Joan Ellenbogen, Managing Partner

EDUCATION

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. This is evident in both her distinguished record as a CPA and business consultant. She advises family-owned and closely-held businesses and their owners. She provides business consulting, tax, estate and succession planning, as well as traditional accounting and tax services. In addition, Joan has been appointed to serve in various capacities including Administratrix, Trustee, Guardian and Special Master.

Joan is active in business, professional, and community affairs. She serves on the boards of Magee-Women’s Research Institute & Foundation and its Strategic Planning and Audit committees. Joan previously served on the boards of the Institute for Entrepreneurial Excellence and INAA Group, an International Association of Independent Accounting Firms, and the board of The Pittsburgh Zoo & PPG Aquarium. In addition, Joan chaired the County Executive’s 2012 Financial Sustainability Vision Team. She also served on the board of Port Authority of Allegheny County, chaired its Stakeholder Relations Committee and prior, the Finance Committee. She is a past president of the Executive Women’s Council of Pittsburgh and co-chaired its Women on Boards Committee. She is a past president and trustee of the Allegheny County Bar Foundation.

Joan 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. She was also named an honorary member of the Beta Alpha Psi accounting honors society. Joan 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.

In 2008, CrawfordEllenbogen was named Employer of the Year by the Pennsylvania Federation of Business and Professional Women’s Club, District 3. This same year, the firm was also named one of the nation’s Top 25 Women-Owned Businesses by Working Mother magazine.