Posts By
JoAnne Starks

JoAnne Starks is Advisory Growth Director at GRF CPAs & Advisors

How Accounting Firms Can Evaluate Sponsorship Spend More Strategically

By JoAnne Starks / April 27, 2026

How to evaluate sponsorship spend: Before your firm defaults to “yes,” it’s worth stepping back to evaluate which opportunities truly support growth and which ones simply add noise.

CPA License Use in PE Firms: What Accounting Marketers Need to Understand Now

By JoAnne Starks / March 18, 2026

Private equity’s expanding presence in accounting has elevated a once-technical issue into brand strategy territory: when and how professionals may publicly use the CPA license in PE accounting firms.

From Plan to Pipeline: How Business Development and Marketing Teams Build and Execute Growth Together

By JoAnne Starks / February 12, 2026

“From Plan to Pipeline: How Business Development & Marketing Teams Build and Execute Growth Together,” features insights from Kristen Lollar, CMO and Danielle Reynolds, BD Manager of Whitley Penn.

A Growth Leader’s Journey: Insights from Industry Experts

By JoAnne Starks / December 3, 2025

In the ever-evolving world of accounting, growth and innovation are paramount. Lori Langholz, Chief BD Officer at BDO, and Evan Tierce, Chief Sales Officer at Baker Tilly share insights are not only enlightening but also actionable for accounting marketers and growth professionals.

From Lead to Client: Mastering Lead Qualification & Lifecycle Management

By JoAnne Starks / September 10, 2025

Lead generation is only the beginning. For accounting and consulting firm marketers, the real challenge lies in qualifying those leads and nurturing them through the lifecycle—from initial awareness to signed engagement.

Insights on Leadership and Grooming Future Leaders with AICPA Chair Carla McCall

By JoAnne Starks / March 18, 2025

Seasoned leaders can provide invaluable guidance for those aspiring to take on leadership roles or groom future leaders. Carla McCall, CPA, CGMA, Managing Partner of AAFCPAs and Chair of the AICPA shares a wealth of knowledge in leadership transitions, team building, and organizational development.

Welcome to CPA Growth Trends — your source for information, insights, tools and best practices to drive growth within an accounting firm.

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Featured: Season 9 Episode 4

Beyond the Database: Building a CRM That Fuels Business Development

Nikki Burgeson | UHY-US

In this episode, Chris Camara speaks with Nikki Burgeson about the critical role of CRM systems in business development, particularly within professional services.