Expanding its footprint to the Midwest, Arlington, Va.-based private equity-backed Ascend has made a strategic investment in Goering & Granatino of Leawood, Kan.
Founded in 2014 and based in the Kansas City area, Goering & Granatino serves a variety of small to mid-sized businesses, entrepreneurs and startups, both locally and nationally. As part of the deal, the firm has adopted an alternative practice structure, with Goering & Granatino PA moving forward as an independently owned and licensed CPA firm providing attest services, and GG Advisors LLC providing tax, business advisory and other non-attest services.
“Our shared people-driven cultures created instant chemistry between our firms right out of the starting gate,” says Ascend founder and CEO David Wurtzbacher. “It has been a great way to begin the process of introducing the Goering & Granatino team to the Ascend growth model and the full range of resources now available to them as they pursue their vision for the future.”
“We honestly never would have considered merging into a larger firm because we are fiercely independent and don’t want to lose our very special culture,” adds Goering & Granatino co-founder Amber Goering, who will now serve as CEO of G&G Advisors. “[With his deal] we not only will maintain our independence, we will be able to fast-track our rising stars and empower our young professionals to take on reviewer and advisory roles more quickly, which will strengthen our culture and client service even more.”
