

Michael R. Pender, Jr. has been with Cavanaugh & Co, LLP for more than 40 years, and a partner since 1979. He has experience in all phases of public accounting, including auditing, tax, financial planning, business advisory services, as well as fraud and forensic accounting.
Michael has served as both tax advisor and estate planning advisor to high-net-worth individuals throughout his career. His experience includes work with entertainment professionals, executives, corporate business founders and a member of the PGA. He has also been an organizing director of three community banks: Sarasota Bank (which was sold to Colonial Bank), Insignia Bank (which was sold to Centennial Bank), and Gulfside Community Bank. He has also held audit committee positions for several privately held companies.
Michael is a past president of the Florida Institute of Certified Public Accountants (2010-11) and a past member of the AICPA council the governing body of the AICPA (2004-2011). He was a NAC commissioner on the AICPA National Accreditation committee, which is the body that oversees specialization credentials. He holds the following designations in addition to being a CPA: Personal Financial Specialist (PFS), Certified in Financial Forensics (CFF) and a Certified Global Management Accountant (CGMA) all issued by the AICPA and a Certified Fraud Examiner (CFE) issued by the ACFE.
A strong believer in the values set forth by Cavanaugh & Co, Michael also has a history of significant volunteer work on the boards of local, state and national nonprofit organizations for the last 40 years. He has served on the boards of the Sarasota County Community Foundation, Tree Foundation, and Rotary Club of Sarasota Bay Foundation, and as a member of Leadership Florida, Sarasota and Manatee chambers, Argus Foundation, Gulf Coast CEO Forum, Florida Tax Watch, Glasser/Schoenbaum Human Services Center, Van Wezel Foundation, Boys and Girls Clubs of Sarasota County Foundation, Pines of Sarasota, Sarasota YMCA Foundation, Library Foundation for Sarasota County, Circus Ring of Fame Foundation, and many more.