News

Beyond the Numbers

A unique and long-standing relationship has driven one local firm's decision to support the Carlson School.

LBLco partners, back row, from left: Tim Schmidt; Farley Kaufmann, '77 BSB; Wendy Frame, '03 MBA; Stacie Usem; Jeff Starbird; Marshall Lehman, '79 BSB; Kevin Besikof. Front row, from left: Dave Brauer, '00 MBT; Joel Lebewitz, '75 BSB; Neil Lapidus, '72 BSB; Todd Lifson, '85 BSB; Steve Gouette, '95 BSB. Inset photo: Beth Leonard, '82 BSB.

Carlson School graduates have made an impact at plenty of businesses over the years. Few companies, however, can match the numbers put up by Lurie Besikof Lapidus & Co. (LBLco). Of the Minneapolis accounting firm's 18 partners, 10 are Carlson School alumni. It also counts numerous other Carlson School alumni among its 150 employees, and often hires new graduates for internships.

"Our goal is to consistently strive to recruit and hire the very best people," says Beth Leonard, '82 BSB, the firm's managing partner. "Carlson School graduates and interns fit very nicely with that goal. We are impressed with the quality and preparation of the students and with how well they are suited to deal with real-world experiences, which gives them a head start in our business. In particular, the accounting program has evolved over the last few decades. The school has spent a lot of time focusing on how to make it relevant and practical, and the results are quite evident."

The relationship has helped influence LBLco's decisions to give back to the Carlson School. The firm's education reimbursement program helps put employees through the Carlson School Master's in Business Taxation (MBT) program. It has been an enthusiastic sponsor of the Minnesota Cup, an annual competition that seeks out aspiring entrepreneurs and breakthrough ideas (the Carlson School is an official partner of the event). It also donated money for the construction of Hanson Hall and recently held one of its monthly partners meetings in the building's boardroom. "We have a relationship with the Carlson School on many different levels," Leonard says. "On a company level, donating to Hanson Hall and partnering with the Carlson School on an ongoing basis are ideal ways for us to demonstrate our commitment and appreciation to the school, its programs, and its continued success."

BY CHRIS MIKKO