Owner of Cornerstone CPA–Greg Bennett, CPA

Brief Facts:

• From Tucson, Arizona
• Resided on Hilton Head Island, South Carolina 2001-2023
• Relocated to Petoskey, Michigan in 2023
• Married to Lisa, a middle school English and Language Arts teacher (born and raised in Grand Rapids, Michigan)
• Licensed as a CPA in South Carolina and Michigan
• Passionate about small business development and the entrepreneurial spirit
• A dog lover
• Obsessed with making authentic foods

The Beginning

My accounting career began in May 2005 at just 19 years old, starting out as a staff accountant at a small CPA firm. Never having the intention of becoming an accountant (my focus was initially on civil engineering), I nonetheless realized that I enjoyed the puzzles often presented within accounting. Quickly, I progressed beyond simple bookkeeping and into more complicated accounting matters, including regulatory compliance and controllership functions. In little time, I served a wide variety of small businesses and individuals.

Simultaneously, I started to assume responsibilities within the CPA firm concerning information technology management since the firm, as well as myself, were unhappy with local IT service offerings. To this day, I manage all of Cornerstone’s technology management and implementation utilizing a best-of-breed approach.

After continually hearing from our firm’s clients of a deep-rooted dissatisfaction concerning their experiences with local IT services, I took action and formed JB Core Solutions, LLC in 2011. The intent was to provide technology services solely to clients of the CPA firm. Initially, it was a partnership with the principle of the CPA firm, but I held majority ownership and fully managed and performed all technology services. JB Core Solutions was acquired and is a wholly owned subsidiary of Cornerstone CPA Solutions, LLC.

Career Progression

As life has a way of doing, a few curve balls were thrown my way, one of which was the CPA firm’s principal passing away in March 2013. Consequently, I went to work in June 2013 for a well-known, long-time client and local business to the Hilton Head Island and Bluffton region, Spartina 449, LLC, as their Accounting and IT Manager. I started to work with Spartina 449 on an independent basis beginning August 2007, when Kay Stanley, founder of Spartina 449, originally developed the concept of the brand, products, and company in conjunction with her husband, Curt Seymour. While working with Spartina 449, I assisted the company in going from a start-up concept to an eight-figure, highly successful enterprise with a global presence.

In my time with Spartina 449, JB Core Solutions continued its existence, though largely became dormant until a later date. Meanwhile, my job functions with Spartina 449 consisted of overseeing all accounting and financial matters, information technology, identifying and implementing new technology, internal controls, cost accounting, working heavily with and managing employees in various departments and 3PLs, and interfacing directly with sourcing companies and suppliers in the United States, China, Hong Kong, India, and elsewhere. Additionally, I attended trade shows for the purpose of implementing, monitoring, and resolving issues with the technology used for taking and processing orders, including credit approval and management processes for customers.

I was directly managing and controlling tens of millions of dollars worth of transactions annually. As fall of 2014 arrived, I had become worn out with the hectic schedule and demanding hours. It reached a point where I could not take a vacation without spending a significant portion of my vacation doing work instead of focusing on my own well-being. Additionally, my passion for self-employment remained too strong, and I prefer working with more numerous individuals and businesses instead of a single company. Necessarily, I resigned my position with Spartina 449 on October 31, 2014, took a few months off to reset, and brought JB Core Solutions out of dormancy.

2015 to Present

In March 2015, I partnered with a local CPA, and JB Core Solutions became not only a technology company but also a CPA firm serving small businesses and individuals. Our focus was mostly in controllership capacities along with providing tax advisory and preparation services.

In late 2017, I re-acquired 100% ownership of JB Core Solutions with an effective date of July 1, 2017. As part of a long-term strategic plan, I chose to spin off the CPA firm into Cornerstone CPA Solutions, LLC. My focus shifted exclusively to public accounting with some occasional technology consulting, and so I wound down the IT services I had provided to numerous clients under JB Core Solutions. It is now a wholly owned subsidiary of Cornerstone CPA Solutions, and Cornerstone CPA Solutions as been my sole company since January 2018.

In the course of my career, I have worked with small businesses in a wide variety of industries, including retail, wholesale and distribution, material conversion, restaurants, professional service and consulting firms, property owner associations (CIRAs), real estate and property management, non-profits and private foundations, and construction, among others. I facilitate or control millions of dollars of transactions each year for my firm’s clients.

I hold a Bachelor of Science in Accounting, a Master of Science in Accounting, am a member of the AICPA, and am licensed as a Certified Public Accountant in the states of South Carolina and Michigan. In addition, I have completed the COSO Internal Control Framework Certificate Program, which serves to help me better understand, design, implement, and assess the effectiveness of internal controls.

I reside in Petoskey, Michigan with my wife, Lisa (pictured at right), and our two dogs, Sophie and Avery. Life pleasures include a love of travel, boating, food, and new experiences. I also enjoy meeting and forming relationships with small business owners, regardless of them ever becoming a client. Small business is my career passion, though I also work with numerous individuals.

As of October 2021, I am a licensed CPA in the states of South Carolina and Michigan.

Greg Bennett, CPA