KSM Recognizes 2019 Vision Award Winners

Congratulations to the winners of the 2019 KSM Vision Awards! These annual awards, now in their second year, recognize three KSM employees whose work inside and outside of KSM exemplifies and is in alignment with one of the three pillars of our Vision – People, Clients, and Community. Nominations were solicited from all employees, and the winners were selected by a committee consisting of partners and firm leaders. Our three deserving honorees were announced at a Nov. 8 employee meeting in Indianapolis.

2019 Inspiring People Award Winner: Katherine Malarsky

The Inspiring People Award recognizes a KSM employee who is a champion and leader of our people. The criteria for this award include championing people initiatives and programs, spending a significant amount of time developing people, and inspiring KSM and our people to be better through courageous feedback, innovative ideas, and diversity of thought.

Congratulations to Katherine Malarsky, the winner of the 2019 Inspiring People Award!

Despite significant demands on her time, both personally and professionally, Katherine is committed to and focused on KSM’s people through teaching, mentoring, and advocating. As a primary driver of the firm’s internal tax education efforts, Katherine oversees KSM’s tax curriculum and teaches several tax courses. She has also helped develop the firm’s Tax Academy, particularly the international tax portion of the Academy, and is a frequent presenter to our new hires.

Additionally, as a believer in the power of diversity of thought and perspectives, Katherine has helped KSM shape our diversity, equity, and inclusion initiatives, encouraging our leadership to make this a priority in order to make us a better firm. As a key member of KSM’s diversity and inclusion committee, INSPIRE, Katherine is instrumental in helping the group articulate and carry out its goals.

Katherine was nominated by KSM Partner Ryan Miller.

2019 Client Service Excellence Award Winner: John Estridge

The Client Service Excellence Award recognizes a KSM employee for outstanding internal or external client service. The criteria for this award include making an effort to provide a consistently outstanding experience for clients that clearly stands out as going above and beyond, demonstrating tremendous tenacity and commitment in helping resolve a major client issue, and receiving an abundance of unsolicited feedback from inside and outside the firm that the nominee consistently exceeded expectations.

Congratulations to John Estridge, the winner of the 2019 Client Service Excellence Award!

John brings an exceptional level of service and “tax nerd” knowledge to every client engagement in which he is involved. He has earned the utmost trust of the clients he works with and is often the first person they call for advice and counsel on their companies’ tax matters.

Additionally, John endeavors to make all of KSM better prepared to serve our clients by acting as a tax technical mentor and resource. Over the past year and a half, John has immersed himself in the new tax law and has become a key person in making KSM smarter. While he is an expert in many tax law provisions, he is the expert regarding the new limitations on deducting business interest under Section 163(j), and readily shares his knowledge with his colleagues to assist in better advising KSM’s clients.

John was nominated by KSM Partner Kent Manuel.

2019 Community Service Excellence Award Winner: Jennifer Erner

The Community Service Excellence Award recognizes a KSM employee who is a pillar and leader in the community. The criteria for this award include investing a considerable amount of time and effort in representing KSM in the community on boards and/or committees, and significantly contributing to and moving a civic organization forward by enhancing the organization’s mission and positively impacting the community.

Congratulations to Jennifer Erner, the winner of the 2019 Community Service Excellence Award!

In her nearly eight years as a volunteer with Susan G. Komen Central Indiana, Jennifer’s leadership and efforts have reverberated throughout the organization. She has served on the Pink Tie Ball planning committee for several years, participated on the grant review panel for two years, and has led numerous Indianapolis Race for the Cure teams. Additionally, Jennifer is routinely named to the Pink Tie Honor Roll, which recognizes the top 100 individual fundraisers for the Indianapolis Race for the Cure. Last March, Komen Central Indiana named Jennifer its Outstanding Volunteer of the year, recognizing her dedication, dependability, and exceptional contributions. Her passion is fueled by the memory of one of her best friends, who lost her battle with breast cancer at the age of 30.

Jennifer was nominated by KSM Partner Lisa Curry.

We’re very proud of the contributions these three exceptional people have made to better our people, our clients, and our communities. They are truly inspiring – great people doing great things!