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41 B U S I N E S S P RO F I L E S S P O N S O R E D C O N T E N T B U S I N E S S P R O F I L E Baker Newman Noyes 280 Fore St., Portland, ME 04101 (headquarters) Sector: Accounting and Advisory Andrew Smith, Chairperson of the Board Darren Hurlburt, President and CFO Founded: 1995 Maine employees: 138 www.bnncpa.com Above: Celebrating Portsmouth office relocation in 2022 "Our approach prioritizes engaging with clients early on to identify pain points and maximize opportunities through tailored solutions," says Hurlburt. "As much as we can, we want to be a full-service professional advisory firm for the businesses and individuals we serve." BNN's consulting and advisory services have proven to be a strong differentiator in the market, particularly for a regional public accounting firm. ey have also continued to expand in response to shifting business trends and challenges. In recent years, the firm has added a transaction advisory practice that works with a variety of deal types, from closely-held businesses to private equity investors; restructured its business and technology advisory practice to offer solutions ranging from top-level strategy and governance planning, to technology and cybersecurity assess- ments, and system implementations and vendor management; and, most recently, bolstered its outsourced accounting offerings through new practice leadership and the addition of CFO and technical accounting advisory. e firm's membership in HLB International, a global network of independent accounting and advisory firms, has also brought new opportunities and allowed the team to maximize on-the- ground resources in other markets for its clients. Engaging in this broader network aligns with the value BNN places in winning as a team and continuous learning and growth. "inking back to our earliest days when our service mix focused solely on tax and assurance services – it's incredible how we've evolved," said Smith. "Every innovation, every change, every new service line came from identifying a strategic alignment between our understanding of our client needs and the specialties and knowledge of our professionals and then building partnerships around that alignment." is year the firm won its seventh consecutive Best of Accounting Award from ClearlyRated for providing superior service to its clients. is recognition aligns with feedback and ratings from the firm's annual client survey, most recently averaging 9.4 out of 10 for client satisfaction across all survey responses. One client shared in their response, "If you are looking for real professionals who always go the extra mile - BNN is the ticket." Today, with more than 300 employees, BNN is a top 100 firm in the U.S., the second largest firm in Maine, and the 21st largest firm in Massachusetts. And it doesn't plan to stop here. Celebrating 30 years of excellence In 2025, the firm celebrates 30 years of exceptional service, team- work, caring about each other, learning and growing, and doing the right thing. Connecting is a key theme for the BNN team this year, and its leadership group is highlighting it across all commu- nications and initiatives. "Our business is based on relationships," says Smith. "Every day we build and strengthen relationships with our clients and colleagues – that's why meaningful connections are so important to what we do, and why we are placing a renewed focus on the theme this year. When we connect with each other, we are bet- ter able to provide a high level of service that is collaborative and invested in shared success." As BNN looks ahead to the next 30 years, innovation and sus- tainable growth remain at the forefront. In January of this year, the firm introduced a reorganized leadership structure, led by a Board of Directors responsible for defining and executing the firm's vision and strategy, and a new President role, overseeing the day-to-day business of the firm. Says Smith, "We recognized the opportunity for positive change, implementing a leadership operating structure that allows the Ownership Group to focus on big picture firm strategy and direc- tion – making sure BNN stays true to its values in the long term. It also gives our excellent operational leaders and teams the space to efficiently and effectively run the business of BNN. is has been an exciting shift, and I am very proud of how it's working so far." Internally, in addition to celebrating, the BNN team is taking this year to thank its clients for their business and trust, and serve their local communities. Recently, BNN wrapped up its annual adopt-a-school partnership with Canal School in Westbrook. ere has also been a line-up of team volunteer initiatives hap- pening through the summer that will continue into the fall and holiday season. "We are all very excited to have achieved this 30-year milestone," says Hurlburt. "ere's been a lot of reminiscing and reflecting on where we came from. I'm also thinking about what's next and the wealth of opportunities we have in front of us. e public account- ing industry has experienced immense shifts in recent years that have required firms like ours to adapt quickly and often. Our role today has changed from straightforward accounting compliance providers to trusted, ongoing business advisors who provide tech- nical specialization coupled with values alignment. "Our leaders, Principals, and entire team are focused on continu- ing BNN's reputation for excellent client service while innovating new offerings and solutions. We are staying engaged in our com- munities through volunteerism, charitable donations, and active sponsorship support. It's all about making a positive impact and creating opportunities for the people working and living with and around us. at's who BNN is and always has been." l P H O T O C O U R T E S Y O F B A K E R N E W M A N N O Y E S P H O T O C O U R T E S Y O F B A K E R N E W M A N N O Y E S

