A Conversation With ... Michael Redmon

Company: Kirkpatrick, Phillips & Miller CPAs PC

Education: Bachelor’s degree in accounting, Missouri State University; certified public accountant

Track record: Redmon joined the firm that is now KPM in 1976 as a staff accountant and became a partner in 1982.

Contact: (417) 882-4300

Tell us about your firm.

We’re the result of a (1989) merger of two Springfield firms – Lipscomb, Kirkpatrick & Co. and Phillips & Miller – that really trace their roots back to the 1960s. We have 70 employees and 12 partners, (providing) tax, accounting and auditing and consulting services to a wide variety of industries and niches. We have an office in Branson. Then we have KPM Technology, which does a lot of work with clients that can’t afford an inside information technology person. Then, we have KPM Investments, which sells investments. We basically serve southwest Missouri.

How did you become KPM’s president and managing shareholder?

It’s an election (process). Steve Hufham had been our previous managing shareholder (for) 12 years. There’s only a certain amount of time you can (fill that role). I was next in line, so I had about a year’s warning to work with Steve. (Partners elect the managing shareholder) for a three-year minimum tenure, and then there’s a reaffirmation every three years. Hufham is still involved and working here, and he’s looking forward to having a little more time to work with his clients.

How is your role changing with the title?

I’m kind of learning that every day, because different things come up. ... I only started this job on May 1. What will happen is, we have an executive committee, which is three elected shareholders who have three-year terms, plus myself (to) make the management decisions and make recommendations on important issues to the shareholder group. I’ll chair that committee.

Do you spend less time now working with clients?

Not at this point. At this point, I’m making some other (schedule) changes in some civic duties to try to manage my time. And there will be some delegation to people. (On the civic front) I’m a charter member and past president of Sunrise Rotary, and now I’m treasurer of Rock ‘n’ Ribs. That’s been a large time commitment, so now I’ve got one of the other Rotarians in the office who’s going to split those duties with me. I’m still going to be very involved (in the community).

How do you want to leave your mark on KPM?

We want to grow our people and grow the firm, and I’d like to be part of the transition (of leadership) to the younger (generation). That would include helping all the younger people reach their potential, making this a place where they want to come to work every day.

What challenges come with training younger employees to lead?

I think for the most part, they’re ready, and a lot of times, it’s a senior staff problem, being able to let go and give the work out. The kids coming out of school are really bright, and the schools do a good job of sending them out ready. They come technically very capable, but you have to continually force the work down from the senior people.

Beyond the merger, how has KPM changed since you were hired in 1976?

At that time, I was the eighth employee they hired, and the first (hire) straight out of school with no experience. It was kind of a small niche firm, but one obvious difference is that it’s a larger firm providing a wider range of services. Technology is huge. In 1976, we didn’t even have a computer anywhere in the office. We probably can do the work of twice as many people through technology. The other thing that’s really changed is that we’ve made an effort to commit to the community. Our employees are probably in 60 civic and charitable organizations.

What’s on the horizon for KPM?

At this point, we’ve been able to offer everyone their own offices … but we’re going to eventually have to tackle relocation or adding on (at 2003 E. Sunshine St.). We built this office in 1978.

Tell us about your family.

I’ve been married to Terre for 28 years, and she is an elementary teacher at Bingham. We have three children. Kim is 27, and married to Tyson, (and she’s mom of) our only grandchild, Haley. She’s a high-school counselor and tennis coach in St. Joseph. Stacey is 24, and she’s a real estate agent who’s finishing her degree at MSU. Then we have Kevin, who’s 17 and will be a senior at Glendale.

Interview by Features Editor Maria Hoover. You can e-mail her with suggestions for future installments of this feature at mhoover@sbj.net.[[In-content Ad]]