True Partners Consulting Announces New Leadership of West Coast Offices

LOS ANGELES, March 10 /PRNewswire/ -- True Partners Consulting LLC today announced that Managing Director Michael Chen, 35, is being promoted to leader of the firm's San Jose, Calif., office and Managing Director Cathleen Bucholtz, 39, will lead the Los Angeles office and join the Board of Directors for True Partners Consulting. Of the firm's five Board members, Bucholtz was selected as the only employee-representative, in addition to True Partners Consulting Chief Executive Officer Cary McMillan.

In Spring 2009 True Partners opened two satellite offices in California, strengthening its West Coast presence.  The office openings also enhanced the company's ability to meet the growing needs of public companies and private enterprises with significant local operations in need of counsel concerning how to navigate the numerous international, federal and state tax laws and increasingly complex financial and legal regulations. The satellite offices include a Woodland Hills location, which is an extension of the Los Angeles office and led by Bucholtz; and a San Francisco location, which is an extension of the San Jose office and led by Chen. Since last summer the firm has doubled the size of its San Jose office and all together there are now 43 West Coast employees.

"Cathleen and Michael have demonstrated remarkable leadership internally and externally with exemplary client service and engagement in various industry thought leadership venues on behalf of the firm," said McMillan. "We look forward to collaborating with them to further enhance the growth and offerings of our four California offices for our clients and employees."

Bucholtz has been with True Partners since the firm's inception in December 2005. Named Managing Director in 2008 and as national leader for True Partners' Unclaimed Property practice, Bucholtz oversees one of the largest dedicated professional teams in the industry that provides multi-jurisdictional unclaimed property services in the areas of audit defense, voluntary disclosures, comprehensive diagnostic reviews, annual compliance, process improvements, and other customized services to meet client needs. She possesses more than 17 years of experience in both unclaimed property and sales and use tax consulting, including statistical sampling, training client personnel, and identification of planning opportunities.

"I am eager to build on the progress we've made in broadening our network of strategically located offices on the West Coast to meet increasingly complex client needs," said Bucholtz. "The growth is a result of an increased need for service capabilities in the state due to ever changing state laws, new clients, expansion of existing relationships, and referrals.  I look forward to further leveraging my experience with a focus in the region on behalf of our California teams and clients."

Prior to joining True Partners Consulting, Bucholtz was the western region leader for KPMG's Unclaimed Property practice and prior to 2002 she was an integral member of Arthur Andersen's National Unclaimed Property team. Before entering public accounting, Bucholtz worked for the California State Board of Equalization as a senior tax auditor and acting field audit supervisor.

Bucholtz has spoken before numerous trade and professional organizations on the topic of unclaimed property including the Unclaimed Property Professionals Organization (UPPO); American Payroll Association (APA); Institute for Professionals in Taxation (IPT); and the National Business Institute (NBI). Since 2006, Bucholtz has served as the UPPO Education Committee Co-Chair.

A graduate of the University of California in Santa Barbara, Bucholtz earned a bachelor's degree in business economics, and is a licensed Certified Public Accountant (CPA).

Chen, who joined True Partners Consulting five months after the firm's inception, has extensive experience in advising on federal and international tax matters with an emphasis on FAS 109, accounting for income taxes.

Chen advises clients in a variety of industries, including high-tech, pharmaceuticals, leasing, manufacturing, and consumer business. His past and current experiences include consulting on accounting for income taxes, stock based compensation tax implications, Section 382 studies, cross-border transactions, foreign tax credit utilization, and income tax compliance.

"We have had great opportunity to further strengthen our position serving local mid-market companies, especially those in the technology sector with limited or no internal tax resources," said Chen. "I am honored to accept an increased leadership role in the region and help continue steering True Partners Consulting as one of the fastest-growing companies in the tax and business consulting industry," said Chen.

Prior to joining True Partners, Chen held various leadership positions at the "Big Four" and other professional consulting businesses. During that time, Chen was part of a team responsible for cultivating and developing a successful tax practice focusing on mid-market companies. While there, he co-spearheaded the sales and marketing efforts and recruitment of the tax team.

Chen holds a bachelor's degree in accounting from the University of San Francisco. He is a frequent speaker on international taxation, Sarbanes Oxley compliance, and financial reporting at various professional tax seminars and training forums.

About True Partners Consulting LLC

True Partners Consulting is a world-class tax and business advisory firm that helps public and private enterprises navigate complex financial regulations without the Sarbanes-Oxley created conflicts inherent in offering both tax  and audit services.  The firm provides the full scope of tax services, including analysis and counsel concerning the tax impact of business issues such as organic or acquisition-driven growth, filing practices, business restructuring or bankruptcy.  The firm also conducts refund reviews, negotiates tax incentives, analyzes clients' tax exposure and prepares responses to audit inquiries, in addition to helping clients address compliance issues.  True Partners Consulting is one of the leading providers in unclaimed property where they help companies meet the growing compliance and audit burdens in the United States.

The firm has offices in Chicago; New York; Los Angeles; San Jose, Calif.; Tampa, Fla.; Boston; and London.  There are also member firms with headquarters in the following cities:  Paris, France; Turin, Italy; Barcelona, Spain; Beijing and Hong Kong, China; Singapore; Munich, Germany; and Amsterdam, The Netherlands; through the True Partners Consulting International Network.  Find additional information at www.tpctax.com

SOURCE True Partners Consulting LLC