Heath Alloway takes a different approach on Common Threads Episode 8, diving deep into what separates firms that thrive from those that merely survive. Drawing from his experience through the 2008 financial crisis and the COVID era, he examines a number of topics: Why do so many accounting firms find themselves with their "foot off the gas pedal" when it comes to business development? What does that cost them? Why do clients leave firms they've worked with for years? Heath breaks down five common hurdles that keep professionals from developing a "builder mindset," then counters with concrete strategies for opportunity season. From asking raving fan clients for introductions to understanding buying patterns, he maps out how intentionality transforms client relationships. So what happens when every manager-level professional commits to just one cross-serve opportunity and one new high-impact client? Find out how small, consistent actions compound into significant growth.

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W.G. Spoor's path from a family-run accounting firm in St. Petersburg to leading Sorren's national tax strategy is anything but conventional. On Episode 7 of Common Threads, he reflects on the values shaped by his upbringing, like presence and a deep commitment to people, and tells Heath Alloway about how those principles have guided him through mergers, cultural shifts, and the evolving demands of the profession. Delving into the challenges of balancing growth with well-being, W.G. highlights the importance of "relationship currency" and shares some lessons he's learned on either side of his career with Sorren. Underlying his success is W.G.'s willingness to embrace change, paired with a focus on communication and collaboration, revealing what it takes to build a thriving, people-centered firm like Sorren in a rapidly changing landscape.

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Matthew May, Sorren's National CAS Managing Partner, brings a blend of humor, candor, and strategic vision to the firm's evolving landscape. In this conversation with Heath Alloway on Episode 6 of Common Threads, Matthew traces his career path from a practical start in accounting to leading the integration of multiple firms and scaling a national client accounting services team. He reflects on lessons learned from entrepreneurial ventures, the importance of thinking like a client, the nuances of industry specialization, and how authenticity drives everything he does. Whether building trust through "eating his vegetables" on social media or fostering cross-office collaboration, Matthew holds authenticity above all else. Highlighting Sorren's culture of support and continuous learning and growth, Matthew's journey shows us the value of being willing to embrace both change, and a little levity, along the way.

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Jessica Espaillat's journey weaves together the worlds of mental health counseling and HR leadership, revealing how empathy and intentionality can shape a thriving workplace. She sits down with Heath Alloway on Episode 5 of Common Threads, starting with her unexpected career pivot, where she found herself at the heart of a growing firm, championing a culture where people feel valued and supported. Her insights, drawn from both personal and professional experience, illuminate her goals of fostering open communication and building unity across Sorren's diverse teams. Jessica and Heath also candidly look back on moments from the firm's first partner meeting, where the excitement of merging cultures and the power of genuine connection came alive. Jessica is relatable and full of practical advice, offering an important perspective on leadership and personal growth that you won't want to miss.

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Heath Alloway leads a candid conversation with Matt Aycock and Steve Bunch on Episode 4 of Common Threads. Reflecting on the winding paths that led them into public accounting, Matt and Steve reveal how chance, competition, and a healthy dose of fear shaped their careers. The realities of building a practice, such as navigating mergers and weathering setbacks, come into focus, and turning pressure into motivation has been a key ingredient in the success of both guests. Turning to the art of business development, Matt and Steve approach the topic from wildly different perspectives, with Matt a self-declared strong introvert, and Steve someone who always found development natural and easy. But for both, the value of authentic relationships and the power of intentionality are critical elements. Their stories offer a window into the evolving culture at Sorren, where collaboration and trust fuel growth, and where the willingness to share knowledge and support others is as vital as any technical skill.

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Jim Hickey didn't set out to become a Chief Human Resources Officer, but on Episode 3 of Common Threads, his accidental path becomes a lens for exploring what it really means to build culture in a fast-changing setup like Sorren's. He tells host Heath Alloway about his working-class roots in Columbus, the turns in his career path that eventually led to Sorren, and how mergers, legacy loyalties, and the "hire to retire" philosophy collide in the real world. Jim expresses a deep connection with people's anxieties about jobs and identity—to him, they are as real as any business plan—and this conversation is refreshingly unscripted: employee voices shape the company's values, and the HR team is built from within, the vast majority being legacy firm members. Mental health, remote work, and the invisible weight of change are all on the table, and Jim's advice is to embrace this transition, lean into the changes inherent in it, and remember that culture is far more than some slogan bandied about in a boardroom. It's the sum of daily choices made by people who care enough to do the work and make the commitment.

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From a childhood shaped by her father's lessons in frugality to a leap-of-faith move from Maine to Tampa, Alexia Pappas's path is marked by bold decisions and unexpected turns. On Episode 2 of Common Threads, she talks to host Heath Alloway about the anxiety of starting over in a new city, the relief of finding a mentor who valued her drive over her résumé, and the challenge of building trust with clients. Sometimes that meant learning the hard way, like the time a misdirected email nearly derailed a relationship she'd spent years nurturing. Multiple times throughout her career, Alexia has faced uncertainty and the fear of losing her professional momentum. When SBF made the decision to merge into Sorren, what started as apprehension about her future transformed into a wave of new possibilities: With Sorren's broader network and collaborative culture, Alexia found herself stepping into leadership roles, building new client bases while nurturing reliable sources, and discovering opportunities she never imagined—proof that resilience, candor, and community can thrive in a firm built on shared vision.

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Josh Tyree's story began before dawn, delivering newspapers through Idaho winters, a thread that weaved through his rise from small-town jobs to the accounting profession to president of Sorren. Host Heath Alloway guides the conversation as Josh reflects on the unexpected turns that shaped his career, particularly his decision to return home to Idaho to join Harris, which ultimately led to helping build something entirely new. Josh speaks on the challenge of merging firms, the urgency of adapting to rapid change, his and Sorren's focus on relationships, and as the firm grows, how this unique culture rooted in local personalities and shared values can survive even the fastest transformation. Along the way, he offers candid stories of missteps, lessons learned, and the moments that made him rethink what leadership really means. This is the story of building Common Threads—one conversation, and one risk, at a time.

Get the full show notes and more resources at CommonThreads.Sorren.com