CCH has named Shari Dodgen, the former publisher of the CPA Technology Advisor, as director of strategic relationships. Her responsibilities include developing strategic relationships with professional associations and growing accounting industry partnerships.

Rich Walker, who has been highly visible in the accounting community, is retiring this month after 15 years at Intuit. Walker has been active in building programs for accountants and bookkeepers while at the tax and accounting software company.

As we work through the succession and retirement of senior partners in our firms, a lot of us are also reviewing and updating our internal documents and agreements. A key part of the update should be focused around how we bring new partners into the firm to replace the "old guys".

The question of change comes up every year at the end of December. Everyone has New Year's resolutions and thoughts of how they are going to improve themselves in 2014 in regards to health, diet, fitness, as well as to how they are going to improve themselves in relationships, work and business.