BEN BOWEN, III, C.P.A., A.B.V., C.F.F., C.V.A. Selected as one of America's Top Accountants by the Consumer's Research Council of America Mr. Bowen is the founder of Bowen Consulting Group, Inc. and co-founder of Bowen-Crowe Group, LLC.  Prior to starting his practices, Mr. Bowen held accounting, finance, and controllership positions at Royal Crown Cola Co. and American Tara Corporation. Mr. Bowen was also a partner in a predecessor Atlanta area accounting firm. His experience includes business valuation, transaction analysis, tax planning and research, IRS representation, estate planning, and consulting. Mr. Bowen has provided valuation services to companies ranging from small family owned businesses to private enterprises generating over $3 billion in annual revenue. Mr. Bowen has also worked with start-up companies and has been instrumental in the launching of several business enterprises. As a controller, Mr. Bowen developed an intimate understanding of financial management as well as an understanding for the everyday problems encountered by businesses. Mr. Bowen's combined industry experience and practical tax knowledge provides a well-rounded background for understanding the challenges faced by his clients. Mr. Bowen holds the Accredited in Business Valuation ("A.B.V.") credential, which is awarded by the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants. In order to earn the A.B.V. accreditation, an individual must be a C.P.A., demonstrate substantial business valuation experience including the completion of a threshold number of valuation engagements, and pass a rigorous professional examination. Holders of the A.B.V. credential are considered among the most elite group of business valuation professionals. Continuing education and substantial involvement in business valuation engagements is required to maintain the A.B.V. designation. Mr. Bowen is a Certified Valuation Analyst ("C.V.A."). The C.V.A. accreditation is the premier designation awarded by the National Association of Certified Valuation Analysts ("NACVA") for C.P.A.’s providing business valuation services. It provides assurance to the business and legal community that an individual has attained a level of specialized knowledge in business valuations. Mr. Bowen is also Certified in Financial  Forensics ("C.F.F.") by the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants.   The C.F.F. credential is granted exclusively to C.P.A.'s who demonstrate considerable experience in forensic accounting through their knowledge, skill, and experience. Mr. Bowen frequently speaks and lectures on business valuation and tax topics. Mr. Bowen has authored or co-authored several courses and presentations for trade associations at both the state and national levels. Mr. Bowen has served on the Business Valuation and Litigation Services, Continuing Education and Estate Planning committees at the Georgia Society of Certified Public Accountants. Mr. Bowen is a graduate of Georgia State University and passed all parts of the C.P.A. exam on the first sitting. He is an avid outdoorsman and has hiked extensively through out the United States and Canada. Mr. Bowen is an Eagle Scout and volunteers much of his free time to the Boy Scouts of America. ___________________________________________________________ Associations American Institute of Certified Public Accountants Georgia Society of Certified Public Accountants National Association of Certified Valuation Analysts National Eagle Scout Association ___________________________________________________________ Presentations "Business Ownership and Management Succession:  Strengthening Both the Business and the Family" Speaker, National Beer Wholesalers Association 75th Annual Convention, San Diego, CA, October 16, 2012 "Margin of Safety?  Price vs. Value of Distribution Rights"  Speaker, National Beer Wholesalers Association's 74th Annual Convention and Trade Show, Las Vegas, NV, October 17, 2011 "Why a Cash Free and Tax Free Transaction May be Right for You!"  Speaker, National Beer Wholesalers Association's 73rd Annual Convention, Chicago, IL, October 5, 2010 "Using an LLC Leasing Affiliate to Acquire Brand Distribution Rights"  Speaker, National Beer Wholesalers Association's 73rd Annual Convention, Chicago, IL, October 4, 2010 "Do the Deal Now!  Sunset Provisions in the Tax Code and Other Niceties on the Horizon"  Speaker, National Beer Wholesalers Association's 71st Annual Convention, San Francisco, CA, September 16, 2008 "Financial Myths: A Discussion of Fair Market Value and Other Financial Myths from Theoretical to Practical" Speaker, National Beer Wholesalers Association’s 69th Annual Convention, Orlando, FL September 18, 2006. "What is Value? It Depends!" Speaker, North Carolina Beer and Wine Wholesalers Association Annual Convention and 70th Anniversary, Kiawah Island, South Carolina, April 29, 2006. "Small Business Valuation – A Real Life Case Study," (8 Hour Continuing Education Course for CPA’s) Instructor, Georgia Society of Certified Public Accountants, Atlanta, GA, October 26, 2005. "The Anatomy of the Deal (Part II): Tax Free Transactions," Presenter, National Beer Wholesalers Association’s 68th Annual Convention and Trade Show, Las Vegas, NV September 20, 2005. "How to Get Along With Your Business Partners ... Local, State, and Federal Governments ... An Overview of Tax Issues and Interaction with Value Planning," Presenter, The Freelance Forum, Atlanta, GA, February 3, 2005. "Small Business Valuation Case Study – Let’s Work Through The Issues," (8 Hour Continuing Education Course for CPA’s) Instructor, Georgia Society of Certified Public Accountants, Atlanta, GA, November 5, 2004. "You Don’t Have to Be the Biggest to Stay in the Business," Co-Presenter, Missouri Beer Wholesaler’s Association Fall Meeting, Kansas City, MO, October 11, 2004. "The Anatomy of the Deal: S Corps, C Corps, LLC's - Asset and Stock Deals," Presenter, National Beer Wholesalers Association’s 66th Annual Convention and Trade Show, Las Vegas, NV October 13, 2003. "How to Finance & Value Your Spa for Growth, Recapitalization or Sale," Presenter, Spacifically 2002, The Conference and Exposition for Spa, Resort, and Hotel Executives, Atlanta, GA, October 5, 2002. "What is Value? It Depends!," Presenter, National Beer Wholesalers Association’s 65th Annual Convention, Boston, MA, October 1, 2002. "Planning for the Inevitable: Estate Taxes," Presenter, National Beer Wholesalers Association’s 63rd Annual Convention, New Orleans, LA, September 18, 2000. "Valuing Your Business in a Sea of Change," Presenter, Mississippi Malt Beverage Association 53rd Annual Convention and Business Meeting, Destin, FL, July 12, 1999. "Estate Planning in 1998 .... Is Uncle Sam Your Primary Beneficiary ?", Presenter, National Beer Wholesalers Association’s 61st Annual Convention, Chicago, IL, September 25, 1998. "Estate Planning and the Impact of Business Valuation," Presenter, National Beer Wholesalers Association’s 60th Annual Convention and Trade Show, Las Vegas, NV, September 22, 1997. "Brand Equity, Estate Planning and the Impact of Business Valuation," Co-Presenter, The Wholesale Beer and Wine Association of Ohio, 63rd Annual Convention, Columbus, OH, September 7 - 9, 1997. "Managing Value," Three day seminar developed in conjunction with National Beer Wholesalers Association. Co-Presenter and Co-Author. Seminar presented in Boca Raton, FL, Vail, CO, Palm Springs, CA, St. Thomas, VI and San Francisco, CA during 1997 and 1998. "Wholesaler Consolidation, Ownership Succession and the Economics of Exclusivity," Co-Presenter, Heart of America Malt Beverage Conference, Vail Colorado, September 7, 1996.