Ascend Founder and CEO Is Bringing Fresh Leadership to the Rapidly Transforming CPA Industry
David Wurtzbacher lives by the principle of putting people first, believing that a great business can transform lives. This commitment led him to Alpine Investors, where he first served as CFO of Lightwave Dental Management and now leads as CEO of Ascend, a platform that partners with entrepreneurial CPAs to drive their growth. David shares his insights on the CPA industry, the platform he's building, and the purpose that fuels his work.
Where does the Ascend story begin for you?
Early in my career I was working in asset management at JP Morgan and living in New York City. I knew that I wanted to use my gifts in my career but I didn’t yet have a deep sense of purpose for my career. I was just glad to live in an interesting city, be challenged intellectually and hopefully make some money. However, my parents and a few mentors pushed me to think more about what I thought the purpose of my career is in the context of my faith and greater worldview.
After lots of conversations, reading and soul searching, I realized that excellent businesses are one of the most powerful vehicles we have to serve others and lift people up, whether that is suppliers, clients, employees or the communities they operate in. At the same time, I became passionate about “consolidations,” the model of bringing excellence and growth opportunities to smaller firms by combining them in some way to create a greater whole. These realizations on my leadership journey led me to business school.
Where does the Ascend story begin for you?
Early in my career I was working in asset management at JP Morgan and living in New York City. I knew that I wanted to use my gifts in my career but I didn’t yet have a deep sense of purpose for my career. I was just glad to live in an interesting city, be challenged intellectually and hopefully make some money. However, my parents and a few mentors pushed me to think more about what I thought the purpose of my career is in the context of my faith and greater worldview.
After lots of conversations, reading and soul searching, I realized that excellent businesses are one of the most powerful vehicles we have to serve others and lift people up, whether that is suppliers, clients, employees or the communities they operate in. At the same time, I became passionate about “consolidations,” the model of bringing excellence and growth opportunities to smaller firms by combining them in some way to create a greater whole. These realizations on my leadership journey led me to business school.
