CLA Outlook: Planning Opportunities with the New Tax Law
ABOUT ZAK
Zak is a tax manager and leads staff in the Eastern Ohio offices to complete tax compliance, planning and projection projects, primarily in the construction and real estate industries. He is involved in tax compliance projects for entities of all
types and sizes and manages all major tax-related projects in his industries of focus.
Technical Experience
• Experience in tax compliance and other tax-related consulting projects in construction and real estate. Zak has provided support for entities of all sizes by actively keeping up with changing tax law – both at the state and national level – to maximize tax deferrals and allow his clients to retain their working capital.
• Zak also has experience in tax credit research and due diligence projects relating to those tax credits and incentives.
• Zak has also assisted with month-end closing, general accounting assistance as well as corporate tax provisioning.
Education and Professional Involvement
• Certified Construction Industry Financial Professional (CCIFP)
• Certified Public Accountant (CPA)
• Member – Ohio Society of CPAs
• Active member of the Northeast Ohio chapter of the CFMA
• Member of the Akron-Canton Regional Foodbank’s CORE Young Professionals group
• Director of Community Engagement for CLA’s Eastern Ohio offices
• Incoming chair of CLA’s Eastern Ohio Young Advisory Council
• Bachelor of Business Administration – Accounting, Summa Cum Laude, Walsh University
Civic Organizations
• Leader of community engagement efforts with the following entities:
o The United Way of Summit and Medina County
o Akron-Canton Regional Foodbank
o Stark Parks
o Richfield Heritage Preserve
o Rotary Club of Akron, Ohio
• Actively involved in CLA’s recruiting efforts
• Annual guest speaker – Walsh University Institute of Managerial Accountants Club
ABOUT JOSHUA
Josh is a tax senior and has been with CLA since May of 2023. He prepares and assists in the Eastern Ohio offices to complete tax compliance, planning, and projection projects in the manufacturing and real estate industries. He is involved in the tax compliance projects for entities of all types and sizes.
Technical experience
Experience in tax compliance in tax related consulting projects in manufacturing and real estate.
Josh has experience in tax due diligence of client prospects being acquired or sold. Additionally, he has experience in calculating purchase price allocations, tax basis balance sheets and other consulting projects involving acquisitions.
Josh has also assisted in month end closing, and general accounting assistance.
Education and professional involvement
Bachelor of Arts in Business Administration – Accounting & Finance, Walsh University, North Canton, Ohio
The purpose of Rotary Cares is to show our support for Akron Rotary members and their families when dealing with the loss of a loved one, the hardship of illness and also to celebrate the joy of a new baby, job, marriage or other events in their lives. Please <Click to Email us> to let us know of any news you would like placed here. Note that health related information is posted only with permission of the individual(s).
Deepest Sympathy to the Hausknecht/Koshel families
James “Jim” Koshel peacefully passed away September 13, 2025. He was the father of Carol and father-in-law of Akron Rotarian Doug Hausknecht.
A proud US Navy Veteran, he is preceded in death by his beloved wife and soulmate of 65 years; Loretta, sisters; Janet Goodworth and Lillian Feador. Jim is survived by his children, Carol (Doug) Hausknecht, Barb (Ted) Walter, Jim (Sue) Koshel, Rick (Sandy) Koshel, John (Amy) Koshel and Ann (Dan) Wutsch; 17 grandchildren and 10 great grandchildren and many nieces and nephews.
Calling hours will be 3-6pm Sunday September 21st at the Hummel Funeral Home (3475 Copley Rd. Copley, Ohio 44321). Mass of Christian Burial will be 11:00am Monday September 22nd at St. Vincent Catholic Church (164 W. Market St. Akron, Ohio 44303). Internment will follow, at 1:30pm at Holy Cross Cemetery, 14609 Brookpark Rd., Brookpark. OH.
Thoughts and Prayers for the family of Rachel Shepard
President Katy shared this from fellow Rotarian Rachel Shepard:
Thank you for all your thoughts and prayers for my brother-in-law (Don Shepard) and our family!
Unfortunately, the MRI results a week after the motorcycle accident showed that Don had two strokes during coma that resulted in significant unrepairable damage to his brain.
The good news is that he may be able to save or extend the lives of others as he is an organ donor.
There are three organ donor recipient matches that have been made!!
While I am at peace with his passing, I'm concerned for the future of his four children! I've started a fundraiser on GoFundMe and would appreciate your support for the cost of funeral arrangements and the future cost of living for these young adults. Every single donation makes a difference!
If you have not yet completed the training - another email will be coming your way!
All members of The Rotary Club of Akron should have received an email from "NAYEN Training Administrator noreply@nayen.org" regarding the mandatory annual Youth Protection training for the 2025 Rotary year.
This training is required for all active Akron Rotarians. Please check your inbox—and don’t forget to look in your spam or junk folders.
Additionally, Rotarians who expect to have more direct interaction with our exchange student or youth programs will receive a separate email from "Rotary Youth Volunteer Management RYEmail-YVM@yehub.net" for a more in-depth background check, including vetting of references and an interview.
Your prompt attention to this matter is appreciated to ensure compliance, and your ability to participate in Rotary events where youth are present.
Please contact Youth Protection Officer, Mike Gladysz, with any questions or if you need me to resend the training to you. I can be reached at Michael.h.gladysz@huntington.com or by phone at 330-807-7986.
We are two months into the new Rotary year, and I am truly enjoying representing our club and helping to lead us forward.
Recently, we welcomed Sheriff Kandy Fatheree as our guest speaker. She shared her office’s efforts to reduce recidivism by helping individuals in custody further their education—earning GEDs or high school diplomas—so they are better prepared for employment upon release.
During the discussion, Rotarian Susan Colville-Hall asked how we, as a community, can help. Sheriff Fatheree’s answer was simple: donate books.
Why Now?
September is Basic Education and Literacy Month for Rotary International—making this the perfect opportunity for Akron Rotarians to support this important initiative.
How You Can Help
We’re organizing a Book Drive for the Summit County Sheriff’s Office.
Bring your gently used adult-level books to any Tuesday Rotary meeting during September.
We’ll arrange delivery to the Sheriff’s Office so these books can be put to good use.
Together, we can make a meaningful difference—one book at a time!
🤝 Growing Stronger Together
As we progress through this Rotary year, let’s take time to welcome our new Rotarians. One simple way is by inviting them to sit with you at lunch.
I’ve noticed that many of us (myself included!) gravitate to the same tables every week. It’s comfortable, but it means we aren’t always mixing and mingling as much as we could. Honestly, I often sit in the same spot for easy access to the podium—but let’s be real, there’s no such thing as a podium emergency! I can make it there anytime. 😄
So, let’s all make an extra effort to sit with different people, get to know one another better, and help our new members feel welcomed and connected.
And don’t forget—our service committee continues to share great volunteer opportunities. Serving side by side, even for just an hour, is one of the very best ways to build friendships and deepen your Rotary experience.
Let’s make this year one of connection, service, and impact. I look forward to seeing you on Tuesday—let’s keep moving forward together!
As a Rotarian we have an essential role to help Luciana learn more about the Rotary Clubs of Akron/Stow, Stow/Akron and American life in general. With opportunities to meet a variety of individuals through multiple events, she will learn more about American life, culture and lifestyle. Making multiple acquaintances helps her dispel stereotypes of “Americans”. At the same time, sharing activities with Lu provides us the opportunity to clarify more about American culture and our own community as well as learn about Lu’s home environment as we ask her about life in Peru. Just a family meal at our home may be the easiest way to get to know her or we can invite her to a picnic, family reunion or sporting event. Those are always a sure thing because she is bundle of joy, fluent in English and interested in so many things and in meeting people. A visit to the local ice cream shop is always a big hit! Finding other students to introduce her to American school culture is so important as she does not have a host sibling in her current situation.
Places she has been: Geauga County Fair, Lion King at Blossom, Stow-Munroe Falls HS (SMFHS) football games, Akron Rotary Camp, Cleveland Museum of Art & Murakami exhibit, Little Italy, Szaley’s, Rubber Ducks.
Below are other possibilities (although the same place may be different 2nd time around) in the Akron Community:
Concerts in the parks, hikes in the local parks or Cuyahoga Valley National Park, a Blossom Music Center event, a cruise on the Portage Lakes, a Rubber Ducks baseball game, a visit to the University of Akron campus, the Akron Art Museum and ArtSpace, an Akron Symphony concert, local fairs or festivals, the Don Drumm Studio, Akron Public Library, a City Hall visit, Hale Farm, an E.J. Thomas Hall event (concert, dance recital, Broadway musical), Akron Civic Theater event, a high school football game (high school basketball, soccer game, swim meet, etc.), UA/KSU football (basketball or soccer game), biking on the Tow Path, shopping at Summit Mall are just some of the many activities she would enjoy.
Below are a few possibilities in Northeast Ohio
Kent State University campus (including the School of Fashion Museum), Great Lakes Science Center, Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, an Indians game, a Cavs game / etc., a Cleveland Orchestra concert.
HOST FAMILY SEARCH: We are seeking a 2nd Host Family for January – mid March. We need a 3rd host family for the period after spring break (mid- March) to her departure in June.
Volunteers are needed for the One Hot Meal and Food Pantry at the Annunciation Greek Orthodox Church.
We began helping the folks at Annunciation Greek Orthodox Church with their One Hot Meal Program the week of Thanksgiving in 2024 and had a wonderful Rotarian turnout to help serve.
The Rotarians involved loved the project and the the Church now does this once a month, on a smaller scale.
We have scheduled volunteer opportunities to serve once a month through the end of the calendar year.
Time: 4:45 pm - 6:30 pm
Location: Annunciation Greek Orthodox Church, 129 S. Union Street, Akron, OH 44304
Click on the respective Tuesday below to view available time slots and book yourself to volunteer directly online.
It is time again for our semi monthly service project. We're teaming up to support the Akron Canton Regional Food Bank (ACRFB). Together we'll help ensure that families in our community have access to the food and resources they need.
Please also note the new parking instructions below.
Details of Event:
When: Wednesday September 24th
RSVP by Friday September 19th.
Time: 4:30 PM - 6:30 PM
Where: Akron Canton Regional Food Bank, 350 Opportunity Parkway, Akron, OH 44307.
This is a great opportunity to bond with fellow Rotarians while making an impact in our community.
The service project typically involves breaking down large containers of food into smaller portions for redistribution to area food pantries.
How to RSVP by Friday September 19th.
Please let me know if you're able to join us by replying to me at dhall@preferredlegacy.com or texting me at 330-714-1044. Family and friends are welcome so please bring a guest.
NEW! PARKING INSTRUCTIONS
We have an exciting update to share; our new volunteer parking area is now ready. It's located just south of our existing Dart Avenue lot, and starting now, we are asking all volunteers to park in this new lot.
Volunteer parking is located in the Blue Lot, which should be accessed via Entrance A on Dart Avenue. Please use this entrance rather than entering from Opportunity Parkway.
Dart Avenue is a one-way street. Depending on your route, you may need to circle the block to reach it (Opportunity to Pier to Bartges to Dart).
When heading north on Dart Avenue, Entrance A will be the first entrance on your right.
Entrances B and C (second and third entrances) are reserved for our network partners and pantry neighbors - please avoid using these to keep traffic flowing safely.
Once you've parked, please follow the sidewalk toward Dart Avenue and use the city sidewalks to walk to our main entrance on Opportunity Parkway.
Handicap-accessible spaces remain available in front of the building on Opportunity Parkway.
IF YOU HAVE NOT VOLUNTEERED BEFORE AT THE FOOD BANK THEN I NEED YOU TO REGISTER WITH ACRFB. See volunteer application link below.
If you have any questions please call or text me.
Let's come together to embody the Rotary spirit and make this event a success. I'm looking forward to seeing many of you there!
IF YOU HAVE NOT VOLUNTEERED BEFORE AT THE FOOD BANK THEN I NEED YOU TO REGISTER WITH ACRFB.
See volunteer application link below.
If you have any questions please call or text me.
Let's come together to embody the Rotary spirit and make this event a success. I'm looking forward to seeing many of you there!
When you arrive, please park in the front of the building or in the Dart Avenue parking lot. Use the front glass doors to enter the building.
If the parking lot is full, please park in the grass lot or proceed to the Shipping and Receiving parking lot on the other side of the building.
If entering through Shipping and Receiving, enter through the RED visitor door and proceed to the front desk.
We also recommend carpooling when possible.
What to wear:
Face Masks are optional.
Safety is our priority! Please note that open-toed shoes are not permitted in the warehouse.Jewelry is not permitted in the clean- room and we recommend wearing limited jewelry when volunteering.
Comfortable shoes are recommended as you may be on your feet the entire time.
It is best to dress in layers. The weather outside may affect the temperature inside the warehouse.
AKRON-CANTON REGIONAL FOODBANK Main 330.535.6900 Main Campus 350 Opportunity Pkwy, Akron, OH 44307 We envision a thriving community free of hunger.
Akron Rotary is continuing its support of the supplemental food service program through Open M to help provide food for insecure students at Innes Middle School.
SIGN UP to view available slots and book yourself directly online.
Event:
Open M Backpack Food Packing
Date:
Wednesdays Through Dec 17, 2025 at 3:00 PM
Chair:
Sandy Naragon 330-256-5315
Location:
Open M 941 Princeton Street Akron, OH United States of America 44311
Katy Miller
As a Rotarian we have an essential role to help Luciana learn more about the Rotary Clubs of Akron/Stow, Stow/Akron and American life in general. With opportunities to meet a variety of individuals through multiple events, she will learn more about American life, culture and lifestyle. Making multiple acquaintances helps her dispel stereotypes of “Americans”. At the same time, sharing activities with Lu provides us the opportunity to clarify more about American culture and our own community as well as learn about Lu’s home environment as we ask her about life in Peru. Just a family meal at our home may be the easiest way to get to know her or we can invite her to a picnic, family reunion or sporting event. Those are always a sure thing because she is bundle of joy, fluent in English and interested in so many things and in meeting people. A visit to the local ice cream shop is always a big hit! Finding other students to introduce her to American school culture is so important as she does not have a host sibling in her current situation.
