Claude E. Blankenship, CPA
Member, Chief Manager
Since graduating from Bowling Green College
of Commerce, now known as Western Kentucky University, in 1963, Claude has been
providing tax, audit and consulting services to numerous industries including
significant experience in the areas of mergers and acquisitions, business
workouts, taxation questions and expert witnessing for nearly 45 years.
In December 1970, after serving five
years as an Internal Revenue agent, he developed one of the largest local CPA
firms in Tennessee (Blankenship, Summar & Associates) with over 70
employees. Twelve years later, this firm was merged with the Nashville
office of Touche Ross where Claude headed up acquisitions in the Southeastern
US. Claude subsequently spent several years pursuing other business
ventures.
In 1992, Claude formed Blankenship
CPA Group, PLLC. With the exception of two years spent as a Christian missionary,
Claude has served as senior partner of the firm. The firm has experienced
continuous growth and currently employs nearly forty staff including four
partners and over twenty-one certified public accountants.
Claude Blankenship is a member of and has
served on the Council of the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants
(AICPA), as well as the AICPA's Executive Committee for Private Companies
Practice Section. He is a Past President of the Tennessee Society of Certified
Public Accountants (TSCPA) and lifetime member of the council of that organization.
In addition to being active in Christian ministry for many years, Claude has
also served on numerous boards of directors of non-profit organizations in
middle Tennessee and as a director on the board of a NYSE publicly traded
company.
Claude is blessed with 6 children and 10
grandchildren. He enjoys traveling, reading and studying Christian
concepts, and babysitting his grandchildren. He is an active member at
Grace Community Church and loves to serve the Lord on a daily basis.
Claude E. Blankenship, Sr. is the
Senior Partner and Chairman of the firm.
