The Power of Specialization and Listening

Hall of Fame leaders share the lessons, mistakes, and trends shaping the future of firm growth.

Gear Up For Growth
With Jean Caragher
For CPA Trendlines

In a special episode of Gear Up for Growth, four Hall of Fame members from the Association for Accounting Marketing (AAM) reunite to reflect on how accounting marketing evolves—and to deliver advice for today’s growth leaders.

Host Jean Caragher, president of Capstone Marketing, is joined by Brian Falony, retired accounting marketing executive; Allan Koltin, CEO of Koltin Consulting Group and facilitator; Mitchell Reno, principal and director of client experience at Rehmann; and Michelle River, CEO of Fore, LLC. 

• Gear Up for Growth spotlights the best strategies for smart and efficient growth in today's competitive landscape. More Gear Up for Growth every Friday here | More Jean Caragher here | Get her best-selling handbook, The 90-Day Marketing Plan for CPA Firms, here | More CPA Trendlines videos and podcasts here

Together, they look back at how the profession has transformed over 35 years—and look ahead to what firms must do to survive and thrive in a radically different marketplace.

The conversation opens with reflections on the early days of accounting marketing, when firm growth largely depended on partner relationships and marketing was often misunderstood. Falony recalls launching marketing strategies before the internet even existed, while Caragher shares her early efforts to win buy-in from skeptical partners who viewed marketing with suspicion.