A Newly Created Role to Support a Growing Practice
December 6, 2022— REDW LLC, one of the Southwest’s 10 largest advisory and CPA firms, also recognized among INSIDE Public Accounting’s Top 200 Accounting Firms, is welcoming Kevin D. Huddleston, CPA, CFF, CGMA as Director of Gaming Operations for the firm’s Client Advisory & Accounting Services (CAAS) practice.
In this newly created role, Huddleston, a member of the Choctaw Nation of Oklahoma, will enhance REDW’s current gaming practice with a focus on Tribal gaming—an industry REDW has served for more than 30 years. Huddleston will be based in the firm’s Oklahoma City office and work in partnership with REDW Principal and Director of Tribal Services Victor Flores MBA, MHA, to serve the 38 federally recognized Tribes in the state. With a passion and respect for Tribal sovereignty and culture that has been sustained over the decades, he will be working closely with the Oklahoma Tribal Gaming Regulators Association (OTGRA) and Oklahoma Indian Gaming Association (OIGA).
Huddleston will also travel to the Albuquerque and Phoenix offices to provide vision and support to REDW’s Tribal gaming practice. With approximately 200 tribes in its client base, REDW serves more sovereign nations and has been estimated to employ more Native American professionals than any other CPA firm in the country. In addition to client service, the firm supports Tribal communities with financial literacy education programs, scholarships for Native American accounting students, art commissions, workshops, and compensation surveys for Tribal government employees and gaming operations.
Victor Flores, MBA, MHA
“REDW’s National Tribal Practice Leader, Wes Benally, and I have been working to find the right person for this position for some time,” says Flores, who, in addition to presently leading REDW’s Oklahoma City team, years ago collaborated with the Native American Financial Officers Association (NAFOA) to create the Oklahoma Tribal Finance Consortium (OTFC) and serves as its president. “Kevin will be an invaluable member for REDW’s gaming practice and serve as a trusted partner to the many Tribal nations who entrust their business to our firm.”
“As a fast-growing firm, at its heart REDW has an entrepreneurial spirit,” says Huddleston. “This allows our team to be thoughtful, nimble, and strategic as we help clients responsibly and strategically grow their businesses while navigating myriad obstacles. That spirit, coupled with the opportunity to develop this role and support a talented industry-focused team, made this move an easy one for me.”
Prior to joining REDW, Huddleston was with Finley & Cook for 15 years, serving as a partner, leading the Client Accounting Services (CAS) team, and overseeing the Casino Services Division. In addition, he also served as the Operations Accounting Controller for Cherokee Nation Entertainment, as the Controller of Local Federal Bank, and as an Auditor for Arthur Andersen.
“Given Kevin’s depth and breadth of experience, we saw the opportunity as one that would provide tremendous value to our clients by appointing him to this role,” says Principal Adam H. Smith, CPA, MBA, who works closely with Tribal gaming clients across the nation. “His seasoned experience in enhancing accounting and operational processes, expertise in solving operational issues, and insightful analysis of performance will allow us to help Tribal gaming clients with the provision of accounting and finance support—in addition to the high-value compliance and training offerings REDW already provides.”
Huddleston currently serves as the treasurer and on the board of directors for the United Way of Pottawatomie County. He is a past advisory board member for the Shawnee Regional Airport as well as the former treasurer of the Historic Shawnee Alliance. Huddleston earned his Bachelor of Science degree in Accounting from East Central University. In addition to his CPA designation, he holds the Certified in Financial Forensics (CFF ®) credential and is a Chartered Global Management Accountant (CGMA).
“Given Kevin’s depth and breadth of experience, we saw the opportunity as one that would provide tremendous value to our clients by appointing him to this role,” says Principal Adam H. Smith, CPA, MBA, who works closely with Tribal gaming clients across the nation. “His seasoned experience in enhancing accounting and operational processes, expertise in solving operational issues, and insightful analysis of performance will allow us to help Tribal gaming clients with the provision of accounting and finance support—in addition to the high-value compliance and training offerings REDW already provides.”
