Press Room
15 August | 2005
Rachlin Names New Partners
Accounting firm promotes several in tri-county offices

MIAMI, FL - Rachlin, the largest independent accounting firm in South Florida, recently promoted eight CPAs. Ilyssa K. Blum, Marc Breslow, Carl N. Howden, John Gabriel, Susan L. Friend, Samuel K. Hammer, Kyle T. Haugh and Lewis B. Kevelson have each been promoted from principal to partner.

Ilyssa K. Blum, CPA, has been promoted to partner within the firm's Commercial and SEC Assurance services area and practices in Rachlin's Fort Lauderdale office. She has more than 10 years of experience, and provides accounting, auditing and consulting services. Her experience includes working with clients in a variety of industries such as automotive, construction, healthcare and hospitality. In addition to her client responsibilities, Blum also develops in-house training seminars for her Rachlin colleagues. She is a member of the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants (AICPA) and Florida Institute of Certified Public Accountants (FICPA). She holds her Bachelor's of Arts degree in Accounting from the University of Texas.

Marc Breslow is a CPA with over 10 years of experience in the forensic accounting arena and practices in the Miami office. He has been promoted to partner within the Litigation Support services area. His expertise includes matrimonial dissolution, tracing and apportionment of assets, investigation of fraud and embezzlement, and substantiation of claims for loss of profits. Breslow works with federal agencies and has been engaged by both the FBI and SEC. In addition to his experience providing litigation support, Breslow has practice expertise in audit, tax and accounting services. He is a member of the AICPA and FICPA, as well as the Association of Insolvency and Restructuring Advisors. He earned his Bachelor's of Science degree in Management from Tulane University and his Master's of Business Administration degree from the University of Miami.

Carl N. Howden, CPA, has been promoted to partner in the Miami office, and works in the firm's Tax Advisory service area. Howden has more than 20 years experience working with high net worth individuals, entertainers, athletes, closely held companies, and real estate concerns. His areas of expertise include due diligence for business acquisitions and the structuring of complex tax transactions. In addition, he oversees Rachlin's property tax reduction service and cost segregation study task forces. Howden is a member of the AICPA, FICPA and the Louisiana Society of Certified Public Accountants. He earned his Bachelor's of Science degree in Accounting from the University of Louisiana.

John Gabriel, CPA, practices with Rachlin's Commercial and SEC Assurance service area. He has been promoted to partner in the West Palm Beach office and provides accounting, auditing and consulting services to clients. Gabriel has more than 10 years of experience, with expertise focusing on a wide range of industries such as agriculture, broadcasting, wholesale distribution, construction and manufacturing. He is a member of the AICPA, FICPA, a member of the Board of Directors for the Family Service Agency, and the Business Development Board of Palm Beach County. Gabriel earned his Bachelor's of Science degree in Accounting and Finance from Florida State University and earned his Master's of Business Administration degree from Florida International University.

Susan L. Friend has been promoted to partner within the firm's Governmental/Not for Profit Assurance services area and practices in the Miami office. She is a CPA and with over 20 years experience working with county and local governments, as well as school districts. Her expertise includes a concentration in accounting, auditing, and management consulting services. She has developed and taught continuing professional education courses and has authored a comprehensive audit program for municipal audit engagements. Friend is a member of several professional accounting organizations including the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants (AICPA), the Florida Institute of Certified Public Accountants (FICPA) and the Florida Government Finance Officers Association. She earned her Bachelor's of Science degree in Accounting from Fairleigh Dickinson University.

Samuel K. Hammer, CPA, has more than 20 years of experience specializing in financial and operational consulting. He has been promoted to partner within Rachlin's Accounting & Management services area in the Fort Lauderdale office, and is a member of the firm's Accounting & Business Operational Committee. His expertise includes budget development, cash management, tax projection and compliance mergers and acquisitions. He works with clients in a variety of industries including healthcare, professional services organizations, and family and closely-held businesses. Hammer is a member of the AICPA, the FICPA and the Florida Association of Managed Care Professionals - a division of the Florida Hospital Association. He holds a Bachelor's in Business degree in Accounting and Finance from Emory University.

Kyle T. Haugh has been promoted to partner in the Miami office, and practices within the firm's Litigation Support services area. Haugh is a CPA as well as a Certified Fraud Examiner (CFE). He has more than 20 years of experience and his expertise includes class action securities fraud, forensic accounting investigations, bankruptcy related services, analysis and quantification of damages, and mergers and acquisition due diligence. Haugh has served as an expert witness before federal and state courts, and has worked with clients such as the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation (FDIC), class action law firms, bankruptcy trustees and real estate companies. He is a member of the FICPA, AICPA, Association of Certified Fraud Examiners and American College of Forensic Examiners. He earned his Bachelor's of Science degree in Accounting from the University of Illinois.

Lewis B. Kevelson works within Rachlin's Tax Advisory service area. He has been promoted to partner in the West Palm Beach office. Kevelson's practice focuses on estate and trust planning, and international taxation. With more than 15 years of experience, Kevelson's expertise is widely sought after by high net worth individuals and business owners for estate, gift and trust planning. He has represented executives working abroad, foreigners interested in investing in U.S. real estate, U.S. persons with interests in foreign corporations and other international taxation issues. Kevelson is a CPA, and a Personal Financial Specialist (PFS). He is a member of FICPA and AICPA. He earned his Bachelor's degree in Accounting from Florida International University, a Bachelor's degree in Finance from the University of Florida, and a Master's of Science degree in Taxation from Florida International University.

Rachlin LLP is one of the nation's 100 largest public accounting firms, and one of the largest independent accounting and advisory firms in the Southeast. For 50 years, Rachlin has been offering traditional audit and tax services and a wide range of specialized business advisory services. The firm has nearly 200 employees in three locations; Miami, Ft. Lauderdale and West Palm Beach. Rachlin provides services to the public and private sectors, including publicly traded companies, closely held businesses, governmental entities, local municipalities and not-for-profit organizations.