Our History
WD&W has been a trustworthy accounting firm in Cleveland and Akron for almost 70 years. It has a history of successful mergers, staying consistent with the firm's growth strategy to provide high-quality, cost-effective services.
Below is a timeline that shows how the firm has grown and changed over the years.
1944
- Walthall & Drake is formed.
1971
- Founding partner, Orville Walthall, retires from Walthall & Drake.
1975
- Founding partner, John Drake, retires from Walthall & Drake.
- Marty Hrabik, Jr. is admitted as partner of Walthall & Drake.
1979
- Rick Nagy is admitted as partner of Tischler, Beard, Wallace & Co.
1980
- John Veres forms Veres & Co.
1981
- Mark Turk is admitted as partner of Walthall & Drake.
- Tony Jelenic is one of the founding partners of Veres & Co.
1985
- Tom Scharf is admitted as partner of Walthall & Drake.
- Chuck Battiato, Jr. is admitted as partner of Walthall & Drake.
- Dick Cause is admitted as partner of Walthall & Drake.
1994
- Jim Sprague is admitted as partner of Tischler, Beard, Wallace & Co.
1997
- Dan Holben is admitted as partner of Walthall & Drake.
- Rick Lash is admitted as partner of Walthall & Drake.
1999
- Tischler, Beard, Wallace & Co. merges with Walthall & Drake.
- The Firm name changes to Walthall, Drake & Wallace LLP.
2001
- Swearingen & Swearingen merges with WD&W, establishing a second office in Mentor, Ohio.
- WD&W moves its main office from downtown Cleveland to 6300 Rockside Road in Independence.
2002
- Tom Wallace, Jr. retires from WD&W.
2005
- Veres & Co. merges with WD&W.
2007
- Ray Onderisin is admitted as partner of WD&W.
- Ken Stefanski is admitted as partner of WD&W.
2010
- Enterprise Business Advisors, CPAs merges with WD&W
2012
- Frank, Seringer & Chaney, Inc. merges with WD&W
