Rodefer Moss partner Joe Brown receives Community Service Awards
Joe Brown, a partner at Rodefer Moss & Co, PLLC, was recently honored with two high profile community service awards.
Brown was announced as the recipient of the Lifetime Achievement Award by the Southern Indiana Salvation Army during their 2016 Annual Bed & Bread Gala held February 12 at the IU Southeast Hoosier Room. In what he described as a “total surprise,” Joe Brown, a longtime Southern Indiana community volunteer, received the award “for a life lived in service to others.” He said he had no idea he was even under consideration for the honor.
“Everyone involved did an amazing job keeping it a secret: I was stunned,” said Brown. “A great many people do remarkable work every day with, and for, the Salvation Army and the people it serves. I am in constant admiration and amazement at their contributions. That makes this award particularly humbling, and one for which I am extremely grateful.”
Brown has been involved with the Salvation Army for more than 30 years, principally applying his abilities and experience in accounting and finance to benefit the Salvation Army’s finances. “Strengthening their financial positions or raising money for operations or new facilities are how I can best help when I’m asked to serve on an organization’s board of directors,” Brown said.
“When I first began working with the Salvation Army we had a great deal of debt,” he said. “We had an old building and a budget of $65,000. Today we have a new building, three thrift stores, everything is paid for and there is no debt, which means money raised is used for the Salvation Army’s humanitarian purposes.”
Brown, who has been with the firm since 1982, also received the Indiana CPA Society Outstanding CPA in Community Service award, at the society’s CPA Celebration on Friday, May 13, 2016, at the Indianapolis Roof Ballroom, Indianapolis, Ind. This award recognizes outstanding service to the Society, CPA profession and community over a long period of time.
According to the INCPAS website, recipients must, “have made significant contributions to community service and the CPA profession and have a long history of providing such services.” Rodefer Moss President Doug York said Brown is an example of dedication, both in his work with clients and in his volunteer service.
“Everyone with Rodefer Moss has long admired Joe for the time, effort, and even sacrifice, he’s made over the years to uplift people and organizations in our community,” said York. “Joe is a great example of a top-flight professional accountant and community builder.” Brown said that his community involvement stems from a desire to substitute concern for action.
“I’ve gotten involved because government can provide important services, but taxpayers can’t pay for the broad scope of needs filled by non-profit and educational organizations,” Brown said. “I looked at this as a personal choice between wondering why someone else wasn’t doing something, and doing something myself.” Brown uses his finance and accounting experience and training to improve the financial positions of the organizations with which he volunteers.
“I organize debt consolation, renegotiate payments, and develop financial and business plans to help these organizations run efficiently and effectively,” Brown said. “Strengthening or rescuing organizations from debt and potential financial calamity is how I can best help the people those organizations serve.”
At Rodefer Moss, Brown’s client work is concentrated on closely held companies in various industries; conducting tax and estate planning for high net worth clients; and tax compliance. He is also responsible for the firm’s Indiana and Kentucky offices’ banking and public company practice.
In his volunteer efforts, organizations with which he’s worked include: Goodwill of Southern Indiana; the Salvation Army of Southern Indiana; Metro United Way and agencies; Indiana University Southeast; New Albany Floyd County School Corporation; Rauch, Inc.; New Albany Inner City Little League; Uspiritus; Bolivian Evangelical University; Kiwanis Club of New Albany; Ed Endres Boys & Girls Club; and the YMCA of Southern Indiana.
Brown earned his Bachelor of Science degree in accounting from Indiana University.
Rodefer Moss is a three-state accounting firm with offices in New Albany, Corydon, and Georgetown, Ind., Louisville, Ky., and four offices across Tennessee. The firm’s website is www.rodefermoss.com.
Contact Information:
Kim Naville
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812-945-5236
knaville@rodefermoss.com