Awards & Accomplishments

The past year saw another set of honors for our New York-based accounting and consulting firm as a whole, as well as individual team members.

“I am very proud of our achievements,” says Managing Partner Louis C. Grassi. “Being recognized for these honors by such prestigious publications is a testament to the high levels of workplace satisfaction among our staff.”

Below are just some of our current and past awards and honors that separate us from the rest of the accounting and consulting firms in New York:

2011

Best Companies Group

Again for 2011, the Best Companies Group named Grassi & Co. one of the Best Places to Work in New York State. This award recognizes positive workplace practices in the accounting industry and on Long Island, a demonstration of Grassi & Co.’s supportive culture and professional environment.

Crain’s New York Business

Holding steady in its position, Grassi & Co. was again ranked among Crain’s New York Business’ Top 25 Accounting Firms in New York. The firm came in at #23 on the list again this year, which is ranked by number of area professionals. As well,  Grassi & Co. was recognized by Crain’s as one of the “Best Places to Work” for 2011.  To identify the Best Places to Work, Crain’s partnered with Best Companies Group, an independent research firm, which conducted 12,494 surveys of employees in New York City.  Grassi & Co. ranked an impressive 17 out of the 50 companies that made the list.

INSIDE Public Accounting

For the sixth year in a row, Grassi & Co. was once again ranked among the Top 25 “Best of the Best Firms” by INSIDE Public Accounting. We were also named as one of the “Top Five Fastest-Growing Firms” in the nation, selected as an All Star Firm solely based on management and growth as compared with 400 other firms that have participated in the 2011 IPA survey, and ”Beyond the Top 100″. 

“Earning a place on the IPA’s list is an achievement of which I’m very proud,” commented Louis C. Grassi, CPA, CFE, Managing Partner of Grassi & Co.  “It is a testament to the staff of the firm and our management team that we have been recognized for a sixth year in a row – an accomplishment only two other firms in the country have achieved.”

Long Island Business News

Climbing a notch from 2010, in 2011 Grassi & Co. was ranked as the 7^th Largest Accounting Firm on Long Island by Long Island Business News. In addition, it identified Partner Rick Gavin as a “50 or So Around 50″ honoree, which recognizes professionals near the age of 50 for their experience, service, and influence in the Long Island business community, Audit Principal Carl Oliveri as a “40 Under 40″ honoree, and David Shuster for the “Leadership in Law” award.

New York Enterprise Report

Grassi & Co. received three awards from New York Enterprise Report for its work in helping to service growing businesses. The awards recognize accounting and law firms in the tri-state area who exemplify excellence in their professions.

The firm as a whole was awarded the Accounting Firm of the Year Award, Managing Partner Louis C. Grassi was presented with the Lifetime Achievement Award for Accountants, and Partner and Not-for-Profit Practice Leader David Rottkamp was honored with the Accountant of the Year Award in the Non Profit category. “I am so honored to have received this award in my practice area from such a great publication.  The Firm is very proud to have been recognized for excellence in these three areas in which we were awarded,” said David M. Rottkamp, CPA, Partner and Not-For-Profit Practice Leader at Grassi & Co.

2010

Accounting Today

Accounting Today, which regularly catalogues the largest firms in the nation, looked “Beyond the Top 100″ and named Grassi & Co. as one of their “Firms to Watch”, a credit to Grassi’s recognized and respected client service.

Best Companies Group

In 2010, the Best Companies Group named Grassi & Co. as one of the Best Places to Work in New York State.  Grassi & Co. had previously won awards recognizing its positive workplace practices in the accounting industry and on Long Island, and this award demonstrates that Grassi & Co.’s culture and professional environment is respected well beyond the boundaries of local geography and industry.

Crain’s New York Business

As it had done the previous year, Grassi & Co. was again recognized by Crain’s New York Business as one of the Top 25 Accounting Firms in New York, ranked by number of area professionals.

INSIDE Public Accounting

In 2010, Grassi & Co. was once again named to Inside Public Accounting’s “Best of the Best” list, selected as one of 25 firms nationwide.  In addition, as it was by Acccounting Today, Grassi & Co. was identified as one of INSIDE Public Accounting’s “Beyond the Top 100″ firms.  Completing a trio of awards, the publication also recognized Grassi & Co. as a Top Fastest Growing Firm, demonstrating Grassi & Co.’s ability to continue to provide and expand top-notch client service during a weak economy.

Long Island Business News

In 2010, Long Island Business News (LIBN) honored Grassi & Co. Partner Geri A. Gregor as one of Long Island’s 50 Most Influential Women.  Ms. Gregor leads two renowned Grassi & Co. groups: the firm’s Consulting Division and it’s Construction Practice.  LIBN singled Ms. Gregor out for her ongoing and effective client service efforts, demonstrating once again that Grassi & Co.’s strength comes from its versatile and talented team.

Long Island Press

Each year, the Long Island Press compiles a list of the 50 most influential people on Long Island, deemed the Long Island Press Power List. In 2010, Grassi & Co. Managing Partner Louis C. Grassi was chosen as #45 on this list. Mr. Grassi is extremely honored to be recognized among fellow contributors to the betterment of Long Island on this list, which can be viewed in full here.

New York Enterprise Report

New York Enterprise Report identified Grassi & Co. Partner John V. Pellitteri as it’s Best Accountant for Growing Healthcare Business for 2010.  Mr. Pellitteri, who leads Grassi & Co.’s Healthcare Practice, was honored for his work helping clients best utilize their finances to achieve and maintain steady growth.  This award further showcases the strength of the Grassi  & Co. team and its ability to best advise its clients.

Queens Courier

Grassi & Co. CEO Lou Grassi was honored as one of Queens Courier’s Kings of Queens for the client service he and the firm have provided to local Queens businesses across a variety of industries, thereby contributing to the economic and business development of the borough.  In addition, Queens Courier identified Grassi & Co. Partner Geri A. Gregor, who leads the firm’s celebrated Consulting Division and Construction Practice, as one of their Top Women in Business  These awards reflects the Grassi & Co. leadership’s commitment to the development and growth of local business.

Soroptimist International of Nassau County

The Nassau County Chapter of Soroptimist International, an organization devoted to the worldwide development of female leaders, honored Grassi & Co. Partner Geri A. Gregor for her efforts to help develop female leaders both at Grassi & Co. and in the Long Island/New York markets in general.  Grassi & Co. is proud of Ms. Gregor’s efforts, and this recognition from Soroptimist International demonstrates Grassi & Co.’s commitment to social and community development. This honor came as Ms. Gregor’s third leadership award in 2010.

2009

Accounting Today

In December 2009, Accounting Today named Grassi & Co. one of the 2009 Best Accounting Firms to Work For in the Country. With the criteria of auspiciousness in the nation’s economy and workface, the survey and award program recognized the best places of employment in accounting. Evaluation criteria included workplace policies, turnover, practices, training hours per employee, philosophy, demographics, chief executive and systems.

Long Island Business News

In 2009, Long Island Business News identified Grassi & Co. as the 8^th Largest Accounting Firm on Long Island.  In addition, it identified Grassi & Co. Managing Partner Lou Grassi as one of their “50 or So Around 50,” an annual list of Long Island professionals near the age of 50 who are recognized for their experience, service, and influence in the Long Island business community.

Crain’s New York Business

Grassi & Co. was honored with a place in the Crain’s New York Business 2009-2010 Top 25 Accounting Firms, as ranked by a number of area professionals.

INSIDE Public Accounting

INSIDE Public Accounting (IPA) cited Grassi & Co. three times throughout 2009. In October, IPA named the firm to their Best of the Best list, including Grassi & Co. among the top 25 accounting firms in the country. Praising all the firms mentioned in the list, Kelly Platt, principal of the Platt Group and publisher of INSIDE Public Accounting said, “[Grassi & Co.’s] stellar performance defies economic trends by recognizing the long-term goals that are needed in order to sustain growth through both prosperous times and down times.”

IPA also named Grassi & Co. to its list of Top Ten Fastest-Growing Firms, as well as one of the Long-Range Planning All Stars.

Women Builders Council 2009 Outstanding Women

In October of 2009, the Women Builders Council (WBC) recognized four Grassi & Co. employees in various disciplines as WBC’s 2009 Outstanding Women. The award honored women who are working to change and define the landscape of the building industry through leadership, career development and advocacy for women in the workplace.

Lori A Crawbuck

Lori A Crawbuck, CCIFP, is an Audit Manager in the construction practice at Grassi & Co. Having joined the firm in 2000, she focuses on Grassi & Co.’s clients in the construction industry for both audit and tax services. Her responsibilities include preparing and reviewing complete sets of financial statements and reviewing the work of staff. She assists management with strategic problem solving, acts as financial advisor of client managements, and maintains staff proficiency with firm technology. Ms. Crawbuck was one of the first women in the firm to receive the Certified Construction Industry Financial Professional (CCIFP) certification.

“The people at Grassi & Co. definitely make it an enjoyable place to work. There is such a young partner group, the knowledge base is tremendous, and the amount of things I learn every year is incredible.”

Geri A. Gregor

Geri A. Gregor, CPA joined Grassi & Co. in 2008 as the Partner-in-Charge of the Consulting Division. As such, she manages and directs the consulting team on projects in areas such as business consulting, litigation support, forensic investigations and accounting, claims consulting, Sarbanes-Oxley Section 404 compliance, mergers and acquisition due diligence, fraud detection and internal audits. Long Island Business News has named her one of Long Island’s Top 50 Most Influential Women in Business, as well as one of Long Island’s Rising Stars under the age of 40.

“Women add a different perspective to how they conduct themselves and their business. It is very important for me to belong to a firm that truly believes women can make a positive impact on the organization. Lou fully supports the company-wide Women’s Initiative, as evidenced by the fact that we have more and more women working for us, with the opportunity to be honored with such outstanding awards.”

Krishna Grego

Krishna Grego, CPA, CCIFP joined the firm in 2005 as an Audit Supervisor for Grassi & Co.’s construction practice. She assists Grassi & Co.’s partner group in managing effective billing and collection practices, as well as reviewing and monitoring staff time and schedules in order to make Grassi & Co.’s processes as efficient as possible. In addition to standard audit procedures, her work includes risk management and quality control on many client engagements. She analyzes company processes to streamline productivity, cut waste, and ensure efficiency while providing a high-quality product.

“When Grassi & Co. hires an employee, their motto is, ‘We’re not giving you a job, we’re giving you an opportunity.’ Everyone here can succeed based entirely on skill level and performance. This is not typical or standard of the industry, but it has helped make us a close-knit family.”

All four Outstanding Women are key members of Grassi’s Women’s Initiative Committee. With the mission of giving Grassi & Co.’s women the tools and training, from both a professional and a personal standpoint, to make decisions that help them retain their position or move through the ranks of a company, this initiative celebrates women in the workplace. Focused on providing informational and mentoring experience, the committee emphasizes the importance of women in upper management and develops a succession plan to highlight and support Grassi & Co.’s female leaders.