Accounting firm celebrates half a century

Pisenti and Brinker LLP, an accounting firm which is celebrating its 50th anniversary of serving the North Bay, was recognized in March with the 2015 Petaluma Community Awards of Excellence Large Business Award.

“It was a really pleasant surprise,” said Jim Perez, partner at the firm’s Petaluma office. “Personally I did not expect the award, so it was a great feeling. It says a lot about how we are viewed in the community. There are years involved which has resulted in this recognition.”

Pisenti and Brinker’s specialization in nonprofit tax and audit work exemplifies its effort to grow the North Bay business community. In addition, the firm creates an annual nonprofit conference as one of its many outreach efforts.

Similar to many of the Petaluma Community Awards of Excellence recipients, contributions on an individual basis separate Pisenti and Brinker as unique throughout the North Bay.

“Each and every one of us finds a passion,” said Jodi Shubin, director of client and community relations. “Whether it is all of us collectively or by ourselves, when we find that passion we just try to make a difference.”

Perez, an alumni of Sonoma State University, has volunteered at its school of business and economics for the past four years. In 2013, Perez was awarded the “Most Impactful Professor” award by upper-division students of the program.

A firm that give back to Petaluma, partner Ray Pounds, sits on the Friends of Santa Rosa Junior College Petaluma Campus and for many years has coached youth soccer.

Patty Haynes, director of human resources, serves on the Personnel Committee and the Alphabet Soup thrift store committee and is a past board member of the Petaluma Educational Foundation.

Certified public accountant, Ron Emanuel, is a Kiwani of Petaluma and is active with the Mentor Me Petaluma program, which matches adults in the community with at-risk youths for one hour, one day a week.

Pisenti and Brinker has developed relationships through notable donations to the Wells Fargo Center, Santa Rosa Symphony, Sonoma State University’s Green Music Center, Petaluma Educational Foundation, Santa Rosa Memorial Hospital Foundation, Sonoma County BEST and SSU Foundation.

In addition, many nonprofits have been beneficiaries of the firm’s donations including, Petaluma Chamber of Commerce, Napa Chamber of Commerce, Santa Rosa Chamber of Commerce, Sonoma County Farm Bureau, Active 20/30 club and Tomorrow’s Leaders Today.

“As we look back over the years we realize our firm truly is community-minded,” wrote Shubin. “And we will continue to do so as a pillar of support of our beautiful Northern California region.”

(Contact Joshua Gutierrez at argus@arguscourier.com.)