People: Monica Castelli joined The Bonadio Group of Albany, N.Y., as administrative assistant for the business valuation team ... The University of Akron’s George W. Daverio School of Accountancy awarded the distinction of “Outstanding Professional” to Ray Dunkle, a partner in forensic and valuation services at Brockman, Coats, Gedelian & Co. in Akron, Ohio … Richard Gray returned as director of business valuation services to Daszkal Bolton LLP, a leading accounting and advisory firm in South Florida … Dr. Steve Lim, professor of accounting at the University of Seoul and advisor to the Korea Accounting Standards Board, was appointed to the IFRS Advisory Council … KPMG LLP advisory director Keaton Miller and managing director Olli Valikangas were winners of Consulting magazine's inaugural "Rising Stars of the Profession Awards" … John Cristiano has joined Grant Thornton LLP as managing director in the firm’s transaction advisory services practice in New York City … Simon J.K. Miller, who has more than two decades of experience in representing closely held businesses in trial litigation over ownership disputes, has left Thompson Hines to join Blank Rome’s New York City office as a partner in its corporate litigation group.

Firms: Baker Tilly joined RSM International, a leading global network of independent accounting firms of which McGladrey LLP is a founding member … Bennett Thrasher LLP, one of the largest Atlanta-based full-service CPA and consulting firms, is merging with Taylor Consulting Group and expects the formal union to be concluded by July 2014 … Brown Smith Wallace has been named to the Vault Accounting 50—a ranking of the 50 best accounting firms to work for in North America … The International Management Advisory Group and Crowe Horwath LLP have teamed up to provide anti-money laundering and Bank Secrecy Act consulting services … During the 54th annual scholarship award ceremony, The New Jersey Society of Certified Public Accountants will award more than $520,000 in scholarships … Plante Moran was recognized as one of West Michigan’s 101 Best & Brightest Companies to Work For … For the fourth year in a row, Smith & Howard was recognized as a Top Workplace in the Atlanta Region by The Atlanta-Journal Constitution.