CEO BLOG

Connecting to our Greater Purpose

CEO Blog | Sep 27, 2021

At our recent virtual ONE DHG Summit, Kahlil Greene, the first Black student body president at Yale and author of the Harvard Business Review article, “Dear CEOs: A Gen Zer’s Open Letter to His Future Employer,” spoke to our leaders about Gen Z and their expectations for employers. I find generational differences fascinating, especially as it relates to the workforce, and creating a sense of understanding between generations in the workplace is critical for success.

DHG is a Great Place to Work for ALL!

CEO Blog | Aug 09, 2021

Reflecting on the past year elicits a deep sense of pride. While we all experienced adversity during the pandemic, we have emerged stronger than ever – this is not only marked by our firm’s performance but also by the feedback and passion of each of you – our people. As a direct result, I am pleased to share that for the sixth year, we are certified as a Great Place to Work™.

Planning Time to Recharge this Summer

CEO Blog | Jul 14, 2021

Being intentional with my time is an integral part of setting myself up for success. I perform my best when my time is well planned, which includes planning time for myself. Having stated this, let me be clear – I have struggled at times with finding balance between my personal life and my career. Many of us began our careers when the idea of career-life integration was not even a concept given any thought. It was just expected that everyone gets their work done and everything else would get whatever time we had left (just a hint, it was not much time). Fortunately, the working world has progressed since I began my career, and we have come to realize that to lead healthy, productive lives, we must find appropriate balance between our careers and our broader lives with friends, families and communities.

The Power of Allyship

CEO Blog | Jun 21, 2021

As we celebrate heritage months throughout the year, Allyship plays a pivotal role for our people. Our new Allyship program aligns with our goal to foster inclusion at DHG, bring awareness to the challenges our teammates face and actively support our people in their career journeys. As we define it, an Ally stands shoulder to shoulder with members of the community – whether in times of peace or times of strife so that we collectively work to make a difference within DHG and in our greater world.

Strengthening Your Wellbeing and Ending the Stigma Around Mental Health

CEO Blog | May 21, 2021

To say the past year has been challenging would be an understatement. Almost every aspect of our lives was turned upside down overnight. The resiliency, commitment, and passion I have seen over the past year is truly inspiring; however, I know that many of us are still struggling with many different implications from COVID-19.

Through the Eyes of the API Community with Mandeep Singh

CEO Blog | May 17, 2021

In April, I reiterated the firm’s commitment to inclusion and diversity and support for members of the Asian Pacific-Islander (API) community against acts of racism and hate. As a firm, we came together for a My Experience session with members of our Asian Pacific-Islander Network (APIN). My Experience sessions have served as a meaningful way for our firm to learn from other groups and deepen connectivity. Over the course of the last year, we have heard from our African American Network, Professional Parents Network, Latin American Network and our Veterans Network, and like all prior sessions, our people left the APIN My Experience session enlightened and empowered.

Adaptability & Accountability: Critical Qualities as We Move Forward

CEO Blog | Apr 26, 2021

At DHG, we know things will never go back to how they were. From consistently listening to our people over the past year, we know that some are not in a rush to re-enter the office environment and are thriving in the virtual world, while others miss the face-to-face interactions and are ready to return to our offices and clients.

Our Ongoing Commitment to Equality & Inclusion

CEO Blog | Mar 23, 2021

DHG is and will continue to be unwavering in our commitment to creating an inclusive environment that values and appreciates diversity of all kinds. Fostering this environment is our responsibility as professionals, as team members and as human beings.

COVID-19 One Year Later: Reflecting & Looking Forward

CEO Blog | Mar 16, 2021

Today is March 16, a date that has significant meaning for me, for all of us - a date that we will all not soon forget. Today marks the day that one year ago we officially closed our DHG offices due to the pandemic. When we collected our belongings and the items we needed to work from home, we had no way of knowing that we would be operating virtually for this long.

Lessons on Leadership: What I’ve Learned from my Dad

CEO Blog | Mar 12, 2021

Hello, DHG! What an honor to have this opportunity to share my thoughts with all of you during Women’s History Month. My name is Emily Snow, and I am Matt Snow’s daughter.

Like my dad, I attended Wake Forest University, where I studied English and French (unlike my dad, I do not have the “math” gene). After I graduated, I went to the London School of Economics and Political Science, where I received my Master’s in Human Rights. I then lived in Washington, D.C., and worked for a nonprofit organization that focused on land rights in developing countries, then spent time in government consulting.

Celebrating Black History Month at DHG

CEO Blog | Feb 22, 2021

This year marks the 100th anniversary of John Cromwell Jr. breaking down barriers to become the first Black CPA. At DHG, we acknowledge the progress cannot stop here. We are committed to creating an inclusive and equal environment where all feel a sense of belonging at DHG.

5 Ways 2020 Has Made Us Stronger

CEO Blog | Dec 21, 2020

As we reflect on the year, there is no denying this has been one of the most challenging years of our lifetime. There were many trying days but they each made us stronger. Some of my favorite moments likely would not have happened in a “normal” year. Just to mention a few, I had the opportunity to spend more time with my grown children, take extended walks in my neighborhood while participating in work calls, Zoom with the entire firm routinely and introduce them to my dog Ruby. This year has certainly shown us a new level of appreciation for the little things.

DHG’s New Brand Identity

CEO Blog | Oct 05, 2020

DHG launches a new brand identity! An identity that elevates us as future focused and reinforces our commitment towards helping our clients achieve their goals, both today and tomorrow.

Our Commitment to Equality and Inclusion

CEO Blog | Jun 01, 2020

DHG’s COVID-19 Preparedness: Our Commitment to Client Service and Safety

CEO Blog | Mar 16, 2020

The following message was distributed to our clients and friends of DHG on Monday, March 16, 2019 as an update to how DHG is responding to our current pandemic environment:

DHG’s Response to the COVID-19 Outbreak

CEO Blog | Mar 06, 2020

If you are like me, concerns regarding the coronavirus may have been top of mind for you over the past few days and weeks. As always, the health and well-being of our people, their families, our clients and our communities continue to be paramount during these unprecedented times.

In response to the COVID-19 outbreak, we have created an internal pandemic response team reporting to the highest levels within DHG which is rapidly maintaining a detailed business continuity and pandemic preparation plan to support our people, our clients, and our firm.

Sustaining Energy and Staying Focused

CEO Blog | Mar 04, 2020

For many of us at DHG, and in the broader accounting and professional services industry, the start of the New Year signals the beginning of our busier time of year. As we navigate deadlines and the influx of client needs, sustaining our energy levels and managing stress become increasingly important when we are pulled in many different directions. The good news is we know that this time of year is coming, so we have the advantage of being able to plan ahead. Below I share some of the methods that work for me when attempting to sustain energy during times of heightened stress.

Inclusion and Diversity at DHG - An Interview with Kevin Price

CEO Blog | Feb 20, 2020

During the month of February we celebrate Black History Month at DHG and beyond. In honor of the celebration, I recently sat down with our new leader of Inclusion and Diversity, Kevin Price, to talk about his new role at DHG and what this month of celebration means to him and to us as a firm. Continue reading as he shares insight on how we can all lean in when it comes to our I&D journey at DHG.

A New Year and a Renewed Focus on ONE DHG

CEO Blog | Jan 08, 2020

As we begin a new year, we have much to be optimistic about as a firm. We know that we can fuel our optimism and flourish in the future by working as a team, as ONE DHG. Our ONE DHG focus is not new, but it is just as important today, perhaps even more so, than it has ever been as we look at our growth strategy and goals for 2020 and beyond.

The Importance of Happiness and Gratitude

CEO Blog | Nov 15, 2019

Leaders from across DHG gathered for our annual partner meeting earlier this fall. This event is an opportunity for us to come together as ONE DHG to re-energize, learn from one another, and hear from incredible speakers.

Reflecting on Our Accomplishments and Looking to the Future with Optimism and Focus

CEO Blog | Jun 27, 2019

Over the last several weeks our local market teams gathered for our annual summer town hall meetings – an opportunity for us to come together to kick off our new fiscal year and reflect on all that our team has accomplished over the past 12 months. These meetings also reconnect us with our mission, strategy and values, which are the guiding principles that fuel our hard work each and every day.

Building the Firm of the Future

CEO Blog | Mar 05, 2019

As a firm, we are hard at work on our journey to be the high trust and high performing Firm of the Future. It’s a journey that won’t be easy, but by tackling it together, as ONE DHG, we will continue to grow and thrive as individuals and as a firm. I would like to share with you what the Firm of the Future looks like for us at DHG, and how all of our people will play a critical role in helping us get there.

Evolving as ONE DHG

Together, we have embraced a ONE DHG mindset - a mindset that puts the team first and enables us to more effectively and efficiently achieve our mission. We truly have evolved in this mindset, so much so, that it is now ingrained in virtually all that we do. We use our ONE DHG mindset to help us make decisions that fuel our change agility, and our people are deciding what is best for our firm, our people, and our clients rather than what may be a short-term solution for a certain market, service line or industry. If we can be like-minded about where we are going as a firm and how we function, then that will only make us stronger. Our next step is to use our ONE DHG mindset as a stepping stone to the Firm of the Future.

Taking Client Service to the Next Level at DHG

CEO Blog | Feb 15, 2019

As we steer DHG into the future, one of the areas in which we are investing time and capital is our overall client experience area, which we refer to as CX. CX is more than just providing client service on a project or annual service that we deliver. It involves our performance around the entire experience a client enjoys in working with DHG. These additional “experience” components can include non-project communications, our digital presence and communication, our promptness, invoicing, and more. As our clients become more complex and the opportunities created by technological innovations expand, understanding what creates an outstanding CX becomes more complicated and can vary widely from client to client. We know we must collect data from our clients on how we are performing, and then use the data to continuously pursue outstanding client experience - what we call CX Strong.

Transparency and Consistency Through Two-Way Communication

CEO Blog | Jan 24, 2019

Feedback from our team members is essential in our journey to be a high trust and high performing firm. We learned in our Great Place to Work survey that our people desired greater transparency regarding firm changes and expectations, a deeper connection with firm leaders, and explanations on how our priorities as a firm relate to them on a personal level.

One Firm

CEO Blog | Sep 16, 2014

In my recent blog entry about communication, I recounted my Partner Meeting presentation last October in which I closed with the call for us to view ourselves as One Firm, and the importance of this vision to our long-term success. Our great firm was formed through mergers of many firms, recruitment of key experienced industry and service line professionals, and the employment of top students from college campuses. Many of our team members joined DHG because they saw us as One Firm, the whole of which is greater than the sum of our parts. Many of our clients have chosen to work with us because they saw the benefits of working with this One Firm.

Innovation: Thinking Creatively, Embracing Change

CEO Blog | Oct 21, 2014

Change really is the new normal in our fast paced world. For example, two years ago, not many people were familiar with a wireless exercise band. And yet recently, one of Apple’s hottest new items of the season was announced as the Apple Watch, their version of this new “must-have” electronic gadget, with even more added features than just health data. While writing this blog, I went on their website to figure out why so much hype surrounds this new tech gadget – and now I think I want one.

Getting ahead and staying ahead requires an organization to not only envision upcoming changes, but to respond quickly in order to outsmart the competition and to serve valued clients and customers. Thriving companies must have their team members’ attention and be able to communicate clearly so they can easily transform and adapt to change.

Planning Your Career - and Your Life

CEO Blog | Jan 16, 2015

As we begin 2015, many of us have made New Year’s resolutions. These may involve weight loss and exercise goals, spending more time with family and friends, or finally planning that vacation you have been wanting to take. Our resolutions are created to make our lives better, and if you have set New Year’s resolutions, you have probably determined by now that they take planning, adjustments, hard work, adaptation, and willpower

The same is true for your own career, especially as it relates to integrating your career goals with your personal goals. Over the years, I have learned that it truly takes time, planning, and intentionality to achieve success. At DHG, we exist to build valuable careers for our people, but the success of our mission requires our people to also play an integral part.

There is no right way to do the wrong thing

CEO Blog | Feb 19, 2015

DHG’s core value Trust is a cornerstone of our Firm and our profession. We seek the trust of our people, our clients, and the broader business community. This core value helps us drive a culture of uncompromising integrity, a commitment to excellence and accountability in all that we do. Leaders who preceded me at DHG said it quite simply: There is no right way to do the wrong thing.

Count the Cans: Part One

CEO Blog | Jun 05, 2015

Giving back to our communities is at the core of who we are as a firm and as individuals. For the past three years, we have engaged in a firm-wide food drive, Count the Cans, raising collectively more than 2.5 MILLION POUNDS OF FOOD for food banks across our footprint. Each year, I am blown away by our collections and truly humbled by the outpouring of support from our partners and professionals.

As we kick-off the 2015 Count the Cans food drive, I wanted to take a moment to share with you how proud I am of the way DHG pulls together to support hunger relief. The enthusiasm is contagious and the passion is inspiring.

Count the Cans: Part Two

CEO Blog | Jun 29, 2015

The calculations are in and we have great reason to celebrate: DHG has donated 270,875 pounds of food and given more than 1,400 service hours to our local food banks, food kitchens and other community hunger relief programs. This brings our four year giving total to 3,202,350 pounds! Congratulations to the Atlanta office and South region for winning the 2015 food drive competition. Job well done!

Why Public Accounting is a Rewarding Career Choice

CEO Blog | Aug 26, 2015

As a freshman college student at Wake Forest University some years ago, I (like many students) had no idea what career path I should pursue. I considered becoming a doctor, but I quickly learned that required too much time in the lab. My father had a more immediate and, quite frankly, less expensive suggestion for me. He told me, “After you graduate, you’re going to be on your own—you’ll need to find a job. So be sure to major in something where you can be employed.” I had already experienced working in a fast food restaurant, and while that was fun in high school and college (I did learn a lot…future blog post!), I knew I had to find a professional job with career potential.

The Secret to High Performance

CEO Blog | Sep 25, 2015

By now, you have likely heard me say that our people are our greatest resource. We hire the best and brightest - Last year our conversion rate from experienced hire applicants to actual hires was 2%. If you are part of our team, you should consider yourself top talent in our industry. With that said, our expectations for our people are high. As a result, we have earned the trust of our clients and a place among the nation’s top 20 public accounting firms. That is a huge accomplishment, and none of this would be possible without our people. Nor will we be able to grow and progress if we do not continue to challenge and reward the talented people who drive our performance.

The Benefits of a Global Alliance

CEO Blog | Nov 02, 2015

DHG’s international reach is top-of-mind, as I recently traveled to China for the Praxity Global Conference to meet with fellow accounting professionals from all over the world. Praxity is the world’s leading alliance of independent assurance, tax and advisory firms who share the common goal of facilitating business growth across the world. Through this alliance, we are introduced to multi-national firms for future collaboration and potential new clients, thus allowing us to extend the DHG reach internationally. Praxity enables a large, regional firm like DHG to bring global resources to its people and clients in ways we could not on our own accord.

Living Our Values Through Giving Back

CEO Blog | Nov 17, 2015

I recently attended a seminar that was focused on self-improvement. One of the lessons I learned was how important it is to think positive thoughts, and one of the best ways to feel positive is to ...

Rest, Reflect and Recharge This Holiday Season

CEO Blog | Dec 17, 2015

Our family has many special holiday traditions that I look forward to every year. One of my favorites is having marathon Netflix sessions, sometimes watching entire seasons of a show at a single ...

What is Life Beyond Numbers?

CEO Blog | Jan 20, 2016

As a firm we celebrated many great accomplishments in 2015. One that I am incredibly proud of is the development of our people-focused brand - Life Beyond Numbers. At first glance, you might think ...

Five Things I Learned Working at a Fast Food Restaurant

CEO Blog | Feb 24, 2016

Everyone remembers their first job, right? If you are like me, you look back on that first job at different stages in your career and, while laughing about some of the funny stories, you start to t...

My Grandmother’s Career – Reflections on Women’s History Month

CEO Blog | Mar 22, 2016

As we celebrate Women’s History Month, we recognize those who have made a significant impact on the career options for future generations of women. My maternal grandmother was one of those t...

My DHG Family

CEO Blog | Apr 13, 2016

I recently spoke at the Charlotte Business Journal’s inaugural Family Business Awards, a celebration of family-owned businesses from across the region and a gathering of those who live and br...

A Legacy of Leadership

CEO Blog | May 16, 2016

Later this month we will say farewell to our esteemed Chairman, Ken Hughes, as he begins retirement. Ken represents one of the only named partners still practicing in a U.S. Top 20 Accounting firm....

A Giving Culture – It’s Who We Are

CEO Blog | Jun 16, 2016

One of the truly special things about DHG is the priority we place on giving. Our people put so much passion and energy into philanthropic efforts and it translates into our unique culture. We valu...

Building Value Through Our Strategy

CEO Blog | Jul 26, 2016

As we move into a new fiscal year and continue to pursue our Mission, Values and Strategy, it is important for us to reflect on the previous year and celebrate our achievements. There are many ways...

Energy for Life

CEO Blog | Sep 15, 2016

During the next 18 months, all of our people will have the opportunity to participate in our Energy for Life program. Designed to create high-performing teams and individuals, DHG’s Energy fo...

Engage 2016

CEO Blog | Oct 13, 2016

Each year I look forward to connecting with our partners, principals and directors at our annual partner meeting. It is such a meaningful time for DHG as we reflect on the year behind us and establ...

DHG Impact – Living our Values and Giving Back

CEO Blog | Nov 21, 2016

When we talk about our mission and building valuable careers with our people, we recognize that an essential part of a valuable career is a connection to one’s own sense of purpose. For many ...

Reflecting on a Successful Year

CEO Blog | Dec 20, 2016

As we close 2016, I look forward to the holidays and time spent with family while resting and reflecting on the past year. Throughout 2016 I have admired the way our DHG team has embraced the chang...

Six Things I Would Tell My 22-Year-Old Self

CEO Blog | Feb 03, 2017

As we welcome a new class of spring interns to our DHG team, I think back to when I was in their shoes- nearing the end of college and in the process of figuring out my career path. At that time, I...

Celebrating Inclusion & Diversity at DHG and Beyond

CEO Blog | Feb 20, 2017

Earlier this month, in celebration of Black History Month, Women’s History Month and inclusion and diversity across our footprint, we released DHG’s first inclusion and diversity focuse...

CEO Blog Takeover: Seizing Opportunities

CEO Blog | Mar 14, 2017

In honor of Women’s History Month, I would like to spotlight one of our female leaders at DHG who inspires me every day with her passion, innovative thinking and positive attitude. She has ha...

CEO Blog Takeover: What a Ride…

CEO Blog | May 15, 2017

At the end of this month our Chairman, and my friend, Kent Satterfield, will begin his retirement. Throughout his tenure at DHG, Kent has been a mentor to many, truly embodying our DHG values and t...

ONE DHG – Greater Together

CEO Blog | Sep 07, 2017

The DHG we know today is the product of several firms merging together, and many people, cultures, ideas and ways of doing things uniting. We are proud of our many differences and what makes us uni...

An Interview with Adele Chassaignac

CEO Blog | Nov 27, 2017

As we near the end of our month of giving at DHG, it is the perfect occasion to shine a light on someone who truly represents our DHG values through their work in the community and their passion ...

Changing Together as ONE DHG

CEO Blog | Jan 11, 2018

When we think about change, our immediate reaction is often apprehension and anxiety. It may be that we are content with the present, or we fear the inability to thrive in a different environment.&...

Celebrating Inclusion & Diversity - An Interview with Alpa Patel

CEO Blog | Feb 27, 2018

During February and March we are shining a light on inclusion and diversity at DHG. I am thrilled to have Alpa Patel, Co-Leader of our Inclusion & Diversity Council and partner in our Atlanta o...

CEO Blog Takeover: Embracing Change

CEO Blog | Mar 30, 2018

In January I talked about the importance of change adaptability in achieving our DHG mission and strengthening the change “muscle” within ourselves. Establishing change as a core competency is top-of-mind for us, so much so that we have welcomed Jeff Outten as our Director of Change Management. He has been a friend of DHG for many years and has helped guide us through many new initiatives and opportunities. We are excited to welcome him to the DHG team and look forward to the innovation and growth that will result from his leadership. I am pleased to have Jeff join me this month to share his vision for change at DHG.

#MeToo – Fostering a Culture of Respect

CEO Blog | Apr 24, 2018

Sexual harassment in the workplace is an incredibly relevant topic with widespread discussion evolving from the #MeToo anti-harassment movement. We are continuing the global conversation at DHG as we set expectations for workplace behavior and solidify a culture of respect to ensure that all of our people have what they need to progress and build their own valuable careers.

Last month we hosted an anti-harassment panel discussion that was streamed live across our DHG locations. Titled “#MeToo – Leadership Perspectives on the Current Movement and DHG’s Culture of Respect,” the session featured insight from four DHG leaders as well as a Q&A with our DHG audience. With so many important points made, I wanted to share some of these key takeaways with you.

Persistence, Accountability and Remembering to “Ring the Bell”

CEO Blog | May 24, 2018

Martin Schlaeppi is retiring as our Chief Growth Officer at the end of May and will transition into the role of Managing Director for DHG Corporate Finance. Martin has had a profound effect on me and the entire firm in a number of ways, and I thought it only fitting that I recognize him and his many contributions this month.

I cannot recall many meetings with Martin that were not highlighted by The Rolling Stones’ “Start Me Up” ringtone cranking from his cell phone. It is a familiar sound that many of us have grown to love and expect when in the same room as Martin, but aside from his signature ringtone and the laughs that ensue, there are many things about Martin that I will carry with me after he moves on to his next role. These are just a few of the highlights.

CEO Blog Takeover: Aligning Our Lives to Make an Impact in Our Communities

CEO Blog | Jul 18, 2018

During the month of June, DHG hosted its seventh annual food drive, Count the Cans. Our people collectively volunteered, donated canned food and gave monetary support to our local food banks to fight hunger during the summer months. This year DHG donated more than 112,000 pounds of food and gave more than $76,000 to hunger relief organizations during the Count the Cans campaign. A passion for community outreach and philanthropic giving is part of who we are at DHG, and one of our firm leaders has lived out that passion throughout his life. This year, Pat Shuler became the President of the DHG Foundation, and he joins me this month to share his passion for serving our communities.

A Conversation in Celebration of DHG's Accomplishments

CEO Blog | Aug 29, 2018

During the month of August, we took a close look at our people strategy as we launched our DHG Voice team member survey. Through our survey, we are able to gather valuable feedback from our people to identify specific strengths and opportunities for improvement. Our goal is to build a high trust culture and a great place to work for all of our people. Effin Logue, our Chief People Officer, and I recently discussed via a video some of the outstanding accomplishments that were the result of feedback from our surveys.

Women in the Profession

CEO Blog | Aug 05, 2014

Recently I attended an AICPA meeting where we heard a panel discussion on women in professional services firms. On the one hand, it was clear the entire profession has progress to make; on th...

The Importance of Communication

CEO Blog | Jul 08, 2014

Last fall, as a part of the CEO succession process, our Executive Committee asked me to present my vision for DHG to our partners at the annual partner meeting. This was my first chance to share ho...