Hughes Pittman & Gupton, LLP (www.hpg.com), one of the largest CPA firms headquartered and staffed in the Research Triangle Park region of North Carolina, congratulates Heather Dean, firm partner, for being recognized by the Triangle Business Journal as one of the Top 25 Women in Business. Dean’s award recognizes the selfless giving of her time and talents to make a positive impact on friends, associates, family and the community.

“I enjoy helping others as they advance, mirroring the support I have received throughout my career,” says Dean. “It is an honor to be recognized alongside such a prestigious group of professional women.”

Joining HPG in January 2005, Dean became the firm’s youngest partner in 2008. She manages HPG’s corporate tax practice and is co-leader of its knowledge-based industries practice. Dean works with clients in a variety of industries, including biomedical and pharmaceutical, software and technology development, manufacturing, and venture funds.

“Heather’s success stems from her timely and personalized service to her clients, coupled with a dedication to mentoring within the firm and in the community,” says Kent Pittman, HPG partner and executive committee member. “She is well-deserving of this recognition and we are proud of her accomplishments.”

The Women in Business ceremony honors the Triangle’s most dynamic professional women, recognizes their many accomplishments and highlights the stories behind these extraordinary women. A complete list of winners can be viewed at http://tinyurl.com/2011WIBWinners.

About Heather Dean:

Since joining Hughes Pittman & Gupton, LLP in 2005, success has come at a remarkable pace for Heather Dean. She has been influential in helping grow the HPG corporate tax practice, and has played an integral role in assisting clients with international tax planning as they expand their businesses around the world. Dean has also played an important role in the development and implementation of the HPG Academy. Launched in 2008 as a commitment to the prosperity and continuing education of HPG employees, she assisted with the initial training to get the program up and running. On an ongoing basis, Dean teaches continuing professional education classes to employees, passing along her experience and knowledge to firm managers and staff. Dean also meets with new staff members individually to discuss the various career path opportunities at HPG, the core values of the company, as well as ways they can become active in the community and within the company to help nurture their careers.

Dean’s passion for helping others extends into the community. As a member of the 22nd class of Leadership Raleigh, she helped renovate and expand a room at the Raleigh Boys & Girls Club into a new learning center in 2007 and continued her support of the club serving as a judge for its “Youth of the Year” competition. She has remained active with Leadership Raleigh after graduating, serving as treasurer of the organization’s alumni association for two fiscal years, and has used her experiences to continue HPG’s active participation in the program.

About Hughes Pittman & Gupton, LLP (HPG):

HPG is one of the largest CPA firms headquartered and staffed in the Research Triangle Park region of North Carolina, as ranked by the Triangle Business Journal. More than just an accounting firm, HPG assists clients in looking beyond the bottom linesm by being the right people, right value and right firmsm to achieve each client's definition of success. HPG is a member of CPAmerica International and affiliated with the Crowe Horwath International alliances of firms, with offices worldwide. The firm leverages this to provide national and global accounting resources to its clients. HPG offers a wide array of business accounting, auditing, corporate tax and management advisory services. Specialties include serving owner-managed, investor-backed technology and life science organizations, healthcare services, real estate development, manufacturing and distribution businesses, as well as providing ERISA audits, family wealthcare services and Sarbanes-Oxley internal audit services.

HPG has remained committed to advancing a thriving Triangle community since its founding in 1983. In recognition, the firm is the recipient of two Pinnacle Business Awards by the Greater Raleigh Chamber of Commerce; the 2009 Large Entrepreneurial Business Award and the 2010 Integrity in Business Award. Additionally, HPG has been certified Green Plus by the Institute for Sustainable Development for integrating environmental sustainability efforts into company culture, and has been named one of the top 100 Best Accounting Firms to Work For in the country by Accounting Today. Visit www.hpg.com or follow HPG on Twitter at http://twitter.com/HPGcpas.