In Hybrid Annual State of the Firm Event, Withum Celebrates Growth and Future

Global advisory and accounting firm Withum held its annual State of the Firm event on January 10. The event that historically brought team members together in one location from across the globe took place live with streamed virtual attendance this year. This annual meeting gave Withum team members an update on Firm operations, goals and future projections, announced the Withum Strength Award winners and unveiled the greatly anticipated Culture Video for 2022.

The theme of this year’s event was #OneWithum: celebrating how Withum’s team members’ diverse perspectives and identities make them stronger. “Our firm is growing, and that’s something we’re eager to celebrate,” said Bill Hagaman, Managing Partner and CEO of Withum. “Great things happen when people from different backgrounds, cultures and skills come together, and that’s what One Withum is about.”

Withum’s culture video—another Firm tradition—echoed the #OneWithum message by showcasing team members from across the country and the sea dancing and full of personality, like many of Withum’s Culture Videos from the past decade. Team members were encouraged to film themselves in their hometowns, with their families or coworkers and everything that represents their individuality. The video, which shows team members waving flags, dancing and lip-syncing, celebrates the blend of various cultural backgrounds, identities, and regions that enhance the Firm’s culture and strengthen the team.

“We take great pride in our culture videos,” said Rhonda Maraziti, Chief Marketing Officer. “Everyone involved has a great time making them and getting the message out there. This year’s message is the Firm’s growth in locations, services and team members creates immense opportunity and strength for the firm, our people, and our clients and communities because of our diverse perspectives.”

For over a decade, the Firm bestows Strength Awards to team members who exemplify what it means to live the Withum Way, recognizing their exceptional efforts in and out of the office. Awards like Administrative, Community, Innovative, and Marketing Strength acknowledge team member excellence, as well as the Emerging Leader I and II categories, and both the Leonard H. Smith Strength of Client Service and Frederick S. Withum Outstanding Achievement awards honor hard-working, dedicated team members and their contributions to leading the Firm.

“The Strength Awards are a treasured tradition here at Withum,” said Theresa Richardson, Chief Talent Officer. “Our people are extraordinary—we will always go out of our way to recognize team member excellence, making sure that everyone knows how much they are appreciated and that they are having fun and participating in the company culture.”

This year’s Strength Award Winners are:

Emerging Leader II: Laura Riso, CPA, Senior Manager, Princeton, NJ Office
Emerging Leader I: Stephen Vinarub, Senior Accountant, Orlando, FL Office
Leonard H. Smith Strength of Client Service: Justin Joo, Staff Level II Accountant, East Brunswick, NJ Office
Innovation Strength: Jeremias Ramos, CPA, Manager, New York, NY Office
Marketing Strength: Vince Phorn, CPA, Senior Manager, Irvine, CA Office
Administrative Strength: Lynne Goldstein, Centralized Tax Processing Manager, Red Bank, NJ Office
Community Strength: Jose Alicea, Senior Service Manager, Whippany, NJ Office
Frederick S. Withum Outstanding Achievement: Matt Walsh, CPA, Senior Manager, Princeton, NJ Office

The State of the Firm took place at New Jersey Performing Arts Center in Newark, NJ, where Bill Hagaman presented to 300 attendees. The event was also live-streamed to remote Withum team members for firmwide participation.