Community Support, Staff Recognition Among Reasons Pivot Returns as Official CPA Firm of the Web.com Tour Championship
In May, Pivot CPAs was recognized as being one of Jacksonville’s Best Places to Work by the Jacksonville Business Journal and later as the recipient of the Ponte Vedra Chamber of Commerce award for community involvement. While Pivot is continually noted as Jacksonville’s largest independent CPA firm, it is these “outside the ropes” accolades of which it is proudest. As the Official CPA firm of the Web.com Tour Championship, being held September 20-23 at the Atlantic Beach Country Club, Pivot gets to wrap all three together in a celebration of all things Pivot.
Rebranding the company to Pivot CPAs in late 2016, the firm wanted to make an impression on the market and re-introduce itself on a big stage. In the golf-rich market of Northeast Florida, there might not be a bigger stage than professional golf, and Pivot took its shot. What they thought might be just a one-year affirmation of its new direction, turned into the cornerstone of its marketing, community relations and employee relations efforts. As a significant fundraiser for Wolfon Childrens’ Hospital and other local charities and because the event is nationally televised therefore showing off the Atlantic Beach area of Jacksonville, Pivot’s sponsorship supports the community in various ways. Pivot not only shares tickets with its employees, but it actually puts the event on the company calendar, and throws a party in their hospitality tent on Saturday night of the tournament for all staff, their spouses and clients.
Of course, with the Pivot Pass as the tournament’s premier hospitality ticket, Pivot also gets is share of brand recognition. Said Managing Partner, Peter Reynolds, “I’d be lying if I didn’t admit we all take great pride in seeing our logo on just about every ticket and sign on the golf course, but it is a different kind of pride – a humble kind of pride – knowing what we’re really doing behind the scenes for the kids at Wolfson, for our team and for Atlantic Beach.”
The Pivot Pass was born out of the learning from the tournament’s 2017 version of upscale hospitality, the Pivot Poolside Lounge, then the tournament’s premier ticket package. When the weather presented blazing heat for the first two days and drenching rain on the weekend, sitting poolside for a golf tournament became a better concept than reality. “With all tournaments, just like the game itself, you learn something every time out,” said Tournament Director Adam Renfroe. He added, “we went back to the drawing board with Pivot and came back with a much better way to use all of the space, making the Poolside just a part of it.” The 2018 iteration launches the Pivot Pass, which gives bearers access to the air-conditioned clubhouse, the covered general seating tents along the golf course and, of course, the poolside lounge. Pivot CPAs has its own tent within the area with which to entertain clients, staff and friends of the firm. Pivot will also host its own private event, the Pivot Party, on Saturday night in its tent.
“We commend the TOUR and Adam for thinking this through on our behalf,” said Reynolds. “We now have hospitality commensurate with the importance of this event and at the level of this community. We loved the Pivot Poolside lounge, but it might have been better on paper. We learned a lot in our first year, and we are excited about this momentum.”
Marketing aside, the week is really a celebration of Pivot Pride. “Our goal is always to recognize how hard our team works, and to provide them not just the tools to get the job done, but an environment that every day says ‘thanks,’” said Wendy Ranson, firm Tax Partner and head of human resources. She added, “We’ve got a lot of people in the background who work hard for our clients, and it’s nice for the client to be able to meet the entire crew.”
Not unlike accountants, muses Ranson, there are a lot of people behind the scenes for the guys inside the ropes. “Caddies, coaches, trainers, nutritionists, agents and families all play a huge role for these guys. I guess we’re quietly applauding them, too, because we know what it’s like to be an integral part of an organization but out of the spotlight. So this fits our brand on yet another level.”
About Pivot CPAs
Pivot CPAs of Ponte Vedra Beach, FL is one of the largest locally-owned CPA firms in the Jacksonville market, serving northeast Florida and Gainesville. Shared among all of its staff is the belief that a client’s satisfaction with a service provider will be dictated by the individuals personally serving them. Pivot CPAs, formerly The GriggsGroup, sets high professional standards, understanding that chemistry and trust are key ingredients for a successful long term relationship. For information, please call 904.280.2053 or visit www.pivotcpas.com.
Contact:
Mark D. Berman
MediaShare Consulting Group
904.838.4962
