The Origins of Berberich Trahan & Co., P.A.
The firm started in 1913. The Topeka office was a branch of Washington, Henry & Co., Federal Tax Consultants, Public Accountants, with offices in Chicago, Kansas City, Topeka, Wichita, Ft. Worth and Hutchinson. Sometime after January 21, 1921, Don Henry acquired all or a part of the firm and operated as Don Henry & Company, with offices in Kansas City, Topeka and Washington, D.C.
Over the years since 1913, the firm's name changed many times as different partners became associated with the firm. The firm's names included: J.K. Brelsford Certified Public Accountants; Brelsford, Wasson and Gifford; Brelsford and Gifford Company; Brelsford, Gifford and Jones; Brelsford, Gifford and Hardesty; Brelsford, Gifford, Hardesty and Batz; Hardesty, Batz and Clinkenbeard.
For many years the firm's office had been in the New England Building in downtown Topeka. In 1969 offices were moved to the new Merchants National Bank Building across the street from the Capitol.
As of October 1, 1977, the local firm merged with Main LaFrentz & Company. W. F. Hardesty who joined the firm in 1934, Charles Clinkenbeard who joined the firm in 1946, and George Batz who joined in 1936 became general partners with Main LaFrentz. Hardesty was partner in charge of the Topeka office.
As of September 1, 1979, the partners of Hurdman and Cranstoun, and Main LaFrentz & Co. voted to merge into on general partnership under the name of Main Hurdman and Cranstoun. The name was later shortened to Main Hurdman. Main Hurdman became a part of Klynveld, Main, Goerdeler, an international firm.
Hardesty retired March 21, 1980. Charles Clinkenbeard became partner in charge. Batz retired March 31, 1981.
The firm operated as Main Hurdman until 1984 when it changed its name to KMG Main Hurdman. On March 31, 1987 Klynveld Main Goerdeler, its parent, merged with Peat, Marwick, Mitchell and Co. in the largest merger of professional service firms up to that point. The resulting firm, KPMG Peat Marwick, was the largest professional service firm in the world.
In June 1989, KPMG Peat Marwick offered to sell its Topeka practice to the partners who were residents of Topeka. Two of those partners, John Berberich and Bill Trahan, joined by Ginger Powell, a senior manager in the Topeka office, bought the practice and formed Berberich Trahan & Co., P.A.
The firm has continued to operate as Berberich Trahan & Co. since 1989. Additional shareholders have joined the firm over the years. Brad Koehn became a shareholder in 1995, Karen Linn in 1996 and Terry Young in 1997. John Berberich retired in 1997 and Bill Trahan in 2004.
In 2001, the firm moved the office to the current location at 3630 SW Burlingame Road.
