Fort Worth, TX (January 4, 2020) – Whitley Penn is pleased to announce that six professionals have been promoted to Partner effective January 1, 2021.

Aaron Ballard, CPA/ABV is a Forensic, Litigation, and Valuation Services (FLVS) Partner who works with attorneys and clients to provide business valuations, forensic accounting, tracing and characterization of assets, damages and lost profits calculations, litigation support, and expert opinions/testimony.
Ballard is a member of the AICPA, TXCPA, State Bar of Texas – Family Law Section, Tarrant County Bar Association, Tarrant County Family Law Bar Association, and Financial Consulting Group, and was named to the “40 Under 40” list for the National Association of Certified Valuators and Analysts (NACVA). He is also a 2020 Graduate of Rainmaker Academy.
Ballard received a BBA in Accounting and Finance and a Master’s in Accounting degree from Abilene Christian University. He is a Certified Public Accountant (CPA) and is Accredited in Business Valuation (ABV).

Sarah Huckaby, CPA is a Tax Partner with a strong focus on international tax. She primarily focuses on supporting mid-market clients with international activity and tax compliance and consulting engagements.
Huckaby serves as a mentor and developer for international tax staff; and as a business development mentor for associates and senior associates. In addition, she conducts training for the international tax interns, associates, and senior associates.
Huckaby has strong network through her involvement with the French Chamber of Commerce, US India Chamber of Commerce, CREW Fort Worth (Commercial Real Estate Women) where she currently serves on the Young Women’s Leadership Mentoring Program, as well as the TXCPA and AICPA.
She is a graduate of Texas Tech University with a BBA in accounting, summa cum laude, and an MS in Accounting.

Shane Miller, CFP®, CRPS® is a Partner with WPWealth. He serves as a firm resource for comprehensive wealth planning, estate planning, insurance, qualified plans, and investment management.
Miller is involved the Financial Planning Association (FPA), CFP Certification Ambassador, TCU Young Alumni Board Member, Junior Achievement of The Chisolm Trail – Board Member, and Christ Chapel Bible Church Member.
In addition, he is a frequent presenter for continuing education programs and a contributor for the firm’s podcast channel, Whitley Penn Talks.
Miller received a BBA degree in Entrepreneurial Management from Texas Christian University. His professional certifications include: Certified Financial Planning Professional; Chartered Retirement Planning Professional; Series 63 License – Investment Advisor Representative; Series 65 License – Uniform Investment Advisor Law; and Group 1 License – Texas Department of Insurance.

Steven Moore, CPA, is an Audit Partner who works with public and private clients in the professional services, restaurant, retail, manufacturing, distribution, healthcare, and energy industries.
He supervises, mentors and trains young audit professionals and is actively involved in recruiting new talent to the firm and he conducts in-house and external trainings.
Moore is a member of the AICPA, TXCPA, SMU Young Alumni Association, Dallas CPA Society, Young Professionals in Energy (YPE), Council of Petroleum Accountants Society (COPAS), and the Plano Chamber of Commerce. He is also a 2020 Graduate of Rainmaker Academy.
Moore received a BBA in Accounting from Southern Methodist University and a MS degree in Accounting from Texas Tech University.

Adam Rhodes, CPA, is an Audit Partner who works with public and private clients in the manufacturing and distribution, investment funds, real estate, construction, healthcare, professional services, technology, energy, and employee benefit plan industries.
He serves as a leader in the manufacturing and distribution industry group as well as the firm’s employee benefit plan group. Rhodes has significant experience with a variety of types of plans including plans held in a master trust, 403(b) plans, defined benefit plans, plans with Form 11-Ks filing with the SEC, and plans with mergers/terminations/spinoffs. In addition, he has experience assisting clients through Department of Labor investigations as well as fraud investigations.
In the community, Rhodes has served as the Co-Chair for Relay for Life Coppell, previously served on the Irving and Coppell Chambers of Commerce, YMCA of Coppell Board Member and Co-Chair, TXCPA, AICPA, and the Stephen F. Austin University Alumni organization.
He received his BBA and MPA degrees in Accounting from Stephen F. Austin University as well as an Associates in Business degree from Tyler Junior College.

Jonathan Rittenhouse, CPA, is an Audit Partner who works with clients in an array of industries, including manufacturing, distribution, construction, retail, energy services, nonprofit organizations, and employee benefit plans.
Within the firm, Rittenhouse is actively involved in campus recruitment as well as coaching and mentoring for younger professionals. He serves as an engagement quality control reviewer, employee benefit plan tax reviewer, and AICPA internal inspection reviewer.
Rittenhouse is a member of the AICPA, TXCPA and a 2019 Graduate of Leading Edge Fort Worth. He is involved with the Cliburn 180 and was recently nominated and appointed as Board Treasurer for the Communities in Schools of Greater Tarrant County Board of Directors.
Rittenhouse is a graduate of the University of Oklahoma – Price College of Business with a BBA in Accounting and Economics.
“We are excited about the continued leadership and growth the firm will experience under these individuals. We congratulate them on this accomplishment and look forward to their professional impact,” stated Larry Autrey, Managing Partner for Whitley Penn.
In addition, the firm also announced more than 90 employee promotions effective January 1, 2021.
About Whitley Penn, LLP
Whitley Penn has consistently been recognized as “One the Top 100 Firms in the U.S.” and “Best of the Best” by INSIDE Public Accounting and other industry publications. For more information on Whitley Penn, please visit www.whitleypenn.com.
###

Kristen Lollar
Director of Marketing
Phone: 469-776-3645
Email: kristen.lollar@whitleypenn.com