By Elisabeth Campbell, Miami Times Staff Writer
(Source: The Miami Times)
Anthony Brunson, PA, last week announced its official rebrand to Brunson Borno & Associates, marking a new chapter in the Black-owned assurance, tax and advisory firm’s 40-year history. The change comes as Anthony “Tony” Brunson, president and CEO of the company, introduces Jean Borno as a new business partner.
The news was announced at the Annual CPE Symposium in Miami Lakes, which brought accounting and finance professionals together for an all-day conference addressing evolving standards and regulations, while also encouraging attendees to expand their professional network.
The rebrand aims to leverage the expertise of Borno, who brings over a decade of public accounting experience and a commitment to helping the organization achieve sustainable growth.
“Businesses evolve, people evolve, teams evolve, and when you have the right people around you, the vision should evolve too,” said Brunson.
The announcement coincides with Black Business Month, highlighting the importance of building sustainable businesses that create jobs and opportunities. In 2022, Black-owned businesses generated $704 billion in revenue, contributing 3.5% to the U.S. GDP, up from 3.1% in 2017.
“We had pretty much reached a plateau as an organization, and for business to continue to grow, we needed a partner to bring the kind of resources in the industries we serve to continue that growth,” said Brunson.
During his address, Borno spoke of mentorship, legacy and collaboration as vital aspects of entrepreneurship.
“We often talk about entrepreneurship, but we don’t always talk about collaboration,” said Borno. “We don’t talk about mentorship. We don’t talk about legacy.”
According to a 2026 report by Worldmetrics, 80% of Black business owners cited limited access to business development services, such as mentorship or training. A similar percentage cited racial bias as a significant barrier to growth, according to a 2023 survey. Yet between 2017 and 2022, employment at Black-owned businesses grew by 11.5%, outpacing the national average of 8.2% and employing a total of 2.1 million people across the country.
“We don’t always talk about what happens when Black professionals decide [that] instead of competing with one another, we’re going to build together,” said Borno. “Brunson Borno represents the power of bringing different strengths to the table. It represents a commitment to building something that will outlast any one of us.”
Borno wants current and future clients to think about Brunson Borno as a “growing firm.” Historically, the firm has worked in government alongside healthcare and nonprofits. With this rebranding, they’re looking to grow their core small business clients and service their needs.
“Black businesses need to start looking at what’s our legacy, what are the opportunities that we are creating, and what is our growth?” said Borno. “We can create if we combine resources and effort together.”
Borno stated that many people and organizations in the community would be “worse off” without Anthony Brunson, PA. He emphasized that Brunson’s decision to pursue his vision shaped more than a firm; it also shaped the future for many organizations, “giving people opportunities to learn and grow and do great things.”
“I started the practice with the concept of providing opportunities for people that look like you and me,” said Brunson. “I chose to become the marketplace to do just what we are doing: to create opportunities for folks that have not gotten opportunities elsewhere.”
Still, the challenges faced by Black businesses persist. According to the 2026 Worldmetrics report, the 2022 median revenue for Black-owned businesses was $40,000, compared to $75,000 for non-Black-owned businesses.
“We’ve got to be sure that we’re servicing and doing all the right things above average to retain and gain the confidence of clients,” said Brunson. “With Jean, we can continue to grow that footprint.”
On the federal, state and municipal levels, Black businesses are 40% less likely to receive a government contract than white-owned businesses. In a similar vein, a 2022 study also revealed that only 12% of Black-owned businesses received a loan from the bank, compared to 25% of non-Black-owned businesses.
Niema Gantt, director of finance for the city of Opa-locka, also attended the symposium. The city was once a client of Brunson’s. An agreement in 2020 between Anthony Brunson, PA, and the City of Opa-locka outlined the accounting and auditing services that Brunson’s firm would provide for multiple fiscal years.
For Gantt, the symposium connected very intimately with her work for the city.
“This was my first time at the symposium, and it was very informative,” said Gantt. “Opa-locka is very mixed… and the changes that [may] come through the finance realm will be significant.”
Opa-locka boasts a large Black population and is home to a variety of Black-owned businesses across multiple sectors.
“The question is no longer ‘How can I get ahead?’” said Borno. “Instead, we need to start to ask, ‘How can we move forward together?’ Anthony and I have the opportunity to build something — not just a business, but an institution.”
