Windes, a premier advisory and accounting firm, is celebrating its 100th anniversary in 2026, representing a significant milestone in the professional services industry that underscores the importance of organizational resilience and adaptive growth. Since its founding in 1926, the firm has evolved from a small local practice into a multi-service organization recognized for technical excellence, client service, and community commitment, mirroring the expansion of business needs globally. This centennial reflects not just corporate longevity but the firm's ability to navigate economic shifts, technological change, and increasing business complexity while maintaining core values.
The firm's journey from a small Long Beach practice to serving clients across the country and internationally demonstrates how professional service organizations must balance tradition with innovation to remain relevant. Today, Windes provides a comprehensive suite of services including audit and assurance, tax, client advisory services, transaction advisory services, human capital consulting, and technology and risk solutions, addressing the diversified requirements of modern businesses, nonprofits, retirement plans, and individuals. This expansion illustrates the growing demand for integrated advisory services beyond traditional accounting functions.
Sean McFerson, Managing Partner at Windes, emphasized that the centennial celebrates both historical achievements and future investments, noting that foundational values of integrity, service, and relationships continue to guide the firm's approach. The firm's reputation has been built on independence, adaptability, and excellence—qualities that have proven essential for navigating a century of business transformations. As organizations face increasingly complex regulatory environments, technological disruptions, and global market dynamics, Windes' century-long evolution offers insights into sustainable professional service models.
The firm's approach focuses on tailored expertise to proactively inform decision-making and maximize client potential, particularly serving growth-oriented small and mid-sized privately held companies, nonprofit organizations, and high-net-worth individuals. This client-centric methodology highlights the shifting expectations in professional services, where clients seek partners who can provide clarity amid complexity rather than just compliance services. For more information about Windes and its services, visit https://www.windes.com.
As Windes begins its next century, the firm's legacy of resilience through economic cycles, adaptation to technological advancements, and expansion of service offerings provides a case study in professional service sustainability. The centennial milestone matters because it demonstrates how firms can maintain relevance across generations by evolving capabilities while preserving core principles, offering lessons for other organizations navigating similar challenges in an increasingly complex business landscape.
