Shunk takes over ownership of Perry CPA

After 28 years as a business owner, David Perry is handing over his keys.

Derek Shunk, who has been Perry’s manager at David Perry & Associates Inc., took over the ownership reins Tuesday to the longtime CPA office on East Ohio Avenue. Perry will still work part-time for the company for at least the next two years.

“I’m 62 years old. It’s a process. I don’t think any service company like this with long relationships would be a cliff where I send people letters that say I’m retiring, I sold it to him, and I’ll be on a beach somewhere. I see it as he’s worked for me for two years, I’m working for him for two years, but in a part-time basis,” Perry said. “It’ll be two days a week, but during tax season it’s full time. But full time is 40 hours a week and that’s half time for me. Those 10 weeks, I worked 80 hours a week. This last tax season, we switched it. I worked 40 hours, and he worked 80.”

Perry started the firm in 1997 in his basement, offering tax services for individuals and businesses. His break came two years later when an accountant in Fredericktown was ready to hang things up and Perry took over writing the policies for approximately 200 clients. Shortly thereafter, he moved into the building at 205 E. Ohio Ave., Mount Vernon, bringing the majority of those customers with him.

From there, Perry has grown the business to include nine full and part-time workers and now serves approximately 1,000 clients.

Shunk moved to Mount Vernon a few years ago after working in Columbus for seven years on corporate taxes. Growing up in St. Clairsville and with a small family, Shunk was ready to get out of the big city and serve the residents of a smaller community.

“I spent seven years with a big corporation in Columbus. Found out that corporate wasn’t really for me. I wanted to be in a small town with three little kids and a wife,” Shunk said.

Shunk met Perry through a common friend and discovered Knox County would be a great place to raise his family. After getting his CPA license, Shunk began managing Perry’s office and things took off from there.

“As soon as he started, he began jelling with our clients. He’s incredibly good with corporate tax and that’s the harder of the two. He spent two years learning personal tax and worked on his CPA and got it. As soon as he got his CPA, it became natural that this seemed like it could be something to think about,” Perry said.

The ownership transition actually started nearly two years ago. Shunk has been managing the office, learning from Perry, during that time, and is now ready to put his stamp on the business. Perry has gone to working just two days a week, but will continue working with clients and helping Shunk learn the ropes for the next two years.

“I’ve been working two days a week – Monday and Tuesday. It’s just a transition. I see it as giving our clients a four-year runway. They get to know him and I’m not running away. I might stay longer than two years. We both have a commitment to each other for two years. At the end of the two years, we’ll reassess,” Perry said. “I knew I had to have a process going when I turned 60 if I wanted to get out of here at 64, 65. We close tomorrow (Tuesday) and then I’ll work for two years on Mondays and Tuesdays.”

Shunk is planning to change the name of the business to Mount Vernon CPA and has a new website  - www.mountvernoncpa.com.

He also plans on getting more involved in the community, but wants to continue the level of service that clients have been accustomed to.

“It’s his level of service. It’s kind of intimidating how high the bar is but I think our firm differentiates itself in more than the numbers. I’m excited to grow closer with our clients, interact with them, help them through everything they’re going through. I like the way he treats his team. He takes care of everybody and we’re a little different in that area, too,” Shunk said. “(The name) will be Mount Vernon CPA. Everything else will stay the same. The culture, the people and the service. … We want to have a little bigger presence in the community. I have little kids and that’s one of the reasons we moved here – to do the parades, all that kind of stuff.”

Clients will still be able to find them at 205 E. Ohio Ave., or by calling 740-397-6570.