TRP Sumner Partner Kelly Puryear, has been selected by Forbes Magazine as one of the Top CPAs in North Carolina for 2025. 

“This prestigious recognition highlights Kelly’s exceptional expertise, leadership and dedication to both his clients and the accounting profession. His impact reaches far beyond the numbers, and we are honored to have such a respected community leader representing the partners and team members at TRP Sumner. Congratulations, Kelly, on this well-deserved honor!” shared TRP Sumner PLLC in a statement. 

Puryear has been helping businesses and entrepreneurs prosper and grow for over 40 years as a partner with TRP Sumner. He has served on numerous local and state boards as well as financially guiding many non-profit organizations in the area. Puryear has been an integral leader in the growth of TRP Sumner over the years. In 2024, Puryear was also selected by Forbes as one of America’s top 200 CPA’s. 

Forbes’ inaugural Best In State CPAs list is a compilation “designed to highlight this year’s most exceptional practicing CPAs throughout America—the elite of the accounting profession.” 

The list aims to highlight CPAs who have earned the respect of their peers and have demonstrated remarkable expertise in their specializations and who have made their mark by dedicating themselves to serving the public interest.

According to a disclaimer from Forbes, this list is entirely merit-based and qualitative - there is no fee to participate and candidates cannot pay to be listed.

See the full Best in State list here .