LaRese Purnell has 19 years of experience in business management, taxation, finance and accounting. He is the currently one of the Founders and Managing Partner of CLE Consulting Firm an Accounting, Tax and Payroll company located in downtown Cleveland and was rated as one of the fastest growing firms and largest African American owned and operated Accounting Firms in Northeastern Ohio by Smart 50 Business. Where close to 55% percent of his current clients are large to midsize non-profits from various markets. He is a strong innovative financial and strategic leader with both instincts and intellect, a formidable combination in the business world. He has served in executive positions leading business and financial departments within multimillion dollar for profit and non-profit corporations.

LaRese received MBA in Finance from the University of Toledo. He is currently finishing his Master’s in Accountancy in Corporate Taxation from John Carroll University, with an expected completion date of December 2023. He was apart of the Leadership Cleveland class of 2022 and is currently apart of the Leadership Ohio class of 2023.

LaRese is committed to the community and its residents, so he serves on the following Board of Directors as the Business Volunteers Unlimited (BVU) leading a minority pipeline initiative to ensure African Americans are provided opportunities to serve on BOD’s across Northeastern Ohio, Board Member of The Cleveland Clinic SP Hospital, the Treasurer USS Cleveland Legacy Foundation, and former Treasurer now Chairperson for Step Forward Today formerly (CEOGC) the largest community action agency in the State of Ohio with a $70 million + budget, he also is proud to serve on the Board of Directors for the 100 Black Men of America where he is the Co-Chair of the Economic Program Committee. He just ended his 3 year term as the Treasurer for the NAACP of Greater Cleveland and Citizens for the Cleveland Public Library System. He is a proud member of Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity, Incorporated and the 100 Black Men of Greater Cleveland.

He’s the author of Financial Foundations, Building Financial Freedom One Tool at a Time, a bestselling book, where he uses everyday language to address the most fundamental questions people have about money. He has traveled to over 35-40 cities nationally to teach financial literacy at various conventions, seminars, colleges and universities and various other events. He also created an organization called, The Real Black Friday, where its purpose has been to bring awareness to, create educational and collaborative opportunities for hundreds of small black owned businesses throughout Ohio with a current economic impact of close to $5.5 million dollars. He has been featured in various local and national publications and has appeared on multiple radio and television programs discussing various Financial and Tax matters. He has received various awards including the Smart 50 Business award, Crain’s Business 40 under 40, Cleveland Magazine’s Most Interesting People, AKA Leadership award and various other recognitions. He was just inducted into his High School Hall of Fame in 2022 and was also inducted Ginn Academy Hall of Fame by Coach Ted Ginn Sr.

Outside of work, LaRese stays busy spending time with his beautiful wife Rashaunda, his sons (Gaven and Maceo) and daughter (Gabbi), reading, playing sports, attending church and traveling.