Arogeti & Wynne,
LLP
Now, Partner, Habif, Arogeti & Wynne,
LLP
“Thank you for your effort … to assist our firm in creating a marketing culture. You have helped us focus our marketing program and educated the entire firm about how they can play a role in promoting CFDL, cross-selling services, and obtaining new business. You have opened our eyes to the opportunities that a proactive marketing program can bring.”
Howard P. Dorman, CPA
Managing Partner, Cohen, Friedman, Dorman,
Leen & Co.
Now, Partner, Weiser LLP
"I found Jean to be friendly, articulate, and very professional in her approach. She was quick to grasp the situation and to formulate a plan of action. Her written job descriptions for the marketing director and coordinator positions were right on target and greatly facilitated our task of interviewing the candidates. I am convinced she saved us countless hours and dollars in our search. "I would, without reservation, recommend Jean as a person of high capability with outstanding organizational skills. It was a pleasure to work with her."
Wendell Jones, CPA
Partner
Henry & Horne, LLP
“As Chairman of the fourth annual Accounting Marketing Forum … I wanted to thank you for the super job you did … I am sure that the members of the audience that were lucky enough to get a seat were impressed with your presentation. Your points were well thought-out, and your subject matter was on point.”
Walter Timoshenko
Chief Marketing Officer
Weiser LLP
“Thanks, so very much. I believe with your help we accomplished a lot during that meeting and I shudder to think of the various directions we would have gone to without you keeping us focused. I really do look forward to working with you during the coming months and years.”
David A. Braver, CPA
Partner
Braver Schimler Pierce Jenkins LLP
"Let me thank you for the wonderful job you did as facilitator of our annual retreat. We are looking forward to a successful 2003 with our newly found enthusiasm for marketing. We think the retreat you facilitated is responsible for the change in attitude, and the right decision was made when we engaged you to be our facilitator."
Peter M. Bratlie, CPA
Partner, Robertson, Bailes & McClelland
LLP
Now, Miller, Carpenter & Earnest
"Any number of terrific ideas for marketing is welcome and twenty is more than enough to stimulate action in anyone. Certainly, your knowledgeable and invigorating presentation on the topic was of great benefit to us."
Kimberly A. Fantaci
Executive Director
American Women's Society of CPAs
"Thank you again for speaking at our North American Regional Meeting … Our members found your presentation to be very beneficial … I heard many positive comments after your session. Our members appreciated your expertise in marketing."
Patsy Bowen
Director of Meetings
AGN International
"Thank you for your valuable assistance in initiating an organized marketing program for Moore Stephens Frazer and Torbet, LLP. We look forward to many years of dividends from your efforts. Creating the foundation ... to move our marketing program into the new millennium is essential for our survival. We are particularly pleased with our new marketing director."
Jeff C. Jones, CPA
Managing Partner
Moore Stephens Frazer & Torbet, LLP
“On behalf of the MN Chapter of AAM, I want to thank you for coming to speak to our group. Your insights into our profession … are so helpful to all of us who want to make a real impact on our firms.”
Janet Maddalena
Marketing Director
Virchow, Krause & Co.
"Thank you for your participation in the 1999 A&A/MCS/Marketing Conference in Tahoe. The feedback was terrific. Your energy level and expertise contributed to a successful meeting ... It was a pleasure working with you. We appreciate your professionalism ..."
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