“This company was founded on three enduring values: Provide outstanding client service, treat employees well, and do your work honestly and ethically.”

The firm’s founder rose from humble beginnings to establish an organization that would ultimately expand beyond the Midwest into a global organization and grow to become the premier firm serving the middle market. McGladrey served in both World War I and World War II and had one daughter, Kathleen, with his wife, Bernice.

“Dedicate yourselves to serving your real clients—individuals. Even though they pay our fees, corporations and other profit and nonprofit entities are pseudo-clients. They are instruments created by people to serve people. If we concentrate on serving the needs of people, our service opportunities become almost limitless.”

George Hansen joined the firm in 1930 and became a partner in 1934. Along with Keith Dunn, he managed the firm when Ira B. McGladrey was recalled into the service during World War II. During his tenure as managing partner, Hansen focused on growing the firm by acquiring offices throughout the Midwest. He also focused on systems that would make the firm more efficient and consistent across offices.

“We provide benefits to our clients by helping them obtain better results, by providing credibility for financial reports, by helping create order out of disorder, by helping assure compliance and by providing comfort. We want an internal climate that demands integrity, causes acceptance of high-performance goals and encourages supportive relationships among all people in the firm.”

A veteran of World War II, Ivan Bull began working at the firm while completing his undergraduate degree at the University of Iowa and was hired full time after his graduation in 1947. Bull advanced a return to a one-firm vision of operation, and he was active in accounting industry regulatory groups.

“This firm was built by a bunch of characters—not corporate types. There were a lot of mavericks back then. They were just good client servers who busted their backs for clients.”

Jack Wahlig joined the firm in 1954 and led it during a time when the adoption of specialization and marketing was transforming the accounting industry. He stressed the importance of client satisfaction as a means to remain successful during dynamic times. Wahlig served as chairman after stepping down as managing partner in 1989.

“Having good people is the most essential criterion for a successful office. I have always believed that if you have good people, everything else follows.”

The first managing partner to lead the firm who did not start his career there, LeRoy Martin joined during the merger with Broeker Hendrickson. The savings and loan crisis of the 1980s and 1990s and resulting government scrutiny of auditing practices defined Martin’s tenure, and he responded with a steady, stable approach to improvements and by expanding the firm’s consulting services.

In 1997, the board elected three individuals to the office of the managing partner to create new energy and direction for the firm. Mark Scally was a visionary salesperson, Tom Rotherham was a financial leader, and Bob Jensen was skilled in operations. 

“We are in business, A, to help our clients succeed, and the reason that is important is that many of our clients cannot be as successful as they want to be without the help of our firm—read that as the help of you. B, to provide a workplace for all of us to develop our talents and live a meaningful, energized life with McGladrey & Pullen.”

Mark Scally served in the three-member office of the managing partner with Tom Rotherham and Bob Jensen and was active in the advisory group that considered strategic alternatives to the firm’s current ownership structure. In 1999, it was Scally who announced to the firm the decision to combine with tax preparation firm H&R Block. After the creation of the alternative practice structure, he became CEO of RSM McGladrey Inc.—the tax and consulting business.

“Our ingenuity, creativity and ability to approach the future with eager and open minds inspire our people to do likewise.”

Tom Rotherham served as a member of the three-person office of the managing partner with Bob Jensen and Mark Scally and then became chief operating office of RSM McGladrey—the tax and consulting business. He previously served as audit leader and chief financial officer, and he succeeded Mark Scally as CEO of RSM McGladrey in 2000.

“Like so many of our clients, we were once a small, entrepreneurial firm with dreams of greatness. We have come a long way in 75 years. Today, we are in the midst of significant growth, which will result in our achieving a truly national presence in our industry.”

Bill Travis began his career in 1975 as an auditor for Broeker Hendrickson, which later merged with RSM. After the alternative practice structure was formed, he became the managing partner of the audit business, McGladrey & Pullen LLP. He oversaw a selective acquisition program that brought the firm into large cities around the country.

“Our corporate values are respect, integrity, teamwork, client focus, and excellence. These values helped form the culture that Ira McGladrey established for the firm he founded in 1926, and they still accurately reflect how we work and serve our clients today.”

Steve Tait was recruited to lead RSM McGladrey with the goal of developing professional business practices that would help the firm align around shared strategies. He oversaw the acquisition of American Express Tax & Business Services, created a growth culture and spearheaded the firm’s entry into sports marketing with the PGA to advance brand recognition.

“Our name has changed through the years as we’ve added many new people and new locations and made several significant acquisitions and mergers. But the constant through all of those changes has been the values of the people we bring in and the devotion to serving the needs of the middle market with the same integrity and dedication that our founding partners had.”

During Dave Scudder’s tenure as managing partner of McGladrey & Pullen, he and the board began the process of reuniting the audit, tax and consulting businesses—first with a private letter to H&R Block and then a public letter stating their intention to dissolve the alternative practice structure.

“We will be known as the only global firm with the ‘local’ touch that brings world class assurance, tax and consulting expertise to our clients through enduring relationships built on genuine understanding and trust.”

C.E. Andrews worked at Arthur Andersen and Sallie Mae before being tapped to run RSM McGladrey. He oversaw the sale of RSM McGladrey back to McGladrey & Pullen for H&R Block.

“People don’t care how much you know until they know how much you care. Showing our clients and our people that we care opens the door to help us understand and serve them better.”

Joe Adams spearheaded the buyback of the firm by rallying partners to contribute the equity needed for the purchase from H&R Block. He then took a values-based approach to unifying the combined firm and spent 11 years establishing its position as the leading firm serving the middle market. After stepping down as managing partner and CEO, he continued to work on global strategy for the firm as chair of the RSM International Board of Directors.

”RSM has an incredible opportunity. We will become a compelling, digital and global firm dedicated to serving the evolving needs of the middle market while remaining true to the core values that have driven our success for nearly a century.”

Brian Becker joined the firm in 1989 as an auditor before moving into consulting—a practice that more than tripled in size, from $300 million to $1 billion, under his leadership. Elected managing partner and CEO in November 2021, he spearheaded the groundbreaking transatlantic partnership between RSM firms in the U.S., the UK, Canada and Ireland, supported by integrated teams in India and El Salvador.