My job involves working with ambitious, innovative, and hard-charging business owners, and I really enjoy what I do. Growing up in my family’s construction business, now 125 years old, I gained a unique insight into entrepreneurs — how they think and how they operate. My father grew the business with a tireless work ethic and passed the baton to my brothers, so I’m familiar with what it takes to build and sustain a multi-generational family business, as well as how critical it is for the right people to be in the right roles.
My family background shaped my personal attitude about the importance of being authentic in business dealings, resulting in my desire and ability to earn people’s trust. Clients appreciate that I do what I say I’m going to do. At Plante Moran, we’re lucky to work with amazing clients, and I find that to be a humbling reminder of why I’ve stayed in this line of work. When I think of why I got into this field, it’s because I see it as “a people business disguised as an accounting firm.”
Building strong relationships, helping clients add value to their businesses, and helping staff achieve their career goals are all things I’m very passionate about. Helping to build a cohesive and positive culture for our employees to work in has been a personal mission for me, as well. We do incredibly important work, but that doesn’t mean we shouldn’t have fun along the way.
When I’m not at work, I’m hoping my teenage, twin daughters want to spend some time with me. When that’s not in the cards, my wife and I spend time going to movies, watching sports, and/or dining out with family and friends. My joints keep letting me know I’m not quite as spry as I used to be, so I spend more time playing golf than beach volleyball these days.
My professional credentials include memberships in the AICPA and the Illinois CPA Society, along with a B.S. in accounting from Indiana University and an MBA from DePaul University.
