In an industry suggestive of a glass ceiling, one local firm has not only cracked it, but has shattered it completely.

The accounting firm of Beers, Hamerman, Cohen & Burger today announced that not just one but three women have been named as partners in the firm. “I am thrilled and excited that these three extraordinary women will join me as partners in the firm,” said Luise Mann Burger, who has been a partner at the firm for many years.

“As BHCB continues to enjoy unparalleled growth, and as we actively cultivate a company culture of inclusiveness and diversity, we are very excited to name three women as partners in the firm,” said Edward P. Burger, co-managing partner at BHCB.

Burger said the firm, which opened in Bridgeport and New Haven in 1959, always has embraced values that include giving back to the community and creating a welcoming workplace.

“When our firm was first founded, accounting was traditionally seen as a male-dominated field. Even now, many firms hold fast to that archaic belief. But we feel that talent is talent. It is crucial to dispel any myths and obstacles that may prevent our employees, whatever their background, from reaching their highest potential,” Burger said. “Jessica McCauley, Shari Elias and Sharon Brune all have demonstrated exceptional ability as well as sincere dedication to the well-being of our clientele and our industry. All of them are invaluable assets to our team.”

Jessica McCauley specializes in providing accounting and auditing services to a variety of organizations including not-for-profits, manufacturing companies, and employee benefit plans. She joined Beers, Hamerman, Cohen & Burger in 2006 after spending five years with PwC, an international CPA firm. She is a member of both the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants (AICPA) and the Connecticut Society of Certified Public Accountants (CTCPA). She graduated summa cum laude from the University of Connecticut in 1997 and received her CPA certificate in 2001.A resident of Monroe, Jessica acts as Treasurer and board member of the Monroe Travel Basketball League as well as member of the Finance and Investment Committees of the Kennedy Center, Inc. In her free time, Jessica enjoys attending youth sports events, playing golf, spending time with family and friends, reading and traveling.

Shari Elias is a client service partner concentrating in taxation. She boasts 25 years of experience and has been with BHCB since 2000. Her expertise spans several industries and areas of tax, such as corporate, partnership, limited liability companies and individuals. She also holds a QuickBooks ProAdvisor certification, allowing her to advise clients on the setup and maintenance of their QuickBooks accounting systems. Shari is a member of AICPA and CTCPA and graduated from the University of Buffalo with degrees in both Accounting and Management Information Systems. Shari has served on the boards and committees of many local civic and charitable organizations, and has been an active leader in the American Red Cross Organization section of Disaster Services. This past summer she took up golf and hopes to spend time, when not at work, on developing her game. She also enjoys reading, exercising and spending time with her family in Trumbull.

With a concentration on state and local taxation issues, Sharon Brune is the firm’s transplant from the Midwest and provides expert accounting services to corporations, partnerships/LLCs, not-for-profit organizations and individuals. Her focus also includes U.S. reporting of foreign business and investment activity. She joined BHCB in 2006 following four years as Accounting Manager at a privately-held business, and is a member of AICPA and CTCPA. In 1998, Sharon graduated from the University of Missouri-Columbia with degrees in Library Science and Biology, obtaining her accounting education at Golden Gate University and University of San Francisco. She received her CPA certificate in Connecticut in 2008. Sharon lives with her husband and two children in the Spring Glen neighborhood of Hamden. She also serves on the board of the Community Investment Corporation, an economic development lender. She is based out of the firm’s New Haven office.