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Belfint, Lyons & Shuman, P.A. (BLS), IPA Top 300 certified public accounting and consulting firm, extends congratulations and best wishes to Kathy S. Schultz, CPA, AEP®, Director of Tax & Small Business who is retiring on December 31, 2022 with exactly 28 years of service at BLS! Kathy began working at BLS on January 1, 1994, shortly after receiving her BS in Accounting from the University of Delaware and after working a number of years at the United States Postal Service while also spending a couple of years preparing tax returns at H & R Block. She decided to make an official career change and started as a Staff Accountant at BLS, progressed throughout the advancement track, and was named Shareholder/Director on November 1, 2009. She became proficient in estates and trusts work and was a critical participant in the development of the firm’s International Services Practice Group. Kathy was very active in her community and within industry organizations. She is a past board member of the Delaware State Board of Accountancy, Delaware Tax Institute, and the Estate Planning Council of Delaware, while also being recognized as a Five Star Wealth Manager and a AICPA/DSCPA Women to Watch. Many BLS team members, community contacts, and clients made an impression on Kathy’s career. She notes that the late Eileen Connor, former Shareholder/Director of BLS, had a large impact on her career and credits her with teaching her most about trusts and estates. In addition, she recalls learning a lot about client service from Barry Crozier, former Shareholder and past Managing Director. She is grateful to both of them for paying it forward by sharing their knowledge, by their encouragement, and by passing along many of their client relationships to her after they retired. Kathy was happy to pay it forward to the firm’s current and future leaders. Kathy is looking forward to traveling all over North America in her new camper-van with her husband, including visiting family that live across the country. She is excited about the prospect of taking her grandchildren on trips without worrying about timesheets and schedules! Kathy has currently ascended the highest points in 17 states and is hoping to scale many more by visiting all of the national parks and Alaska. “I will miss the staff at BLS the most, and am grateful for the opportunity to encourage and mentor employees to grow in the paths that interest them most. Helping the next generation grow will keep BLS relevant, current, and future focused. She will also miss her clients, many of which have become friends, who come from all walks of life, with many different interests. Everyone has the same amount of time - choose to spend it wisely so you have few, if any, regrets!” states Kathy S. Schultz, CPA, AEP Jonathan D. Moll, CPA, Director of Strategy states, “Kathy’s contributions and success throughout her career leave a lasting impression on our firm, the community, and the accounting profession. She was well known for her compassionate and responsive approach to providing exemplary client service. Her biggest impact was her dedication to give back to both the profession and community through her volunteerism. While we will miss her as she embarks on her traveling adventures, her influence as a role model to the future leaders of the firm will be felt for years to come.”