Sikich Elects Five New Partners

NAPERVILLE, Ill. — January 19, 2015 — Sikich LLP, a leading professional services firm specializing in accounting, technology and advisory services, is pleased to announce the election of five new partners: Joris de Gruyter; Carla Paschal, CPA; Laura Reith, CPA; Ron Skalski and Andrew Twardowski, CPA.

“We are pleased to welcome five newly elected partners in the firm, all of whom are highly respected both within the firm and in their fields,” said James A. Sikich, CEO and managing partner. “As part of the next generation of firm leaders, I am confident they, along with our existing leadership, will expand our technical capabilities and generate fresh ideas and initiatives—all of which will create new opportunities for the firm and continue delivering the results our clients have come to expect.”

De Gruyter leads Sikich’s Microsoft Dynamics AX technical team with a focus on software engineering principles and procedures, and quality assurance. By sharing his expertise and global experience in the Microsoft Dynamics AX community through user groups, social media and blogging, he earned the prestigious Microsoft Most Valuable Professional (MVP) status, one of only six Microsoft Dynamics AX professionals in North America to receive the honor.
De Gruyter’s expertise has made him a trusted advisor to Sikich, its clients and Microsoft.

Paschal specializes in audits of federal programs under the Single Audit Act (A-133), and is responsible for engagement management, scheduling, supervision of the quality and completion of audit procedures, and delivery of final reports. Her clients vary from not-for-profit organizations to governmental entities to financial institutions, and she is affiliated with organizations including the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants and Illinois CPA Society.

Reith provides audit, accounting and consulting services to manufacturing, distribution and service clients, and her public accounting experience includes examinations of service organizations under the Standards for Attestation Engagements No. 16 (SSAE 16), Reporting on Controls at a Service Organization. Reith also assists in the training and development of professional staff at Sikich.

Skalski is a certified Microsoft Dynamics NAV developer with a strong knowledge base of programing languages, web applications and operating systems. With his extensive experience in the developing custom software applications, Skalski has broadened his knowledge in distribution, manufacturing and RF data collection.

Twardowski is responsible for income tax compliance and consulting services for corporations and partnerships, as well as providing tax and financial consulting services to individuals. He often works with manufacturers and distributors of machinery, food products, automotive, steel and consumer products with sales operations in the U.S. and foreign countries.