Eric Joern started his accounting career at James Hamlin & Co., a traditional firm founded in the 1960s in Antioch, Illinois, right out of college. He joins John Randolph on Episode 54 of CPA Life to talk about his role in transforming that firm into Kaizen CPAs and Advisors, where he now serves as Partner. Doing away with traditional CPA practices to focus on team wellbeing, sustainability, and national impact, Eric shares his journey, the firm’s rebranding efforts, and strategies for maintaining a balanced work environment. With a roughly 50/50 split between in-office and remote workers, systems and processes are key to Kaizen’s success, and maintaining cultural cohesion within the firm, a top priority, highlighting the importance of flexibility, adaptability, and

Zane Stevens co-founded Protea Financial, an accounting firm focused on the wine industry, and it was remote from the beginning. He talks to John Randolph on Episode 18 of CPA Life about how this allowed him to treat employees like adults and provide flexibility in their roles. He also emphasizes the benefits of niche focus, arguing that firms that try to be everything to everyone often underdeliver. Zane notes that communication is often the biggest challenge for remote teams, requiring purposeful structures and frequent adjustments. Still, he finds that remote work allows for more precise, focused conversations and improved productivity.