Grossman Yanak & Ford LLP recently announced a transition in top leadership. Jeffrey A. Ford, one of the firm’s founding partners, has been named GYF’s new Managing Partner. He assumes the responsibilities from John M. Yanak, also one of the firm’s founding partners, who has served in this role since the firm was founded in October 1990.
During Yanak’s tenure as Managing Partner, GYF has seen tremendous growth. Since April 1991, when the first employee was hired, the firm’s headcount has increased to nearly 100 personnel. To accommodate the growing staff, the downtown office expanded and/or relocated several times throughout the years. The firm plans to move again, in May 2024, to an even larger footprint in Four Gateway Center. Yanak has played a key role in these moves, especially the upcoming relocation, and the updated headquarters will serve as fitting reminder of his contributions to the development of the firm over the years.
Ford notes, “John’s lasting relationships and connections have been integral to the growth of GYF, and his character truly demonstrates the culture of servant leadership. John is well respected by his colleagues, clients and the overall Pittsburgh business community. Our firm’s success is a testament to his leadership and dedication.”
The firm began with three partners who left a (then “Big 6”) international firm to start their own venture with a focus on high-quality, personalized service. At the beginning, the trio provided Tax, Assurance and ERP Solutions services to their clients, and were able to expand the firm’s capabilities as the personnel complement grew.
In 2001, Don Johnston was named as GYF’s fourth partner. His additional leadership in the Tax Services Group allowed Bob Grossman, the third founding partner, to begin creating a new service line – Business Valuation & Litigation Support. This group began serving clients in 2008, and Melissa Bizyak, the current head of the group, became GYF’s fifth partner in 2011.
As the firm’s service capabilities have grown, so has the leadership team. Mark Wolstoncroft was named as a partner in the A&A Services Group in 2019, and two professionals, Megan Troxell (A&A Services) and Michael Weber (Tax Services), were promoted to partners in their respective service groups in 2021.
The firm’s management structure was also expanded to include a director level, which is currently comprised of five professionals overseeing the service groups as well as operational leaders in the areas of finance, technology, human resources and marketing. The team also includes 17 managers serving across the four core practice groups.
The primary responsibility for guiding these leaders, as well as for determining and monitoring the goals and direction of the firm as a whole, now rests in different, but equally capable, hands as Ford takes the reins. In addition to his new Managing Partner role, Ford is one of the partners who oversees operations in the A&A Services Group and also heads the firm’s Technology/IT function.
Ford’s strategic and innovative mindset led to GYF’s membership in Geneva Group International (GGI), a global network of independent professional firms that offer audit, tax, legal and advisory services to midsize businesses and their owners. This alliance greatly expanded GYF’s business development opportunities by providing connections to a wide network of qualified professionals and access to additional resources. Ford serves as the chair of GGI’s North American Audit Practice.
Ford encourages all GYF professionals to continue to find ways to help the firm grow and serve clients more efficiently and effectively. He embraces the use of technology to enhance GYF’s capabilities, but not at the expense of the ethics and principles that guided the founding of the firm. Ford continues to model these ideals and inspire others to advance their own careers, as well as the build the success of the firm, following the core values in the Firm’s “GYF Way.”
“I have worked Jeff with for over 40 years, and I am confident that the firm we started together more than three decades ago will continue to grow and prosper under his leadership,” said Yanak
