"When we launched our firm, we wanted to be different: creative, client-focused, pushing to help our clients improve and develop."

Keith A. Schoenfeld

Entrepreneurial Leaders Personally Involved in Projects

The team of leaders at Mowery & Schoenfeld is made up of experienced business owners, accountants, lawyers, and investment professionals. Offering a wide range of training and experience in financial matters, we believe in an entrepreneurial approach to business and are all personally involved with client projects.

Jeffery L. Mowery, Managing Partner

Jeff is currently head of the firm's tax practice and is heavily involved in the firm's management advisory services. He specializes in business and income tax planning for successful companies and their owners. Jeff has over twenty-five years experience in working with privately held companies and prosperous individuals in defining and solving a variety of business and complex tax problems. His areas of expertise include: business consulting and development, compensation structuring, estate and gift tax planning, financial consulting, complex income tax matters, accounting for income taxes, litigation support, succession planning and personal financial planning.

Prior to co-founding Mowery & Schoenfeld, Jeff was a tax manager in the Chicago office of Grant Thornton, an associate attorney for four years at James P. Meade & Associates and Partner in Charge of Tax Services for nine years at a CPA firm located Lake Forest, Illinois.

He holds a bachelor's degree and a master's degree in accounting from the University of Illinois - Urbana, a law degree from Loyola University in Chicago, and a Master of Laws in Taxation from De Paul University. He is a Certified Public Accountant in the State of Illinois and is a member of the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants and the Illinois CPA Society. Jeff is also an attorney, a certified financial planner, and a member of the American Bar Association, the Illinois State Bar Association and the Chicago Bar Association.

Jeff enjoys physical fitness, politics and professional sports. He is an avid reader and learner.

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Keith A. Schoenfeld, Partner

Keith is the partner in charge of audit and accounting services at Mowery & Schoenfeld, LLC and oversees the firms quality control procedures. In addition to audit and accounting services, Keith provides specialized consulting services, including M&A due diligence and transaction support, and consulting in cost control, financial reporting, budgeting, and operations for companies operating in various industries.

Throughout his career, Keith has served many companies including manufacturers, contractors, technology companies, professional services organizations, health service providers, retailers and non-profit organizations. His expertise includes strategic planning, budgeting, financial reporting, accounting theory, benefit plans and corporate taxation.

Keith serves on the Board of Directors of the Vernon Hills Cougars Youth Athletic Association and the Ice Dogs Hockey Association and is a past member of the Board of Directors of the Entrepreneurs' Organization and Arden Shore Child and Family Services.
Keith is received a Bachelor's of Science Degree in Accountancy from Northern Illinois University in 1986, is a certified public accountant and is currently member of the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants and the Illinois CPA Society.

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Thomas R. Keenan, Partner

Tom received a bachelor's degree in accounting from Northern Illinois University in 1991. He is a Certified Public Accountant and is a member of the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants and the Illinois CPA Society.

Tom has worked extensively with a variety of closely held companies and family businesses throughout his career. He is a seasoned auditor of manufacturers, contractors, service companies and retailers, with expertise in accounting practice, financial reporting, internal control structures, accounting systems and corporate taxation.

Prior to joining Mowery & Schoenfeld in 1997, Tom worked for four years in the Oak Brook Office of Crowe, Chizek and Company, LLC where he was a manager. Tom was also a manager with an accounting firm located in Lake Forest, Illinois for two years. He has worked extensively with privately held companies in the development of financial reporting and operating systems.

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Ron Katch, Counselor

Ron received a Bachelor of Science degree in accounting from the University of Illinois in 1955. After two years in the U.S. Army in Korea, he started his public accounting career. He opened his own practice in 1959 and formed a partnership, Katch, Tyson, & Company in 1971. The firm joined Mowery & Schoenfeld in 2009.

His more than fifty years in public accounting has been devoted exclusively to privately owned businesses. He has concentrated his efforts on leading his firm in providing independent audits and all other accounting and bookkeeping services. He joined with Neal Tyson in directing the firm with tax compliance and planning services.

Ron has served two terms on the Board of Directors of the Illinois CPA Society, one as Secretary. He represented the Society on the Governing Council of the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants for seven years. While active in the Illinois CPA Society, he chaired many committees and was awarded the coveted Lifetime Achievement Award.

Ron was also active with the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants serving on the Tax Executive Committee, the Ethics Executive Committee, and the Private Companies Practice Section Executive Committee. He also served as chairman of the Professional Liability Insurance Plan Committee. During this period he was instrumental in creating American Insurance Group, a publicly held corporation of CPAs devoted to assuring the availability of professional liability insurance to the CPA profession. He served on the Board of Directors from its inception in 1987 through 2007, serving as chairman for the last eight years. He is a consultant to the corporation, has the title of Chairman Emeritus, and serves on the board of directors of a subsidiary, AmerInst Professional Services, Ltd.

Ron has also been active with his national college fraternity, having served as its national president and currently on the Board of Directors and as vice-chairman of the Sigma Alpha Mu Endowment Fund and on the Board of Directors and Treasurer of the Sigma Alpha Mu Foundation. Sigma Alpha Mu joined six other national social fraternities to buy the James R. Favor & Company insurance agency and Ron serves on the Board of Directors and as its Treasurer.

When not participating in the above activities, Ron enjoys exercising and travel.

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Thomas G. Reger, Counselor

Thomas G. Reger attended DePaul University and received a BS in Accounting in 1957. After graduating from DePaul, Tom began his accounting and tax career with Arthur Andersen. From 1970 through 1990, Tom was the partner in charge of the tax practice for closely held companies in Arthur Andersen's Chicago office. Tom has extensive experience in individual and corporate tax planning, succession planning, acquisitions, incentive compensation plans, and estate and trust taxation.

Tom served as Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer of Schwarz Paper Company and Group II Communications, Inc., from 1994 to 2001.

He is a member of the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants and the Illinois Society of Certified Public Accountants.

Tom serves on the Board of Directors of Mercy Hospital in Chicago and Catholic Charities. He previously served in a number of roles with DePaul University, including Chairman of the President's Club and President of the Ledger and Quill Society.

When he is not busy working on client matters, Tom enjoys golf and fishing.

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Neal R. Tyson, Counselor

Neal is a graduate of the University of Illinois in Champaign-Urbana. After graduating, he went to work at the Internal Revenue Service and then at local CPA firms. In 1971 he cofounded Katch, Tyson, & Company, where he was a partner until July 2009 when the firm merged with Mowery & Schoenfeld, LLC. He is a Certified Public Accountant and is a member of the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants and the Illinois CPA Society.

Neal specializes in income taxes and income tax planning for closely held companies and their owners. He also works closely with his clients on estate planning.

Neal's interests outside the office are his family, tennis, and travel. He spends a great deal of time with his ten grandchildren.

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Anthony M. Cullotta, Senior Manager

Anthony is currently a senior manager with the firm's audit and attest services practice. Anthony is an expert in meeting the expanded financial reporting requirements specific to the construction industry and assisting contractors by providing the highest quality financial reporting packages to sureties, financial institutions, underwriters, general contractors, and business owners. He is a member of both the Construction Financial Management Association and the Lake County Contractors Association.

In addition to his construction clientele, Anthony's current portfolio is comprised of a wide range of companies including manufacturers, distributors, technology companies, service companies, and retailers. Anthony's other areas of specialization include assisting private equity groups, venture capital firms, and business owners with acquisition and sales transactions, as well as providing business valuations services to closely held businesses.

Anthony is both a Certified Public Accountant in the State of Illinois and a Certified Valuation Analyst. He is a member of the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants, the Illinois CPA Society, and the National Association of Certified Valuation Analysts. Anthony received his Bachelor of Science in Commerce from DePaul University, with major concentrations in both accountancy and finance.

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Celia Z. Geiger, Senior Manager

Celia is a senior manager with a wide range of business and tax experience with closely held companies, retirement and welfare plans, not-for-profit organizations, and high-net-worth families.

Prior to joining Mowery & Schoenfeld in 2009, Celia was a partner at Katch, Tyson, & Company, a Northfield, Illinois-based CPA firm.

Celia received a bachelor's degree in Accounting from the University of Illinois at Chicago. She is a Certified Public Accountant and is a member of the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants and the Illinois CPA Society. Celia also serves on the Advisory Board for the Lake Zurich Area Chamber of Commerce.

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Kenneth J. McGrath, Senior Manager

Ken received a bachelor's degree from St. Mary's University in Winona, Minnesota, in 1971. He studied accounting in graduate school at California State University in Sacramento. He is a Certified Public Accountant and a member of the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants and the Illinois CPA Society.

Ken has worked with a variety of closely held companies and family businesses for over thirty years. His expertise is in individual and corporate taxation and financial reporting.

Prior to joining Mowery & Schoenfeld in 2009, Ken was a partner at Katch, Tyson, & Company in Northfield.

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Matthew B. Schoenfeld, Director of Firm Administration

Matt is a Senior Manager with the accounting and auditing group at Mowery & Schoenfeld. He consults small- to medium-size businesses primarily in areas of developing and monitoring internal close processes, financial reporting, systems implementation, and tax planning strategies. His industry experience includes professional services, manufacturing, landscaping/nurseries, advertising agencies, and technology firms.

Matt is a member of the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants, the Illinois Certified Public Accountant Society, and the Association for Accounting Administration. In 2010, Matt was promoted to Director of Firm Administration in addition to his client responsibilities. As Director of Firm Administration, he is responsible for overseeing the firm's administration staff, IT strategic planning and implementation, recruiting, and developing human capital within the firm.

Matt has a Bachelor of Science degree in Accountancy and Elementary Education from Elmhurst College, and is a licensed Certified Public Accountant in the State of Illinois.

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Diana Zirkelbach, Senior Manager

Diana is a Senior Manager with the accounting and audit group at Mowery & Schoenfeld, LLC. Applicable experience includes the management and performance of financial statement audits under generally accepted auditing standards, and the management and performance of not-for-profit financial statement audits under generally accepted auditing standards.

Diana consults with closely held businesses operating primarily within the manufacturing industry and with not-for-profit organizations operating as charitable and educational organizations.

She is also a member of the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants, the Illinois Certified Public Accountant Society, and the VFW Ladies Auxiliary Post 8741. In 2010, Diana was appointed Secretary to the Board of Directors of Arden Shore Child and Family Services located in Vernon Hills.

Diana has a Bachelor of Science degree in Accountancy from the University of Illinois, and is a licensed Certified Public Accountant in the State of Illinois.

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Michael Kidd, Manager

Michael is a Manager in the Audit Practice and a Senior Analyst in the Valuation Practice. He holds a bachelor’s degree in Accountancy from the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign, is a registered Certified Public Accountant in the State of Illinois, and a Certified Valuation Analyst. He is a member of the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants, the Illinois CPA Society, and the National Association of Certified Valuation Analysts. Michael is active in the Illinois CPA Society Young Professionals Group and is a member of the society's CPA Exam Award Task Force.

Michael's expertise includes accounting theory, financial reporting, benefit plans, technology planning and risk assessment, and valuation matters for tax, mergers and acquisitions, and financial reporting purposes.

Personal interests include reading, swimming, bicycling, and automobiles.

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Darnell B. Wenzel, Manager

Darnell has obtained a broad range of experience throughout his career. Applicable experience includes the management and performance of financial assurance services, as well as the related tax planning, compliance, and return work for all entity types. He has served many different kinds of businesses, including manufacturers, distributors, professional service companies, wholesale, retail, and not-for-profit organizations.

Darnell received his bachelor’s degree in Business Administration from the University of Wisconsin-Whitewater, majoring in accounting. He is a Certified Public Accountant and a member of the American Institute of CPAs and the Illinois CPA Society. He has served as a member of the Local School Council of Dewitt Clinton Elementary School in Chicago, Illinois, for many years, serving as Chair from 2004 to 2008.

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Michael Deering, Director of Taxes

Michael is currently the Director of Taxes for the firm’s tax practice. Michael has extensive technical experience in taxation of affluent individuals with sophisticated investments, estate and gift, trusts, flow-through entities, and not-for-profit tax-exempt entities. Michael works closely with families to help them accumulate, preserve and transfer their assets, focusing on succession planning, tax planning and compliance as well as family considerations. He has also assisted executors, trustees and attorneys in litigation and settlement of inheritance issues. He is responsible for administering estates, trusts and family limited partnerships, as well as advising executors and trustees in related matters and representing them before the Internal Revenue Service.

Prior to joining Mowery & Schoenfeld in 2011, Michael was a tax director at McGladrey’s Chicago office for over 12 years.

Michael is a certified public accountant and is member of the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants who was recently published in the organization's Tax Advisor magazine. He is an active member of the Illinois CPA Society and sits on the Estate, Gift and Trust committee. He most recently presented "2010 Estate Tax Update" on behalf of the Society. He is a member of the Chicago Estate Planning Council and has been active on the membership and annual outing committees.

Michael graduated from Northern Illinois University with a Bachelor of Science degree in Accountancy. Michael has also earned a Master of Science in Taxation from DePaul University's Kellstadt Graduate School of Business.

Away from the office, Michael enjoys spending time with his family, playing golf, and watching Chicago sports teams.

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