Richard E. Gavin, CPA, CCIFP

Richard E. Gavin, CPA, CCIFP, Partner

"When formulating a succession plan for a client, we realized we had a lot of people to please. The older generation, the younger generation, and the outside credit grantors all had different needs and objectives. We created a structure that transferred the business to the younger generation without cash outlay, eliminated the personal guaranties of the older generations, and provided the credit security required by the corporate creditors-all in a way that never negatively affected the business. The operations were successfully transferred to the younger generation, and the family, who had felt pressures before we came in, was completely satisfied with the outcome."

Partner Richard E. Gavin manages the finance department at Grassi & Co. He also serves as chairman of the construction accounting committee. Rick has more than 25 years of experience in operational reviews, business forecasting and projecting, business valuations, human resource advisory services, overhead analysis, internal control evaluations, and strategic tax planning.

Rick frequently lectures on tax issues, financial statements, analytical reviews, fraud prevention and internal control development. In addition to presenting to clients and contacts, Rick is an adjunct professor at Columbia University teaching a graduate level course in finance and accounting for construction contractors. Rick has published many articles on family business succession planning, best practices and joint ventures.

To stay abreast of changes and issues affecting clients, Rick is active in numerous industry trade organizations, such as the Construction Financial Management Association (CFMA), Long Island Contractors Association (LICA) and the Construction Industry Council (CIC). Rick is also an active member of the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants (AICPA) and the New York State Society of Certified Public Accountants (NYSSCPA).

Always looking to support his community, Rick serves as the President of the Board of Directors of the Family Service League, a non-sectarian human services organization established in 1926 to address the issues of child welfare, unemployment and poverty. He has a bachelor of business administration degree from Hofstra University. Rick was one of the first individuals in the country to attain the designation of Certified Construction Industry Financial Professional (CCIFP).