A nationally recognized speaker and industry analyst, Allan has appeared on the CNN, WGN and FOX Television networks and has been quoted in such media as Forbes, Business Week, Newsday, Crain’s Business, BBC World Service, Bloomberg News, Reuters Newswires, USA Today, New York Times, Wall Street Journal, Washington Post, New York Post, Chicago Sun-Times, Chicago Tribune and Los Angeles Times. He has also spoken nationally and internationally at hundreds of conferences on the topics of leadership, partner compensation, mergers and acquisitions, human resources, professional practices, auto dealerships, assurance services, federal taxes, business valuation, litigation support, women’s initiatives, and practice management.

Allan is the author of two books for professional services firms: CPA Firm Merger Strategies That Work and CPAs That Sell. He also edited the AICPA’s book, Marketing a Consulting Niche. Allan is on the editorial advisory boards of Accounting Today, Law Firm Management and CPA Practice Management Forum.

In September 2006, Allan was named by Accounting Today as one of the most influential people in the profession, a recognition he has received in each of the past seven years. He was also one of the first inducted into the Accounting Marketing Hall of Fame by the Association for Accounting Marketing (AAM). In October 2004, he was voted by the Leading Edge Alliance as the Most Influential Person in the Accounting Profession. He has also been a recipient of the NACVA Instructor of the Year Award and winner of the Journal of Accountancy Literacy Award. Previously he was recognized by the Illinois CPA Society with the Distinguished Service Award for outstanding service and commitment to the profession.

Allan is a founding member of The Advisory Board, a think tank to professional and financial services firms. He serves or has served on the board of directors of Outsource Partners International, BKD Financial Advisors, HRB Business Services, National Association of Certified Valuation Analysts and the AAM Advisory Council. He has been an active member of the CEO Club of America, National Speakers Association, AAM, Law Marketing Association, American Bar Association and Professional Speakers of Illinois.

Allan graduated from the University of Wisconsin (Madison and Milwaukee) in 1980 with business degrees in accounting and marketing. He lives in Chicago with his wife, Sharon, and his three young children, Jack, Brian and Julia. His hobbies include playing with his children, travel, chess, basketball and reading.

Highly sought for his ability to engage and inspire audiences, Allan enjoys delivering keynote addresses at conferences throughout the professional services industry. His passion is facilitating retreats and providing strategic coaching for firm leadership and partners. His specialties include leadership, management, firm profitability, growth, human capital development, and mergers and acquisitions.

If you would like to learn more about how Allan can help you realize more of your organization’s potential, contact him at 800.227.0498 ext. 1930 or akoltin@pdiglobal.com.