Small Business Shared Interest Group

IMA25 was SO amazing and inspiring!  It was  great to meet so many fellow SIG members in person and truly connect. The event far exceeded my expectations, and I cannot wait for Tampa in 2026! 

My personal priority this year is to get to know the many members who were not in attendance.  We have been discussing ways to increase participation in this group, and one of the biggest challenges is that we don't know much about YOU!

 If you see this message, please drop a comment with your job title or role and your industry. Are you an accountant, Controller, CFO, small business owner, accounting firm, tax specialist, etc? Please include title, industry, and any other information that might help us gear content towards your needs.This is very informal, and we will kick off a few more formal surveys this year. Please also feel free to start your own post. 
I can't wait to meet you!

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Jennifer Pinder, MBA, CMA
Controller
Watchdog USA, LLC
Philadelphia, PA
United States
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I'm a fractional CFO and accounting department for several businesses. Those businesses include:

Managed IT Service Provider

Cloud Storage Provider

Custom Electronics Manufacturer

Landscapers

Law Firms

Ground Transportation (Black Car Services and Van/Shuttle/Bus Rentals)

HVAC repair and coatings

Real Estate Broker Office

Dog Training Services

Property Management Company

Condo Association

Churches

Non-Profit Organizations

I also have several former clients as well in other industries.

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David Belnap, CMA, CSCA, CPA
David.Belnap@...
Pembroke Pines, FL
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Controller in the real estate industry; Small business owner of a hobby farm & cottage food bakery business in my spare time. 

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Jennifer Pinder, MBA, CMA
Controller
Watchdog USA, LLC
Philadelphia, PA
United States
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Controller
Baker Book House Company/Baker Publishing Group
Ada, MI
USA
I also previously worked in public accounting in a multitude of industries. 

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Kristina Golliver CMA
Controller
Rockford MI
United States
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Jenifer Wyss, CPA

Financial Accounting Standards Board (FASB), Supervising Project Manager and Private Company Council (PCC) Coordinator

Norwalk, CT

Previously was a partner at a public accounting firm

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Jenifer Wyss
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What a fantastic post, @Jennifer Pinder !! 🙌 I wasn’t able to attend due to some ongoing family parent health matters ❤️‍🩹, but thanks to all of you sharing your photos, videos, and reflections, I truly felt like I was part of the event 🙏✨ The feedback has been absolutely glowing, no surprise there!!

I’m beyond grateful that our team was there, it really felt like “we went” together. 💪💙

👔 I’m currently CFO at a startup in the hospitality space, overseeing a multi-million real estate acquisition in the resort sector.

💼 I also work on ultra-high-net-worth tax strategy for a private family

and proudly serve on the Board of Florence-Darlington Technical College.

💚 And of course, I’m deeply involved with IMA at several levels, collaborating with all of you amazing folks!

🐾 On the personal side: I’m a single guy living in beautiful South Carolina with my awesome dog, Aries 🐶. I’m into biohacking 🧠🧬, hiking 🌿, and soaking in all things outdoors.

Yay us!!! LOL 😄🌟

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Ilya Ilienko, dual MBA, CPA, CMA
Board Member / Director
East Coast - United States
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Let's keep this post going so we can learn more about who is in our small business community!  Please drop a comment with your job title/role and your industry. Are you an accountant, Controller, CFO, small business owner, accounting firm, tax specialist, etc? Please include title, industry, and any other information that might help us gear content towards your needs. This is very informal, and we will kick off a few more formal surveys this year. Please also feel free to start your own post on topics related to small business. 

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Jennifer Pinder, MBA, CMA
Controller
Watchdog USA, LLC
Philadelphia, PA
United States
------------------------------

Dear all,

CMA since 1988 I volunteered in various IMA roles in Asia Europe chapters and Global Board.   

After retiring from the shipping/logistics working abroad I am currently "home" in the Netherlands focusing on our family business; a publisher of local small town weekly newspapers.

Interested in topics like sustainability, performance management, pension fund governance and supporting startups in supply chain and blockchain next to keeping fit thru slowpitch softball and cycling.

Nice to meet u!

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Robert Mars CMA
rob@...
Oegstgeest
Netherlands
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Original Message:
Sent: 07-07-2025 07:19 PM
From: Jennifer Pinder
Subject: Is anybody out there? :)

Let's keep this post going so we can learn more about who is in our small business community!  Please drop a comment with your job title/role and your industry. Are you an accountant, Controller, CFO, small business owner, accounting firm, tax specialist, etc? Please include title, industry, and any other information that might help us gear content towards your needs. This is very informal, and we will kick off a few more formal surveys this year. Please also feel free to start your own post on topics related to small business. 

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Jennifer Pinder, MBA, CMA
Controller
Watchdog USA, LLC
Philadelphia, PA
United States
------------------------------

Good Morning!  I am the owner of my own Accounting business.  I also work as the Financial Controller for a Biotech company.  I fill many roles for my clients ranging from bookkeeper, HR, payroll, controller, Treasurer and CFO.  

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Jennifer Cargo CPA, CMA, CRFAC, CSCA
Business Owner
Pottstown PA
United States
------------------------------

Original Message:
Sent: 07-07-2025 07:19 PM
From: Jennifer Pinder
Subject: Is anybody out there? :)

Let's keep this post going so we can learn more about who is in our small business community!  Please drop a comment with your job title/role and your industry. Are you an accountant, Controller, CFO, small business owner, accounting firm, tax specialist, etc? Please include title, industry, and any other information that might help us gear content towards your needs. This is very informal, and we will kick off a few more formal surveys this year. Please also feel free to start your own post on topics related to small business. 

------------------------------
Jennifer Pinder, MBA, CMA
Controller
Watchdog USA, LLC
Philadelphia, PA
United States
------------------------------

I'm an Controller/Office Manager/HR Manager for a Family Owned & Operated Ford/Stellantis Dealership. I have been in this position for 8.5 years now. 

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Samuel Smith, MBA,CMA
Controller/Office Manager/HR Manager
Kirksville, MO
United States
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All of these responses about your roles and industry are GREAT!  Keep them coming!!!  

Quite a few of you are responding privately to me. If you are not too shy, please respond to the group so we can all get to know each other a little better and kick off some interesting conversations!  I love hearing about everyone's interesting roles and where you are from! 

Here is a picture of my latest baby chicks for attention. I am up to 26 chickens now, and no, we do not eat them!  They are well-loved and spoiled pets, and we eat and sell their eggs. Running a tiny farm and cottage food bakery is my side business when I am not at my Controller job. :)

Here is a picture of my chickens for attention.

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Jennifer Pinder, MBA, CMA
Controller
Watchdog USA, LLC
Philadelphia, PA
United States
------------------------------

I encourage cuteness from everyone!

I looove the little chickies @Jennifer Pinder - so adorable!    You also have a YouTube where there are many many pretty snapshots of not only cuteness but also serene relaxing environments for those of us that are into gardening, nature, home farms, and animals.

Adds to the liveliness and humanity of this thread - YEY us!!!

😁

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Ilya Ilienko, dual MBA, CPA, CMA
Board Member / Director
East Coast - United States
------------------------------

Original Message:
Sent: 07-08-2025 05:15 PM
From: Jennifer Pinder
Subject: Is anybody out there? :)

All of these responses about your roles and industry are GREAT!  Keep them coming!!!  

Quite a few of you are responding privately to me. If you are not too shy, please respond to the group so we can all get to know each other a little better and kick off some interesting conversations!  I love hearing about everyone's interesting roles and where you are from! 

Here is a picture of my latest baby chicks for attention. I am up to 26 chickens now, and no, we do not eat them!  They are well-loved and spoiled pets, and we eat and sell their eggs. Running a tiny farm and cottage food bakery is my side business when I am not at my Controller job. :)

Here is a picture of my chickens for attention.

------------------------------
Jennifer Pinder, MBA, CMA
Controller
Watchdog USA, LLC
Philadelphia, PA
United States
------------------------------

I'm a Finance Associate at a growing childcare startup. I've been in this role for 2 years now. 

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Sindhuja Selvakumar CMA
Analyst
Coimbatore TN
India
------------------------------

Original Message:
Sent: 07-08-2025 05:15 PM
From: Jennifer Pinder
Subject: Is anybody out there? :)

All of these responses about your roles and industry are GREAT!  Keep them coming!!!  

Quite a few of you are responding privately to me. If you are not too shy, please respond to the group so we can all get to know each other a little better and kick off some interesting conversations!  I love hearing about everyone's interesting roles and where you are from! 

Here is a picture of my latest baby chicks for attention. I am up to 26 chickens now, and no, we do not eat them!  They are well-loved and spoiled pets, and we eat and sell their eggs. Running a tiny farm and cottage food bakery is my side business when I am not at my Controller job. :)

Here is a picture of my chickens for attention.

------------------------------
Jennifer Pinder, MBA, CMA
Controller
Watchdog USA, LLC
Philadelphia, PA
United States
------------------------------

Hi all! This was my first year attending the IMA annual conference and I found the sessions really insightful. It was a busy couple of days, but I learned some great tips and also gave me a push towards making new goals and really trying to develop my own skills. I work as a Controller for a small to mid-size privately owned Land Surveying company in the PNW and Arizona. I have been at this company for a little over 4 years. I was the first administrative hire for this growing company. There was about 25 employees and 4 offices when I started, and we now have over 70 employees and 6 offices with remote employees in Idaho and Montana.  There has been a ton of growth and it's been hard to keep up at times. We have since hired more administrative staff, but still often feel like we are down 1 person and need more help.

As the Controller I also manage the HR department, and between Accounting and HR, we are a team of 3 (Controller, Project Accountant, HR Generalist), so information on how to integrate software and AI to expedite processes is HUGE for me since we run on fumes most of the time. I find that I am contacted by a lot of different software companies, but it's very hard to take that leap of faith, so 1. seeing vendors there and being able to chat and hear how they integrate with different ERPs and 2. hearing other people in sessions talk about the tools they use and how much they love them is really helpful in pointing me in the right direction of where to start looking. I also found it helpful to hear about different roles within organizations and what they do/how they do it, that was part of what helped me align some of my goals within my own organization. I have been building this accounting department from the ground up essentially on my own, so connecting with others outside of my organization (especially those who have been through a similar experience) is going to be very helpful. Very glad to have found this community and hope to continue to benefit from engaging and attending conferences. 

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Amanda Tramposh
Controller
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@Amanda Renee Lynn Cook Hi! 👋

Thanks for the wonderful writeup, gives insight into the view of your world. Lots of hats and lots of moving pieces with scaling.

Lots f experienced members here and we hope to intersect thorough the many channels of our volunteering with each other! 😎

Tnx.

ilya i.

https://www.linkedin.com/in/ilya-ilienko/

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Ilya Ilienko, dual MBA, CPA, CMA
Board Member / Director
East Coast - United States
------------------------------

Original Message:
Sent: 07-09-2025 11:26 AM
From: Amanda Tramposh
Subject: Is anybody out there? :)

Hi all! This was my first year attending the IMA annual conference and I found the sessions really insightful. It was a busy couple of days, but I learned some great tips and also gave me a push towards making new goals and really trying to develop my own skills. I work as a Controller for a small to mid-size privately owned Land Surveying company in the PNW and Arizona. I have been at this company for a little over 4 years. I was the first administrative hire for this growing company. There was about 25 employees and 4 offices when I started, and we now have over 70 employees and 6 offices with remote employees in Idaho and Montana.  There has been a ton of growth and it's been hard to keep up at times. We have since hired more administrative staff, but still often feel like we are down 1 person and need more help.

As the Controller I also manage the HR department, and between Accounting and HR, we are a team of 3 (Controller, Project Accountant, HR Generalist), so information on how to integrate software and AI to expedite processes is HUGE for me since we run on fumes most of the time. I find that I am contacted by a lot of different software companies, but it's very hard to take that leap of faith, so 1. seeing vendors there and being able to chat and hear how they integrate with different ERPs and 2. hearing other people in sessions talk about the tools they use and how much they love them is really helpful in pointing me in the right direction of where to start looking. I also found it helpful to hear about different roles within organizations and what they do/how they do it, that was part of what helped me align some of my goals within my own organization. I have been building this accounting department from the ground up essentially on my own, so connecting with others outside of my organization (especially those who have been through a similar experience) is going to be very helpful. Very glad to have found this community and hope to continue to benefit from engaging and attending conferences. 

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Amanda Tramposh
Controller
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IMA25 was awesome!!! It was great in meeting so many new faces and learning about the recent trends in finance!

It was my first year to attend and I don't plan on missing out in the future! Tampa 2026 here we come!

Big shout out to @Jennifer Pinder for starting this post!

Jamie Peters, CMA, CPA, CGMA

CFO

Summertown Metals

Summertown, TN

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Jamie Peters CMA,CPA,CGMA
Chief Financial Officer
Spring Hill TN
United States
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I agree with you @Jamie Peters - @Jennifer Pinder started an awesome friendly, get-to-know your fellow IMA and Special Interest Group member thread!  While you and I never met Jamie, I heard good things! 👍

Thank you for being a vocal part of our community!⭐

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Ilya Ilienko, dual MBA, CPA, CMA
Board Member / Director
East Coast - United States
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