PYA Announces Immediate and Future Growth Plans: New Equity Principals, Promotions, Accounting Leadership Update, Risk Service Line 

 KNOXVILLE, Tenn. – PYA, a national CPA and consulting firm, is pleased to announce the promotion of Jennifer Blackwood and Sarah Bowman to the role of Equity Principal, along with several other promotions effective Jan. 1, 2025. The firm also announces a leadership update in its accounting and advisory departments and a new service line focused on risk advisory services. 

“Jennifer and Sarah are established and respected experts in their areas of expertise,” said PYA President and CEO Marty Brown. “Our clients benefit from their years of experience, commitment to being lifelong learners, and dedication to helping clients succeed. Their leadership exemplifies PYA’s values, and we’re thrilled they have joined the firm’s owners.” 

Blackwood has been assisting clients with tax needs for almost 30 years. She joined PYA in 2023 as Tax Services Principal and serves individuals, partnerships, and corporate entities in multiple industries, including retail, professional services, for-profit healthcare, real estate, and more. She supports clients on federal and multi-state tax compliance matters as well as tax planning and consulting engagements. 

Blackwood earned a Bachelor of Science in Business Administration degree from the University of Tennessee and is a Certified Public Accountant. She is a member of the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants and holds leadership roles in the Tennessee Society of Certified Public Accountants. She has served as a board member of the Singleton B. Wolfe Memorial Tax Conference. 

Bowman is a nationally recognized revenue integrity, revenue management, and regulatory compliance expert. She joined PYA in 2010 and most recently served as Principal in PYA’s Healthcare Consulting Revenue and Compliance Advisory group. Bowman’s work intersects coding and reimbursement with physician/hospital financial and strategic modeling, valuations, physician compensation, and productivity assessments. She specializes in regulatory compliance matters and revenue integrity. 

Bowman holds Master of Business Administration and Bachelor of Science in Health Information Management degrees from the University of Tennessee. She is a Registered Health Information 

Administrator (RHIA) and is HCCA Certified in Healthcare Compliance (CHC). She is a member of the American Health Information Management Association, the Tennessee Health Information Management Association, and the Health Care Compliance Association. 

PYA also announces a leadership update in its accounting and advisory departments and the formation of a new service line. Mike Shamblin, Managing Principal, Audit and Assurance, has been promoted to Managing Principal, Accounting & Advisory, and Chief Risk Officer. In this role, Shamblin will oversee services related to audit, risk advisory, tax, and fractional accounting support. The new role reflects the firm’s continued growth, response to client needs, commitment to service, and focus on relationship-building. 

A new service line, Risk Advisory, has been created within PYA’s Audit and Assurance department. Risk Advisory will include existing internal audit and regulatory compliance testing services for financial institutions and other industries. The new Risk Advisory service line demonstrates PYA’s relentless focus on helping clients mitigate threats or uncertainties. 

Additionally, PYA is pleased to announce the promotions of the following professionals, effective Jan. 1: 

Terena McCarter, Director, Operations/Talent Acquisition Services 

Katie Baker, Senior Manager, Consulting, Revenue and Compliance Advisory 

Paras Metaliya, Senior Data Architect, Consulting, Business Intelligence & Analytics 

Aaron Newcomer, Senior Manager, Consulting, Compensation Valuation Planning and Design 

Tim Partridge, Senior Manager, Audit and Assurance Services 

Lori Robbins Smith, Senior Manager, Operations/Marketing Services 

Becca Walters, Senior Manager, Operations/Talent Management Services 

Patrick Birmingham, Manager, Tax Services 

Allison Conway, Manager, Audit and Assurance Services 

Mary Dombroski, Manager, Tax Services 

Heather Lane, Design Manager, Operations/Marketing Services 

Kristina McClelland, Manager, Consulting, Compensation Valuation Planning and Design 

Abbie Blevins, Senior, Tax Services 

Shelby Crosslin, Senior, Tax Services 

Olivia Street, Senior, Consulting 

Lauren Farner, Coordinator, Operations/Talent Management Services 

About PYA 

Serving clients in all 50 states from offices in Atlanta, Charlotte, Kansas City, Knoxville, Nashville, and Tampa, PYA is an independently owned, national certified public accounting and professional services firm that provides healthcare management consulting and accounting. Through a focus on relationship-building, authenticity, and radical responsiveness, PYA helps its clients navigate complex challenges related to regulatory compliance, mergers and acquisitions, governance, business valuations and fair market value assessments, multi-unit business and clinical integrations, best practices, tax, audit and assurance, business analysis, and operations optimization. Since 1983, this undeterred focus on excellent client service with unparalleled expertise has led to many national recognitions. Follow PYA on LinkedIn, and learn about PYA’s webinars.