BKD announces mass promotions

Springfield-based national accounting firm BKD LLP yesterday announced the selection of nine new partners, five directors, 27 senior managers and 30 managers, who will assume their new roles June 1.

Rachel Dwiggins and Brian Todd of the firm's Springfield office were named among the new partners.

“These outstanding leaders represent the best of what BKD brings to our clients and the communities we serve. Their talents and breadth of knowledge will further strengthen the partner group driving our firm," BKD CEO Neal Spencer said in a news release.

Other local promotions:

• M. Aaron Little was the sole Springfield employee to be promoted to director, a position created three years ago as a stepping stone to making partner, the release said.
• David Taylor and Christy Yoakum in Springfield and Derek Smith in Branson received senior manager promotions.
• New managers include James Ashley and Timothy Chitwood of the Springfield office and Brandon Davis of the Joplin office. Jeremy Clopton in Springfield was promoted to managing consultant.

BKD, which posted fiscal 2011 revenues of $390 million, is currently undergoing a larger transition at the top to replace Spencer, who announced in February he would step down June 1. Firm officials have said they would likely hire from within the company for his successor.