Leadership

The WICPA Board of Directors manages the WICPA’s affairs and is made up of 15 members. Of the members, nine are designated as vice presidents, four as officers, and two as directors. Board members are fellow members and are licensed to practice public accounting in Wisconsin.

2012-2013
WICPA Board of Directors

 

Chair Danica E. Olson, CPA Milwaukee Bucks, Inc. 1001 N. 4th Street Milwaukee, WI 53203-1314 Phone: 414-227-0500 Email: dolson@bucks.com  Chair-elect Robert A. Gruber, CPA, Ph.D. UW-Whitewater 800 W. Main St. Whitewater, WI 53190-1790 Phone: 262-472-1344 Email: gruberr@uww.edu Past Chair Nicholas S. Lascari, CPA Balistreri, Jezo & Lascari, LLP 12630 W. North Ave., Suite 1 Brookfield, WI 53005-4626 Phone: 262-432-0640 Email: nlascari@bjaccountants.com Secretary-treasurer Todd J. Poppe, CPA Wisconsin Evangelical Lutheran Synod 2929 N. Mayfair Road Milwaukee, WI 53222-4398 Phone:414-256-3212 Email: todd.poppe@sab.wels.net Director  Thomas J. Alberte, CPA BDO USA, LLP 330 E. Kilbourn Ave., Suite 950 Milwaukee, WI 53505 Phone: 414-272-5900 Email: talberte@bdo.com

Director  Greta C. Diercks, CPA Brettingen, Smits, Novak & Bastle S.C. 736 Ackley St., Antigo, WI 54409-0290  Phone: 715-623-7696 Email: gdiercks@antigocpa.com Director  Kelly K. Miller, CPA Scribner, Cohen & Comany, S.C. 400 E. Mason St., Suite 300 Milwaukee, WI 53202 Phone: 414-271-1700 Email: kkmcpa@scribnercohen.com Director Joan M. Phillips, CPA Deloitte & Touche LLP 555 E. Wells St., Suite 1400 Milwaukee, WI 532002-3824 Phone: 414-271-3000 Email: jophillips@deloitte.com Director  Matthew I. Raunio, CPA UW-Sheboygan 1 University Drive Sheboygan, WI 53081  Phone: Email: mraunio@new.rr.com Director  Gregory L. Ryan, CPA KPMG LLP 777 E. Wisconsin Ave., Suite 1500 Milwaukee, WI 53202-5340  Phone: 414-276-4200 Email: gryan@kpmg.com

Director Carver Smith III, CPA Baker Tilly Virchow Krause, LLP 115 S. 84th Street, Suite 400 Milwaukee, WI 53214-1475 Phone: 414-777-5500 Email: carver.smith@bakertilly.com Director Martin D. Verhelst, CPA, Martin D. Verhelst, CPA 602 Pleasant Oaks Drive, Suite F Oregon, WI 53575-3282 Phone: 608-835-3628 Email: marty@verhelstcpa.com Director Steven R. Volz, CPA Reilly, Penner & Benton, LLP 1233 N. Mayfair Road, Suite 302 Milwaukee, WI 53226 Phone: 414-271-7800 Email: svolz@rpbllp.com AICPA Council David O. Christianson, CPA Wipfli LLP 10000 Innovation Drive, Suite 250 Milwaukee, WI  53226 Phone: 414-431-9300 Email: dchristianson@wipfli.com AICPA Council Gerald Denor, CPA Dana Investment Advisors P.O. Box 1067 Brookfield, WI 53008 Phone: 262-782-3631 Email: jerry@danainvestment.com

Board biographies

Danica E. Olson, CPA - Chair

Danica E. Olson, CPA is the accounting manager for the Milwaukee Bucks, Inc. Olson has been a member of the WICPA since 2000 and has served on the WICPA Educational Foundation Board, Inc., Milwaukee Breakfast Program Committee, CPAs in Industry Spring Conference Committee, Wisconsin State Taxation Committee and Young Professionals Committee. She is also a member of the Forensic CPA Society, Milwaukee World Trade Association, and Alpha Xi Delta Fraternity and is an accounting instructor at DeVry University and University of Phoenix. She enjoys traveling and playing tennis in her free time. She and her husband, Andy, live in Milwaukee with their cats: Chloe, Meg and Rocca.

Robert A. Gruber, CPA - Chair-elect

Robert A. Gruber, Ph.D., CPA is an accounting professor at the University of Wisconsin - Whitewater, serving as its department chair (2001-2009). Gruber is past president of the WICPA Educational Foundation and Board of Directors. He was a school board member for the Mukwanago Area School District (1998-2004), and served on the Disney Internships and Programs National Advisory Board (2009-2012). Gruber and his wife, CIndy, an accounting instructor as Marquette University, live in Mukwanago. They have two children: Alyssa and Robbie. 

Nicholas S. Lascari, CPA - Past Chair

Nicholas S. Lascari, CPA has been a member of the WICPA’s Public Policy Committee, Federal Taxation Committee, Wisconsin Taxation Committee, Annual Tax Conference Committee and the Key Person Program. Lascari and his wife, Delores, live in Wauwatosa. They have two sons: Jeffrey and Scott. He enjoys golfing, traveling and sightseeing.

Todd J. Poppe, CPA – Secretary-Treasurer

Todd J. Poppe, CPA is chief financial officer at Wisconsin Evangelical Lutheran Synod (WELS) in Milwaukee. Poppe joined the WICPA in 1993. He has volunteered with many community organizations including the Wisconsin Government Finance Officers Association. He and his wife, Dawn, live in Germantown and have three children.

Thomas J. Alberte, CPA – Director

Thomas J. Alberte, CPA is a senior director in the multi-state tax practice of BDO USA, LLP, and heads up their business incentives practice. Alberte has been a member of the WICPA since 1987 and is currently serving on the WICPA Public Policy Committee. He also served on the WICPA Regulatory: Insurance Committee. During his career, he has worked in both public accounting and private industry. He and his wife, Mary, live in Brookfield and have four children: Elizabeth, Jenny, Eric and Steve.   

Greta C. Diercks, CPA – Director

Greta C. Diercks, CPA is an employee of Brettingen, Smits, Novak & Bastle S.C. Diercks currently serves on the WICPA Public Policy Committee and WICPA Young Professionals Committee, and volunteers with other local organizations. She and her husband, Calvin, live in Antigo.  

Kelly K. Miller, CPA - Director

Kelly K. Miller, CPA, a shareholder in the accounting and auditing department at Scribner, Cohen and Company, S.C., in Milwaukee. Miller specializes in the nonprofit arena and serves on the board of directors for St. Francis Children's Center and Milwaukee Aging Consortium. Miller, a member of the WICPA since 1999, has also served on the Accounting Careers Committee. She is currently a member of the Not-for-Profit Conference Task force. She and her husband, Gene, live in East Troy and have two sons: Wyatt and Cody. 

Joan M. Phillips, CPA - Director

Joan M. Phillips, CPA is a partner in the audit practice at Deloitte in Milwaukee. Phillips is a past president of the WICPA Educational Foundation, Inc. and volunteers with several other organizations, including the Betty Brinn Children’s Museum and as a trustee at her parish. She and her husband, Dean, live in Germantown and have two children: Adam and Eric.

Gregory L. Ryan, CPA - Director

Greg Ryan is the office managing partner of KPMG's Milwaukee office, directing all aspects of operations in the Wisconsin market. He has more than 20 years of experience, serving a variety of clients, from middle market, privately held companies to large public multinational companies. Ryan is a past director of the Educational Foundation of the WICPA. He is also a committee member for the United Performing Arts Fund, the Marquette University's National Alumni Board, and the Greater Milwaukee Committee. He lives in Franklin with his wife, Anne, and their two children: Maggie and Colin.

Matthew. I. Raunio, CPA - Director

Matthew I. Raunio, CPA is assistant professor of business and economics at the University of Wisconsin–Sheboygan. Raunio has been a member of the WICPA since 1980 and has served on the WICPA Accountancy Regulation in Wisconsin and Finance Committees. He is a Chartered Financial Analyst (CFA) and has served on the AICPA Investments Committee. He has three adult children: Duncan, Dillon and Ethe. He also ejoys golfing.

Carver Smith III, CPA - Director

Carver Smith, III, CPA, search practice leader at Baker Tilly Search & Staffing, LLC, joined the firm in 2010. With Smith’s extensive background in accounting and human capital, he specializes in helping clients find and evaluate top talent at all levels in the areas of accounting, finance, tax and human resources. Industries include, but are not limited to, manufacturing, financial services, professional services, insurance, retail, technology and not-for-profits.

Martin D. Verhelst, CPA - Director

Martin D. Verhelst, CPA is owner of Verhelst, CPA is Oregon, specializing in working with small-business and professional clients. Verhest, a member of the WICPA since 1975, was vice president of the Board of Directors from 1989-1991. He also was a member of several WICPA task forces and committees, including the Accounting, Auditing and Financial Management Conference Task Force, and was chairperson of the Public Policy Committee. His wife, Debbi, has worked with him at Verhelst, CPA since January 1990.

Steven R. Volz, CPA - Director

Steven R. Volz, CPA is a partner with the Milwaukee CPA firm of Reilly, Penner & Benton LLP. Volz has been a member of the WICPA since 1978 and currently is serving on the WICPA Peer Review Committee and the WICPA Ethics Committee. He has also served on the AICPA's Peer Review Committee,Technical Standards Subcommittee and Government Technical Standards Subcommittee. He enjoys traveling and golfing in his free time. Volz lives in Menomonee Falls with his fiancée, Karen, and has three adult children: Michael, Mark and Jaclyn.       

David O. Christianson, CPA – AICPA Council

David O. Christianson, CPA is a partner at Wipfli in Milwaukee. Christianson, a member of the WICPA since 1982, has served as president of the WICPA. He has also served on the WICPA Nominations Committee, Executive Search Committee, WICPA 100^th Anniversary Task Force and the Finance Committee. He currently serves on the Society's Accounting, Auditing and Governmental Financial Management Update Conference Task Force. 

Gerald Denor, CPA – AICPA Council

Gerald Denor, CPA is an executive vice president at Dana Investment Advisors in Brookfield. Denor has been a member of the WICPA since 1974 and has served on the Board of Directors as secretary-treasurer since 2003.