As the leader of the firm’s international consulting team, I help clients increase their operational efficiency and grow their businesses across borders through strategic expansions.
For nearly three decades, I’ve enjoyed the global relationships I’ve built and formed trusted partnerships with my clients through my on-the-ground experience in the markets in which they operate, along with my “shoot-it-straight” approach. I’m okay with saying, “No, we can’t,” or “You shouldn’t do that,” even when the message may be difficult to deliver, knowing I have my clients’ best interests in mind.
It’s exciting for me to think of how far our team has come, and that I was instrumental in helping Plante Moran open offices in Shanghai, China; Mumbai, India; and Monterrey, Mexico. I’m proud that the teams in these offices create a better service experience for our clients and provide our global team with on-the-ground insight in key growth markets that our clients wouldn’t get elsewhere.
I enjoy assisting clients in achieving the highest profitability and quality in their international operations, while mitigating the tendency to make decisions based on emotion or perceptions. While I realize management teams are held accountable to stakeholders, my team’s mission is to guide business decisions that support long-term growth. It’s this philosophy that earned our international practice an AICPA Practice Innovation Award.
Because of my international experience, I’m a frequent speaker on the topic of globalization, and I’m often quoted in the Wall Street Journal, Smart Money, and other business publications as I continually try to leave my mark in the marketplace. I’m now serving a second term with the District Export Council (DEC). This position is a federal appointment from the U.S. Secretary of Commerce. I’m also the vice chair of the Illinois DEC.
I’m a member of the AICPA, the Michigan Association of CPAs, the Illinois CPA Society, the American Chamber of Commerce in Shanghai, the United States-Mexico Chamber of Commerce, and the Chicago Chamber Global Connections Council. I have a B.B.A. from Wayne State University.