Michael French, CPA, former Managing Director and Director of Tax & Small Business, retired on April 30, 2023 – during the Firm’s Centennial Year – with over 43 years of service in public accounting and at BLS!

Michael started at BLS on January 1, 1980, as the Firm’s first ever co-op. He has the distinguished achievement of working his entire public accounting career at BLS and working his way from an entry-level position to Director to Managing Director. Michael’s passion and desire to uphold BLS’s Legacy has been instrumental in preserving a culture of quality and integrity both for clients and within the Firm.  As he began to contemplate retirement, he passed the baton to the firm’s new Executive Directors on January 1, 2022 so they could begin a new era of governance and glean as much as they could from the depth of his knowledge and experience at BLS.

When asked to name someone else who impacted his career the most, very appropriately in the firm’s 100^th Anniversary year, Michael went back to his roots and noted three other significant members of the firm that were especially meaningful to him:

• Norm Shuman taught him the most by the example that he set. He always dressed impeccably, was calm even when things went south, always stressed the importance of giving back to the community and most of all, taught him the importance of providing a quality product through great client service.
• Norm Rosenberg was the Firm’s preeminent tax guy. He instilled a love of tax planning, and Michael learned the most from him technically when starting his career. He taught the importance of researching questions first and coming up with a solution/answer before asking for help, and he stressed to always do a complete workpaper review. Michael even credits Norm with modeling how best to tie a tie!
• Barry Crozier taught the importance of building a consensus within the leadership group, especially on tough questions, to stick to his beliefs, and to always work the hardest on the things that mattered the most to the Firm.

Meeting and working with so many great people have been most enjoyable to Michael and he credits so many to his success. He credits: BLS team members with teaching him the “business” and being by his side when he held the leadership role; the many good referral sources with helping him navigate the Wilmington community, for their trust in him and the firm, and for working as a team to help clients achieve their goals; his clients, the true highlight of his career, for helping him grow, for allowing him to have a seat at their table to help them make informed decisions, and for their friendship; those serving on boards or committees with him for their tireless efforts in whatever cause they were striving towards to help make our community a better place; and, most of all, his family for their never-ending support.

Michael states, “The firm, staff, clients, and community have always been my priority. I am hopeful that I’ve laid the groundwork for those that remain to continue to build on the great legacy that has been left for BLS. However, I’m most hopeful to be known as a good friend, a good father, and especially a good husband, who just happened to be a good CPA.”

“BLS will miss Michael’s dedication and passion for our firm. He was a mentor and friend to all in the firm’s leadership group. During his tenure he helped build the foundation to assure the BLS will remain a trusted advisor and firm of choice for many businesses, individuals, and organizations within our community,” states Jonathan Moll, CPA – Executive Director of Strategy.

Michael looks forward to spending time with his wife, Tara, and his children, along with regularly reconnecting with long-time friends. He and Tara would like to travel to Europe and other parts of the USA they haven’t seen, as well as revisit some of their favorite places. They hope to visit wherever their children will be at least quarterly (always an accountant) and as many national parks as they can. In addition, Michael’s hobbies of brewing beer, gardening (for hops, of course)  and landscaping are on the top of his retirement list.