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Get To Know GBQ

An Accounting Firm Driven By Heart & Expertise

At GBQ, we empower growth — growth of our people, our communities, and our clients’ businesses.  

As a Top 100 tax, accounting, and consulting firm, we’re more than the sum of our services. We’re driven by outcomes that help our people flourish, our communities thrive, and our clients grow stronger businesses. That’s what matters. It’s what gets us out of bed every day. It’s why we exist. 

Here Are A Few Of Qualities That Make GBQ  Unique

We Believe That Personal Is Better Than Big

We believe in growth. And not just revenue growth, but the growth of our people, communities, and the clients we serve. We know that when our people flourish, our communities can thrive, and our clients' businesses can grow. We’ve learned that this is what really matters to our stakeholders. It’s the path of greatest returns; it is the business we are truly in.

A Mission & Vision That Propels The Industry Forward

When our vision, mission, and purpose are in alignment, our employees can be their best selves, our communities are stronger, our clients are more successful, and everybody is more engaged and profitable. 

Our Vision

Business is a force for good in the world; it creates jobs, builds communities, and changes lives.

Our Mission

We empower growth by creating, measuring, and protecting value.

Our Purpose

At GBQ, we empower growth; growth of our people, our communities, and our clients' businesses.

A Culture Of Collaboration
At GBQ, you’ll find a culture built on collaboration, not competition. Where asking questions is encouraged. Where your ideas matter, regardless of your title. Where work-life balance isn’t just a buzzword, it’s how we operate. We’re diverse in background, experience, and perspective. We’re united in purpose. And we’re committed to building a firm that reflects the communities we serve.
Diversity, Equity & Inclusion
GBQ aims to empower people to reach their full potential, regardless of race, sexual orientation, religion, age, gender, disability, or any other indication of diversity. By embracing our differences, we are pushed to grow, understand, and respect one another. Because of this, we will always remain committed to being an inclusive workplace where diversity is valued and celebrated.
Compliance & Ethics
In everything we do, we demonstrate our commitment to empowering growth through sound business practices. Our governance structures, policies and processes promote a culture of accountability and ethical conduct while supporting our commitment to addressing global challenges through our core business.
Community Minded
GBQ is deeply committed to community involvement, empowering growth in the Ohio regions we serve, including Columbus, Cincinnati, and Toledo. As a leading tax, accounting, and consulting firm, we believe in giving back through meaningful partnerships, volunteerism, and philanthropy.

Alliances Rooted In Excellence

At GBQ Partners, we create solid relationships built on trust and transparency.

BDO Alliance USA

BDO Alliance USA Member | GBQ PartnersWe are an independent member of the BDO Alliance USA, a nationwide association of independently owned local and regional accounting, consulting, and service firms with similar client service goals. The BDO Alliance USA presents an opportunity for firms to expand services to clients without jeopardizing our existing relationships or our autonomy by accessing the resources of the BDO Alliance USA, a subsidiary of BDO USA, P.A., and other Alliance members. The BDO Alliance USA was developed to provide Member firms with an alternative strategy for gaining competitive advantage in the face of a changing business landscape. The Alliance represents an opportunity for BDO to enhance relationships with reputable firms that share a mutual business understanding.

Gryphon Financial Partners

Gryphon Financial Partners | GBQ Partners | AlliancesIn 2023, GBQ formed a strategic partnership with Gryphon Financial Partners, a comprehensive wealth management firm. The partnership expands GBQ’s service offerings to bring comprehensive, integrated financial planning and wealth management solutions to current and prospective clients.

The Siekmann Company

siekmann-web-logo-300x94-1In 2021, GBQ formed a joint venture with The Siekmann Company, a leading provider of retirement and employee benefit plans for small to mid-sized businesses. The joint venture expands GBQ’s service offerings to bring fully integrated business planning and consulting capabilities to current and prospective clients and gives Siekmann a broader reach into the middle market, in addition to establishing a geographic footprint outside of central Ohio.

Talentcrowd
image-2-300x90In 2025, Talentcrowd became part of the GBQ family, dedicated to empowering growth through comprehensive business technology solutions, talent acquisition, and workforce solutions. As a result of this partnership, GBQ can now offer clients project management office (PMO), change management, IT/DevOps program evaluation, cloud architecture, data governance and architecture, AI vision and risk management, process improvement, software development, and Microsoft remediation services.
GBQ By The Numbers
300+
Associates
120+
CPAs
73
Years In Business
2,000+
Hours Spent Giving Back To Our Communities Annually
Press Releases | News & Announcements | GBQ Partners
Press Room
We're making headlines! Discover what GBQ Partners and our employees are doing locally, regionally, nationally, and across the globe. 
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Accolades & Awards | Ohio CPA Firm | GBQ Partners
Accolades
We try to stay humble, but sometimes we need to share just how proud we are when other highly reputable organizations recognize the work we do.
Check Out Our Accolades
Community Involvement | Ohio CPA Firm | GBQ Partners
Community Involvement
Empowering growth of our communities means committing to the organizations that make our communities thrive for everybody. We are proud of the work our team members do for their local nonprofit organizations, and we are proud to give our associates the opportunities to give back in ways that make sense for them. In addition to inviting GBQ team members to participate in firm-sponsored initiatives, every employee gets 8 hours of volunteer time off (VTO) to give back by rolling up their sleeves and taking part in the initiatives that make our communities thrive.
Learn About Our Community Involvement

A Legacy Of Empowering Growth

Since our inception, GBQ has been driven by a mission to empower the growth of our clients and communities, a vision that remains unchanged. While we’ve grown in size and scope over the years, our core values and commitment to our people have stayed constant.

1950s
  • 1953 - Morris W. Groner moves from New York to Columbus to establish his own accounting firm on East Main Street with his wife (and first associate!) Ruth.
  • 1957 - Jack Boyle (from Price Waterhouse) joins Morris in practice.
1960s
  • 1966
    • Ron Quillin (from Ernst & Ernst) joins Morris and Jack, and the firm name evolves to Groner Boyle & Quillin.
  • 1969
    • Firm purchases building and moves offices to 957 East Broad Street.
1970s
  • 1976
    • GBQ produces its first newsletter, brochure, and radio ad.
  • 1979
    • Jack Boyle is named the firm's first official Managing Partner.
1980s
  • 1980
    • GBQ helps form Practice Management Associates, one of the first practice management associations in the country for CPA firms.
    • Morris Groner retires from the firm.
  • 1981
    • GBQ begins delivery of green bagels on St. Patrick’s Day.
  • 1985
    • GBQ admits first female Partner, Kathy Nunamaker.
  • 1986
    • GBQ joins the DFK Association.
1990s
  • 1990
    • GBQ moves its office to 500 South Front Street in Columbus’ Brewery District.
  • 1991
    • Jack Boyle retires, and Ron Quillin is named Managing Partner.
  • 1995
    • GBQ organizes and sponsors the first Goodwill Great Balls of Fire Golf Tournament.
  • 1996
    • Ron Quillin retires, and Wade Kozich is named Managing Director.
    • GBQ becomes an independent member of the BDO Alliance USA.
    • GBQ acquires the Columbus office of Cleveland-based Meaden & Moore.
  • 1998
    • GBQ adds 10 associates from the Columbus office of Cleveland-based Ciuni & Panichi.
  • 1999
    • The firm name is officially changed from Groner Boyle & Quillin to GBQ Partners LLC.
2000s
  • 2000
    • GBQ is honored by Goodwill Columbus at the Extraordinary People Luncheon.
    • Mark LaPlace is named Chair of the Ohio Society of CPAs Board.
    • GBQ makes its first appearance as an INSIDE Public Accounting Best of the Best Firm.
  • 2003
    • GBQ celebrates 50 years in business.
  • 2004
    • GBQ hires its first Director of Business Development, Rick Kondoff.
  • 2005
    • GBQ Partners LLC reorganizes, forming GBQ Holdings and four subsidiaries.
    • GBQ Consulting officially organizes and launches, providing valuation and litigation support services.
  • 2006
    • GBQ surpasses 100 associates for the first time in the firm’s history.
  • 2007
    • GBQ acquires the valuation arm of Goelzer Investment Banking of Indianapolis, IN, establishing GBQ’s first office outside of Ohio.
    • This year marks the first time GBQ is named to the Columbus Business First's Best Places to Work list
  • 2008
    • GBQ Capital is formed to provide merger & acquisition services.
    • GBQ moves its offices from 500 S. Front Street to a new space at 230 West Street in Columbus’ Arena District.
2010s
  • 2010
    • Darci Congrove is named Managing Director.
    • GBQ receives the Columbus CEO Best of Business award for the first time.
    • GBQ is named among the Top 200 Firms by INSIDE Public Accounting.
  • 2011
    • GBQ acquires Condit and Associates LLC.
  • 2013
    • GBQ celebrates 60 years in business.
    • GBQ is noted among the nation’s top five Fastest-Growing Firms by INSIDE Public Accounting.
    • GBQ is recognized for the first time as a Wonderful Workplace for Columbus Young Professionals by the Columbus Young Professionals Club.
    • Columbus Business First recognizes GBQ as a Healthiest Employer.
  • 2014
    • GBQ receives a Columbus Business First Corporate Caring Award in the Human Services category.
    • GBQ is recognized as the only two-time winner of the Torch Awards for Ethics by the Better Business Bureau® of Central Ohio (2014 &  2022).
  • 2015
    • GBQ is the Acquisition International 2015 Independent Accounting Firm of the Year and Best in Sector: Financial Services.
  • 2016
    • GBQ acquires Cincinnati-based Ernst & Rabe.
    • Ohio Business Magazine names GBQ a Best Workplace in Ohio for the first time.
    • GBQ is a recipient of the Medical Mutual Pillar Award for Community Service.
  • 2017
    • Tom Powers is named Director of Assurance Services and takes over as the head of GBQ’s audit practice.
    • GBQ expands in Cincinnati and moves from Wooster Road to a new space at 4030 Smith Road in Rookwood.
    • GBQ’s valuation practice ranks #1 in the INSIDE Public Accounting annual survey.
    • Bob Biehl receives the Builders Exchange of Central Ohio President’s Award.
    • Cincinnati Business Courier recognizes GBQ as a Best Places to Work.
  • 2018
    • Tim Schlotterer is named Director of Tax Services and takes over as the head of the firm’s tax department.
    • Bob Biehl is awarded the Institute of Certified Construction Industry Professionals Vision and Leadership Award.
  • 2019
    • GBQ is a Construction Executive Top 50 Construction Accounting Firm.
    • Darci Congrove is inducted into the YWCA Women of Achievement Academy.
2020s
  • 2020
    • GBQ acquires Toledo-based Weber Clark.
    • Forbes names GBQ among its lists of America’s Best Tax and Accounting Firms for the first time.
  • 2021
    • GBQ enters joint venture with The Siekmann Company.
    • Ohio Business Magazine names GBQ a Best in Ohio Business.
    • The (Toledo) Blade recognized GBQ among the Toledo area’s Top Work Places for the first time.
  • 2022
    • GBQ acquires Cincinnati-based Wade Werner Thompson & Co. GBQ enters a strategic partnership with ProNovos, a cloud-based construction software provider.
    • Accounting Today names GBQ among the top five Firms to Watch and is recognized as a Great Lakes Regional Leader for the first time.
    • GBQ acquires Toledo-based VZN Group, LLC.
    • GBQ announces the addition of TJ Conger and his team of tax and accounting professionals.
    • Callahan & Associates recognizes GBQ as a leading firm in Ohio and among the nation’s top 20 credit union audit firms.
  • 2023
    • Ohio Business features GBQ as a recipient of the Ohio Success Award.
    • GBQ debuts among Accounting Today‘s Top 100 Firms.
    • GBQ is named a Best in Cincy Business by Cincy Magazine.
  • 2024
    • GBQ is recognized as a Premier Workplace for Emerging Talent as determined by the Columbus Young Professionals Club.
    • Managing Partner Darci Congrove is honored in Forbes' inaugural Top 200 CPAs list, as well as one of Ohio's most powerful and influential leaders by Ohio Business magazine's "Ohio 500."
    • The firm acquires Lillie & Company and Lillie Resource Group, becoming the third largest credit union CPA firm in the nation and the largest credit union firm in Ohio by total credit union client assets.
    • GBQ acquires the Cincinnati CPA firm Wirth Lowe Wissemeier CPAs, Inc. (WLW).
  • 2025
    • GBQ acquires Talentcrowd and is equipped to offer a full-scale business technology solution to clients.
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