About us

Company Information

L&A has provided continuous value and quality service to our clients. Founded in 1997 by Sherry Lauterbach and Ron Amen, the firm provides clients with accurate, timely and personalized services that combine large-firm capabilities with small-firm values. Through the years, our services have evolved to meet the growing demands of our clients in the governmental, nonprofit and private sectors.

Today, our firm’s strong foundation and modern technologies ensure that our clients meet their goals and enjoy success while we uphold our standing as a leader in the accounting and benefits industry. L&A is ranked as one of the largest CPA firms in the Chicago area, with a proven reputation for being one of the fastest-growing firms nationwide.

Vision

We aim to attract and keep exceptionally skilled team members who align with our fundamental values: respect, teamwork, balance, and passion. This commitment is geared towards serving our clients as the premier professional service provider. Our profound expertise and competency will establish an unparalleled personal client relationship. Simultaneously, we foster a challenging and rewarding culture for our team members, aiming at personal and professional growth and development.

Core Values

Teamwork

We understand that success relies on collaboration, and our finest work emerges in an environment that promotes teamwork. Our culture extends this collaborative ethos to include our clients, creating a synergy that enhances the services we deliver.

Passion

We take pride in the fact that each member of our team wholeheartedly believes in the services we offer and the value they contribute to our clients. Our commitment to delivering the utmost quality in services extends not only to our clients but also internally to our team members, reflecting our unwavering dedication.

Mission

We commit to delivering services to our clients with a dedication to excellence and altruism. As a firm, we are unwavering in our commitment to upholding not only the legally mandated professional standards and guidelines but also strict moral standards. Our pride lies in the value we bring to our clients through our exceptional client service approach.

Leadership

Our team of highly-skilled individuals is dedicated to providing outstanding client service while maintaining our industry’s high standards of excellence, confidentiality and professionalism. Each client engagement is assigned a team of highly skilled, experienced and equipped L&A team members.

Ronald J. Amen, CPA

Founding Partner
630.393.1483

Allison R. Barrett

Partner
Pension Services
630.393.1483

Matt Beran, CPA

Partner
Audit and Client Accounting and Advisory Services
630.393.1483

Nathan J. Gaskill, CPA

Partner
Client Accounting and Advisory Services
630.393.1483

Katie Gurke

Partner
Firm Operations - COO
630.393.1483

Susan J. Hill

Partner
Pension Services
630.393.1483 ext. 230

Megan Holford, CPA

Partner
Firm Operations – Human Resources
630.393.1483 ext.202

Melissa Juntunen, CPA

Partner
Audit Services
630.393.1483 ext. 243

Wesley Levy

Partner
Client Accounting and Advisory Services
630.393.1483

Jennifer Martinson, CPA

Partner
Audit Services
630.393.1483

Todd Schroeder, ASA, EA, MAAA, FCA

Partner
Actuarial Services
630.393.1483 ext. 222

A.J. Weber, CPA

Partner
Pension Services
630.393.1483 ext. 241

Jamie L. Wilkey

Partner
Audit Services
630.393.1483 ext. 228

Monikia Adamski

Principal
Audit Services
630.393.1483

Kelly Brainerd

Principal
Client Accounting and Advisory Services
630.393.1483

Kelly Calgaro

Principal
Pension Services
630.393.1483 ext. 254

Kevin Cavanaugh

Principal
Actuarial Services
630.393.1483

Angelia Cienkus

Principal
Firm Operations – Human Resources
630.393.1483

Jessica Doogan-Parlatore

Principal
Pension Services
630.393.1483

Derek Flessner, CPA

Principal
Pension Services
630.393.1483 ext. 246

Jennifer Flores

Principal
Pension Services
630.393.1483

Timothy Gavin, CPA

Principal
Client Accounting and Advisory Services
630.393.1483

Nicole Giddens, MPAcc

Principal
Client Accounting and Advisory Services
630.393.1483

Steven M. Litko

Principal
Client Accounting and Advisory Services
630.393.1483

Stephanie Masson

Principal
Pension Services
630.393.1483

Courtney Mohr, CPA

Principal
Audit Services
630.393.1483

Amy Patz

Principal
Firm Operations – Information Technology
630.393.1483

Brad Porter, CPA

Principal
Audit Services
630.393.1483

Sandra M. Render

Principal
Pension Services
630.393.1483

Michelle Rice

Principal
Pension Services
630.393.1483

Robert L. Rietz, Jr., FCA, EA, MAAA

Principal
Actuarial Services
630.393.1483

Ann Scales, CPA

Principal
Audit Services
630.393.1483

Don Shaw, CPA

Principal
Audit Services
630.393.1483

Erika Smith, CPA

Principal
Client Accounting and Advisory Services
630.393.1483

Ronald J. Amen, CPA

Founding Partner
630.393.1483

Allison R. Barrett

Partner
Pension Services
630.393.1483

Matt Beran, CPA

Partner
Audit and Client Accounting and Advisory Services
630.393.1483

Nathan J. Gaskill, CPA

Partner
Client Accounting and Advisory Services
630.393.1483

Katie Gurke

Partner
Firm Operations - COO
630.393.1483

Susan J. Hill

Partner
Pension Services
630.393.1483 ext. 230

Megan Holford, CPA

Partner
Firm Operations – Human Resources
630.393.1483 ext.202

Melissa Juntunen, CPA

Partner
Audit Services
630.393.1483 ext. 243

Wesley Levy

Partner
Client Accounting and Advisory Services
630.393.1483

Jennifer Martinson, CPA

Partner
Audit Services
630.393.1483

Todd Schroeder, ASA, EA, MAAA, FCA

Partner
Actuarial Services
630.393.1483 ext. 222

A.J. Weber, CPA

Partner
Pension Services
630.393.1483 ext. 241

Jamie L. Wilkey

Partner
Audit Services
630.393.1483 ext. 228

Monikia Adamski

Principal
Audit Services
630.393.1483

Kelly Brainerd

Principal
Client Accounting and Advisory Services
630.393.1483

Kelly Calgaro

Principal
Pension Services
630.393.1483 ext. 254

Kevin Cavanaugh

Principal
Actuarial Services
630.393.1483

Angelia Cienkus

Principal
Firm Operations – Human Resources
630.393.1483

Jessica Doogan-Parlatore

Principal
Pension Services
630.393.1483

Derek Flessner, CPA

Principal
Pension Services
630.393.1483 ext. 246

Jennifer Flores

Principal
Pension Services
630.393.1483

Timothy Gavin, CPA

Principal
Client Accounting and Advisory Services
630.393.1483

Nicole Giddens, MPAcc

Principal
Client Accounting and Advisory Services
630.393.1483

Steven M. Litko

Principal
Client Accounting and Advisory Services
630.393.1483

Stephanie Masson

Principal
Pension Services
630.393.1483

Courtney Mohr, CPA

Principal
Audit Services
630.393.1483

Amy Patz

Principal
Firm Operations – Information Technology
630.393.1483

Brad Porter, CPA

Principal
Audit Services
630.393.1483

Sandra M. Render

Principal
Pension Services
630.393.1483

Michelle Rice

Principal
Pension Services
630.393.1483

Robert L. Rietz, Jr., FCA, EA, MAAA

Principal
Actuarial Services
630.393.1483

Ann Scales, CPA

Principal
Audit Services
630.393.1483

Don Shaw, CPA

Principal
Audit Services
630.393.1483

Erika Smith, CPA

Principal
Client Accounting and Advisory Services
630.393.1483

Industry Involvement

Government Finance Officers Association (GFOA)

Illinois Government Finance Officers Association

Illinois Municipal Treasurers Association

Illinois CPA Society, Including Committees on Governmental Accounting

Illinois Public Pension Fund Association

AICPA Governmental Audit Quality Center

Illinois Library Association

Illinois Association of Park Districts / Illinois Park & Recreation Association

IGFOA Technical Accounting Review Committee (Responds to GASB Pronouncement Exposure Drafts)

AICPA American Institute of Certified Public Accounting

Illinois Department of Insurance – Task Force

Illinois Association of School Board Officials

Illinois Professional Firefighters Association

American Academy of Actuaries

Special Review Committee – GFOA – Certificate of Achievement Program

L&A retains membership in professional organizations that serve the financial and management staffs of governments. These organizations include:

In addition

L&A has authored several published articles for the growing governmental sector and our informative and well-received annual training courses provide a value-added service to our clients. We have presented for many of the above professional organizations as well as the following:

Community Involvement

Our firm is committed to the clients we serve and the communities in which we live. Our partners and staff are committed to many deserving non-profit organizations. We are thankful to employ people that share our firm’s charitable spirit by regularly volunteering their time, resources, and talents.

L&A has partnered with these charitable organizations to support our local community.

Hesed House

Each year, L&A works with Hesed House to adopt two families in the DuPage County area. In addition to donating essential, everyday items to the families, our firm purchases items from their family holiday wish lists.

Hesed House Logo

Ronald McDonald House

Through the Ronald McDonald House, families with children undergoing medical treatment can receive - at no cost to them - housing, meals and a true support system. L&A partners with the Winfield chapter of the Ronald McDonald House to donate both time and money in the preparation and delivery of home-cooked meals to families who stay at the property during their child’s medical treatments.

Ronald McDonald House Logo

Feed My Starving Children

Providing meals to malnourished children is another way we give back through the non-profit organization Feed My Starving Children. L&A team members have volunteered their time to hand-pack nutritionally complete meals that are shipped to children worldwide.

Feed My Starving Children Logo
© LAUTERBACH & AMEN 2024