MJLM Leadership
Ira Wayne McConnell,CPA
Managing PartnerIn his role as managing partner, Wayne is responsible for guiding the firms’ strategic direction and has overall responsibility for management of administrative functions, including human resources, marketing and business development, accounting, and information technology.
Wayne also serves as Partner-In-Charge of McConnell & Jones’ assurance practice, and has oversight responsibility of the audit division’s quality control system; making sure that it adheres to the peer review and inspection requirements of the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants (AICPA) and the Public Company Accounting and Oversight Board (PCAOB). He also conducts engagement partner and concurring partner technical reviews of audit reports and the related financial statements, ensuring that the engagements have been performed in accordance with generally accepted auditing standards and the financial statements are being presented in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles.
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Thomas Jones, Jr., CPA
Partner, Tax and Small Business SolutionsThomas Jones is a passionate advocate for small business owners and entrepreneurs who want to take their business to the next level.
Thomas Jones, Jr., serves as partner of tax and small business solutions; as such he thrives on working with small business owners and risk-taking entrepreneurs. He enjoys learning the various facets of their business and providing comprehensive tax planning strategies. A seasoned, well-connected professional, Thomas is proud of how he has been able to use his influence and connections to help companies grow and acquire financing. "I like to build things", says Thomas.
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Odysseus Lanier, CPA
Partner
Odysseus M. Lanier is one of four founding partners with McConnell Jones Lanier & Murphy LLP (MJLM). MJLM is the third largest African American-owned accounting and consulting firm in the United States, the largest African American-owned accounting and consulting firm south of Virginia’s southern border, and the 17th largest public accounting firm in Houston, Texas, with satellite offices in Huntsville, Alabama, Dallas, Texas, Oak Ridge, Tennessee, and Washington, DC. He leads the firm's Federal Services Group and specializes in working with federal, state and local government agencies by providing strategic planning, financial management, and operations review and support services.
With more than 33 years of experience in strategic planning, governance, financial management, project management, control, and cost analysis, Odysseus has sharpened his skill of reviewing and evaluating governance; creating team-building systems; organizing and directing management; establishing strategic outsourcing alternatives; and analyzing general business operations. He has extensive knowledge of federal, state, and local procurement policy, procurement strategies, contracting processes, and process improvement strategies.
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Sharon Murphy
Partner Sharon E. Murphy is a partner within MJLM's consulting division and heads the firm's education practice. She has 30 years of experience in financial management, business and strategic planning, organizational assessment, policy analysis, and program evaluation. As a consulting partner, she is responsible for a national clientele that includes government (federal, state, and municipal), school districts, and institutions of higher education. In the education arena, Sharon has led or participated in consulting engagements in 20 of the nation's top 100 school systems in 13 states. She also oversees complex, large-scale engagements for federal agencies with nationwide scope.
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Gilbert Hopkins, CPA, CFP
Director of Consulting Services
Mr. Gilbert Hopkins is a Director of Consulting Services who specializes in providing financial management, business process improvement, and performance and compliance auditing services to public and private organizations including educational institutions, non-profit agencies and city and state government agencies.
Since 1979, Mr. Hopkins has served in a variety of capacities including independent auditor, internal auditor, financial planner, chief financial officer, controller, and business consultant. Currently certified in public accounting and financial planning, Mr. Hopkins performs compliance, operational and efficiency audits, program evaluations, and strategy implementations.
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Shannon Norman, CPA
Director of Accounting and Administration
Ms. Norman serves as the accounting and administration director and is responsible for overseeing the accounting, financial reporting and other firm wide administrative initiatives. Ms. Norman plays a key role in strategic planning working closely with firm leadership to record, analyze and report financial and accounting practices. In addition to budgetary and fiscal responsibilities, Ms. Norman develops, documents and implements administrative policies and procedures for the efficient organization and operation of the firm.
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Will Hampton, MBA
Director of ContractsMr. Hampton serves as the Director of Contracts and is responsible for overseeing firm-wide contract negotiations, policies and procedures, analysis and compliance.
With more than 33 years of federal and commercial contract management and administration experience, his proficiency ranges from developing policies and procedures for the Naval Supply Systems Command as a Procurement Analyst to developing Acquisition Plans and the award of contracts in excess of $250 million for complex R&D projects, engineering development models, engineering studies, scientific analysis and base support services as a warranted Contracting Officer.
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Joyce Barrett
Director of Human ResourcesMs. Barrett serves as the human resource director and is responsible for overseeing the human capital initiatives. With more than 15 years experience, Ms. Barrett provides firm wide, human resource policy and procedure development, implementation and regulation as well as planning, organizing, and directing all related functions of human resources. Ms. Barrett handles employee relations, benefits, training, regulatory compliance, EEO/AAP administration, and recruiting.
