Even though Rea & Associates began serving clients from the NEWORK Space in downtown Newark only a year ago, the regional full-service CPA and business consulting firm has already outgrown the location and will relocate to 42 S. 2nd St. The new office space, which will be shared with Hummel Group, a commercial insurance and risk management firm, is ideally located off of the city’s main square. The new location provides Rea & Associates with access to three private offices, a conference room, and ground floor access – necessary for the firm as it continues to experience rapid growth in Licking County.
“We are really looking forward to serving clients from this space,” said Doug Houser, CPA, MBA, CEPA, principal and director of Rea’s construction and real estate services team. “It’s right off the square and right next to the open-air market. There’s always a lot going on here and it’s great to have the opportunity to establish ourselves and the firm in the heart of the community.”
While Rea & Associates is considered one of the Top 100 CPA firms in the country (recognized as the 80th largest firm by Accounting Today in March 2021), the multi-office firm has made its mark serving the small- to mid-sized businesses that represent the heartbeat of local economies. Since it was founded in 1938, in New Philadelphia, Ohio, Rea & Associates has expanded its footprint to include offices throughout the state. Because the firm continues to establish strong roots in Ohio’s local communities, Rea & Associates’ team of professional service providers and industry experts are able to recognize and address the specific challenges area organizations face and can offer solutions that are not often available to the small CPA firms and sole practitioners that are traditionally found in smaller communities.
“Licking county, just by itself, is projected to grow by just about 60,000 people over the next 15-20 years,” explained Houser. The economic development team here in the county has done a tremendous job and is really taking advantage of the resources available to them. As a result, the growth that we are seeing all throughout Central Ohio can also be seen here in Licking County. Our goal is to be a resource to the businesses and organizations that are investing in Newark and the surrounding areas. We want to help support their ongoing growth as they continue to support the ongoing growth of Licking County.”
Houser will split his time serving clients from Rea & Associates’ Newark and Dublin, Ohio, locations. The firm’s Newark office will also serve as a hub for other professional service providers with the firm.
“We have a diverse cross-section of professionals with our firm who already have connections in the community,” said Houser. “This team is not only experienced, but they also represent a lot of different disciplines, which speaks to the versatility of our firm.
While it’s not an extensive list, the following professionals, in addition to Houser, will spend time serving clients from Rea & Associates’ new Newark location.
- Katie Brown, CPA, senior tax manager; and Brigette Lafferty, QPA, QKA, senior retirement plan consultant. They will also continue serving clients from the firm’s Zanesville, Ohio, location.
- Ken Richards, CPA, a principal on the firm’s government services team. He will also continue serving clients from the firm’s Gahanna, Ohio, location.
- Josh Campbell, senior tax associate; Andrew Downing, CPA, senior assurance manager; and Sarah Sparks, EA, CP, a senior associate on Rea & Associates’ state and local tax team. They will continue to serve clients from the firm’s Dublin, Ohio, location.
- Meghan Buxton, CPA, a manager on the firm’s assurance team. She will also continue serving clients from the firm’s New Philadelphia, Ohio, location.
- Team members will be joined occasionally by Doug Feller, AIF, CFP, CFA, principal and financial advisor with Investment Partners, LTD, a regional wealth management firm. Feller primarily serves clients from Investment Partners’ Dublin location.
Houser said the firm will host an open house event in late summer or early autumn. In the meantime, to schedule an appointment with a Rea & Associates professional in should call 614.314.5937.
Rea & Associates, Inc. is a regional CPA and consulting firm with 350 bright professionals committed to serving clients throughout Ohio. Since 1938, Rea has provided a wide range of accounting services to businesses, individuals with means, and those with dreams. Today, the firm is the go-to resource for thousands of businesses and individuals nationwide. Rea offers a brighter way to its clients in the construction & real estate, government, healthcare, manufacturing, oil & gas, and not-for-profit industries – as well as family businesses – through innovative accounting, audit, tax, and consulting services. For more information about Rea & Associates, please call 614.889.8725 or visit www.reacpa.com.