Joan Ellenbogen, CPA —Managing Partner

Bachelor’s Degree in Accounting, summa cum laude, Duquesne University (Valedictorian). Juris Doctor magna cum laude, Duquesne  University School of Law. 

Some accountants choose a specialty; Joan lives hers. As the third-generation owner and CEO of a family business, Joan’s expertise is grounded in a lifetime of experience dealing with closely-held businesses and their owners.

Joan’s practical, hands-on understanding of closely-held business issues – coupled with dual degrees in accounting and law – lend a unique scope and depth of insight to her client services, which is evident in both her distinguished record as a CPA and business consultant.  She advises family-owned and closely-held businesses and their owners, providing business consulting, tax, estate and succession planning, as well as traditional accounting and tax services.  In addition, Joan has been appointed by different Courts to serve in various capacities including Administratrix, Trustee, Guardian and Special Master.

Active in business, professional and community affairs, Joan serves on the board of the International Network of Accountants & Auditors, and on the board of Port Authority of Allegheny County, chairing the Stakeholder Relations Committee and formerly, the Finance Committee. She is past president of the Executive Women’s Council of Pittsburgh and co-chairs its Women on Boards Committee. She is a past president and trustee of the Allegheny County Bar Foundation. She is also a past president of the Pittsburgh Chapter of the Pennsylvania Institute of Certified Public Accountants and the Pittsburgh Tax Club. She has served as Treasurer of the Allegheny County Bar Association and as a member of its Board of Governors, as a director of the Estate Planning Council, and as a member of the Pennsylvania Bar Association’s House of Delegates. She also served on the Budget & Finance Committee of former County Executive Jim Roddey’s transition team for Allegheny County.

Joan was named 2008 Distinguished Accounting Alumnus by the accounting faculty of the A.J. Palumbo School of Business Administration at Duquesne University and an honorary member of the Beta Alpha Psi accounting honors society. She was a finalist for the 2008 ATHENA award recognizing professional excellence, dedication to community service and efforts in assisting other women to attain professional excellence. In 2008, Joan was also honored by Celebrate & Share as a Woman of Achievement. In 2007 she was honored as one of the Commonwealth’s Best 50 Women in Business by the Pennsylvania Department of Community & Economic Development.

 

Victor  D.  Dozzi, CPA, MST,

CFE — Partner and Chief Operating Officer

 

Bachelor’s Degree in Mathematics and

 Accounting, magna cum laude, Carlow University. Master’s Degree in Taxation with high honors, Duquesne University.

Vic has never been one to just sit behind a desk. He delights in the synchronized challenges of running a CPA firm, working with clients, teaching tax and accounting, and volunteering his time and expertise to various arts organizations.

Vic is a versatile accounting professional working with closely-held business, non-profit and individual clients. The owner of a Masters Degree in Taxation, he is CE’s resident “guru” on tax planning and compliance strategies, providing expert guidance on issues dealing with tax, accounting, systems controls and procedures, and best practices. And as a Certified Fraud Examiner, Vic is also active in the firm’s forensic accounting & litigation support practice serving clients, attorneys and insurers.

Committed to professional and community affairs, Vic is a Director, member of the Executive Committee and Treasurer of the Greater Pittsburgh Arts Council (GPAC), where he chairs the Finance committee. He is also the Treasurer & a member of the Executive Committee of the Pittsburgh chapter of the Pennsylvania Institute of CPAs (PICPA) and a member of the Association of Certified Fraud Examiners. He is also on the advisory board of Future Tenant, a program of Carnegie Mellon University and the Pittsburgh Cultural Trust for the Masters in Arts Management Program.

Vic has been a professor and guest lecturer on accounting, tax and finance issues at Carlow University, Carnegie Mellon University and the University of Pittsburgh Law School, as well as numerous arts institutions. In addition, he assists pro bononumerous arts organizations as a Business Volunteer for the Arts, a program of GPAC.

Vic has been recognized by PUMP and Pittsburgh Magazine as one of Pittsburgh’s “Top 40 Under 40.” PICPA also recognized Vic as one of 2009′s “40 Under 40 Members to Watch.”

 

Barb Wagner, CPA, MCR,     

CFE, Quick Books ProAdvisor— Senior  Manager

 

Master’s Degree and Bachelor’s Degree, summa
cum laude, in Criminology, Indiana University of Pennsylvania.

Certificate in Accounting, University of Pittsburgh. 

 

 

A dedicated forensic accountant and financial troubleshooter, Barb’s career began as a fraud investigator for the PA Supreme Court Disciplinary Board and PA’s Treasury Department.  This early experience cultivated a strong interest in accounting and tax, which led her to become a CPA. CE’s clients benefit greatly from Barb’s innate familiarity with accounting and bookkeeping systems combined with her naturally inquisitive nature.

Barb is a Certified Fraud Examiner and a member of the Association of Certified Fraud Examiners.  As such, she leads CE’s forensic accounting practice, providing litigation support to clients, attorneys and insurers.  She also oversees CE’s bookkeeping services, sharing her expertise in tax, accounting and advisory services as a Certified QuickBooks ProAdvisor.

Barb demonstrates her devotion to community in a surprising and diverse number of ways.  She is a mentor in The Pittsburgh Promise, a visionary scholarship program created by The Pittsburgh Foundation. She has served as a member of the Board of Directors and as Finance Chair for the Jane Holmes Residence, an elder-care institution.  She is a frequent volunteer for the Nine Mile Run Watershed Association, and participates in activities with the Animal Rescue League and Pittsburgh Cares. She also enjoys assisting The Sounds of Pittsburgh Chorus chapter of Sweet Adelines International with fund-raising and logistical support for performances and competitions.