Our Founders

The Legacy of Gelman, Rosenberg & Freedman

Gelman, Rosenberg & Freedman CPAs was created to make a difference.

The story of GRF CPAs & Advisors began in 1981 with a unique mission for an accounting firm. Michael C. Gelman and Jerrold Rosenberg wanted to do more than provide professional services, they wanted to make a difference. They combined their accounting practices to focus on serving local nonprofit entities in the Washington, D.C. region. With the merger of Michael Freedman’s practice in 1988, the firm became Gelman, Rosenberg & Freedman CPAs and the mission expanded to serve philanthropic organizations worldwide.

Gelman, Rosenberg and Freedman

Michael Gelman, CPA

Founding Partner

Jerrold Rosenberg, CPA

Founding Partner

Michael Freedman

Michael A. Freedman, CPA

Founding Partner

Always staying ahead of the curve.

GRF has navigated tremendous changes in the industry over the years, from the Tax Reform Act of the 80s to the ramifications of Sarbanes-Oxley in the 90s, to the rapidly changing financial and regulatory environment today. GRF has always been an early adopter of technology, utilizing the earliest versions of tax and accounting software and client portals. Today, with the addition of products and services like our cybersecurity threat assessments, Acumatica and Sage Intacct ERP software, and Artificial Intelligence, GRF continues to capitalize on evolving technologies to add value to client service.

1998

Following a decade of growth, GRF joins CPAmerica International (including Crowe Global) to support the needs of clients around the United States and the world.

2007

GRF adds nonprofit tax services to provide clients with comprehensive audit, accounting, tax and consulting services.

2010/2011

GRF is first recognized in IPA’s Top 200 firms and Accounting Today’s Best Accounting Firms to Work For.

2013

Jackie Cardello is the first woman elected to serve as President and Managing Partner.

2015

GRF establishes an executive committee to guide the strategic direction of the firm.

2018

GRF adds Risk & Advisory Services as a new practice area to serve the needs of clients.

2020

GRF makes Accounting Today’s List of the Best Accounting Firms for Young Accountants.

2021

The firm establishes its Accounting Technology Services practice, offering best-in-class cloud ERP solutions.

2022

GRF advances to #125 on Inside Public Accounting’s list of the top US accounting firms.

GRF CPAs & Advisors celebrated 40 years in 2019!

The firm, rebranded as GRF CPAs & Advisors in 2019, celebrated its 40th anniversary in 2019. GRF remains one of the few accounting firms offering specialized services to the nonprofit industry. Headquartered in the Washington, DC metropolitan region with an additional location in New York, GRF has expanded to provide accounting, tax, and advisory solutions to nonprofit organizations, small- to medium-size businesses, government contractors, professional service firms, and individuals worldwide.

Remaining focused on the needs of our clients.

“Despite our growth and the exciting advances in technology over the years, our firm has never lost sight of our guiding principles,” said GRF President and Managing Partner Jackie Cardello. “Our founding partners said it best and it still holds true for us today: personal attention will never become obsolete.” This focus on the needs of our clients prompted the addition of two new service areas within the last few years: Risk & Advisory Services and Accounting Technology Services.

Maintaining an important connection to our community.

True to the firm’s legacy, GRF team members remain involved in our local communities through volunteer work and board service. Throughout the year, you will find our team purchasing items for Project Angel Tree, delivering meals for Iona Senior Services, assembling care packages for the Barnett Searing National Cancer Foundation, collecting feminine hygiene products for I Support the Girls, and walking to raise money for the Lupus Foundation of America, among others.