Press Release Headlines

Twenty-two Professional Advisors Earn the Prestigious CEPA Credential

CHICAGO, May, 11, 2011 — Twenty-two professional advisors recently earned the Certified Exit Planning Advisor (CEPA) credential from the Exit Planning Institute™ (EPI), joining more than 116 other certified exit planning professionals worldwide.

The spring 2011 class of CEPAs successfully completed the CEPA examination administered on May 6, 2011. The new class of Certified Exit Planning Advisors includes:

  • Anthony Berndt, CEPA – Baker Tilly – Milwaukee, WI
  • Kurt Cretors, CEPA – SC Financial Services, Inc. – Scottsdale, AZ
  • Peggy Dean, CEPA – Johnson Miller Company CPAs – Odessa, TX
  • Dominick DiBona, CEPA – UBS Financial – Uniondale, NY
  • Gilberto Escobedo, CEPA – Serficor Partners – Lomas de Santa Fe, MX D.F.
  • Kevin Fox, CEPA – LPL Financial – San Diego, CA
  • Marsha Golgart, CEPA – Nationwide Valuations – Lewis Center, OH
  • Warland Griffith III, CEPA – Wealth Management Advisors – Miami, FL
  • Deborah Hodge, CEPA – Stearns Financial Services Group – Greensboro, NC
  • Anthony Ivanoski, CEPA – Anthony Ivanoski CPA – Montgomeryville, PA
  • Glenn Karlberg, CEPA – Karlberg Consulting LLC – Scottsdale, AZ
  • Michelle Knights, CEPA – Rob Knights & Company – Balgowlah, NSW Australia
  • James Maher, CEPA – Merrill Lynch – Swansea, IL
  • John Murray, CEPA – The Exit Experts – Ballarot, VIC Australia
  • Michael Pelkey, CEPA – Michael Pelkey & Company PLLC – Manchester, NH
  • Brian Quandt, CEPA – Baker Tilly – Milwaukee, WI
  • Leigh Riley, CEPA – The Exit Planners – Highett, VIC Australia
  • Adi Ringer, CEPA – BridgePoint Custom Strategies – San Luis Obispo, CA
  • Randy Rua, CEPA – Rua Associates – Zeeland, MI
  • Kent Snyder, CEPA – Rua Associates – Holland, MI
  • Craig West, CEPA – Succession Plus – Sydney, NSW Australia
  • Ben Wicks, CEPA – Cornerstone Advisors, Inc. – Bellevue, WA

To earn the CEPA credential, candidates must satisfy professional experience and education requirements, attend a rigorous five-day executive-MBA-style educational program, complete 100 hours of self-study, and pass a four-hour written examination. Once earned, the certification must be renewed every three years through additional studies and leadership activities.

"Congratulations to the newest class of CEPAs who have demonstrated mastery of the competencies essential for professional exit planning advisors," said Richard Jackim, JD, MBA, CEPA, President of the Exit Planning Institute. "The CEPA certification not only sets the standard of knowledge for exit planning professionals to achieve, but also defines the profession of exit planning itself."

The next CEPA program will be offered November 7-11, 2011. The application deadline for this course and exam is October 1. For more details about the CEPA course and exam, visit the EPI website at http://www.exit-planning-institute.org.

About the Exit Planning Institute®

The Exit Planning Institute® (EPI) is a professional membership organization of more than 138 certified business advisors involved in the creation of exit and transition plans for the owners of privately held businesses. Its members work with business owners across the United States and in 4 countries around the world. The Exit Planning Institute® is the premier provider of learning, knowledge, and future-oriented research for exit planning professionals. The Institute delivers innovative learning experiences, performance-enhancing resources, and strategic tools designed to advance the exit planning profession. For more information about EPI, please visit http://www.exit-planning-institute.org.

Media Contact:
Dennis Gano, CAE, Executive Director at 847-458-2124 or Email

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