GBACOteam members

Dan is the one of the firm’s Audit and Consulting Partners. In this capacity, Dan is a frequent lecturer on numerous management and technical audit topics and provides management-consulting services to clients in a variety of industries, including other CPA firms. Dan has served high technology companies, manufacturers, financial institutions, venture capital firms, professional service firms, and nonprofit organizations, among others. Dan’s experience includes work in audit and accounting, mergers and acquisitions, strategic planning, budgeting, asset/liability management, profit enhancement and international banking, as well as consulting related to clergy taxation.

Dan also has obtained his Series 7 and Series 66 securities licenses that enable him to provide wealth management services to clients and prospective clients through the firm’s affiliation with Wealth Management Advisory Group, LLC. (WMAG). WMAG works with the firm’s professional staff to provide coordinated services related to wealth accumulation, wealth preservation, and wealth transfer.

Dan is an alumnus of two international accounting firms and attended the National Banking School at the McIntire School of Commerce, University of Virginia, an intensive, detailed training class related to various banking related topics. He holds a bachelor's degree in business administration, with an emphasis in accounting and management, from Duquesne University.

An active member of the American and Pennsylvania Institutes of Certified Public Accountants, Dan presently serves on the PICPA’s Management of an Accounting Practice Committee and is the Chair of the PICPA Peer Review Committee. In the past, Dan also served on the PICPA’s Committee on Ethics. The responsibilities of the Committee on Ethics included cooperation with the Pennsylvania State Board of Accountancy and the AICPA in matters of professional ethics and disciplinary proceedings, answering inquiries regarding the Code of Professional Ethics, suggesting amendments, and investigating alleged code violations. Dan continues to be one of the most utilized peer reviewers in Pennsylvania and West Virginia.

Goff Backa Alfera & Company, LLC is a member of the AICPA’s PCPS and Center for Public Company Audit Firms (formerly SECPS) Practice Sections, Employee Benefit Plan Audit Quality Center, Governmental Audit Quality Center, and is affiliated with INPACT Americas, an international network of professional CPAs.

Dan is active in his church and in coaching youth athletics in his home community of Mt. Lebanon, where he serves as a board member of the Mt. Lebanon Blue Devil Club.

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Derek Backa, a partner in the firm, is responsible for consulting engagements, including business valuations and technology. Derek has particular experience serving closely held businesses where he counsels and assists business owners with profitablity analysis, tax planning and compliance, loan request packages, business plan development, real estate transactions, and general business matters. He also assists businesses and individuals on a wide range of financial planning matters.

Prior to joining the firm, Derek was a personal financial planning consultant for a Pittsburgh-based firm, serving corporate managers, attorneys, physicians, and engineers. In addition to his accounting and financial experience, he has more than 10 years experience in manufacturing, where his responsibilities included production scheduling and inventory control, as well as fabrication and distribution of product lines for the steel industry. In December, 1998, Derek completed the National Association of Certified Valuation Analysts (NACVA) program and earned the designation of Certified Valuation Analyst (CVA).

Derek, who holds Series 7 and Series 63 securities licenses, has a bachelor's degree in business administration and accounting from the University of Pittsburgh. Derek is past chairman of the board of the Pittsburgh Chapter of the American Cancer Society and currently serves as a board member for the Pennsylvania Division of the American Cancer Society. He is also a member of the American and Pennsylvania Institutes of Certified Public Accountants.

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The firm's president and managing partner of daily operations, Rick is also responsible for administering the firm's tax practice as well as the business operations of the Firm. He provides specialized tax services, planning, research, and compliance counseling to businesses in a wide variety of industries. He also has extensive experience with mergers, acquisitions, reorganizations, and business consulting including litigation support for attorneys regarding those areas of expertise. Rick acts as a business advocate, providing integrated planning for closely held businesses and family members.

Prior to joining the firm, Rick worked at an international big-five accounting firm, where he advised companies with annual sales of $1 million to $100 million, as well as several Fortune 500 companies. Subsequently, he served as senior accountant for Rockwell International, where he was responsible for federal and multi-state income tax compliance. He also acted as the tax manager of the Allen-Bradley Company, a Rockwell subsidiary.

Among other professional teaching and training responsibilities, Rick has taught national tax training seminars. He has a master's degree in taxation, cum laude, from Robert Morris College and a bachelor's degree in accounting, cum laude, from Duquesne University. Rick also holds Series 7 and 66 Securities licensesand the Personal Financial Planning Specialist designation with the AICPA.

Rick is the past President and member of the executive board of directors of the Northern Allegheny County Chamber of Commerce, a founding member of the Marketing Committee and past President of the South Hills Chamber of Commerce, a member of the Tax Section of the American Institute of Certified Public Acountants, and a member of the Pennsylvania Institute of Certified Public Accountants and the Ohio Society of Certified Public Accountants. He is also a member of the North American Tang Soo Do Karate Association.

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Bob is a partner with Goff Backa Alfera & Company, LLC in Pittsburgh. He is in charge of quality control for the accounting and auditing practice of the firm. Bob’s public accounting experience includes working with high technology companies, manufacturers, venture capital firms, professional service firms, and not-for-profit organizations among others. His experience also includes working with mergers and acquisitions, initial public offerings, strategic planning and budgeting. In addition, Bob has 14 years of industry experience in various financial capacities.

Among other professional teaching and training responsibilities, Bob frequently speaks at PICPA continuing professional programs. Bob has been associated with the Becker Professional Review since 1978, and is currently their director for the Pittsburgh region.

Bob is an alumnus of a big-four accounting firm. He holds a bachelor’s degree in business administration with a major in accounting from Penn State University. He became certified in 1966, and is licensed to practice in Pennsylvania and West Virginia.

He is a member of the American Institute of CPA’s where he is a current member of Council. He is a past President of the Pennsylvania Institute of CPA’s. He is also a member and former Chairman of the PICPA’s Peer Review Committee. The Peer Review Committee has the responsibility for approving the peer reviews of CPA firms in Pennsylvania, Delaware, and the U. S. Virgin Islands. He is one of the most utilized peer reviewers in Pennsylvania.

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A Partner in the Audit and Business Valuation Group, James (Jamie) works closely with our clients, their controllers, and bookkeepers, in providing tax and accounting services that best meet their diverse needs. Jamie’s experience includes serving public and closely held businesses with accounting and auditing, profit enhancement, business plan analysis and business valuations. His experience includes working with companies in various industries including real estate, health care, manufacturing, and not for profit.

Jamie graduated magna cum laude from Robert Morris College with a BS in Business Administration in 1995 and became a CPA in 1997. In February of 2003, Jamie passed NACVA’s Certified Valuation Analysts exam and became a CVA.

Jamie is a member of the Pennsylvania and American Institutes of Certified Public Accountants and National Association of Certified Valuation Analysts.

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Bob is a Manager and the Firm Administrator. He brings over 20 years of diversified experience in public accounting, financial institutions, manufacturing, and government and not for profit entities. Bob utilizes his managerial, computer and analytical problem-solving skills to provide consulting, including computer technology, tax and audit services to the firm’s clients.

Bob is an alumnus of a big-five accounting firm, and became a CPA in 1993. He holds a bachelors degree in accounting from Robert Morris University.

Bob is a member of the American and Pennsylvania Institutes of CPAs and is active in its Student Relationship Committee. He is currently serving as a Councilman for the Borough of Whitehall and has chaired numerous of its committees. He is currently serving as President of Whitehall Borough Council. He has also been Trustee and Treasurer of Whitehall Borough Public Library. Bob serves as a Director of the Medical Rescue Team South (emergency medical service provider), is its past Chairman and Treasurer and has chaired its Legal and Finance Committee. Bob is a Director and past Treasurer of the Friends of Whitehall Library; and past Director on the South Hills YMCA Board of Management. In addition, Bob is a Director and past President of the Brentwood Baldwin Whitehall Chamber of Commerce and Treasurer of the Brentwood Business Owners Association. As an active community person, Bob has also been involved with Baldwin High School’s Music Patron Organization and the Baldwin-Whitehall PTA.

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Steve is a Manager in the Audit and Accounting Group. Prior to becoming Manager, Steve began as a consultant with GBAC in 2002, with experience primarily in audits, reviews, and compilations of financial statements of companies in various industries including governmental, not for profit, service, manufacturing, medical, and real estate.

Spitz graduated Cum Laude from Saint Francis College in Loretto, Pa., with a degree in accounting in 1998 and became a Certified Public Accountant in 2001.

Steve is a member of the Pennsylvania and American Institutes of Certified Public Accountants, and the Pittsburgh Young Professionals

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Jennifer is a manager in the firm’s Audit & Accounting Group with over 20 years of experience providing auditing, review and compilation services to a wide variety of clients with a concentration in the non-profit sector. Jennifer’s diverse experience also includes providing tax compliance and planning services for individuals, corporations, partnerships and non-profit tax organizations.

Jennifer graduated from Duquesne University with a bachelor’s degree in business administration with a concentration in accounting. A CPA since 1987, she is also a member of the Pennsylvania Institute of Certified Public Accountants.

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Adam Devett was promoted to Senior Consultant in December, 2007. Adam was hired as a consultant with a concentration in accounting and auditing in July, 2006. He is a graduate of Robert Morris University where he obtained a bachelor's degree in Finance. He has been working in the accounting field since December of 2003. Adam received his CPA licensure in January 2010.

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Michael Templeton was promoted to Senior Tax Consultant in January, 2009. Michael works closely with our Partner Group, in providing tax and accounting services that best meet their diverse needs. He has experience serving public accounting firms in the area of taxation. Michael provides specialized tax services, planning, and research to individuals and businesses in a wide variety of industries. Michael graduated from West Virginia University in 2004 with a bachelor’s degree in accounting and began his career at GBAC in November, 2006.

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John began his career as a consultant with a concentration in Tax in November of 2006. He is a graduate of The University of Pittsburgh where he obtained a bachelor’s degree in Accounting in December of 2004. John has also served in the United States Army, Reserve Component, from April of 2000 through June 2006. He has been working in the accounting field since January of 2005 and is currently pursuing his CPA license. He hopes to be certified within the next two years.

Effective January, 2009, John was promoted to Senior Tax Consultant.

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Matt was hired as a consultant with a concentration in Audit and Accounting. A 2007 Magna Cum Laude Robert Morris University graduate, Matt worked as an intern with GBACO during the 2007 tax season; since then his main concentration has been work on audits, reviews and compilations. Matt received his CPA license in 2009.

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Justin M. Pauley was hired as a consultant in the Firm's Audit and Accounting Group in 2008. Justin is a graduate of Waynesburg University with a Bachelor of Science degree in Accounting and Management in 2008. He is a member of Xi Psi Epsilon, an academic honors society. Justin previously worked with the Firm as a Tax Intern in 2008.

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Fang joined the firm as a Staff Consultant in the Firm’s Tax Group in 2009. She received her Bachelor degree in Accounting and Audit from China University of Geosciences and her MBA (Accounting and Finance specialization) from Seton Hill University. Fang is a Certified Public Accountant in China and is currently pursuing the American CPA certification.

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Wendy is a business systems consultant in the Consulting Group of Goff Backa Alfera & Company, LLC. In this capacity, Wendy spends the majority of her time providing business and computer software consulting to clients in a wide variety of industries, including nonprofit organizations, manufacturing, retail and professional services. Wendy’s responsibilities include the installation of and training for accounting software, annual maintenance and upgrades of software, technical support, bookkeeping services both on-site and off-site, and preparation of payroll related tax returns. Wendy has extensive knowledge of several “off-the-shelf” accounting software packages including but not limited to Peachtree Complete, QuickBooks Pro (all levels and versions), Real World, Mas 200, Business Works and Mind Your Own Business (MYOB).

Wendy became the firm’s first employee when she was hired in 1988 as the firm’s administrative assistant. Since that time, Wendy has taken the initiative to become very proficient in providing the services noted above to many of the firm’s clients.

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As a consultant, Lauri spends the majority of her time providing business and computer software consulting to clients in a variety of industries including nonprofit organizations, manufacturing, retail and professional services. Lauri's responsibilities include the installation of and training for accounting software, annual maintenance and upgrades of software, technical support, bookkeeping services both on-site and off-site and payroll services. Lauri has extensive knowledge of several "off-the-shelf" accounting software packages, such as Peachtree and all versions of QuickBooks, including Enterprise Solutions. Lauri also prepares compiled and reviewed financial statements and corporate tax returns.

A member of the firm since 2003, Lauri is a graduate of Robert Morris University with a Bachelor of Science degree in Business Administration and recently completed a Bachelor of Science degree in Accounting, where she graduated Magna Cum Laude. She is currently studying for the CPA exam.

Effective June 2009, Lauri has been promoted to Senior Consultant.

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Rita was hired in 2007 as the Office Manager of the firm. Rita's responsibilities include functions in finance and accounting, personnel and human resources, marketing/practice management and development, and general administration. She has a variety of experience working with companies in industries including education, service, technology, and manufacturing organizations, providing services similar to what her current responsibilities entail. Rita holds a Commonwealth of Pennsylvania Notary Public Commission valid through 2011.

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