Skip to Content

Plante Moran announces the election of 25 new partners

September 1, 2020 Press Release 11 min read

Plante Moran celebrates the election of 25 new partners in 17 offices across four states.

Balloons floating in the sky.

Southfield, Michigan, August 17, 2020 — Plante Moran, one of the nation’s largest certified public accounting, tax and consulting firms, has announced 25 new partners.

Mike Abramo, CPA, MSA joined Plante Moran in 2006 and is based in the firm’s Columbus, Ohio office. He leads the firm’s Ohio private equity industry group and its Ohio food and beverage practice.  Mike provides assurance, tax and business consulting services to Plante Moran’s manufacturing, distribution and service clients including retailers, restaurants and food service companies. He holds a bachelor’s and master’s degree in accounting from The Ohio State University and resides in Columbus, Ohio.

Lindy Beldyga, CPA joined Plante Moran in 2001 and is based in the firm’s Flint office. As the firmwide technical leader of the employee benefit plan audit practice, Beldyga provides staff and clients with guidance on new and proposed professional standards as well as research on the application of accounting and auditing standards that impact employee benefit plan audits. Her expertise includes audits and reporting and disclosure issues surrounding all types of plans. She holds a bachelor’s degree in business administration from Northwood University. Beldyga resides in Burt, Michigan.

Kevin DeAutremont, CPA, CFE joined Plante Moran in 2018 and is based in the firm’s Denver Tech Center office. DeAutremont is a leader of the firm’s risk and accounting advisory services team in the Rocky Mountain Region, specializing in accounting process risk and efficiency assessments, as well as project and contract accounting engagements. He holds a bachelor’s degree in business administration from Colorado State University. DeAutremont resides in Littleton, Colorado.

GianFranco DelBene, CPA joined Plante Moran in 2003 and is based in the firm’s Ann Arbor office. DelBene specializes in providing tax and consulting services to retail automotive dealerships, professional service firms and other service businesses, such as sales and marketing companies. Many of his clients are family-owned, owner-managed and private equity-owned businesses. He holds a bachelor’s degree in accounting from University of Michigan-Dearborn. GianFranco resides in Novi, Michigan.

Jamie Essenmacher, CPA, MSA joined Plante Moran in 2007 and is based in the firm’s East Lansing office. A leader in the firm's insurance industry, Essenmacher provides audit, tax and consulting services for Plante Moran’s property, casualty, health insurance and K-12 education clients across the nation. She holds a bachelor’s and master’s degree in accounting from Western Michigan University. Essenmacher resides in Holt, Michigan.

Jean Hackstock, CPA, MSA joined Plante Moran in 2005 and is based in the firm’s Macomb office. Hackstock primarily works with Plante Moran’s real estate and construction clients focusing on tax, industry regulations and financial best practices in general contracting, heavy/highway, specialty trade and multi-entity commercial real estate. As a firmwide technical leader, she is deeply involved in Plante Moran’s employee benefit plan group, specializing in multiple plan audits and leveraged employee stock ownership plans. She holds bachelor’s and master’s degrees in accountancy from Walsh College. Hackstock resides in Macomb, MI.

Bryan Howe, CPA joined Plante Moran in 2018 and is based in the firm’s Downtown Denver office. Howe serves Plante Moran’s publicly traded and privately held businesses in the real estate, mining, manufacturing and distribution sectors. He works on public company reporting and compliance, initial and secondary public offerings, reverse mergers, internal controls and assessments and financial performance reviews, specializing in financial statement audits and reviews. He holds a bachelor’s degree in accounting from the University of Northern Iowa. Howe resides in Denver, Colorado.

Bryan Hughes joined P&M Corporate Finance in 2000 and is based in the firm’s Southfield East office. As a managing director of P&M Corporate Finance, he leads the firm’s medical technology and healthcare services teams. His clients range from global life sciences companies to small, privately held businesses. He specializes in mergers and acquisitions, leveraged buyouts, private placements, financings, valuations and strategic consulting. Hughes holds a bachelor’s degree in accounting from the University of Michigan. He resides in Franklin, Michigan.

David Kristick, CPA, MSA joined Plante Moran in 2005 and is based in the firm’s Detroit office. Kristick specializes in audit and is an industry technical leader in the manufacturing and distribution sector. He oversees pre-issuance technical reviews of all industry reports and consults with engagement teams and a variety of Plante Moran’s manufacturing clients, including private equity and public Securities and Exchange Commission registrants. He holds a bachelor’s degree in finance and a master’s in accounting from Walsh College. Kristick resides in Detroit, Michigan.

Elizabeth Maldin, CPA joined Plante Moran in 2018 and is based in the firm’s Downtown Denver office. As a leader in Plante Moran’s financial services practice, Maldin specializes in providing services to private equity, venture capital and asset management companies. Additionally, she is a leader in the firm’s technology group where she serves various software clients. She holds a bachelor’s degree in financial economics from the University of Maryland, Baltimore County and a master’s degree in accountancy from Loyola University. Maldin resides in Denver, Colorado.

Aki Mitsunaga, CPA, MSA joined Plante Moran in 2010 and is based in the firm’s Schaumburg, Illinois office. Mitsunaga leads Plante Moran’s Chicagoland Japanese Business Services practice and additionally specializes in manufacturing and audit. She serves the firm’s manufacturing and distribution industry with a primary focus on Japanese-owned U.S. subsidiaries. She holds a bachelor’s degree in linguistics from Tokyo Women’s University and a master’s degree in accounting from the University of Illinois at Chicago. Mitsunaga resides in Schaumburg, Illinois.

Ted Morgan joined Plante Moran in 2011 and is based in the firm’s Southfield West office. Morgan is an industry practice builder for the firm’s private equity, automotive and plastics industries. He specializes in building and executing practice development and client entrenchment initiatives by leveraging the firm’s “one-firm” firm approach to grow revenue across all firm services. Morgan leads projects primarily for manufacturing and distribution clients and focuses on strategic planning, commercial due diligence, market analysis and business advisory. He holds a bachelor’s degree in accounting from Michigan State University. Morgan resides in Southfield, Michigan.

Emily Murphy, CPA joined Plante Moran in 2006 and is based in the firm’s Ann Arbor office. As a leader in Plante Moran’s National Tax Office, Murphy primarily serves the firm’s service, technology, manufacturing and financial institution clients, specializing in tax transaction consulting and accounting methods practices. She holds a bachelor’s and master’s degree in accounting information systems from Eastern Michigan University and a master’s degree in taxation from Walsh College. Murphy resides in Ypsilanti, Michigan.

Dave Pesci, CPA joined Plante Moran in 2004 and is based in the firm’s Flint office. As the office’s commercial practice leader, Pesci is primarily responsible for assurance engagements as well as providing tax and business consulting services. He specializes in manufacturing, primarily automotive and metals, and service companies, working with both owner-managed and private equity-owned businesses. He holds a bachelor’s degree in accounting from Hope College. Pesci resides in Flint, Michigan.

Scott Phillips, CPA, CIA joined Plante Moran in 2005 and is based in the firm’s Cleveland office. As the leader of the firm’s Ohio-based financial institutions practice, Philips provides risk management and financial statement audit services to publicly traded and privately held clients in the financial services industry. He holds a bachelor’s degree in management from Wittenberg University and a master’s degree in accounting from The Ohio State University. Phillips resides in Independence, Ohio.

Mike Riffel, MPA, CGCIO joined Plante Moran in 2010 and is based in the firm’s Chicago office. Riffel serves the firm’s public sector clients through the information technology assessment, selection and implementation process, specializing in assisting governmental units across the United States with this process. He additionally serves as a technology implementation advisor. He holds a bachelor’s degree in international relations and a master’s degree in public policy and administration from Michigan State University. Riffel resides in Marblehead, Massachusetts.

Jodi Rothenthaler, CPA, MST joined Plante Moran in 2005 and is based in the firm’s Grand Rapids office. Specializing in tax compliance, tax planning, and tax consulting services, Rothenthaler serves family-owned, owner-managed, and private equity-owned businesses, many of which are in the manufacturing and retail automotive dealership industries. She holds a bachelor’s degree in accounting and finance and a master’s degree in taxation from Grand Valley State University. Rothenthaler resides in Grand Rapids, Michigan.

Laurice Saba, CPA, MSA joined Plante Moran in 2003 as an intern and is based in the firm’s Auburn Hills office. Saba is the leader of the firm’s 1031 practice, advising clients on deferred exchanges, transactions pertaining to partnership and S corporation structures, real estate professional taxation and debt restructuring matters. Additionally, she is a leader in the firm’s real estate owners and developers practice, specializing in tax and business tax. She holds a bachelor’s and master’s degree in accounting from the University of Illinois at Chicago. Saba resides in Auburn Hills, Michigan.

Ashley Schade, CPA, MSA joined Plante Moran in 2008 and is based in the firm’s Toledo office. As the Ohio service industry leader, Schade provides assurance and consulting services to middle-market privately owned businesses and specializes in audit and transaction advisory services in the manufacturing and higher education industries. She holds a bachelor’s degree in accounting and business administration from Heidelberg University and a master’s degree in accountancy from Bowling Green State University. Schade resides in Toledo, Ohio.

Michael Scheetz, CPA joined Plante Moran in 2006 and is based in the firm’s East Lansing office. Specializing in tax planning, tax structuring, entity selection and strategy, Scheetz serves the firm’s family-owned, closely held and private equity clients. He primarily works with the manufacturing, construction and service industries. He holds a bachelor’s and a master’s degree in accounting from Michigan State University. Scheetz resides in DeWitt, Michigan.

Michelle St. Ours, CPA joined Plante Moran in 2016 and is based in the firm’s Chicago office. As the leader of the bank tax practice in Chicago, St. Ours works closely with the firm’s clients to understand their businesses, help them become tax efficient and assist them with their long-term goals. Additionally, she works with the service industry, focusing on clients such as technology and digital products companies as well as law firms and veterinary clinics. She specializes in tax, financial services and professional services. She holds a bachelor’s degree in accounting from Michigan State University. St. Ours resides in Chicago, Illinois.

Alicia Sturtevant, CPA joined Plante Moran in 2001 and is based in the firm’s Traverse City office. Sturtevant is a partner in the wealth management practice providing sophisticated personal tax, trust and family office services. As the firmwide trust tax practice leader, she primarily assists trustees with tax planning and compliance in relation to trust taxation as well as formal trust accountings. She also assists individuals with income, estate and gift tax planning and compliance. She holds a bachelor’s degree in business administration from Central Michigan University. Sturtevant resides in Lake Ann, Michigan.

Jacqueline Venier, CFP, CPWA, MBA joined Plante Moran in 2006 and is based in the firm’s Detroit office. Venier specializes in wealth management, personal wealth management and estate planning, providing independent and objective advice to the firm’s ultra-high-net-worth clients. She focuses on helping clients navigate liquidity events as well as developing and implementing coordinated strategies for wealth transfer, charitable gifting and ongoing financial education and management. She holds a bachelor’s degree in finance from Michigan State University and a master’s degree in business administration from University of Michigan. Venier resides in Pleasant Ridge, Michigan.

Chris Vojack, CPA joined Plante Moran in 2005 and is based in the firm’s Schaumburg office. As a leader in the firm’s Chicagoland manufacturing and distribution practice, Vojack provides assurance, tax, and business advisory services to privately held, private equity owned, and internationally active companies throughout the U.S. Vojack also focuses on the firm’s employee benefit plan practice, serving both large and small plans, ranging from $10 million to $5 billion in assets. Additionally, he provides technical quality reviews for manufacturing and distribution clients and has presented on a number of technical matters. He holds a bachelor’s degree in both accounting and finance from Bradley University. Vojack resides in Winfield, Illinois.

Christopher Walski, CPA, MSA joined Plante Moran in 2007 and is based in the firm’s Traverse City office. As the leader of the firm’s acute healthcare reimbursement services group, Walski provides healthcare services to a wide range of healthcare entities across the country to ensure they are optimizing reimbursements received from Medicare, Medicaid and commercial payors. He serves stand-alone hospitals and health facilities up through large, complex healthcare systems. He holds a bachelor’s degree in accounting from Alma College and a master’s degree in accountancy from the University of Notre Dame. Walski resides in Traverse City, Michigan.

About Plante Moran

Plante Moran is among the nation's largest accounting, tax and consulting firms and provides a full line of services to organizations in the following industries: manufacturing and distribution, financial institutions, service, health care, private equity, public sector and real estate and construction. Plante Moran has a staff of more than 3,000 professionals throughout Colorado, Illinois, Michigan and Ohio with international offices in Shanghai, China; Monterrey, Mexico; Mumbai, India; and Tokyo, Japan. Plante Moran has been recognized by a number of organizations, including Fortune magazine, as one of the country's best places to work. For more information, visit plantemoran.com.

Related Thinking

Nurse smiling and talking to a senior citizen in a wheelchair.
March 28, 2024

Maintain your EDGE®: 2024 Skilled Nursing Facility Benchmarking Report

Webinar 1 hour watch
Worker handing over retail bags to consumer after purchasing
March 28, 2024

Consumer sentiment topped expectations in March

Blog 2 min read
Coworkers at a nonprofit gathered around their desks and chatting in a sunny room.
March 28, 2024

5 steps to creating a winning culture at your nonprofit

Article 8 min read