My long-time friend and occasional business partner, Brent Goodfellow, recently got some great press from another friend of mine, Scott Cytron, over at Accounting Software 411. You can click here to read the article on its original site --- or, since Scott generously allowed me to re-publish, you can simply read what follows.
Thanks, Scott, for such nice words about a really great guy.
gll
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Ideas in Motion: Brent Goodfellow Offers Technical Advice Through Experience
By Scott H. Cytron, ABC
I recently opened up a copy of the CPA Technology Advisor, thumbed through the publication to scan the reviews and 
articles, and found Brent Goodfellow’s latest Accountant Tech-Talk column, whose topic was about technology and change. A quick read set my mind spinning: Could this CPA, who is also a specialist in a number of areas, be that up to speed on technology … and, actually write?
Turns out Brent’s no one-hit wonder, but a recurring columnist for that publication, a technology consultant with two companies and a very busy person with many industry-related activities.
His full-time gig is serving as managing partner of One Tech, LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of BKR Fordham Goodfellow, LLP, both of which are based in Portland, Ore. Through One Tech, Brent and his associates provide the firm and its clients a full range of technology services, including technology assessment planning, hardware and software procurement, network services, telephony, HIPAA compliance, and maintenance and support.
In addition to obtaining his credential as a Certified Information Technology Professional (CITP) though the AICPA, Brent also holds three designations from Microsoft, its Microsoft Certified Systems Engineer (MCSE), Microsoft Certified Systems Administrator (MCSA) and Microsoft Certified Trainer (MCT). In addition, he holds a master’s degree in taxation (MST).
I sat down with Brent during the holiday season to find out what his business offers clients and customers, as well as to obtain his views on where technology consulting services are headed for the future.
Cytron: How was One Tech formed?
Goodfellow: One Tech was created approximately two years ago. The story I like to tell is that the technicians who work for the firm kept getting strange looks in technical forums when they said they worked for “BKR Fordham Goodfellow,” but in reality, we hired a PR firm that strongly felt our Tech department needed its own identity. Although we solicited name suggestions from the staff, in the end, the PR firm made a strong case for their suggestion – One Tech – which does conjure up images of a professional technology advisory firm that could bring focus to a myriad of confusing choices.
Cytron: Through One Tech, you offer a wide variety of services. Is any day typical, and what are some of the services offered?
Goodfellow: One thing I’m absolutely certain is that none of my days are the same – and that’s a good thing if you are going to stay current on technology and its effects on accounting firms and businesses.
There are a few primary service areas we offer, so let’s start with “training.” We educate potential and current firm client’s on technology solutions with an emphasis on teaching them how to make technology a part of their own core business. We also provide technical training for the firm’s clients and personnel, and train “wannabe” network engineer’s to prepare them for industry certifications from Microsoft.
When you boil it down, we are basically a Microsoft shop – meaning we sell, support and train on virtually anything Microsoft, but we also support two outstanding telephony/VoIP (Voice Over Internet Protocol) solutions from Artisoft and Covad, and a FoIP (Fax Over Internet Protocol) solution from Venali.
Our group supports our parent firm with network management, CIO functions, and we help the firm and clients in a variety of operational areas. These include providing helpdesk support for client and firm personnel, which normally includes researching issues, collaborating with other technicians, and implementing solutions or training end users to resolve issues. We also implement technology solutions for firm clients.
In the third category – sort of a miscellaneous arena – we speak to CPA/accounting groups on technology subjects and processes, conduct product testing in lab environments, evaluate potential products and services to add to our menu of offerings, perform management functions for the firm, and even prepare and review an occasional tax return.
One other area in which we are very devoted is to keep industry certifications current through study and practice. For example, I’ve had to recertify three times in 10 years.
Cytron: I see you’re also a consultant with the Accounting Technology Resource Network. What’s that all about?
Goodfellow: There are four of us behind ATRN, including Greg LaFollette, who serves as executive editor of the CPA Technology Advisor. He and the two other consultants, John Anderson and Mike Raham, are also CITPs who are working in technology consulting within the accounting profession. Our goal is to consult with small- and mid-size accounting firms to help them automate their processes and services in a number of service and operational areas. Although we’re not necessarily unlike other CPAs who share technology expertise, we’ve kept our network small so that we are able to have hands-on access with our clients and share best practices back and forth.
Cytron: Tell me what you think the three hottest technologies are going to be for 2005 for your clients and/or the accounting profession.
Goodfellow: My top three are:
1. Converged communications – You’ll need to get any communication (phone, fax, e-mail, IM) from any device, anywhere, anytime.
2. Search technologies – The ability to sift through hundreds of thousands of documents, e-mails, Web sites and filter all that information down to specific desired results.
3. Security – My definition here includes peace of mind from any undesired breach of data or information, and recovery from unexpected interruption of technology services.
Cytron: Why do you like writing and what kinds of personal satisfaction do you get out of it?
Goodfellow: I enjoy sharing my view of technology with my peers, and the written word is an effective medium. I particularly enjoy what I learn from researching my topics and the feedback I get from readers.
TaxWise TV also airs weekly specials (Thursdays at 2:00pm) of 30 to 60 minutes during which Cleary interviews tax specialists, IRS staff, harware consultants, and professional thought-leaders. The shows feature live call-ins from viewers. All shows are archieved and available on-demand on the TaxWise website. This Editor was interviewed on Thursday, February 24, 2005. Click here to watch the interview.
