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Like many others now established in the United States, my forebears came from somewhere else. Though I was born here, in Teaneck, New Jersey, both my father and mother were born and raised in various parts of Puerto Rico (PR) before they eventually moved to the mainland United States sometime around the late 1950s. They would eventually move to Florida after I was born, and made sure to keep Puerto Rico close despite having left the island itself.

Lightyear Capital announces its partnership with Schellman & Company in the forming of a new venture that will set the standard for the delivery of information technology and cybersecurity compliance services. Read the official press release below or on the BusinessWire website.

Chris Smith from Schellman & Company, LLC Selected to Attend AICPA’s 2021 Leadership Academy Tampa, FL – August 3, 2021 – Schellman & Company, LLC, a leading provider of attestation and compliance services, is proud to announce that Chris Smith, CPA, CISSP, CISA, CIPP/US, ISO 27001 LA is one of only 30 CPAs to be honored by the American Institute of CPAs (AICPA) with a place as part of the Leadership Academy’s 13th graduating class. Chris was selected based on his exceptional leadership skills and professional experience for the four-day Leadership Academy program, which will take place virtually October 25-28, 2021.

Tampa, FL, August 5, 2021 — Tampa-based CPA firm, Schellman & Company, LLC (Schellman), a leading provider of attestation and compliance services, announced today that it placed #65 among the Inside Public Accounting (IPA) Top 400 Firms 2021, rising ten places from its 2020 ranking with a net revenue of over $77 million.

Florida-Based Firm, Schellman, Recognized as Fortune Magazine’s Best Workplaces for Millennials™ in 2021 Tampa, FL, July 16, 2021 – Tampa-based CPA firm, Schellman & Company, LLC (Schellman), a leading provider of attestation and compliance services, announced today that the firm has placed #75 among Great Place to Work’s (GPTW) Fortune Best Workplaces for Millennials™ in 2021. To even be considered for a ranking, firms were required to employ at least 50 millennials. Over 70% of Schellman 318 team members are considered Millennials, and though this is their first recognition that is generationally specific, it speaks to the large internal strides the firm has made to continuously improve their overall workplace culture. In compiling their rankings, Great Place to Work surveyed millennial employees across the country with questions regarding their experiences of trust and reaching their full human potential as part of their organization, “no matter who they are or what they do.” Employees were also asked to feedback on their daily experiences with their company’s innovation, values, and the effectiveness of leadership. The collective response from the millennial team members at Schellman published by GPTW praised the transparency and proactivity of upper management with regular, personal communication, and specifically recognized the firm’s efforts to reward performance with quarterly bonuses and “surprise gifts.” Such a response is a testament to the work culture Schellman has always sought to establish and maintain—one that prioritizes its people. “The designation from Great Place to Work helps validate that at Schellman we invest in our people who help build our company” says Avani Desai, President, Schellman & Company. "Regardless of age or generation, we have the best and brightest delivering our services, and to appropriately appreciate their hard work, we need to provide them with not only the compensation and benefits that match their high caliber, but also a positive environment where they feel comfortable and where they can grow professionally.” Honored by the initial #75 ranking among millennials, Schellman will strive to improve that position for next year. “As we tailor our programs and push the firm to new industry heights, we will continue to lead with culture, performance and a people-first philosophy. Providing a platform for talented people to perform at the very top of their profession is fundamental to our success.” says Chief People Officer, Karen Greene. Great Place to Work is the global authority on workplace culture. Their full rankings for the “Best Workplaces for Millennials in 2021” can be found on their website at greatplacetowork.com. About Schellman & Company Schellman & Company, LLC is a leading provider of attestation and compliance services—the only company in the world operating under one legal entity that is a CPA firm, a globally approved PCI Qualified Security Assessor, an ISO Certification Registrar, HITRUST CSF Assessor, and a FedRAMP 3PAO. Renowned for expertise supported by practical experience, Schellman's professionals provide exceptional client services balanced by steadfast independence. Our approach builds successful, long-term relationships, and allows our clients to achieve multiple compliance objectives through a single third-party assessor. About Great Place to Work® Great Place to Work® is the global authority on high-trust, high-performance workplace cultures. Through proprietary assessment tools, advisory services, and certification programs, including Best Workplaces lists and workplace reviews, Great Place to Work® provides the benchmarks, framework, and expertise needed to create, sustain, and recognize outstanding workplace cultures. In the United States, Great Place to Work® produces the annual FORTUNE "100 Best Companies to Work For®" list and a series of Great Place to Work® Best Workplaces lists including lists for Millennials, Women, Diversity, Small and Medium Companies and over a half dozen different industry lists. Follow Great Place to Work online at www.greatplacetowork.com and on Twitter at @GPTW_US.

Back in the spring of 2009, I raised my right hand and swore to support and defend the Constitution of the United States against all enemies, foreign and domestic. At the time, I knew what I was signing up for, just as I knew then that all the challenges I had faced in the past would not compare to those ahead of me. What I did not know is that one of those challenges would actually come after my service and manifest itself throughout my transition back to the civilian workforce.

As I reflect back on 2020—a year filled with challenges and heartbreak for so many—I am reminded of all my own silver linings from during that time. In January 2020, I earned the title of “Manager” at Schellman and soon after in June, I became the first manager at the company to become a mother. With Schellman’s new maternity policy in place, I was able to take 12 weeks of leave as I juggled the challenges of caring for a newborn and recovering from childbirth, all in the midst of a global pandemic. Schellman‘s policy allows new mothers the flexibility of taking staggered leave throughout the year or all once – I chose the latter and dedicated my time to establishing a new routine and bonding with my daughter, Kaylee. Without the added stress of work, I experienced the joys and new challenges of parenting while acclimating to life with a newborn—it was an invaluable time for me, filled with experiences I will forever cherish.