By Annie Piekarczyk / STAFF

Accounting firms across the country have recently been faced with numerous problems, compelling them to either merge with other companies or down-size, while many CPA’s have even left public accounting altogether. It’s unheard of for an accounting firm to be expanding. Unheard of, that is, except in Alpharetta. Last Wednesday, Frazier and Deeter, a firm of certified public accountants and advisors, celebrated the grand opening of their newly-opened second location in Alpharetta. 

Frazier and Deeter was founded in 1981 in Atlanta and has remained there since. As a top 100 U.S. CPA firm and one of Atlanta’s top ten CPA firms, the company was ready to expand and become a more integral part of the north metro community, which brought them to Alpharetta. More particularly, Frazier and Deeter chose to open their second location in the Preston Ridge offices because of their prominence within the city, as the firm wants to immerse themselves in the community and deepen their relations with the businesses in Alpharetta.

The formal ribbon cutting ceremony began at 3 p.m. and was followed by an open house and office tours until 6 p.m. Among attendees were Frazier and Deeter team leaders, Mayor Arthur Letchas, Councilman Jim Paine, and other north metro business leaders. 

Mayor Letchas couldn’t have been any happier to welcome the new business in Alpharetta. “We’re very fortunate to have companies opening in Alpharetta. We have this ribbon cutting today and we have about three more tomorrow. We’re very fortunate. People don’t only like to come to Alpharetta, but they want to come to Alpharetta.  So we’re very blessed and very fortunate to be a community like we are.”

Karen Thurman, a partner of Frazier and Deeter as well as a Milton City Council member, said the firm had been growing at approximately 20 percent per year, consistently, for the past few years, and that there was no better time to expand than now. “We really felt like this is a very different market up here and it could be beneficial for us to be in the community and serve the market up here better,” she said. “We do have big firm experience and we’re here in the community. We have 180 people who can handle what big firms can handle, and we’re located right here.”

Frazier and Deeter’s new office in Alpharetta will benefit residents for many reasons. It offers the same tax, accounting and advisory service capabilities as the Atlanta Headquarters, but in a much closer and convenient location.

The new office will be led by Roger W. Lusby III who has been a partner in the firm since 1985. Along with him, five partners and a professional staff have relocated to the new office.