Staff Highlights – Summer 2025

New Team Members

We are excited to announce and welcome the following to our BMF team:

• Justin Barta joins us as a Staff Accountant in our tax department. Justin is no stranger to BMF, as he completed his spring internship in the tax department this past busy season. He recently graduated from Cleveland State University with his bachelor’s in accounting. He is very excited to get back to BMF as a full-time staff and is looking forward to working closely with such a great department.
• Christian Hill joins us as a Staff Accountant in our tax department. Christian is also not a stranger here at BMF, as he completed three internships with BMF, two in tax during the 2024 and 2025 busy seasons, and one in CAAS in the summer of 2024. He has decided to call tax his home as a staff accountant after graduating from The University of Akron. He is looking forward to finally being full-time with the tax department and working with the team.
• Maxime de Lange joins BMF as a manager in our Transaction Advisory Services (TAS) group. She brings over seven years of experience in deal advisory and transaction advisory services from both Big 4 and national firms. After spending seven years working in the United States, she recently moved back to her hometown Silang, Cavite in the Philippines. She enjoys traveling and loves to spend time with her 8-month-old daughter.
• Shuang (Keira) Li joins BMF as a Supervisor in our Tax group. She brings over six years of tax experience from a national accounting firm. Originally from China, Keira moved to the U.S. to pursue her education and earned her bachelor’s degree from The University of Akron. She now resides on the west side of Cleveland. Outside of work, Keira enjoys reading, playing pickleball and tennis, and hitting the slopes for some skiing. She’s excited to join BMF and looks forward to growing her career with us!
• Angela Mackey joins BMF as an Accounting Specialist in our Client Accounting & Advisory Services (CAAS) group. Prior to BMF, she held the role of a Payroll Processor for a large franchise operations group in Independence. She currently resides in Parma with her husband and two daughters. In her free time, she loves to read and cheer on the Cleveland Browns. She’s looking forward to starting in a new industry and meeting the team here at BMF.
• Leah Steirer joins BMF in our Transaction Advisory Services (TAS) group as a Senior Analyst. She brings over four years of experience in audit and assurance from a Big 4 firm and is looking forward to transitioning to TAS. She currently resides in Medina, and in her free time, she enjoys going to concerts, reading a good book, or cheering on the Cleveland Guardians. She’s very excited to join the BMF team and get started in Transaction Advisory.

2025 Summer Interns

We are thrilled to welcome three new interns to BMF this summer:

• Caleb Gartner, Audit Intern, Kent State University
• Ashley Menegay, Audit Intern, The University of Akron
• Brandon Read, Tax Intern, University of Cincinnati

We are also excited to have two interns returning to continue their internship with us:

• Abi Lee, Returning Tax Intern, The University of Akron
• Jess Basnett, Returning Tax Intern, Baldwin Wallace University

And it’s been a busy summer for them so far! Recently, they enjoyed attending the Greater Akron Chamber’s Intern Networking Lunch & Learn at Firestone Country Club and connected with fellow interns at the Greater Cleveland Partnership’s Summer in the Land event during a Cleveland Guardians game.

Partner Promotions

We are excited to share that Allison Gill and Nathan Lieb were recently promoted to Partner! These promotions reflect their outstanding professional achievements, leadership contributions, and unwavering dedication to our clients, team, and firm. Learn more about them below:

Allison Gill, CPA, joined BMF in 2020 and quickly emerged as a leader within the firm’s Audit Practice. She has also played a significant role in mentoring and developing the firm’s associates and serves as Chair of the firm’s Employee Enrichment & Engagement Committee (“e3”). She also serves on the board of directors for the Beck Center for the Arts. Allison earned both her bachelor’s and master’s degrees in business administration from John Carroll University.

Nathan Lieb, CPA, MSA, began his career with BMF as an intern in 2012. He has since become a key leader within the firm’s Tax Practice, particularly in ASC 740 tax provision work. He is also heavily engaged in the community, serving on The University of Akron’s Accountancy Advisory and MTax Governance boards in support of future generations of accounting professionals. Nathan earned both his bachelor’s and master’s degrees in accounting from The University of Akron.

Leadership, Community & Staff Highlights

We’re proud to celebrate the outstanding achievements and ongoing commitments of our BMF team. Several associates have been accepted into prestigious leadership programs, an honor that reflects their exceptional talent, dedication, and potential for growth. These opportunities not only advance their personal and professional development but also underscore BMF’s commitment to fostering leadership that benefits both our workplace and the wider community.

• Sara Martin has been selected for Leadership Cleveland’s Class of 2026. This diverse cohort of 66 exceptional leaders will embark on a 10-month transformational journey where they will build cross-sector relationships, deepen their understanding of both community opportunities and challenges, and expand their capacity to drive meaningful, collaborative change across the region.
• Dana Mountjoy has been selected for Leadership Akron’s Signature Class 42. Over the next ten months, the 44 participants will step into Greater Akron’s most vital institutions, confront pressing community issues, and engage in transformative conversations that challenge, stretch, and connect.
• Eden Harrington has been accepted into the OnBoard Cleveland Class of 2026. OnBoard Cleveland guides early-career professionals to analyze and employ individual strengths to maximize contributions in both professional and civic settings.
• Tom Lyons recently completed the Purposeful Leadership program through the Center for Immersive Leadership. This experience is designed for rising and established leaders who want to lead with intention, integrity, and greater self-awareness.
• Jacob McMichael has been accepted into the Cleveland Bridge Builders Class of 2026. Cleveland Bridge Builders is a launch pad for mid-career professionals that prepares them for a greater role in the community by fostering teamwork, growth and learning.

We also encourage our team members to invest in each other and the communities we serve. Whether through roles as nonprofit agency leaders or personal development initiatives, our staff continually strive to make a positive impact, strengthening both our organization and the local charities we proudly support.

• Emily Aerni has been selected as a board member for the Junior Achievement of North Central Ohio. Junior Achievement is dedicated to providing young people with the knowledge and skills they need to own their success, plan for their futures, and make informed choices.
• Melissa Lieb has been selected as Board President for the Ellet Music Boosters. The Ellet Music Boosters, part of Akron Public Schools, play an important part in supporting students in the Ellet Instrumental Music programs.
• Jessica Tepus spoke at the Hudson Community Foundation’s Estate Planning & Tax Tips event on June 9. She shared key tax tips for individuals and families to consider each year, with a focus on optimizing tax savings and adapting to changes in tax law.

Hello Summer!

It’s been quite a busy summer for our BMF team! From team outings to community events, here’s how we’ve been staying connected and making the most of this summer together:

• Summer Lunch Connections – Our Summer Lunch Connections is a favorite tradition that encourages team members to connect with colleagues from other departments and enjoy local restaurants across Northeast Ohio. It’s a great way to build new relationships and explore the community together.
• 2025 Greater Akron Heart Walk – BMF proudly participated in the 2025 Greater Akron Heart Walk, joining family, friends, and our community in support of the American Heart Association. Together with Jim and Julie Merklin, we helped raise over $17,000 for this important cause. A special thank you goes to Jim and Julie for their outstanding fundraising efforts, contributing more than $15,000 of the total raised.
• Summer Party – We had a fantastic time at Gordon Green for our Casino Royale party! The evening was filled with casino games, exciting raffle prizes, and plenty of fun. It was the perfect way to celebrate and unwind with our incredible BMF team.
• Summer Career Connections – We took our Summer Career Connections event to Canal Park again for a fun-filled evening with the Akron RubberDucks and a great group of local accounting students. The night kicked off with a panel discussion highlighting our internship program, followed by networking bingo and plenty of casual conversations throughout the game.
• Cedar Point – Our annual Family Outing at Cedar Point was an absolute blast! Between thrilling roller coasters, beautiful sunny weather, and a relaxing dinner at the Lakeside Pavilion, it was the perfect day to unwind, connect, and create lasting memories with our BMF family.
• National Ice Cream Day – We celebrated National Ice Cream Day with a visit from the Pav’s Creamery Ice Cream Truck at our Akron office. Team members enjoyed a cool treat on a warm summer afternoon and took a well-deserved break to connect and recharge.