{"id":3540,"date":"2023-04-10T16:47:44","date_gmt":"2023-04-10T20:47:44","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.syracusewomanmag.com\/?p=3540"},"modified":"2023-04-10T16:47:44","modified_gmt":"2023-04-10T20:47:44","slug":"inspire-madelyn-hornstein-carolyn-sturick-cultivating-a-family-friendly-corporate-culture","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.syracusewomanmag.com\/?p=3540","title":{"rendered":"Inspire – Madelyn Hornstein & Carolyn Sturick: Cultivating a family-friendly corporate culture"},"content":{"rendered":"

By David Tyler<\/strong><\/p>\n

By creating a flexible, family-friendly culture, Robert J. Dermody, John D. Burke and Daniel J. Brown were ahead of their time when they founded their accounting firm \u2013 Dermody, Burke & Brown \u2013 in 1956.<\/p>\n

\u201cOur founders \u2026 all had a boatload of kids \u2013 and daughters \u2013 and they wanted to make sure that the firm was family friendly,\u201d said Madelyn Hornstein, who recently stepped down from the role of chief executive officer and is planning her retirement at the end of the year. \u201cJust as they wanted their daughters to be given the opportunity to be on a partner track or succeed in their profession, they wanted us to, and that kind of filtered down.\u201d<\/p>\n

Hornstein, who is in her 40th<\/sup> year with DB&B, has turned over the CEO\u2019s reins to Carolyn Sturick, who herself has been with the firm for 33 years including the last 13 years as chief operating officer. Both are mothers of three and see themselves as beneficiaries of a flexible corporate culture that emphasizes the importance of work\/life balance.<\/p>\n

\u201cThankfully when we were hired many, many moons ago, management was of the mindset that they wanted women and moms such as ourselves to be able to stay in public accounting so the culture is such that we were able to have the best of both worlds and continue along the partner path but also be good moms,\u201d Hornstein said. \u201cAnd we work very hard to make sure we continue to maintain that for the young people coming up through the ranks.\u201d When Hornstein had young children, she was able to work part-time at the firm until her youngest child was in kindergarten while still staying on a partner track.<\/p>\n

\u201cI utilized that same flexibility growing up through the ranks here,\u201d said Sturick, who enjoys hiking in the Catskills and Adirondacks with her family. \u201cActually being at Dermody this whole time raising them, it\u2019s been able to have the right balance, to be able to have a family and do all the things with the kids and also continue to develop the role and the position here.\u201d<\/p>\n

That flexible corporate culture, whether its applied to people with young families or those responsible for the care of aging parents, has created a happy workforce and greatly aided the firm in recruitment and retention.<\/p>\n

\u201cSome of the women that we have here today grew up in other firms and are here now because of that flexibility or because of a perceived glass ceiling. I don\u2019t know so much about the local firms, but there\u2019s clearly other CPA firms that if you can\u2019t be full time 2,400, 2,500 hours a year, you\u2019re never going to make partner, and how many moms can do that?\u201d Hornstein said. \u201cSo that\u2019s why I think we\u2019ve been able to retain people that have started here and grown here, but we\u2019ve also been able to attract people that started at other places that are here now, even amongst the partner ranks.\u201d<\/p>\n

Having two women in charge who both fully embraced their roles as moms and still made it to the top of the firm provides a strong example for younger staffers that they don\u2019t need to sacrifice their families for their careers, or vice versa. \u201cIt lets people see that that\u2019s how it works,\u201d Sturick said. \u201cWe\u2019ll take whatever you can give, as long as it\u2019s high quality.\u201d<\/p>\n

To meet the demands of the business while making this flexible, family-oriented corporate culture a reality, the firm has between 90 and 100 employees who make up the 80 or so full-time equivalent positions at its four Central New York locations. \u201cI think as the world evolves and people don\u2019t want to work as many hours going forward, we have the right model,\u201d Hornstein said. \u201cIt goes back to the culture. It goes back to our willingness to have more people working for us, but not necessarily full-time equivalents.\u201d<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/p>\n

As it has for many companies, the pandemic also impacted Dermody, Burke & Brown, but Hornstein said the firm was well prepared and was able to continue on without missing a beat. \u201cWhen the pandemic hit, the ability that our company had to pickup their laptops and go home and continue to work at home was unbelievable,\u201d Hornstein said. \u201cI just wanted to give our IT guy a big hug.\u201d<\/p>\n

The firm has also embraced the work-from-home trend, and offers its employees the opportunity to work from home or from the office, whatever works best for them. And it has adopted a \u2018dress for your day\u2019 policy in which employees can dress casually on days when they aren\u2019t meeting with clients.<\/p>\n

As she takes on her new role, Sturick said it is important to prioritize both the outward-facing strategic initiatives as well as the inward-facing goals that make those initiatives a reality.<\/p>\n

\u201c[It\u2019s important to] think about the client service that we do and how we have to continue to build those relationships with our clients, make sure we help them achieve what they\u2019re looking to achieve, answering those questions, guiding them, advising them,\u201d she said. That all happens because the corporate culture helps cultivate a team that is devoted to the firm and to its clients.<\/p>\n

\u201cWe have such a good group of people here in this firm,\u201d she said. \u201cThey give 110 percent because they want to be here, rather than just going to a job.\u201d<\/p>\n

Looking back on her 40 years with the firm, Hornstein said the expectations of the clients has changed. \u201cIn years past, you could have been a generalist,\u201d she said. \u201cNow, clients want you to know their business. If they\u2019re in construction, they want you to know the construction business.\u201d As a larger firm, that also creates a diversity of opportunity for employees who can dig into an aspect of the accounting field they are drawn toward.<\/p>\n

It is that consulting role that Sturick really enjoys. \u201cThey\u2019re looking to us to try to advise them about what they should and shouldn\u2019t do,\u201d she said. \u201cThe fact that they come to us with those questions is probably the most satisfying part of all this.\u201d<\/p>\n

As she prepares for retirement, Hornstein feels confident that firm, under Sturick\u2019s leadership, will carry on the legacy that began with the founders in 1956, and was passed down to Hornstein 13 years ago by her predecessor, Bernie Corbishley. \u201cI always tell people, I didn\u2019t create the culture,\u201d she said. \u201cBut I\u2019m really trying hard to maintain it, because I know what it did for us.\u201d<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

By David Tyler By creating a flexible, family-friendly culture, Robert J. Dermody, John D. Burke and Daniel J. Brown were ahead of their time when they founded their accounting firm \u2013 Dermody, Burke & Brown \u2013 in 1956. \u201cOur founders \u2026 all had a boatload of kids \u2013 and daughters \u2013 and they wanted to…<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":5,"featured_media":3541,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[1143],"tags":[1386,1384,1385,186],"class_list":["post-3540","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-inspire","tag-carolyn-sturick","tag-dbb","tag-dermody-burke-brown","tag-madelyn-hornstein"],"gutentor_comment":0,"jetpack_featured_media_url":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.syracusewomanmag.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/04\/DSC_0774-scaled.jpg?fit=1707%2C2560&ssl=1","jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"jetpack-related-posts":[{"id":620,"url":"https:\/\/www.syracusewomanmag.com\/?p=620","url_meta":{"origin":3540,"position":0},"title":"Notes from the Board","author":"Staff","date":"March 30, 2017","format":false,"excerpt":"Five members of the WISE Women\u2019s Business Center advisory board share their stories, memories and advice. Madelyn Hornstein Dermody, Burke & Brown CEO SWM: How did you get involved with WISE? A number of my business associates and\/or clients had been involved with WISE, so I believe they mentioned my\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Features"","block_context":{"text":"Features","link":"https:\/\/www.syracusewomanmag.com\/?cat=101"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.syracusewomanmag.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/01\/cropped-SWM-logo-use-this-one.jpg?fit=930%2C448&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.syracusewomanmag.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/01\/cropped-SWM-logo-use-this-one.jpg?fit=930%2C448&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.syracusewomanmag.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/01\/cropped-SWM-logo-use-this-one.jpg?fit=930%2C448&ssl=1&resize=525%2C300 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.syracusewomanmag.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/01\/cropped-SWM-logo-use-this-one.jpg?fit=930%2C448&ssl=1&resize=700%2C400 2x"},"classes":[]},{"id":3380,"url":"https:\/\/www.syracusewomanmag.com\/?p=3380","url_meta":{"origin":3540,"position":1},"title":"Guest commentary: At the Heart of Giving","author":"Alyssa Dearborn","date":"November 9, 2022","format":false,"excerpt":"By Carolyn Hendrickson As someone who genuinely enjoys building relationships, I am always curious what motivates people to give. In a study referenced in Psychology Today, 85% of respondents said the reason they gave was simply because someone asked them. I have been asked whether the inclination to give is\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Guest Commentary"","block_context":{"text":"Guest Commentary","link":"https:\/\/www.syracusewomanmag.com\/?cat=1245"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.syracusewomanmag.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/11\/Carolyn-Hendrickson-Upstate-Hospital.jpg?fit=801%2C1200&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.syracusewomanmag.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/11\/Carolyn-Hendrickson-Upstate-Hospital.jpg?fit=801%2C1200&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.syracusewomanmag.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/11\/Carolyn-Hendrickson-Upstate-Hospital.jpg?fit=801%2C1200&ssl=1&resize=525%2C300 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.syracusewomanmag.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/11\/Carolyn-Hendrickson-Upstate-Hospital.jpg?fit=801%2C1200&ssl=1&resize=700%2C400 2x"},"classes":[]},{"id":3320,"url":"https:\/\/www.syracusewomanmag.com\/?p=3320","url_meta":{"origin":3540,"position":2},"title":"Inspire – Carolyn Kardos: A constant advocate","author":"Alyssa Dearborn","date":"September 28, 2022","format":false,"excerpt":"By Alyssa Dearborn If you ever meet Carolyn Kardos, you will immediately notice her teal hair. You also might be able to spot her matching teal Jeep. For Kardos and many other ovarian cancer survivors, teal is more than just a color: it\u2019s a symbol of strength and survival.\u00a0 \u201cI\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Inspire"","block_context":{"text":"Inspire","link":"https:\/\/www.syracusewomanmag.com\/?cat=1143"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.syracusewomanmag.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/09\/carolyn-kardos-2.jpg?fit=720%2C960&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.syracusewomanmag.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/09\/carolyn-kardos-2.jpg?fit=720%2C960&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.syracusewomanmag.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/09\/carolyn-kardos-2.jpg?fit=720%2C960&ssl=1&resize=525%2C300 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.syracusewomanmag.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/09\/carolyn-kardos-2.jpg?fit=720%2C960&ssl=1&resize=700%2C400 2x"},"classes":[]},{"id":2380,"url":"https:\/\/www.syracusewomanmag.com\/?p=2380","url_meta":{"origin":3540,"position":3},"title":"INSPIRE: Toni\u2019Lyn Brauchle","author":"Sarah Hall","date":"May 2, 2019","format":false,"excerpt":"For two decades, the CanTeen in Cicero has been redefining family. \u201cAnybody who walks through that door, we\u2019ll have a relationship with, because they\u2019re family,\u201d said CanTeen Executive Director Toni\u2019Lyn Brauchle. \u201cOur job is to facilitate in connecting the dots to see how they have more in common with the\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Features"","block_context":{"text":"Features","link":"https:\/\/www.syracusewomanmag.com\/?cat=101"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.syracusewomanmag.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/04\/mdg20190325-24.jpg?fit=1200%2C750&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.syracusewomanmag.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/04\/mdg20190325-24.jpg?fit=1200%2C750&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.syracusewomanmag.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/04\/mdg20190325-24.jpg?fit=1200%2C750&ssl=1&resize=525%2C300 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.syracusewomanmag.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/04\/mdg20190325-24.jpg?fit=1200%2C750&ssl=1&resize=700%2C400 2x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.syracusewomanmag.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/04\/mdg20190325-24.jpg?fit=1200%2C750&ssl=1&resize=1050%2C600 3x"},"classes":[]},{"id":2579,"url":"https:\/\/www.syracusewomanmag.com\/?p=2579","url_meta":{"origin":3540,"position":4},"title":"INSPIRE: Victoria Coit, Cuse Culture","author":"Staff","date":"September 3, 2019","format":false,"excerpt":"By Sarah Tietje-Mietz \u00a0 When Victoria Coit moved back to the Syracuse area from Washington, D.C.,\u00a0she knew she wanted to dosomething that \u00a0mattered. \u201cI think I was on a quest,\u201d said Coit. \u201cI felt like I was supposed to be doing something here...it\u00a0was just sort of like a soul yearning.\u201d\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Features"","block_context":{"text":"Features","link":"https:\/\/www.syracusewomanmag.com\/?cat=101"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.syracusewomanmag.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/09\/fullsizeoutput_6f81.jpeg?fit=800%2C1200&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.syracusewomanmag.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/09\/fullsizeoutput_6f81.jpeg?fit=800%2C1200&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.syracusewomanmag.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/09\/fullsizeoutput_6f81.jpeg?fit=800%2C1200&ssl=1&resize=525%2C300 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.syracusewomanmag.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/09\/fullsizeoutput_6f81.jpeg?fit=800%2C1200&ssl=1&resize=700%2C400 2x"},"classes":[]},{"id":2472,"url":"https:\/\/www.syracusewomanmag.com\/?p=2472","url_meta":{"origin":3540,"position":5},"title":"INSPIRE: Lynette DelFavero, Deputy Chief, Syracuse Police Department","author":"Staff","date":"July 2, 2019","format":false,"excerpt":"By Becca Taurisano Photo by Maureen Tricase\/Capture Your Moments Photography \u00a0 Lynette DelFavero has a calm presence and friendly demeanor that instantly puts you at ease. 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