June 24, 2010
JPS - Association for Accounting Marketing Annual Conference Awards Recipient
The Association for Accounting Marketing distributed 37 Marketing Achievement Awards to 24 different firms in recognition of their outstanding achievements in the areas of accounting marketing and communications. JPS, competing in the under $15 million in revenue division with firms from across the United States and Canada, was honored by awards for Corporate Identity/Business System and Brochure/Printed Collateral. The Corporate Identity Award comes on the heels of the recent recognition by the Printing Industry of the Carolinas for the new JPS design. The award for Brochure/Printed Collateral was presented for the new JPS brochure highlighting our specialization in working with the Christmas tree industry.
This was the 16th year that the annual awards were presented. Recipients were announced at the 21st Annual Conference, held in Washington, DC on June 24, 2010.
June 21, 2010
Ben Hamrick elected to Asheville Area Chamber of Commerce Board of Directors
Ben Hamrick, JPS President and CEO, has been elected to serve a three year term on the Asheville Area Chamber of Commerce Board of Directors. The formal announcement of newly elected board members was made during the Asheville Chamber’s 113th Annual Meeting held at the Grove Park Inn on June 21st. In addition to the presentation of the Chamber’s Annual Business and Leadership Awards, the evening ended with a tribute in recognition of the retirement of Asheville Chamber President and CEO Richard Lutovsky.
June 4, 2010
JPS Takes it to the streets in the Asheville Area Chamber of Commerce 5k Chamber Challenge
A group of 14 participants from JPS were among the 1,000 people that took part in the 4th Annual Chamber Challenge 5K on Friday, June 4th. This year’s race was the first for the JPS group with enthusiasm running high, stemming from the ongoing wellness program in the firm. Even though the hilly course was made more challenging by the warm temperatures and high humidity the group is already talking of taking part in next year’s event.
May 14, 2010
JPS Raises Wall on Fourth Asheville Area Habitat for Humanity House
Here comes number four! On Friday, May 14th, Twenty-one JPS staff members were among the group raising the first wall on the fourth JPS sponsored Habitat for Humanity house. The wall raising was the culmination of a week’s work where JPS staffers put down the subfloor and then constructed the 48 foot section of wall that was lifted into place. Emotions always run pretty high at these events. New home owner Mishaunta McMillian and her children we there to assist in the wall raising of their new home and Mishaunta’s excitement level was contagious by the time the wall went up. As construction moves forward toward a December move-in date and Mishaunta’s dream becomes a reality, we at JPS understand that it is through our relationship with Habitat for Humanity that each of us gets the opportunity to be greater by strengthening the community in which we work and live.

May 5, 2010
Ben Hamrick and Leslie Johnson Assume New Roles with NCACPA for 2010-2011
Ben Hamrick, JPS President and CEO, was among the new class of board officers elected at the NCACPA Annual Business Meeting and Awards Banquet at
the Grandover Resort in Greensboro, NC . Leslie Johnson, JPS Vice President of CPA Services, was also welcomed as incoming Peer Review Committee
Chairperson for 2010 . In addition, Leslie was recognized, once again, as an Outstanding Seminar Discussion Leader.
Recipients of the award must have a combined average score on both Knowledge and Skill of at least 4.75 from participant evaluations.
March 25, 2010
Mary Williams Matthews receives 2010 TWIN Award
JPS Vice President of Healthcare Services, Mary Williams Matthews, was among those honored during the 2010 Tribute to Women of Influence (TWIN) Awards Banquet. The 19th annual event, presented by the Asheville YWCA, to honor these women in the Asheville area was a sold out event this year. Honoree of the Year went to Kitty Schaller of MANNA FoodBank. The 2010 winner of the Director’s Choice Award was Wilma Sherrill. Mary Matthews was recognized for her volunteer efforts of leadership and fundraising within the healthcare community in Western North Carolina.

April 30, 2010
Hillary Colvin Receives UNC Asheville 2009 Robert D. Williams Award for Outstanding Leadership, Scholarship and Service
The Robert D. Williams Award is the Department of Management & Accountancy's most comprehensive award made annually to the student who demonstrates that combination of scholarship, leadership, and service that sets a high standard for UNCA Management and Accountancy students. It is named in honor of one of the department's distinguished instructors whose life exemplified commitment to citizenship, profession, scholarship and integrity. Hillary Colvin graduated in December 2009 and is currently an Associate of JPS in the Asheville office.

April 29, 2010
Best in Category Award Celebrated
JPS celebrates the recent Best in Category win by Daniels Graphics from The Printing Industry of the Carolinas. The award was classified upon stationery packaging from the new JPS business system, designed by The Brite Agency in 2009. By virtue of being a regional winner, the submission is automatically nominated for a national award. Stephanie Smith, Ray Straub and Brian Yates from The Brite Agency were on hand at Asheville Headquarters to join Jim Daniels and Jami Daniels of Daniels Graphics as they presented Rusty Owen, Director of Marketing at JPS, with the award.
March 23, 2010
JPS Meets Latest Group of Upcoming Graduates
JPS was among the group of accounting firms and local private employers who sponsored this year’s “Meet the Firms” night at UNC-Asheville. The annual event attracts upcoming graduates in both postgraduate and undergraduate accounting programs from area universities. This event always proves to be a great venue for JPS to meet and develop relationships with prospective employees and interns. The evening culminated with cash drawings from JPS where three lucky students ended up with a little unexpected expense money for the week! We would like to extend a special thank you to Dr. Susan Swanger, Director of Western Carolina University’s Master’s of Accountancy Program, for organizing this event.

March 6, 2010
Daniels Graphics wins the Best in Category Award from The Printing Industry of the Carolinas (PICA) with their submission of JPS business system
February 18, 2010
2010 McDowell Chamber of Commerce Officers Recognized
The McDowell Chamber of Commerce officers for 2010 were recognized at the annual membership banquet held at Tom Johnson Camping/Customer Service Facility on February 18th. They are (from left) Treasurer Debbie Moore, Plant account for Columbia Forest Products; Vice President Amy Johnson, manager of McDowell Cornerstone Credit Union; President Kevin Griffin, CPA, Senior Associate with Johnson, Price & Sprinkle PA; and Immediate Past President Steve Brown, owner of S L Brown Financial Services. Griffin, located in the Marion office of JPS, has been with the firm for seven years and his Chamber Presidency is the latest position in his many years of service with the McDowell Chamber of Commerce.
December 3, 2009
McDowell Chamber of Commerce and JPS present first ever Tom Johnson Entrepreneurship Awards.
Read the article from mcdowellnews.com
November 19, 2009
JPS Receives Outstanding Business in Philanthropy Award from
Association of Fundraising Professionals Western North Carolina Chapter
JPS was one of two organizations honored Thursday, November 19 at the annual National Philanthropy Day Awards luncheon at the Renaissance Hotel. The company has offered support for groups such as the Asheville Buncombe Youth Soccer Association and it holds positions on several nonprofit boards throughout WNC. It has contributed to and built three homes for Habitat for Humanity and sponsors family business forums at UNC Asheville and Appalachian State University and chamber of commerce programs throughout WNC. The awards ceremony is sponsored by Blue Cross and Blue Shield of North Carolina Foundation, HomeTrust Bank, Mission Healthcare Foundation, Stellar Media, Western Carolina University, CarePartners Foundation and other organizations and individuals.

(Left to Right)
Ben Hamrick (Outstanding Business in Philanthropy-JPS)
Dick Allen (Volunteer Fundraiser)
Don and Lisbeth Cooper (Outstanding Philanthropists-founders of Cooper Riis Behavioral Care)
Bruce Thorsen (Outstanding Organization in Philanthropy-Mission Healthcare Foundation)
John Pfaff (Outstanding Fundraising Exec-Carolina Day School)
November 12, 2009
JPS Passes Habitat For Humanity Key to Deserving Family

Kevin Griffin of Johnson, Price & Sprinkle and Susan Hunter of CitiFinancial hand a key for a Habitat home to Eduard Thijs, Laura Carter and Els Thijs at a ceremony in Enka Hills on November 12. The event was the culmination of months of physical labor by volunteers, from sponsor companies and churches and regulars, who worked an estimated 2,000 hours Mondays-Saturdays to help build the two-bedroom house. On hand were many JPS team members to celebrate the 3rd Habitat Home JPS has sponsored.
Read the article from Citzen-Times.com
JPS YMCA Wellness Program Hits the Airwaves
JPS Marketing Director, Rusty Owen was recently asked by the YMCA of Western North Carolina to help in producing a radio commercial for their Corporate Wellness Initiative currently underway in our area. The thirty second commercial was edited from a five minute interview conducted at the local Clear Channel studios in Asheville. The commercial will air on Clear Channel radio stations across the western third of the state.
Listen to Rusty Owen's testimonial (mp3)
October 29, 2009
JPS receives Asheville Area Chamber of Commerce Sky High Growth Award
Asheville, NC. JPS was honored at the annual Asheville Area Chamber of Commerce Sky High Growth Awards presentation during the monthly Chamber After-Hours meeting at the NC Arboretum. This marked the second consecutive year JPS has received the award. The awards are given annually to qualified businesses for outstanding achievements and contributions to the Asheville area economy as one the fastest growing business enterprises. Even more notable was the fact that eight of the other companies recognized at the event were JPS clients, proving the JPS mission to BE GREATER not only applies to JPS but to its clients as well.

October 23, 2009
Garrett Martin, Director of Technology Solutions is the member spotlight of the
Y Health Plan Partner program.
View the October edition of "The Y Connection"
August 19, 2009
JPS Continues Sponsorship of Family Business Forum
JPS is proud to announce its continued sponsorship of the UNC Asheville Family Business Forum, which is kicking off its new season August 27 with a program on cutting-edge fiscal forecasting. Established in 2001, the forum provides a platform for the education and exchange of information for family-owned businesses. It supports families and business through regular programs by respected authorities on issues vital to family-owned businesses. For more information on the August 27 event or on becoming a member, visit the Family Business Forum website at www.unca.edu/fbf.
July 17, 2009
Ben Hamrick Selected Small Business Leader of the Year
Benjamin C. Hamrick, President and CEO of Johnson Price & Sprinkle PA, was selected as Small Business Leader of the Year for 2009 by the Asheville Area Chamber of Commerce. The award was presented at the Chamber’s Annual Dinner by Dana Stonestreet CEO of HomeTrust Bank. Ben’s selection was based on leadership and community involvement.
May 26, 2009
JPS Supports Habitat for Humanity
JPS is a strong supporter of Habitat for Humanity. See below for a video of the wall-raising for the third house JPS has sponsored.

May 1, 2009
JPS Selected Small Business of the Month
JPS was selected Small Business of the Month for May 2009 by the Asheville Area Chamber of Commerce for contributions to the quality and diversity of the Asheville area business community. Rollin Groseclose and Rusty Owen accepted the award during the monthly Chamber Board of Directors on April 30.

May 2009
Distinguished Discussion Leader Award

January 20, 2009
Johnson, Price & Sprinkle, PA expands regional coverage into Boone
Integrates Dixon Hughes office into practice; adds $1.5 million in revenue to firm
Johnson, Price & Sprinkle, PA, one of Western North Carolina's leading accounting firms, announced today that it will expand its regional coverage into the North Carolina High Country by integrating the Boone office of Dixon Hughes, PLLC into its practice. The expansion will maintain the types of services offered to clients from the Boone office while also adding a projected $1.5 million in revenue to JPS.
"By moving into the Boone area, we're realizing our goal of providing complete accounting, tax, planning and consulting services to all of Western North Carolina," said JPS Chief Executive Officer Ben Hamrick.
"The clientele of the Boone office aligns perfectly with JPS's current client base. We're looking forward to teaming with the professionals at this new location to offer the services of a large firm, thanks in part to our affiliation with CPAmerica International and the resources it provides. But we're also committed to providing the personalized attention of a community-based firm, which has been the backbone of JPS from the beginning."
Headquartered in Asheville, JPS also has offices in Hendersonville and Marion. With this integration, JPS will fold the 10employees and 35-year history of Dixon Hughes' Boone operation into the firm. This will give JPS a staff of nearly 70 people firm-wide.
The transition will take place February 1.
"We're looking forward to the transition and the opportunities it will offer not only for our teammembers, but for our clients as well," said Larry Byerly, who will continue as principal in charge of the Boone office. "We're looking forward to continuing to provide clients a full range of services under one roof, and we're confident that JPS's culture will blend nicely with ours."
Hamrick said the strength of the Boone office is reflective of the history of the Dixon Hughes presence.
"(Dixon Hughes CEO) Ken Hughes and his entire team are to be commended for the tremendous practice they've built in Boone," Hamrick said. "We're proud to buildon the work they've done, and we're confident this will be a win-win situation for JPS, Dixon Hughes and, more importantly, all of the clients of the Boone office."
Hughes added: “We could not be more pleased with this arrangement. It is the best for our Boone clients, for JPS, and for Dixon Hughes. We are proud of our Western North Carolina heritage and the relationships we’ve built here. Knowing the leadership at JPS personally, we can be confident that our Boone clients will be in good hands.”
Over the past 50-plus years, JPS has expanded to provide a complete suite of services including business planning, consulting and valuation; assurance; tax management; technology consulting; and personal financial planning. Hamrick noted that the Boone expansion will be aided by the ability of the firm to harness the talent coming from Appalachian State University's lauded Walker College of Business, ensuring JPS maintains a strong presence in and an important contributor to the local community for years to come.