# Stern Pinball Promotes Brian Whitfield to CFO

**Source:** Replay Magazine  
**Type:** article  
**Published:** 2026-07-28  
**Beat:** Pinball

**URL:** https://www.replaymag.com/stern-pinball-promotes-brian-whitfield-to-cfo/

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## Analysis

Brian Whitfield has been promoted from controller to executive vice president and chief financial officer at Stern Pinball, effective immediately. He previously spent 14 years as an audit partner at RSM US and holds CPA credentials in three states. Seth Davis praised his experience and passion for the industry.

### Key Claims

- [HIGH] Brian Whitfield served as controller of SPI (Stern Pinball Inc.) since February 2023 — _Replay Magazine article on Stern Pinball CFO promotion_
- [HIGH] Whitfield was an audit partner with RSM US for 14 years before joining Stern Pinball — _Stern Pinball press statement via Replay Magazine_
- [HIGH] Whitfield holds CPA credentials in Illinois, California, and Colorado — _Stern Pinball press statement_

### Notable Quotes

> "We're delighted to welcome Brian to our executive ranks. His prior experience with RSM and Stern Pinball combined with his love of pinball will serve him well in his new role."
> — **Seth Davis, CEO Stern Pinball**
> _Official endorsement of Whitfield's promotion and emphasis on his passion for pinball as a factor in his advancement._

### Entities

| Name | Type | Context |
|------|------|---------|
| Brian Whitfield | person | Promoted from controller to executive vice president and CFO at Stern Pinball; former audit partner at RSM US. |
| Stern Pinball | company | Major pinball machine manufacturer; promoted Whitfield to CFO position. |
| Seth Davis | person | CEO of Stern Pinball; made public statement endorsing Whitfield's promotion. |
| RSM US | company | Audit and accounting firm where Brian Whitfield worked as a partner for 14 years. |
| University of Colorado | organization | Institution where Brian Whitfield earned bachelor's degree in business administration and accounting, and master's in accounting. |

### Signals

- **[personnel_signal]** Brian Whitfield elevated from controller to CFO, signaling strengthened financial leadership and executive team expansion at Stern Pinball. (confidence: high) — Promotion from controller (February 2023) to EVP/CFO with public announcement from CEO.
- **[business_signal]** Stern Pinball's promotion of internal finance leadership suggests confidence in company stability and growth trajectory requiring stronger CFO-level oversight. (confidence: medium) — Fast-track promotion from controller to CFO within 1+ year tenure indicates internal confidence and executive development.

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## Transcript

Brian Whitfield, who has served as Stern Pinball’s controller of SPI since February 2023, was recently promoted to executive vice president and chief financial officer. Whitfield was previously an audit partner with RSM US for 14 years. “We’re delighted to welcome Brian to our executive ranks,” said CEO Seth Davis. “His prior experience with RSM and Stern Pinball combined with his love of pinball will serve him well in his new role.” Whitfield has CPA status in Illinois, California and Colorado. It was at the University of Colorado where he earned his bachelor’s degree in business administration and accounting, as well as a master’s in accounting.

_(Acquisition: raw_text, Enrichment: v5)_

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*Exported from Journalist Tool on 2026-08-04 | Item ID: 6300b8e2-1f02-40a4-8823-4c247e724218*