Craig, Fitzsimmons & Michaels, LLP -  Advisors to the Not for Profit Community

Ever since we engaged your firm, we have had a very comfortable feeling and welcome the counsel and recommendations of your staff. Your letter enlightened us here at Franciscan Mission Associates of your staff's ongoing professional development and adherence to the many legal and ethical requirements of both our industries.

—Madeline Bonnici,
Executive Director, Franciscan Mission Associates

About Us

Our Team - The People of CF&M

David P. Fitzsimmons, CPA Allison Alzheimer
Robert R. Craig, CPA Andrew Melton, CPA
Dennis Michaels, CPA Cheryl Trube
John W. Verry, CCSE, CISA, CISSP George D. Baron
Mosi Platt, CISA, CCNA Conrad R. Sump, CPA (Retired)
Susan Hall, CPA Theresa Salimbene

David P. Fitzsimmons, CPA – David has served the not-for-profit community since 1984. During his career David has served as the Secretary and technical advisor of the New York State Society of CPA’s Exempt Organizations Committee. This Committee is charged with providing continuing education and advice regarding tax and legal issues affecting the not-for-profit community. David has provided for the accounting and general business needs of religious orders of men and women, including the development of financial plans for funding retirement and health care needs. David has also aided in the development of investment policies and objectives for many religious communities.

A partial listing of David’s current clientele with 501(c)(3) organizations includes:

  • The Paulist Fathers
  • Franciscan Missions Associates
  • Missionaries of Africa
  • Our Lady of Victory Homes of Charity
  • Redemptorist Fathers Perpetual Help Center

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Robert R. Craig, CPA – Robert has continually served the not-for-profit sector since 1985. Robert has comprehensive knowledge of the accounting standards governing not-for-profits, best practices in managing and governing not-for-profits and has spent a significant portion of his professional career advising clients on ways they might best meet those objectives common to every legitimate business entity, those being:

  • Accuracy in financial reporting
  • Compliance with laws and regulations
  • Efficiency and effectiveness in operations  

Robert is a highly sought after author and speaker on accounting and financial issues related to not-for-profit organizations. Robert currently serves on the Suffolk County Chapter of the NYSSCPA’s Not-for-Profit and Governmental Accounting Committee. Additionally, he serves the following not-for-profit boards either as a director or financial advisor:

  • Congregation of the Mission (the Vicentians) Eastern Province:
    • Finance Board
    • Legal and Audit subcommittee
    • Budget committee
    • Human Resources subcommittee
  • Central Association of the Miraculous Medal:
    • Fund Raising Advisory Board
    • Investment Advisory Board
    • Gift Acceptance Advisory Board
  • Society of Missionaries of Africa:
    • Fund Raising Advisory Board
  • Christopher O’Connell Memorial Scholarship Fund:
    • Treasurer

A partial listing of Robert’s current clientele with 501(c)(3) organizations includes:

  • The United States Province of the Missionary Oblates of Mary Immaculate  (The Oblates)
  • The Catholic Foreign Mission Society of America (Maryknoll)
  • The Holy Childhood Association (a Pontifical Organization)
  • The Catholic Press Association

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Dennis Michaels, CPA – Dennis brings value from his unique knowledge of direct mail fund raising and marketing. Additionally, he is intimately familiar with the filing requirements for charitable gift annuity programs in New York, Wisconsin, Oregon and Florida. Based upon this knowledge and experience Dennis is an expert in tax related matters and possible annuity filings.

A partial listing of Dennis’ current clientele with similar engagements, all 501(c)(3) includes:

  • The Southwest Indian Foundation
  • The Dominican Sisters of Hope
  • World Villages for Children (f/k/a Asian Relief)

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John W. Verry, CCSE, CISA, CISSP – John has five years experience working with our firm and over fifteen years of hands-on, on-site information systems consulting which he continues to provide through our strategic partner Pivot Point Security. John has a diverse experience across multiple disciplines includes; Application Development, Database Development, Network Architecture, Information Security, and Controls Auditing. Experience developing information security architectures and control environments for organizations ranging to F50 extensively versed in developing security event management solutions for forensics and audit compliance. John has served as the IT audit lead on dozens of GAAS engagements, IT auditing and penetration testing engagements across diverse environments including; NPO, SME, F100, educational, and governmental. Special Instructor to the New Jersey IT Centers on Information Security. John has been a featured CNET columnist on Information Security and auditing. John is a graduate of Stevens Institute of Technology, holding a Bachelor of Engineering degree.

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Mosi Platt, CISA, CCNA – Mosi is an IT auditor with over five years of hands-on, on-site Information systems auditing and consulting experience, Mosi will serve as a valued member of our audit team. His experience includes design, installation, troubleshooting of critical network infrastructures through enterprise class networks. Mosi has a specialization in Windows Infrastructures and RDBMS. Mosi is regularly engaged in Information Systems Auditing (HIPAA, Sarbanes Oxley, and SAS-94). Mosi has expertise in the COBIT framework. Acted as technical lead in multiple Audit Compliance engagements wherein Enterprise Class customers sought to leverage a Security Information Management system to provide compliance reports in support of audit requirements. Educational background includes; Florida A&M University (Architecture), University of Delaware (Communications), NJ IT Centers (NW Admin, Oracle).

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Susan Hall, CPA – Since 2000 Susan has been working with our firm; providing audit, internal control assessment, general business consultations and accounting services to our not-for-profit clients. Prior to joining our firm, Susan worked in the banking and non-profit sectors. With her experience in fund raising, financial development, banking administration and public accounting, Susan is viewed as a valuable resource by every one of her clients. Susan has an uncanny ability to identify weaknesses in control structures, and is able to present these as opportunities for improvement rather than shortcomings. One of her many attributes is that she is able to convey her recommendations in a clear and compassionate manner that truly adds value to every relationship. Susan is a member of the New York State Society of Certified Public Accountants (NYSSCPA), the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants (AICPA) and recently became an associate member of the Association of Certified Fraud Examiners (ACFE). She earned a Bachelor of Science degree from Mount Saint Mary’s College in NY and has a certification as a Computer Systems Analyst from Marist College. She often shares her knowledge of auditing and accounting practices related to the not-for-profit industry with informal client site workshops and educational visits.

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Allison Alzheimer – Allison began working for our firm nine years ago and has worked for us both in the field and internal positions with our firm two years ago. Allison supports our audit efforts remotely, providing technological and logistical support from our NY office. Additionally, Allison provides quality assurance working on the “wrap up” of audit engagements after the field work is completed; ensuring working paper documentation is up to our firm’s quality standards. Allison normally works on training of new audit staff prior to placement in the field.

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Andrew Melton, CPA – Andrew, our other new team member, hails from Detroit, Michigan. He comes to us with over twenty years of experience, more than sixteen of which were in governmental and non-profit sector. During his career, Andrew has provided auditing, accounting, tax and management consulting services to a diverse group of clients including community service organizations, government agencies, churches, manufacturing companies, construction companies, real estate, food service and retail entities.

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Cheryl Trube – Cheryl has recently joined our firm as a staff accountant. Cheryl will be serving our many not for profit and local government clients in various capacities. She is highly motivated, eager to learn and looking forward to assisting the Partners in the performance of audit engagements. As well, she will be helping Allison, providing accounting, tax and management consulting services. Cheryl will be sitting for the CPA exam in the near future; we wish her the best of luck as she begins what we hope will be a long career in public accounting.

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George D. Baron – George is a Certified Public Accountant, licensed to practice in New York State.  His service to our firm includes audit report review, audit planning and research.  He retired as a supervising field examiner from the New York State Comptroller’s Office after 37 years of service.  This office conducts examinations of the financial affairs of local governments located on Long Island.  The scope of these examinations included financial condition and compliance with laws and regulations.

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Conrad R. Sump, CPA (Retired) – Conrad is a Graduate of Gettysburg College and holds his MBA in Accounting from NYU’s Stern School of Business. Conrad founded the firm of Conrad R. Sump & Company in 1964 and was responsible for the day to day management and building of the practice for nearly 40 years. Conrad hired, supervised and trained each of the current partners of the firm. Conrad instilled a “culture of care” at the firm; building the practice based upon on a deep devotion and commitment to his clients.

This commitment continues today. We have built upon Conrad’s legacy, continuing to inform and guide our clients, putting their needs first. Conrad navigated the successful transition of Conrad R. Sump & Company to Craig, Fitzsimmons & Michaels, LLP.  In doing so, Conrad proved that by developing a team of dedicated professionals skilled in providing the highest quality service and personal attention to their clients, a highly specialized firm can continue to grow and prosper in an ever contracting marketplace.

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Theresa Salimbene – We are proud to announce that after a nearly 3 year absence, Theresa Salimbene rejoined our staff in 2006 on a part time basis.  For over 20 years Theresa served our clients in a multitude of capacities.  It would be very difficult to classify her function and duties within the firm as she provided both internal and outsourced (external) administrative services for our smaller clients.  Needless to say, Theresa is a valued employee and we are happy to have her back as part of the CF&M family.

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