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From Fairways to a Founder

From Fairways to a Founder

Unique CPA Featured Image Ep 195 Brian Floriani - From Fairways to a Founder - Tri-Merit

A Charitable Drive with Brian Floriani

Randy Crabtree hosts Brian Floriani on a special Episode 195 of The Unique CPA. The founder of Bernie’s Book Bank, Brian shares his moving story behind how he founded the organization in memory of his father, with the goal of addressing educational inequity through book ownership. Brian discusses the significant impact of providing books to under-resourced communities and reveals that a small increase in literacy could dramatically boost the economy. He highlights the organization’s achievements in Chicagoland, their expansion plans, and their commitment to efficient and sustainable operations.

About the Guest

Floriani - From Fairways to a Founder - Tri-MeritBrian Floriani is the Founder of Bernie’s Book Bank. He established Bernie’s Book Bank in 2009 to empower children to through book ownership in memory of his father, Dr. Bernard P. Floriani.

Brian was a lead instructor for Golf Digest Schools in Lake Tahoe and West Palm Beach when he abruptly left his job to become a reading paraprofessional. The sudden death of his father, a self-made man who attributed his success to access to books, inspired him to do something different with his life. Brian spent every day working with struggling readers. And while he was able to help each one individually, he realized that his efforts were not doing anything to prepare young readers. Brian began to envision a business that would pour children’s books into under-served homes and allow children to read their way to a better life. He began collecting children’s books in his garage and distributed them in age-appropriate bags to local children. And thus, Bernie’s Book Bank was born.

Brian served as Executive Director of Bernie’s Book Bank until 2018 when he transitioned into the role of Chief Advancement Officer. In his current role he builds Bernie’s Book Bank by cultivating strategic relationships with partners across all industries.

Meet the Host

Randy Crabtree, CPA

randy crabtreeRandy Crabtree, co-founder and partner of Tri-Merit Specialty Tax Professionals, is a widely followed author, lecturer and podcast host for the accounting profession.

Since 2019, he has hosted the “The Unique CPA,” podcast, which ranks among the world’s 5% most popular programs (Source: Listen Score). You can find articles from Randy in Accounting Today’s Voices column, the AICPA Tax Adviser (Tax-saving opportunities for the housing and construction industries) and he is a regular presenter at conferences and virtual training events hosted by CPAmerica, Prime Global, Leading Edge Alliance (LEA), Allinial Global and several state CPA societies. Crabtree also provides continuing professional education to top 100 CPA firms across the country.

Schaumburg, Illinois-based Tri-Merit is a niche professional services firm that specializes in helping CPAs and their clients benefit from R&D tax credits, cost segregation, the energy efficient commercial buildings deduction (179D), the energy efficient home credit (45L) and the employee retention credit (ERC).

Prior to joining Tri-Merit, Crabtree was managing partner of a CPA firm in the greater Chicago area. He has more than 30 years of public accounting and tax consulting experience in a wide variety of industries, and has worked closely with top executives to help them optimize their tax planning strategies.

   

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