Company address: 23217 W. Stoneridge Drive, Waukesha, WI 53188
Company Web site: www.c-gcpa.com, www.c-gconsulting.com
Industry: Professional service firm: certified public accounting and business consulting; business technology consulting; financial planning; and merger and acquisition services.
Number of employees: 35
Education: BBA-Accounting from the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee.
Family: Wife, Mary; and children, Jennifer and Lyssa.
What was the smartest thing your company did in the past year?
"We added talented people to our top-notch professional staff, including Tom McRae as our first full-time marketing director. Tom allows us to keep an ‘outside the company’ perspective and not to become too internally focused."
What’s new at your company?
"Throughout its 58-year history, C&G has evolved from an audit/tax compliance practice to a full-service business advisory firm with a variety of business units focused on providing value to our clients. Two of my audit/tax partners for over 20 years, Mark Albrecht and Pat Wirth, have been instrumental in this growth of the firm. C&G Consulting, our business technology consulting division headed up by Rick Sovitzky and Mike Senkbeil, provides business software and server/network design and implementation services. Mark Bonady and Jeff Stuckert provide financial planning services through our affiliate, Financial Solutions LLC. Tom Kintis, who heads up our CGK Investment Banking Inc. affiliate, has seen a significant increase in merger and acquisition activity that has proven to be very beneficial to our clients."
Do you plan to hire any additional staff or make any significant capital investments in your company in the next year?
"We increased our professional staff by over 25 percent during 2005 and expect to continue this trend during 2006. In addition, we are currently in discussions to increase our geographic locations in Wisconsin to better serve our ever-growing client base."
What will be your company’s main challenges in the next year?
"To focus on the market niches that best utilize our professional resources."
What’s the hottest trend in your industry?
"A continuing increase in complexity (audit and tax pronouncements, information technology changes etc.) is resulting in increased specialization."
Do you have a business mantra?
"Always provide the best service to our clients. As our clients succeed, we will succeed."
From a business standpoint, who do you look up to?
"I am extremely fortunate to have followed in the footsteps of the two preceding C&G managing partners, Sam Chortek and Don Gottschalk. Sam, who recently celebrated his 90th birthday, laid the foundation of the firm subsequent to World War II. Don took me under his wing and taught me the ins and outs of managing a professional service firm."
What was the best advice you ever received?
"Make a career out of something you enjoy."
What’s the funniest thing that ever happened to you in your career?
"On an audit of a housing project early in my career, I shared my working space with a tenant who was doing her laundry. Oh, the glamorous life of a brand new certified public accountant."
What do you like to do in your free time?
"Spending time with my family, golf and travel."
