Accounting Firm Celebrates 90th Anniversary

Plante Moran, one of the nation’s largest certified public accounting and business advisory firms, is celebrating its 90th anniversary in 2014.

The firm was founded by Elorion Plante on Jan. 20, 1924. Frank Moran, who was equally as passionate about philosophy and team building as he was about accounting, joined Plante in 1950 to form Plante Moran.

Plante Moran now has a staff of more than 2,000 professionals in 21 offices throughout Illinois, Michigan and Ohio, with international offices in Shanghai, China; Monterrey, Mexico; and Mumbai, India. The firm is currently led by Gordon Krater, CPA, who began his second term as managing partner in July 2013.

The firm’s previous managing partners were: William “Bill” Hermann, CPA (2001-2009); William “Bill” Matthews, CPA (1993-2001); Edward Parks, CPA (1981-1993); Frank Moran, CPA (1955-1981; Moran was named chairman in 1981); Elorion Plante, CPA (1924-1955).

“It is an honor to serve as managing partner of a firm with a legacy that is 90 years strong. We thank our clients and staff for making this anniversary possible and look forward to celebrating Plante Moran’s rich history throughout 2014,” said Krater. “I am quite sure that our founders, Frank and Elorion, would be very proud of the firm today and our unique, world-class culture that makes us the employer of choice for staff and the provider of choice for clients.”

Plante Moran has had several strategic mergers in its 90-year history, beginning in earnest in the 1980s when the firm sought a bigger footprint in Michigan. The firm merged with Danielson Schultz & Co. and Bristol, Liesenring, Herkner & Co. in 1986, which gave Plante Moran offices in Lansing, Kalamazoo, Battle Creek, Benton Harbor and Traverse City as well as Cleveland, Ohio.

Plante Moran continued to expand in the Ohio market in 1997 through a merger with NCOT Accounting and Consulting of Ohio as well as Jackson, Rolfes & Spurgeon in 2009. Through organic growth and additional mergers, the firm now has offices in Cincinnati, Cleveland, Columbus and Toledo. The firm entered the Chicago market in 2004 through a merger with Gleeson, Sklar, Sawyers and Cumpata. Growth in Chicagoland continues for Plante Moran, which further strengthened its presence in the region through a 2012 merger with Chicago-based Blackman Kallick. The firm’s Chicago office is now its second largest, after Southfield, Mich.

Key growth areas for the firm in recent decades include auditing, tax and consulting services for middle-market businesses with a global presence, real estate advisory services through Plante Moran CRESA and a broad menu of wealth management services through the firm’s Plante Moran Financial Advisors, Plante Moran Insurance Agency and Plante Moran Trust affiliates. Formed in 1982, PMFA now has more than $8 billion of assets under management and was ranked ninth in May 2013 on Forbes’ list of “Top 50 Wealth Managers”. The firm expanded its benefit plan audit practice in the 1990s and now audits more than 1,200 benefit plans annually.

Plante Moran has received numerous top workplace honors regionally, nationally and globally and has been on the FORTUNE 100 list of best places to work since 1998. The firm has also been named a top employer for women, for women in public accounting and for interns.