THE PARTNER INSTITUTE - Key Persons
Charles joined The Growth Partnership as a shareholder after dedicating 12 years consulting with, and working in, accounting firms ranging from sole-practitioners to National and Big 5 firms. During this time, Charles spent more than eight years working at Price Waterhouse and Arthur Andersen where he began his career as an auditor before transitioning into a strategic planning and marketing role. Charles entered the accounting consulting industry in 1999 as a Vice President in the Consulting Services division of Waugh & Co.
As a shareholder, Charles' passion is to help each client succeed as a business owner. To this end, he is a trusted advisor to clients within several areas of TGP's service offerings, including marketing, strategic planning, partner compensation and leadership development.
Charles works closely with TGP clients to create high-impact marketing plans focused on implementation. As a practice management consultant, he draws upon his practical, "can-do" approach to help firms create and execute long-term plans and effective compensation systems. On the leadership development side of TGP, Charles facilitates The Reluctant Salesperson: A Realistic Approach to Practice Development for the CPA, a two-day course that helps CPAs become more effective with their practice development efforts. Finally, Charles leads the efforts on bringing The Rosenberg Survey, a benchmark report comparing over 100 metrics across nearly 400 firms, to the accounting marketplace.
No matter what service Charles is providing, his passion is to help TGP clients succeed as business owners. Charles is an inspiration to clients due to his unique ability to focus on implementation-the only true way to bring about change.
A proven communications leader, nationally-acclaimed speaker Karen Durkin brings over 25 years of expertise to working with business professionals to grow. Karen is an energetic, skilled and professional executive coach that provides business coaching and training services to clients. Karen understands that while clients often realize what their individual business challenges are, they need assistance in developing creative solutions for achieving successful results for personal and business growth. She serves her clients by providing coaching in profit enhancement, organizational development, strategic planning and meeting and retreat facilitation for both nonprofit organizations as well as for profit businesses. Full of endless new ideas and enthusiasm, she helps clients find greater success personally and professionally.
In addition to executive coaching, Karen is a top-rated motivational speaker and was a small business advice columnist in the Las Vegas Business Press. Recognized for her energy and dynamic personality, she can help clients re-think, re-tool and re-energize their daily operations or latest projects. Effective communications can make or break a business deal or public perception. Karen's expertise eliminates the clutter and helps clients focus on the message. Through her coaching, clients gain the ability to deliver clear, concise, effective and, most importantly, persuasive presentations.
Karen's resume reads like a who's who of U.S. corporations. Karen has consulted and trained such blue-chip companies as ExxonMobil, AT&T, Intel and Wendy's International. Karen shared her experience and energy with her staff and clients at HRC a BDO Alliance Certified Public Accounting firm and utilized her experience at MGM Resorts International as Director of Administration of the Finance Shared Services Center. She received a Bachelors of Business Administration at the University of North Texas and earned her Masters of Business Administration at the University of Louisiana. She served as an Associate Professor in the MBA program at the University of Southern Nevada and currently serves as an Adjunct Professor in the Executive MBA program and the Global Entrepreneurship Experience Scholar Program at UNLV.
Patrick Patterson is a Performance/Process Guide & "Facilitator Extraordinaire" with more than 25 years in People & Process Development.
Participants consistently rate energy, enthusiasm, skill and insight as hallmarks of his presentations. He brings expertise in the areas of:
professional services & high end product marketing & sales training
leadership development with world class program partners like Franklin Covey Company
coaching for action & accountability in professional services, aeronautics and defense industries
quality and continuous improvement initiatives in hospitality & higher education
Patrick leads and coaches groups for The Growth Partnership's Business Development Forum and serves on their facilitation team. He was on the faculty of Fortune 100 company, Crestcom, and their internationally acclaimed Bullet Proof Manager Series; concurrently he was a facilitator and coach with The Rainmaker Academy for nearly 10 years.
His background includes more than 17 years in the world of public accounting and continues in this industry internationally. He served eight years with University Continuous Improvement at Arizona State University and three years as a training and development consultant for hotel resorts in Arizona and Nevada.
He holds a bachelor's degree in Communications - Human Resource Development, from Brigham Young University. Patrick is past Director of Professional Development (Las Vegas / Tucson Chapters), American Society for Training and Development.
He holds a bachelor's degree in Communications - Human Resource Development, from Brigham Young University. Patrick is past Director of Professional Development (Las Vegas / Tucson Chapters), American Society for Training and Development.
Patrick's knowledge and expertise add a great dimension to any organization serious about people / process development.
The Growth Partnership is registered with the National Association of State Boards of Accountancy (NASBA) as a sponsor of continuing professional education on the National Registry of CPE Sponsors. State boards of accountancy have final authority on the acceptance of individual courses for CPE credit. Complaints regarding registered sponsors may be submitted to the National Registry of CPE Sponsors through its website: www.nasbaregistry.org.
For more information regarding administrative policies such as complaint and refund, please contact our offices at 314.
Sara joined The Growth Partnership in February 2021 as the Director of Learning and Development after spending nearly 15 years serving as the Director of Human Resources for a public accounting firm. Prior to that role she held HR management roles in the fashion and education industries in New York City.
With 20 years of HR experience, Sara is able to provide clients with support and guidance to deepen their understanding of the ever-evolving needs inherent in developing human capital. She is knowledgeable about the demands facing people in the profession of public accounting, and draws upon her experience to highlight the possibilities for innovation.
Sara is a graduate of Vanderbilt University, where she earned her Bachelor of Arts degree with a double major in German and Communication Studies. She earned her Master of Education at Vanderbilt University's Peabody School of Education, where she focused on adult learning and human resource development. Sara completed her Business Coaching certification through North Carolina State University. She also holds her Senior Professional in Human Resources (SPHR) and Global Professional in Human Resources (GPHR) designations.
The Growth Partnership is registered with the National Association of State Boards of Accountancy (NASBA) as a sponsor of continuing professional education on the National Registry of CPE Sponsors. State boards of accountancy have final authority on the acceptance of individual courses for CPE credit. Complaints regarding registered sponsors may be submitted to the National Registry of CPE Sponsors through its website: www.nasbaregistry.org.