In 1969, American astronauts landed on the moon for the first time. That same year, what is known today as a three-state accounting firm in New Albany, Indiana, opened its doors for the first time. Both events have something in common beyond the year each occurred. Each represents the excellence required to reach for the stars.
In its 50 years of listening better, trying harder, and caring more, Rodefer Moss has enabled individuals, businesses, and non-profits avoid tax and finance-related pitfalls and achieve growth, goals, and success.
“We are able to provide superior accounting services for our clients such as audit; tax management; business consulting; and strategic management and planning, due to the integrity, expertise, and dedication of our professional team of partners and staff. We value our team members and are committed to their professional growth, success and happiness. Our employees realize everything we do affects people’s money, and that is both a heavy responsibility and a great opportunity. Knowledge, creativity, counsel, and hard work are all part of fulfilling that responsibility for clients and everyone here makes it happen. Ultimately, it’s performance for clients that counts and performance over decades is why 50 years after the original firm’s doors opened, we’re here doing the job we love.
We have been recognized as one of the Best Places To Work, by Louisville Business First, over the past four years. This is a testament to the value we place on our employees, and our leadership team is very proud of this acknowledgement”, said Doug York, who joined the firm in 1995 and serves as President of Rodefer Moss.
The firm’s partner group includes Joe Brown, Marc McCormick, Terry Graham, Ike Orwick, Rich Robinson, Matt Brown, and Kenny Adams.
In 1969, the firm of Melhiser & Endres began in an office in New Albany at the corner of Bank Street and Spring Street. Instead of just another accounting firm getting started, Melhiser & Endres took off like a rocket. Within 10 years, the firm’s performance and reputation saw it remodeling and using the entire building.
In the early 1980’s, Tom Tucker became a partner, and the firm’s first acquisition of Lanum and Wilkerson took place in 1982. The next year, a new office building was constructed at 301 East Elm Street in New Albany. In 1986, Tom Tucker’s name was added to the masthead and the firm’s name changed to Melhiser Endres Tucker CPAs (MET). In 1990, a Corydon office opened.
A classic saying in business is “adapt or die”. Recognizing that in an ever-changing tax and accounting world, the firm adapted and in 2005, joined the BDO Alliance, a nationwide network of independent accounting firms, providing the advantages of being a local firm with a nationwide resource of experts at accounting subjects.
“Every new association, activity, or service the firm has put in place over a half-century, is to ensure whatever a client needs, the client gets,” York said.
“Regardless of similarities that might exist, no two client situations are the same, and no client issue is run-of-the-mill,” York says. “Each time, whatever it is, it’s a vitally important issue for the client, which makes it a priority issue for us. The subject could be taxes, business strategy or valuation, regulatory rules or tax changes that alter the financial landscape, or some other critical issue. Whatever it is, we look at how to do it best, which led to aligning with Rodefer Moss.”
Rodefer Moss, headquartered in Knoxville, Tenn., had four offices in Tennessee when MET joined forces in 2008.
“We were drawn together, like a magnet to steel, because we both share similar client service values and goals,” says Jimmy Rodefer, the firm’s CEO. “What impressed us about MET was its longevity, which means you have to be doing the right thing the right way, and the talent of its staff. Together, we made one from two, and it’s a winning combination.”
From the time the two firms were combined, the march forward with new client services and programs has continued:
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2010: EPayroll Resource Group formed
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2014: Acquired Office of Lewis M. Reyman, CPA
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2015: Real Estate Accounting Solutions (REAS) formed
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2017: Anywhere Anytime Accounting (AAA) services went into operation
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2018: Corydon and Georgetown offices combined into one office, a newly renovated historical building office at 131 Chestnut Street
The Indiana/Kentucky Rodefer Moss offices possess another value: community involvement, as firm partners and staff fan out to participate and contribute to a long list of local organizations and charities. For example, firm partner Joe Brown received the Lifetime Achievement Award from the Salvation Army of Southern Indiana for “a life lived in service to others” in 2015. Rodefer Moss has been named one of the top ten Partners in Philanthropy, small businesses category, by Louisville Business First for several consecutive years, which demonstrates another example of the firm’s community contribution.
For 50 years, the Rodefer Moss Indiana/Kentucky team has fashioned a legacy of excellence, and a future of promise, for its clients and for itself by listening better, trying harder, and caring more. To celebrate this milestone, Rodefer Moss plans to have special events periodically throughout 2019 for clients and friends.
