Bob Basten, 42, Chairman and CEO of Centerprise Advisors, Inc., one of the country's leading tax, accounting and business advisory firms, has resigned his post as CEO, effective immediately, after announcing that he had been diagnosed with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), commonly known as Lou Gehrig's disease.
Basten will remain Chairman of the Board and stay actively involved in Centerprise's growth strategy. Rick Stein, Vice Chairman of Centerprise and a managing director of the Centerprise firm, Mann Frankfort Stein and Lipp Advisors in Houston, has been appointed interim CEO. "Over the years, I have come to regard Rick as one of the most talented professional services firm operating leaders in the country. Rick's intelligence, entrepreneurial drive and focus on excellence make him ideal for this role," said Basten in a letter to staff.
An executive committee of the Board has also been formed to fully support the success of the new organization and accelerate Centerprise's results into the future. Members of the committee are Rick Stein, Tony Frabotta of Follmer Rudzewicz Advisors in Detroit and John Wolfgang of Urbach Khan & Werlin Advisors in New York. "Tony and John are winners and proven leaders whose accomplishments, experience and demonstrated success in two of our largest subsidiaries, position them well to join Rick in continuing to drive our overall success, organizational effectiveness, integration and results," said Basten.
"It is with great difficulty that I share this shocking news," Besten continued. "While I have always believed that it would be naive to assume that I wouldn't get some bad along with all the good I've received in my life, this news was tough to take. Thankfully, I have come to realize that life is full of choices and that life itself is only 5% the cards we are dealt and 95% how we play them. As a result, I choose to play to win ... I choose to live, to laugh, to focus on what I can control and to work hard to try and make a difference. It is these beliefs that prepare me well for the challenges of my new reality with ALS. It is Centerprise's industry leading performance and specifically the quality of our people and the depth of our leadership that will ensure Centerprise's continued success."
A former professional football player with the Minnesota Vikings, Basten served as president and CEO of American Express Tax and Business Services prior to forming Centerprise in July 2000. The group acquired five leading regional accounting firms and two business services firms at that time, and has since evolved into one of the fastest growing professional service firms in the country. Along with being ranked the 14th largest, Centerprise was also identified as the most profitable national accounting firm in the country in 2001 by Bowman's Accounting Report.
Known for his outstanding leadership and "play to win" mentality, the driven and charismatic Basten has formed the Playing to Win for Life Foundation for ALS Research. The Foundation's sole mission is to provide significant funding for research for effective treatments and a cure for ALS. Shelley Davis-Simmons, Director of Communications and Corporate Events of Centerprise Advisors, will become Executive Director of the Foundation, effective immediately. "Although ALS is considered 'rare' by many, the reality is this horrible disease will kill more than 400,000 individuals living today," said Simmons. "I am encouraged by the focus on ALS research over the past few years. It is not a matter of 'if' there will be a cure; it is a matter of 'when' and we will do everything possible to accelerate the process." The Foundation's website, currently under construction, will be available soon at www.playing2win4life.org . For more information, please write shelley@playing2win4life.org .