Martin Kamenski
About
Detail
I build companies for founders who build companies | CEO @ Revel CPA | Tax strategy, CFO advisory & wealth-building for $2M–$20M service businesses
United States
Résumé
Jobs
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- RFounderRock VenturesMar 2021 - Current (5 years 6 months)Rock Ventures is the holding company my wife and I use to make strategic investments in early-stage companies. Two focuses: cash-flow positive businesses from founders looking for a thoughtful exit, and diverse founding teams with a track record who are ready to scale. We're not a fund. We're operators who back people we believe in.
CEORevel CpaJan 2018 - Current (8 years 8 months)Built Revel CPA from scratch in 2018 into a fully remote, ~16-person firm serving creative entrepreneurs across accounting, tax planning, and CFO advisory. We work with hundreds of entrepreneurs every year: primarily agency owners, SaaS companies, and IT service businesses in the $2M–$20M range. Our model: fixed-fee, relationship-based, and built around making financial clarity a competitive advantage. What we're actually doing: helping underestimated founders keep more of what they earn and build wealth that outlasts the business.- OCEOOwnerFileNov 2023 - Nov 2024 (1 year 1 month)Co-founded a compliance-tech startup to simplify the BOI beneficial ownership reporting requirement affecting ~10M entities. Built the product, the process, and the market education from scratch in a compressed timeline. The underlying regulatory requirement was ultimately stayed by federal courts, but the experience sharpened how I think about building software products for founders navigating complex regulatory environments.
- CEOEMythJul 2015 - Jan 2018 (2 years 7 months)Led operations for the company behind "The E-Myth Revisited", one of the best-selling small business books of all time with 7M+ copies sold in 20+ languages. Ran a global coaching network helping thousands of entrepreneurs build businesses that work without them. Left to found Revel CPA.
- President and Chief Operating OfficerEMythSep 2014 - Jul 2015 (11 months)
- RPresidentRockstar CPASep 2008 - Nov 2013 (5 years 3 months)Rockstar CPA is a full-service accounting firm dedicated to serving artists and creative professionals in a variety of fields. As President, Martin was responsible for overseeing all work performed and developing national brand strategy for the firm. Taking the firm from its inception, Martin developed key thought leadership for creative individuals and businesses. This led to a multitude of speaking engagements, presentations, the publication of Martin's first book (see below), and the continued growth of the firm. In November of 2013, Rockstar CPA was acquired by another practice in Chicago.
- CManaging DirectorCollaboractionJan 2007 - Jan 2011 (4 years 1 month)Martin oversaw financial operations of the organization and administered the budget for both the artistic and administrative sides of the company. He sat in on creative meetings, marketing strategy, production meetings, and strategic planning retreats. Working closely with the Executive Artistic Director, Martin found creative solutions for balancing financial realities with creative dreams.
- MPresidentMartin M Kamenski SCJan 2006 - Sep 2008 (2 years 9 months)MMK SC was the predecessor to Rockstar CPA and the firm that Martin began upon his exit from Pricewaterhouse Coopers. In his time with MMK SC, Martin honed small business accounting skills and strategies while fostering relationships with businesses and business leaders throughout Chicago.
- AssociatePricewaterhouseCoopers LLPAug 2005 - Jan 2006 (6 months)While at PwC, Martin was part of the Systems Process Assurance Group and worked on several IT system audits at Fortune 1000 companies. Fresh out of college, Martin felt comfortable discussing issues with C-level staff and successfully recommended process improvements that led to his working well beyond the boundaries of his "associate" role.
Education
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- MMUHSMuhs
- Venture Lab: A Crash Course in Creativity, CreativityStanford UniversityJan 2012
- Master's Degree, AccountingMarquette UniversityJan 2000 - Jan 2005 (5 years 1 month)
- Bachelor's Degree, Theatre ArtsMarquette UniversityJan 2000 - Jan 2004 (4 years 1 month)
Publications
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- OMinding Your Business: A Guide to Money and Taxes for the Creative ProfessionalOCTKamenski, a practicing CPA, unleashes years of tax experience on the creative community. He offers explanations in language that is easy for the most number-illiterate to understand. His Chicago-based practice serves clients nationwide and offers artists and creative professionals the explanations they need to make sense of the tangled web of the IRS. Kamenski provides guidance about when to treat yourself as a business. He will advise on the important considerations before incorporating. He will shatter some of the most prevalent (and costly) myths existing in the artistic community. Suitable for any actor, writer, musician, dancer, photographer, director, model, visual artist, band, production company, etc., etc., etc., Kamenski has taken