Professional and Community Service

Professional and community service is fundamental to the culture of our firm. One cannot be a part of the community without volunteering time and money. We are active leaders in many important local, national and international organizations.

David S. Federman
Dave Federman has participated and held leadership positions for his entire career. Dave has served on every committee and chaired many fundraisers for The Greater Hartford Jewish Community Center. He was President from 1986-1988, and was awarded their Outstanding Leadership Award in 1992. Dave’s greatest passion has been his involvement with The Jewish Federation of Greater Hartford. He has participated at every level and chaired missions to Poland, the Former Soviet Union and Israel. Dave was Annual Campaign Chair and First Vice President for 2006 and 2007. He was honored with The Federation’s Young Leadership Award in 1984. Dave also worked as a volunteer for the Arthritis Foundation of Northern and Southern New England, was the Chairman of the Board during 2004 and 2005, and received the coveted National Volunteer Service Citation in 1999. Dave was named to the National Board of Directors of the Arthritis Foundation in February 2008. Dave also is a Founder, President and Chairman of the Board of Jewish Links, Inc. He is currently a trustee at Hebrew Health Care.

Dave has been active in the professional community as well. He has been Chairman of the Hartford Tax Club, President of the Hartford Area Group of the CSCPA and Chairman of The Federal Tax Forum. Dave has served on a variety of committees of the CSCPA over his many years of practice.

Robert V. Lally
Bob Lally has served as a Special Master for the Connecticut Tax Court. He is a Member-at-Large of the Parents Association for the United States Coast Guard Academy. Also for the Coast Guard Academy, he has been a frequent resource for tax matters involving cadets and their unique tax situations. His family has been a sponsor family for out-of-state cadets, and he has written the “Guide to Giving to the United States Coast Guard Academy.” A licensed Coast Guard Captain, he is also a frequent contributor to Sail Magazine. A frequent public speaker, he has also lectured widely on accounting topics to various audiences, including: the Hartford Tax Institute, the Hartford Tax Club, the Insurance Tax Institute, CSCPA and UCONN law school. Bob is a member of the AICPA, CSCPA and is admitted to practice before the Connecticut and federal bars.

Articles and Presentations:
Testified Senate Finance Committee, 2003, covered on C-Span, WSJ, NYT
Ethics in Tax Practice, Grassley Committee
Sail Magazine, January, 2005 “Use of Bow Thrusters”
Sail Magazine, March, 2006 “Boat Maintenance”
Sail Magazine, October, 2007 “Waterlines Essay: In Praise of Big Boats”
“Guide to Giving to the United States Coast Guard Academy”
Hartford Courant, 2007, Op Ed piece: “Behind the Doors of the Academy”
Bi-weekly radio program WTIC, 1987-89

James S. Remis
Jim fulfills his passion for music as an active leader of the Hartford Symphony Orchestra, where he is currently Vice President – Finance. In this position, Jim chairs the finance committee and serves on the executive, investment, union relations, and programming committees. He also serves on various boards related to the Yale School of Music and their Summer Music Festival in Norfolk, Connecticut. Jim has also been a longstanding active member in the community. He has been a part of numerous steering committees for the AICPA national conference and is a member of the AICPA Not-for-Profit Experts Panel, as well as serving on the Governmental Accounting Standards Board Organizing Committee. In addition, he has contributed to several Federal and State audit-related task forces, including the Single Audit Implementation Policy Committee of the Comptroller General of the United States and the Connecticut State Single Audit Implementation Committee.

The Firm
Our personnel are also involved extensively in community and professional service. From a community service perspective, Wes Barnard serves as Assistant Treasurer and as a member of the Board of Governors for the Arthritis Foundation of Northern and Southern New England, while Scott Goodwin is a member of the Knights of Columbus. Steve Toross is a member of MetroHartford Alliance and past member of the Federal Tax Committee.

Our office manager, Becky Kresser, is a member of the International Jugglers’ Association and is a trainer for Step Aerobic and BOSU, in addition to contributing to the song, juggling, and drama activities of the Vacation Bible School. Also, Bob Rouleau serves on the Volunteer Fire Department in Bolton, CT, and also as a Eucharistic Minister and usher. Mindy Shuch is on the Board of Directors for the Jewish Association of Community Living, as well as having participated in the initial NextGen program for The Jewish Agency for Israel (JAFI) in 2007. She also chaired the Hartford Delegation to Israel for TelAvivOne in 2006. Additionally, one of our tax personnel, Joyce Soucy, has served as Treasurer and board member for local organizations for several years, as well as holding the posts of Girl Scout leader for 12 years and Manager for the Town of Farmington chapter of the Girl Scouts of Connecticut for 8 years. Finally, Pam Weaver is a member of the Economic Development Commission for the Town of Burlington, CT, and volunteers for the Burlington Lions Club.

In contributing to the professional community, our firm is also exemplary. Becky Kresser assists Dave Federman in preparing tax returns for the Community Accounting Aid and Services, Inc. (CAAS). The firm has been providing this service to CAAS clients since 1994. Steve Toross has taught tax classes for the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants and has lectured on tax-related matters to several professional organizations, including the Connecticut Society of Certified Public Accountants. Serving as a Certified Quickbooks Advisor, Wendy Phelps has been using the program since its inception, having set-up and trained hundreds of businesses with its software. Also, Pamela Weaver is a member of the CSCPA Federal Income Tax Committee and Co-Chairperson of the 2007 Federal Income Tax Forum. She also takes time to speak to area high school students regarding the accounting profession and has contributed to Connecticut CPA, the CSCPA magazine.