The Accountant Attorney Networking Group (AANG) is comprised solely of practicing accountants and practicing attorneys who service multiple clients. The purpose of the group is to facilitate networking between and among attorneys and accountants – two professions that have enormous synergy and potential for cross-referrals.
AANG began operations in 2003. It was an expansion of a smaller group of attorneys and accountants where they avoided having attorneys in the same practice area. The group began to grow, and the leaders of the original group realized that accountants and attorneys were great referral sources for one another, so they decided to open membership to all attorneys and accountants regardless of duplicate practice areas.
A Board of Directors was elected, and plans to increase the size of the group were put into motion. A full hot breakfast was going to be served at the monthly meetings. This encouraged more potential members to attend the meetings to network before, during, and after breakfast. They were allowed to attend two meetings as guests, and most would join after that. There was a guest speaker/sponsor at the meetings to discuss various topics related to helping both accountants and attorneys with their clients.
The Board also decided to supplement the monthly breakfast meetings with semi-annual cocktail/dinner events open to all professionals, including non-members of AANG.
Over the years, we have met at various venues, and today, we currently have our meetings at the Dix Hills Diner in a private room, generally on the fourth Thursday of the month. At the meetings, all attendees can introduce themselves and state their areas of expertise. We like to have a discussion question that affects both professions, and it usually is a spirited event.
There has been a significant amount of business generated between the accountants and attorneys at the AANG meetings. In addition, an added benefit of being a member of AANG is the friendships and social relationships that have been cultivated by members that have lasted over many years outside of the formal meetings and events.