Nineteen of the USA's top local and regional independent CPA firms have banded together to form a new accounting firm association, called The Leading Edge Alliance, representing over $225 million in annual revenues. The Alliance is looking to provide valuable services to member firms with market dominant niche practices and nationally recognized areas of expertise.

Founding Chairman Gary Shamis indicates that many strong firms across the country do not wish to go the route of the consolidators, and need assistance and support to remain independent, and to continue strong growth patterns exhibited in the past. "For those of us who plan to remain independent, we need an association that allows us to work together, leverage our strengths, and exchange successful strategies that help us build better firms," says Shamis.

The Leading Edge membership includes independent CPA firms in New York, Chicago, Los Angeles, Alabama, Baltimore, Boston, Cleveland, Denver, Hartford, Louisiana, Minneapolis, Nashville, Nevada, New Jersey, Pittsburgh, Providence, Seattle, Washington, DC and Wisconsin. The average firm size is just over $10 million in annual revenues.

The group will be headquartered in Chicago, and is in the final stages of securing a full time Executive Director. Contact Anita Meola for details.