HPG Certified as Green Plus For a Third Year

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Hughes Pittman & Gupton, LLP, one of the largest CPA firms headquartered and staffed in the Research Triangle Park region of North Carolina, announces today that, for a third year, it has been certified Green Plus™ by the Institute for Sustainable Development. HPG was the first accounting firm ever to earn this recognition.

Through the Green Plus program, businesses and nonprofit organizations throughout the United States learn best practices in the areas of triple bottom line sustainability: people, planet and performance. The program gives employers affordable, practical support in succeeding financially while being good to their environment, employees and community. Annual certification requires a review of organizational policies, procedures and the firm’s green action plan. In addition to certification, the firm received a diagnostic report on its sustainability performance, strengths, weaknesses and areas of opportunity.

“Green Plus plays an important role in the Cleantech practice group,” says Tim Naylor, HPG partner and Cleantech lead. “Understanding the triple bottom line concept by living it provides a unique perspective in how to provide the best counsel to our clients in clean and green industries.”

The growing Cleantech practice group has 15 employees and provides industry knowledge and the financial experience necessary for business success. HPG is a supporter of the CleanLinks Forum by the CED. The forum offers practical business advice to cleantech entrepreneurs.

About Hughes Pittman & Gupton, LLP (HPG): HPG is one of the largest CPA firms headquartered and staffed in the Research Triangle Park region of North Carolina, as ranked by the Triangle Business Journal. More than just an accounting firm, HPG assists clients in looking beyond the bottom linesm by being the right people, right value and right firmsm to achieve each client’s definition of success. HPG is a member of CPAmerica International and affiliated with the Crowe Horwath International alliances of firms, with offices worldwide. The firm leverages this to provide national and global accounting resources to its clients. HPG offers a wide array of business accounting, auditing, corporate tax and management advisory services. Specialties include serving owner-managed, investor-backed technology and life science organizations, healthcare services, real estate development, manufacturing and distribution businesses, as well as providing ERISA audits, family wealthcare services and Sarbanes-Oxley internal audit services.

HPG has remained committed to advancing a thriving Triangle community since its founding in 1983. In recognition, the firm is the recipient of two Pinnacle Business Awards by the Greater Raleigh Chamber of Commerce: the 2009 Large Entrepreneurial Business Award and the 2010 Integrity in Business Award. Additionally, HPG has been certified Green Plus by the Institute for Sustainable Development for integrating environmental sustainability efforts into company culture, and has been named one of the top 100 Best Accounting Firms to Work For in the country by Accounting Today. Visit www.hpg.com for more information.

Stan Swinson Teaches CPE Course for Accountants

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Raleigh-based Legacy Wealth Strategies, announces today that associate Stan Swinson, ChFC, CLU recently presented three hours of continuing professional education to accountants at James A. Lucas and Company, LLP. The half-day program was broken into two segments. The first session was titled “Executive Benefits for Key Employees.” The second session was titled “Distribution Planning Using Inherited IRAs and Inherited Annuities.”

“Stan was very informative and the content he provided will help us counsel our clients more effectively,” says Jim Lucas, Jr., managing partner, James A. Lucas and Company, LLP .

Swinson is a 20-year industry veteran, spending the previous eight with Legacy Wealth Strategies. He works with business owners and successful individuals to develop financial strategies through planning, insurance, and investment advisory services. His areas of focus include investment, retirement, business-succession and estate planning, as well as life, long term care and disability insurance. Swinson holds a Certificate in Retirement Planning from the Wharton School of Business, University of Pennsylvania.

About Legacy Wealth Strategies:
Legacy Wealth Strategies focuses on financial planning and wealth management strategies, business succession planning and risk management services. Formed in 2004, the firm strives to provide forward-thinking and cost-effective financial strategies to its clients, helping them toward reaching their financial goals and achieving financial independence. Associates of Legacy Wealth Strategies offer securities through AXA Advisors, LLC (NY, NY 212-314-4600), member FINRA, SIPC. Investment advisory products and services offered through AXA Advisors, LLC, an investment advisor registered with the SEC. Annuity and insurance products offered through AXA Network, LLC and its insurance agency subsidiaries. Legacy Wealth Strategies is not a registered investment advisor and is not owned or operated by AXA Advisors or AXA Network.

Legacy Wealth Strategies and the AXA Advisors Raleigh branch are located at 3201 Beechleaf Court, Suite 450, Raleigh, NC 27604. Financial services available to individuals and business owners through AXA Advisors, LLC include: strategies and products for financial protection and investments; asset allocation, college, retirement, business and estate planning strategies; life insurance, annuity and investment products. Visit www.legacyws.com or call 919.341.1639 for more information.

About AXA Equitable:
In business since 1859, AXA Equitable Life Insurance Company (NY, NY) is a leading financial protection company and one of the nation’s premier providers of life insurance, annuity, and financial products and services. The company’s products and services are distributed to individuals and business owners through its retail distribution channel, AXA Advisors, LLC (member FINRA, SIPC) and to the financial services market through its wholesale distribution channel, AXA Distributors, LLC.

Find AXA Equitable on Facebook and Twitter or visit the company’s multi-media newsroom The Source @ AXA Equitable. AXA Equitable, a subsidiary of AXA Financial Inc., is part of the global AXA Group, a worldwide leader in financial protection strategies and wealth management. “AXA Group” refers to AXA, a French holding company for an international group of insurance and financial services companies together with its direct and indirect consolidated subsidiaries. For more information, visit www.axa-equitable.com.

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HPG Serves as Tabulation Firm for Miss NC Scholarship Pageant

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Hughes Pittman & Gupton, LLP, one of the largest CPA firms headquartered and staffed in the Research Triangle Park region of North Carolina, announces today that the firm served as the judging tabulation team for the 2012 Miss NC Scholarship pageant. This is the 75th year the event has been held.

“The HPG team did an exceptional job in quickly processing the numbers. Particularly during Saturday’s live, televised event,” says Beth Knox, executive director.

For more than five years, HPG has served as the accounting firm for judging the pageant. This year, a team of nine firm members volunteered their time to support the program. The event was held June 18-23 at Raleigh Memorial Auditorium.

About Hughes Pittman & Gupton, LLP (HPG):
HPG is one of the largest CPA firms headquartered and staffed in the Research Triangle Park region of North Carolina, as ranked by the Triangle Business Journal. More than just an accounting firm, HPG assists clients in looking beyond the bottom linesm by being the right people, right value and right firmsm to achieve each client’s definition of success. HPG is a member of CPAmerica International and affiliated with the Crowe Horwath International alliances of firms, with offices worldwide. The firm leverages this to provide national and global accounting resources to its clients. HPG offers a wide array of business accounting, auditing, corporate tax and management advisory services. Specialties include serving owner-managed, investor-backed technology and life science organizations, healthcare services, real estate development, manufacturing and distribution businesses, as well as providing ERISA audits, family wealthcare services and Sarbanes-Oxley internal audit services.

HPG has remained committed to advancing a thriving Triangle community since its founding in 1983. In recognition, the firm is the recipient of two Pinnacle Business Awards by the Greater Raleigh Chamber of Commerce: the 2009 Large Entrepreneurial Business Award and the 2010 Integrity in Business Award. Additionally, HPG has been certified Green Plus by the Institute for Sustainable Development for integrating environmental sustainability efforts into company culture, and has been named one of the top 100 Best Accounting Firms to Work For in the country by Accounting Today. Visit www.hpg.com for more information.

Brady Supplies Associates with Heat Safety App for Cell Phones

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ith record-breaking temperatures endangering the health of construction workers and outdoor repair people, Brady, a company that provides energy-efficient HVAC systems and comprehensive building solutions for commercial and industrial facilities across North Carolina, sent notice to all 328 associates to download and use the OSHA Heat Safety Tool. Temperatures are expected to exceed 100 degrees for the next several days, which will strain some cooling systems. To keep AC systems operational, maintenance teams will often have to work on rooftops where reflected heat can significantly increase the ambient temperature.

Brady Tech at work“A technician whose body overheats is not only in danger themselves but, risks the safety of those around them,” says Pete Malone, safety director for Brady. “Falling, electrocution and injuries from mechanical equipment are some additional hazards that technicians face as a result of dehydration and heat-related illness.”

The Heat Safety App by the U.S. Department of Labor is currently available for Android and iPhone users. It allows workers and supervisors to calculate the heat index for their worksite. Based on this information, risk levels can be communicated to outdoor workers. In addition, with a simple “click,” App users can get reminders about steps to take in order to avoid heat-related illness. These include drinking enough fluids, scheduling rest breaks, planning for what to do in an emergency, adjusting work operations, gradually building up the workload for new workers, training on heat-illness signs and symptoms, and monitoring each other for heat-related illness. Free of charge, the App can be downloaded from the Department of Labor website.

Malone also reminds associates that there are indoor locations where radiant energy is apt to accelerate heat exhaustion or have other dire health effects. These include machinery spaces, boiler rooms, and access spaces beneath roofs. He warns associates to be careful about using fans in these high heat areas, noting that blowing hot air on the body does not help cool it. In fact, it may actually raise a person’s core body temperature. As an alternative, Malone promotes drinking lots of cool fluids. He also advises holding ice in your mouth as it melts. This is very effective in help lower core body temperatures.

About Brady: Celebrating its 50th year, Brady is headquartered in Greensboro, North Carolina with locations in Raleigh, Durham, Fayetteville, Wilmington and Charlotte. Founded in 1962 by Chairman Don Brady, the company remains a family owned enterprise, today employing 328 associates. The company works with building owners, facility managers, developers, architects, engineers and contractors providing sustainable, comprehensive building solutions for commercial and industrial facilities. Brady provides customers with a diverse range of HVAC and building solutions including building automation, energy conservation, green design, performance contracts, access controls, security, mechanical systems, parts and supplies, as well as world-class technical support. For more information, visit www.bradyservices.com or call (800) 849-1915.

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Nonresidential Construction Index Continues to Rise

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NRCI = 59.8

FMI (www.fminet.com), the largest provider of management consulting and investment banking to the engineering and construction industry, announces the release of its Second Quarter Nonresidential Construction Index (NRCI) for 2012. Rising 1.7 points from the first quarter, this is the highest confidence rating ever achieved, since the index was developed in 2007.

Panelists reveal that backlogs remain about the same at a median of eight months. However, all markets, with the exception of education construction, are expected to improve slightly over the next quarter. Productivity has also shown improvement. Holding down the NRCI is the continued increase in labor and material costs.

With U.S. elections and global economics dominating the headlines this year, FMI asked panelists to identify what issues may affect their business strategies. Topping the list of global issues are rising inflation as the result of U.S. monetary policy and the collapse of the European Union. Although debt default in Greece and Spain are important, they ranked considerably lower on the list of concerns.

Topping the list of election-year issues are the need to reduce spending on entitlement programs and to reduce the national debt. Since NRCI panelists are all senior executives, FMI asked them what they might do if elected president of the United States. The most mentioned action items include:

  • Tax reform
  • Balanced budget
  • Cost cutting
  • Entitlement reform
  • Collaboration rather than confrontation

To download a copy of the full report, click here. For reprint permission or to schedule an interview with the author, please contact Sarah Vizard Avallone at 919.785.9221 or savallone@fminet.com.

About FMI FMI is the largest provider of management consulting, investment banking and research to the engineering and construction industry. We work in all segments of the industry providing clients with value-added business solutions, including:

  • Strategy Development
  •  Market Research and Business Development
  •  Leadership and Talent Development
  •  Project and Process Improvement
  •  Mergers, Acquisitions and Financial Consulting
  • Compensation Data and Consulting

Founded by Dr. Emol A. Fails in 1953, FMI has professionals in offices across the U.S. FMI delivers innovative, customized solutions to contractors; construction materials producers, manufacturers and suppliers of building materials and equipment, owners and developers, engineers and architects, utilities, and construction industry trade associations. FMI is an advisor you can count on to build and maintain a successful business, from your leadership to your site managers. For more information, visit www.fminet.com.