Kathy Storm
Kathy Storm is a human resources senior manager who manages processes related to HORNE’s employee life cycle.
A deeper look at the generations
The workplace is no stranger to diversity, including race, religion and culture. But in the last few years, there has been a significant increase in the diversity and differences in generations.
Clark Hunter
Clark Hunter is a senior manager at HORNE where he leads the capture team and assists with business development and proposal efforts. He works collaboratively with his team and internal stakeholders to identify and pursue business growth opportunities.
Six things you need to know about Google Analytics 4
Google Analytics 4 is the next generation of Google Analytics. This is not simply a new version; it’s a new way to track and present data. Google’s goal is to provide more predictive analytics and display those through better data visualization.
Tips to get the most out of Google’s Helpful Content Update
Change is coming faster than ever. Every week, I search for the meaning of some new acronym that impacts our business processes. As someone who oversees not only HORNE’s web properties, but also those of clients, I had to research these changes Google has made. Here are my key takeaways.
Bridging the Gap: Capturing knowledge before it walks out the door
By 2030, all baby boomers will be 65 or older. Not to mention that many Gen Xers — or those born between 1965 and 1980 — are now in their 50s. Combined with workforce changes brought about by the COVID-19 pandemic and the ongoing “Great Resignation,” the potential for knowledge loss is growing across all industries.
How companies combat software insecurities
In most companies, developers are focused on meeting project deadlines, and that often leads to applications that are insecurely coded. Custom development can multiply vulnerabilities. Some 48 percent of developers think they leave vulnerabilities in their code, according to the State of Developer-Driven Security Survey 2022 from Secure Code Warrior.
Mir Mazhar
Mir Mazhar is the chief information officer at HORNE where he is responsible for defining and delivering the firm’s IT strategies and capabilities with a key focus on digital innovation to support rapid growth of business.
Web applications remain biggest threat to cybersecurity
One of the biggest threats facing organizations related to cybersecurity involves web application security. Organizations continue to use custom-developed and off-the-shelf web applications, and they present significant cyber risk because of the vulnerabilities that are typically in them.
Amy Humphries
Amy Humphries is a senior manager at HORNE where she focuses on compensation management. She is responsible for developing and maintaining organizational salary structures along with base salary and incentive programs.
Essentials for growth: Culture, leadership development, planning
When it comes to sustaining or growing a business today, the status quo isn’t good enough anymore. We are in exponential times where the change around us is no longer incremental and we must anticipate the opportunities and challenges facing us in the future.
Fueling business growth through strategic planning
Exponential times have raised the bar for us to sustain business growth today. We are experiencing fast-moving change in so many facets of our businesses. Incremental thinking will only put us further behind so an effective strategic plan must be a priority.
Challenges to growth: Leadership Development
A critical challenge facing businesses today is leadership development. Opportunities for exponential growth and succession of various leadership roles require companies to plan and be intentional to develop the leaders to secure a bright and growing future.
Want growth for your business? Create a culture of belonging.
Large and small businesses have gone through massive changes in the past few years. Many saw their profits fall; they lost employees and suffered from supply chain issues.
Hire, Develop & Retain – Prioritize people and achieve growth.
The global pandemic reshaped the way we work. Not only did it expedite the shift to remote teams, it also highlighted the importance of work-life balance and allowed many workers to re-think their personal and career goals.
Do you need cyber insurance to protect your business?
Cybersecurity and cyber insurance are a priority in today’s world, but in the past few years, these issues have become even more important for companies with employees working remotely. Working from home has multiplied the risks and occurrences of data breaches, and breach costs also have grown.
Cybersecurity: Protecting your Growth
Cybersecurity risks challenge your business development. You need to address the bad risks so you can take the good risks that let you grow and maneuver to stay ahead of your competition. You also need expert insights into cyber risk and how you must defend your organization and protect your growth.
Using technology to process and fuel growth
Technology’s power to disrupt is undeniable. One of the clearest examples rests in our pockets and purses. Decades ago, one would need a camcorder, gaming system, computer, stereo and encyclopedia – as well as a telephone – to replace just one of our mobile devices.
Unlocking the Power of Your Data
Since the early 1700s, when the first insurance companies were formed, organizations have sought to leverage data. What’s unique about now is the sheer amount of data available, thanks to how fast it’s generated.
Strategic Planning: Grow your company by planning ahead
If you don’t know your organization’s strategy, there’s a good chance company progress can be derailed. Change that equation with a dynamic and effective strategic plan.
Strategic Planning: Implementation and Accountability
Good preparation is crucial to good strategic planning – but you can’t finish without a robust strategic implementation program
Auto dealers must comply with GLBA by December 9
Automobile dealers don’t just sell vehicles, they do credit checks and issue loans as well. Because of this, dealers store important customer data, such as addresses, social security numbers and other personal identifiable information.
You’re Hired! How to use your website to drive recruiting.
When you look at your company’s website, what do you think its purpose is? What do you think it should be? Company websites serve many functions, such as providing information for current and potential clients. But one of its primary purposes also should be to recruit new talent.
Jennifer Summers
Jennifer Summers serves as assistant counsel for HORNE where she offers legal advice to senior leadership and administration regarding issues affecting the organization and its specific decisions.
Sarah Duncan
Sarah Duncan is a manager in the cyber practice at HORNE where she serves as an account executive. She specializes in assisting and educating clients on proactive cyber services that help secure their organizations, minimize risk, and fulfill compliance responsibilities.
Joey Lee
Joey Lee is the senior marketing and communication manager at HORNE where he oversees the communication and public relations aspects of the department. He serves as the client relationship manager for external clients and is responsible for the development and implementation of strategic communication and marketing plans.
Daniel Kutch
Daniel Kutch is the chief financial officer at HORNE. He leads the accounting and finance team, oversees the financial reporting and forecasting for the firm, manages the firm’s financial reserves and investments and provides overall strategic direction to the managing partners and the board of directors.
Brett Watkins
Brett Watkins is a senior manager at HORNE who specializes in developing and implementing innovative programs to improve employee health and productivity. He is passionate about educating, guiding and assisting employees achieve a healthier lifestyle.
Vipin Prasad
Vipin Prasad is a senior manager in the business process solutions practice at HORNE where he serves as a technical business analyst/project manager. He specializes in business analysis, requirements analysis, current-state assessments, communication and helps liaise and coordinate future-state recommendations and solution delivery.
2022 Industry Growth Forecast
The pandemic presented unprecedented challenges for American businesses and local governments. As our nation heads toward a post-Covid environment, equally unique opportunities are taking shape. What does this mean for you?
Katie Crow
Katie Crow is the director of human resources and talent acquisition at HORNE. She leads her team and serves as a strategic partner to instill a positive culture of empowerment, recognition, engagement and continuous improvement in process and procedures.
Rory Tyer
Rory Tyer is Director of People Solutions with HORNE Accelerate. He helps businesses create magnetic culture to attract, retain and grow high performers. He is a certified executive coach, Associate Certified Coach level, through the International Coaching Federation and an experienced leadership solutions facilitator. His expertise spans across many industries and several countries.
Brad Pierce
Brad serves as the Chief Information Security Officer for HORNE where he leads cyber security programs and initiatives for the firm. He manages offensive cyber security operations for HORNE and its clients, where he leads on collaborating with executive leadership teams to strengthen their security posture.
Matt Akin
Matt Akin is a service transformation team senior manager with extensive Public Assistance (PA) Disaster Recovery and Community Development Block Grant- Disaster Recovery (CDBG-DR) program experience. He performs business analysis, process improvement, and system automation development for both PA and CDBG-DR oversight projects to ensure compliance with state and federal grant guidelines and regulations.
More Than
With 1,000+ team members, we serve clients in 48 states and 2 U.S. territories. We focus on construction, cybersecurity, economic recovery, financial institutions, franchise, healthcare, M&A and public & middle market companies.
Leslie Petro
Leslie Petro focuses on creating events and experiences that align with the firm’s strategic initiatives while promoting the HORNE brand. As the event manager for the firm, she oversees all internal event management, as well as providing full event planning services to external clients.
Ashley Swain
Ashley Swain is a director at HORNE where she works with federal, state and local agencies to ensure compliance with federal rules and regulations when seeking assistance during and following a natural disaster or global health pandemic. Ashley focuses on helping states and governmental agencies navigate the challenges of disaster recovery by implementing programs that maximize funding while meeting all regulatory compliance requirements.
Jarod Myers
Jarod Myers is the director of HORNE’s ExecuSearch and People Solutions team. He leads, consults and collaborates with leadership to provide executive talent placement, HR/TA systems and process mapping solutions for small to medium size businesses.
Terry Traylor
Terry Traylor serves HORNE as the director of finance. Using his background in assurance, business valuation and tax compliance, he manages the day-to-day financial operations for HORNE. Terry joined HORNE in 1996 and has more than 30 years of experience including audit, tax and consulting engagements. His experience spans a wide range of industries including manufacturing, merchandising, health care and financial institutions.
Lisa Taylor
Lisa Taylor serves as a director of project services at HORNE. She is a member of HORNE’s operations team where she serves the firm and its focus areas as a project manager, collaborator and advisor for strategic project implementations.
Mary Clay Morgan
Mary Clay Morgan serves as General Counsel at HORNE where she provides advice to firm leadership and administration on a wide range of legal and compliance issues. Mary Clay joined HORNE in 2021 with over 15 years of experience. Prior to joining HORNE, she was a partner at a national law firm where her practice was concentrated in employment discrimination, products liability, financial services, and commercial litigation matters, at the trial and appellate levels.
John Michaud
John Michaud is the director of business process solutions for HORNE. He leads the business process solutions team to apply process improvement, project management and analytic methodologies to bring out operational excellence to HORNE’s internal and external projects. His efforts enhance organizational effectiveness and provide the basis for management decisions.
Ken McDonald
Ken McDonald currently serves HORNE as the director of audit quality. His responsibilities include audit support, pre-issuance report reviews, assurance training, internal inspections, regulatory compliance, risk management and quality control. His industry experience includes manufacturing, transportation, consumer products, construction, not-for-profit and healthcare.
Chris Madison
Chris Madison is a director in firm services at HORNE where he works with private and public sector clients to provide analysis, design and implementation of best practice solutions for compliance and project effectiveness. He has developed multiple best practice resources for HORNE’s clients and has extensive experience in advising executives and government officials on highly technical program and compliance issues.
Marray Harris
Marray Harris is a senior manager in the business process solutions practice at HORNE where he serves as a technical business analyst. He specializes in helping customers identify and solve business process challenges including the leverage of automation tools and serves as a liaison between business users and software developers.
Indrajit Dasgupta
Indrajit Dasgupta is a senior data architect in our data and technology department at HORNE. He specializes in leading critical initiatives to analyze, define, develop and implement advanced business analytics platforms resulting in the delivery of decision support systems for in-house users and external clients. His expertise ranges from big data architecture, data warehousing design and data integration to business analytics and system analysis and design.
Tracy Cunningham
Tracy Cunningham serves as a director of project services at HORNE where she serves the firm and its industries as a project manager or in a collaborative role on strategic business objectives, initiatives and culture change. Tracy is a member of HORNE’s operations team and HUB team.
Tara Chrisco
Tara Chrisco is the director of people & organization development at HORNE. She is responsible for team member talent and potential over the entire worker life cycle – including talent acquisition, onboarding, learning, coaching and organization development. She also works with organizations that want to accelerate the growth of their workforce and business results.
Joe Benigno
Joe Benigno is the director of Technology Solutions for HORNE Accelerate. He is responsible for technology solutions and services for HORNE Accelerate clients, including business process automation, data analytics, infrastructure, cyber remediation, and IT managed services.
Roxanne Anderson
Roxanne Anderson is a service transformation team senior manager at HORNE where she serves as a business analyst and project manager. She is responsible for establishing and coordinating project deliverables, communicating project status with internal and external stakeholders and creating custom project workflows.
Risk Management
Risk management involves every facet of your organization, regardless of your industry. We help transform risk into opportunity to give you peace of mind.
Bruce Walt
Bruce Walt is passionate about the client experience and leads our HORNE Accelerate division that helps businesses contend with the challenges of rapidly changing technology, competing for and retaining talent, improving processes and delivering experiences that stand out from the competition
Joey Havens
Joey Havens believes that leadership is about serving others and helping those around you see and reach their full potential. That belief shapes HORNE. Our people have purpose and a genuine commitment to service. I use this passion to provide encouragement, guidance and leadership to our clients, team members and communities.
Anita Hamilton
Anita specializes in business planning, succession planning and estate planning for closely held businesses and high net worth families. By guiding clients through estate and gift, retirement and tax strategies, we help them meet business goals and plan for near term and future needs.
Managed Accounting Services
The amount of time it takes to oversee routine accounting and financial operation functions is increasing. Let HORNE provide your managed accounting services.
Data & Technology
Competitive advantage goes to the business that leverages data, automates its workplace & has a solid infrastructure. Transform your data & technology today.
Cybersecurity
Reduce exposure to cybersecurity threats. Stay ahead of the ever-changing regulatory requirements and strengthen your cybersecurity posture.
Wealth Building Strategies
The best wealth building strategies are achieved when we collaborate with you, your wealth advisor and your attorney to create your plan
Automation & Enhanced Productivity
Process automation empowers teams to work more effectively. HORNE finds opportunities to restructure workflows and take advantage of automation.
Audit & Compliance
HORNE’s audit and compliance services provide a strategy to institute controls and manage risk and compliance to keep you prepared for opportunity.
Neil Forbes
HORNE’s Neil Forbes thinks of our clients as family, just like our team members. The professionalism and empathy HORNE brings to every job shows in how we treat our clients and deliver our services – with focus, skill and care. We are dedicated to being stewards for our clients and providing an exceptional experience in all of the professional services we offer. Our goal isn’t just to do a job, but to build relationships.
SBA 7(a) Paycheck Protection Program Forgiveness Assistance
Many companies and individuals have applied for funds from the Small Business Administration (SBA) 7(a) Relief Loans Paycheck Protection Program (PPP). Our previous communication addresses the recent suspension of the PPP due to inadequate funding. For our clients that did not receive funds or approval prior to the suspension, we will continue to work on completing applications and submitting to lenders in anticipation of additional funds being made available under the PPP.
Funding & Forgiveness: Exploring the CARES Act & Mississippi State Tax Incentives
Businesses today have to make tough decisions and search for funds to keep doors open and employees paid. Many applied for the SBA’s PPP loan to offset losses during the COVID-19 shutdown. The loan offers short-term relief, but there may be another opportunity for businesses to find additional monies in the form of unclaimed Mississippi state tax incentives.
Beware: Phishing Emails Target COVID-19 Small Business Loans
It has come to our attention that a new email phishing or “spoofing” scheme is being sent to businesses seeking financial assistance due to COVID-19. The emails are an attempt to scam business owners that have applied, or are considering applying, for Paycheck Protection Program loans backed by the U.S. Small Business Administration. These emails may look legitimate and appear to come from your bank.
Stacey Gaines
Stacey serves as the marketing director for HORNE. She leads HORNE’s external branding, messaging, advertising, and digital strategy initiatives. In addition, Stacey helps HORNE’s clients achieve growth by providing creative, strategic marketing solutions.