SBJ file photo

BKD’s charitable giving during fiscal 2021 included nearly $1.2 million for local food banks and United Way chapters.

Tom Watson succeeded Ted Dickman on June 1.

BKD donates $3.5M to charities in fiscal year

BY: Geoff Pickle, Digital Editorgpickle@sbj.net

Posted online June 10, 2021 | 12:14 pm

Watson officially becomes BKD CEO

BKD LLP officially has a new CEO in place.

Tom Watson started in the top role at the Springfield-based company on June 1, said spokesperson Anna Larriu. He succeeds Ted Dickman, who retired May 31.

BKD in August 2020 named Watson as Dickman’s successor. The two have worked together over the past year to transition Watson into the CEO post.

“I’m always trying to look for that next challenge and another way to hopefully spread some good influence across the firm,” Watson said in a Q&A with Springfield Business Journal last fall.

Watson previously served as managing partner of BKD’s South Region. He continues to work out of Dallas — Dickman, too, led the firm from a market outside of Springfield — with plans to visit the company’s Queen City headquarters on a regular basis, according to past reporting.

Watson is scheduled for a Sept. 21 live interview for SBJ’s 12 People You Need to Know editorial series.

Springfield-based BKD LLP donated more than $3.5 million to charities during its recently concluded fiscal year.

The donation amount included nearly $1.2 million for local food banks and United Way chapters, according to a news release. The public accounting firm’s fiscal 2021 ended May 31.

“This is a tremendous testament to the spirit of giving that exists within BKD,” CEO Tom Watson said in the release. “Even with all the audibles leadership had to call over the past 14 months, BKDers excelled while maintaining their sense of pride in their work and their communities.”

An initial campaign in June 2020 designed to respond to the COVID-19 pandemic raised $500,000. A recent follow-up campaign brought in an additional $650,000.

The accounting firm also raised $1.3 million in traditional giving through the BKD Foundation, according to the release.

During fiscal 2020, the firm donated $1.1 million to charitable organizations, said spokesperson Anna Larriu. The donations are funded by employees and partners.