School of Business
Eastern Illinois University
Student Center for Academic & Professional Development
Office: Lumpkin Hall 2051
Local Phone: 217-581-3528
Email: business@eiu.edu
Accountancy Advisory Board
The Eastern Illinois University Accountancy Advisory Board serves in an advisory capacity to the Accountancy faculty and Chair of the School of Business and as advocates of the Accountancy Program. The objectives of the Accountancy Advisory Board are to:
Provide a source from which the faculty and Chair may seek and receive advice relating to curriculum development, faculty involvement in the profession, faculty research, and other matters necessary to ensure the development and continuance of a dynamic program in accountancy
Provide communication links between the faculty and professional accountancy community
Promote a positive image for the accountancy program within the professional community and to the public
Membership of the board is composed of individuals who are knowledgeable regarding the field of accountancy. However, membership is not limited to individuals who are currently active as professional accountants. Individuals who are currently supervising professional accountants, and individuals who, at some stage of their career, were involved in professional accounting, or have had significant interaction with accountants in a professional setting will be considered for Board membership. The Chair of the academic department in which the accountancy program resides shall be an ex officio member.
Member Biographies
Jane F. Adams, Chief Financial Officer, Great American Bancorp, Inc. and Senior Vice President – Finance, First Federal Savings Bank, Champaign, IL
Jane is a 1980 graduate of Eastern Illinois University with a B.S. degree in Accounting. She earned her CPA certification in November, 1982. She began her professional career at Peat Marwick Mitchell in January 1981 as a staff auditor in their Decatur , IL office. In the spring of 1984, Janey became a Loan Review Auditor for Champaign National Bank in Champaign , IL . She was promoted to Auditor soon after joining the bank and in 1986 became Vice President and Controller. In April 1995, Janey became the Chief Financial Officer at Great American Bancorp, Inc. and Vice President – Finance at First Federal Savings Bank. She was promoted to Senior Vice President – Finance in February, 1997. Since April 1995, Janey has also been the Secretary and Treasurer of Great American Bancorp, Inc., First Federal Savings Bank and the Bank's subsidiary, Park Avenue Service Corporation. Park Avenue Service Corporation currently operates the GTPS Insurance Agency. Janey is a member of the AICPA and the Illinois CPA Society. She is a past treasurer of the Champaign chapter of the American Red Cross and has served as treasurer, secretary and president of the Executive Club of Champaign County, a not-for-profit organization benefiting women in management, administration, the professions, sales and business ownership. Janey and her husband Ron live in Fisher, IL and have three sons – Sam, Steve and Sean.
Eric Bradham, Partner, Larsson, Woodydard & Henson, LLP, Paris,
IL Eric earned his B.S. in Accounting from Eastern Illinois University.
He began his career with Larsson, Woodyard & Henson, LLP in 1979 and
became a partner in 1986. Eric assists clients with accounting, tax, financial
statement preparation, and employee benefits. Since 2001, Eric has taken
over partner in charge responsibilities of the Casey office and now allocates
his time between the Paris and Casey offices. He is a member of the American
Institute of Certified Public Accountants (AICPA), the Illinois and Indiana
CPA Societies, and the AICPA Management Consulting Services. Eric enjoys
boating sailing, bicycling, riding his Harley, and spending time with his
daughters.
Patrick Brooks, Senior Manager, KPMG, LLP, Chicago IL
Brian Brown, General Manager , Illinois Agriculture Auditing
Association, Normal, IL.
Brian is a 1981 graduate of Eastern Illinois University in Charleston ,
Illinois with a BS degree in Accounting. Brian earned his CPA certification
in February 1983. He originates from Ogle County in northern Illinois and
has spent his entire professional career with the Illinois Agricultural
Auditing Association, based in Normal , Illinois . Brian and his wife Christine
have four boys, Josh (22), Aaron (19), Eric (11), and Davis (8). Brian began
with the Auditing Association as an intern while still attending Eastern
and has worked up through the ranks and became general manager in March
2004. IAAA provides audit and accounting services to corporate agricultural
entities in Illinois , including 75 licensed grain dealers. The firm also
specializes in cooperatives with the majority of their audit clientele structured
as cooperatives. Brian is a member of the Illinois CPA Society (ILCPAS),
the AICPA, the Illinois Cooperative Council and the National Society of
Accountants for Cooperatives (NSAC). He currently serves on the Agribusiness
committee of the ILCPAS and as Vice President of the Great Lakes Chapter
of NSAC. IAAA is also actively involved with the Grain and Feed Association
of Illinois and the National Grain and Feed Association. Brian currently
serves on the legislative and education committees of the Grain and Feed
Association of Illinois. Brian is also the managing principal of DBH and
Associates, LLC. DBH is a sister entity of IAAA and provides all of the
same professional services as IAAA to clients in Iowa , Wisconsin , Indiana
, Kentucky and Connecticut as well as to non-agricultural clients in Illinois
.
Robert C. Buechner, Jr., Deputy Finance Director, Village of Arlington Heights, Arlington Heights, IL
Mr. Buechner is a 1979 graduate of Eastern Illinois University with a Bachelor of Science in Business Degree, major in Accounting. He has 22 years of governmental accounting experience all with the Village of Arlington Heights, Illinois. Mr. Buechner's current position title is Deputy Finance Director. The Finance Department is comprised of 30 staff members including five degreed accountants two of which are CPAs. The Arlington Heights Finance Department oversees all financial activities from financial statement preparation to accounts payable, treasury management, budgeting, and public safety personnel pension fund administration for a community of 77,000 residents. Mr. Buechner began his career with Arlington Heights as a Staff Accountant, was promoted to the newly created position of Chief Accountant in 1988 and assumed the Deputy Director position in 1998. In addition to accounting and finance duties Mr. Buechner is the Chairman of the Village Parking Committee. The Parking Committee manages approximately 5,000 parking spaces, 2,500 on-street spaces and 2,500 off-street spaces in four parking garages and five surface lots. Prior to his governmental service Mr. Buechner held positions with Continental Can Company and the Chicago Tribune.
Tim Burke, Principal, William Blair & Company, Chicago,
IL
Tim has been a principal with William Blair & Company, LLC. since 1997.
He is responsible for the finance and administrative areas of the Firm including
Financial Control, Human Resources, Office Services and the Business Information
Center. Prior to joining William Blair & Company, Mr. Burke was a partner
with Arthur Andersen in their Chicago office. He led Andersen's Capital
Markets practice in the Central Region of the US and its Futures Industry
practice in the US. He joined Andersen in1975. In addition to his industry
responsibilities in the US, Mr. Burke led projects sponsored by the World
Bank to reform the financial markets system in Indonesia and investigate
the possibility of creating a financial trading center in the Middle East.
He currently serves as a member of the Board of Directors of Health Care
Service Corporation, which is the holding company for Blue Cross Blue Shield
of Illinois, Texas and New Mexico. He chairs the Audit Committee of the
Board and is a member of the Executive Committee.Tim graduated from Eastern
Illinois University with both BS and MS degrees. He is a CPA and a member
of the AICPA, Illinois CPA Society and the Securities Industry Association.
Michael W. Cunningham, Retired from ING Canada, Marietta, GA
Mike graduated from Eastern Illinois University in 1970 with his B.S. and a MBA in 1973. He is also a graduate from the Advanced Executive Education Program from the Wharton School of Business. Mike began his career with Ernst & Young in 1973 and after nine years moved on to Integon Corporation from 1983-1991. In 1991 Mike joined ING Group as Senior Vice President and Chief Financial Officer for ING Americas and was named Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer in 1993. He was responsible for managing all financial functions for tax, treasury and financial reporting and analysis and was the company's main contact for investment bankers and rating agencies. He was named Chief Financial Officer for ING U.S. Worksite Financial Services prior to January of 2002 when he was appointed Senior Vice President & Chief Financial Officer of ING Canada, where he was responsible for all finance functions, including actuarial functions and for developing the financial plan for the Worksite business. In Canada, ING is creating one of the most innovative financial service organizations by providing insurance, banking and investment products and services to approximately 4 million customers via the Internet, over the phone, or in person. Mike is a Certified Public Accountant, a Chartered Life Underwriter, a Chartered Financial Consultant and a fellow of the Life Office Management Association.
Joseph Daughhetee, President, Daughhetee & Parks, P.C., Danville, IL
Joe graduated from Eastern Illinois University with a B.S. in Business and a MBA. He is a licensed Certified Public Accountant and a licensed Certified Valuation Analyst. Joe has been in private industry with heavy experience in cost accounting. For the last thirty years he has been in public accounting and current President of the firm of Daughhetee & Parks, P.C. By meeting the qualification of the National Association of Certified Valuation Analysts (NACVA) he has become a Certified Valuation Analysts. He was awarded a Certificate of Educational Achievement in Personal Financial Planning (PFP) and is a member of the Personal Financial Planning Division and Tax Division of the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants. In 1999 he became a Registered Representative for investments. He is a member of the American Society of Agricultural Consultants, AICPA, Illinois Society of Certified Public Accountants, Indiana C.P.A. Society, Illinois Feed & Grain Association, National Society of Accountants for Cooperatives and National Association of Certified Valuation Analysts. He is a Past President of Lions Club and a member of the Danville Chamber of Commerce Agri-Buiness Council. He has published several articles in Farm Futures Magazine and does public speaking to grain elevators and farm groups on management and financial accounting along with presentations to school organizations in the areas of accounting and business management. Currently on Executive Committee and Past President of Farm Financial Standards Council, a national organization with the mission of improving accounting standards and management information for agricultural producers.
Tim Davis, Caterpillar, Peoria, IL
Jay Delatte, Director of Finance, Andrew Corporation, Orland Park, IL Jay received his B.S. in Accounting from Eastern Illinois University in 1990. After graduating, Jay began his career as a junior accountant with Precision Scientific Inc., located in Chicago. In 1992, he joined Andrew Corporation as a corporate financial analyst and has progressed through several corporate and business unit assignments to his current role as Finance Director for the Antenna and Cable Group. In this role, Jay is responsible for financial reporting, planning, analysis, acquisitions, and general accounting functions for the Group's services business unit. Jay and his wife Lynette have two children, Jenna and Jordan, and reside in Mokena, Illinois.
Sarah Gracey, C.F.O., LifeLinks, Inc., Mattoon, IL
Steven L. Grissom, Administrative Officer, SKL Investment Group, LLC., Mattoon, IL
Since September 1997, Steven L. Grissom has served as administrative officer of SKL Investment Group LLC, an investment holding company. From January 2003 through December 2005, Mr. Grissom also served as Treasurer and Secretary of Consolidated Communications Holdings and its predecessors, a telephone holding company and related subsidiaries, including Illinois Consolidated Telephone Company, a provider of local exchange telecommunications services. Previously, Mr. Grissom had served as Treasurer of Illinois Consolidated Telephone Company from May 1989 to December 2002, as well as holding other corporate titles since May 1989, including Corporate Secretary, Assistant Treasurer, and Tax Manager. Prior to joining the Consolidated group in 1981, Mr. Grissom was with a regional public accounting firm from 1974 to 1981. Other directorships include the following: Since 2000, Mr. Grissom has served as a director of First Mid-Illinois Bancshares, Inc., a diversified financial services company serving central Illinois . Since 1998 he has served as a director of Agracel, Inc., a real estate development and warehousing company with projects from the Carolinas to Texas . In the area of not-for-profit organizations, Mr. Grissom currently serves as Chairman and a Director, (since 1998), of Coles Together, a public private partnership for economic development which focuses on attracting new businesses as well as the retention of those already doing business in the area. Since 1998 he has served as a Director and President of the Mattoon Area Industrial Development Corporation, an industrial development entity focusing on commercial development in Mattoon , Illinois . Mr. Grissom is a past Director and Treasurer of the Eastern Illinois University Foundation, serving from 1993 – 1999. Mr. Grissom is a 1974 graduate of Eastern Illinois University , with a BS in Business and a major in Accounting. He is a Certified Public Accountant.
Kaleb Lilly, Manager, RubinBrown, LLP, Clayton, MO
Sherry L. McCoy, CPA
Sherry is a director with McGladrey & Pullen, LLP and RSM McGladrey, Inc. in the Pasadena office of the Southern California Economic Unit. She began her employment with the Firm in Peoria , Illinois , in 1990 and now provides accounting and auditing services to both private and public companies. Her experience includes, but is not limited to, service-related organizations, including broadcasting, personnel placement, financial institutions, transportation, employment benefit plans, and not-for-profit entities, as well as real estate development and distribution enterprises. Since 2002, Ms. McCoy has been serving in the role of Audit and Accounting Specialist, which enables her to serve as a technical and quality assurance resource for engagement teams both locally and across the United States . She also works with both local and national leaders to develop and provide training programs and efficiency tools for the Firm. She is actively involved as a volunteer leader in the children's ministry at Calvary Bible Church and a team manager in the recreational youth volleyball league, both in Burbank , California .
Joel Neikirk, Vice President of Operations, Midamerica Hotels Corporation, Cape Girardeau, MO
Joel is a 1992 graduate of Eastern Illinois University with a B.S. in Accounting. He worked at Illinois Consolidated part-time in data processing during his undergraduate studies. In 1992, he joined McGladrey & Pullen in Joliet. He worked with Arthur Anderson Business Consulting in St. Louis from 1995 until joining Midamerica in 1997. He is responsible for the operations of four hotels and 37 quick service restaurants including monthly review of general accounting entries, payrolls, inventories, budgets, etc. Joel currently owns and operates two Heavenly Ham Specialty Meat Shops and enjoys golf, boating, and running.
Cindy Oakley, Archer Daniels Midland, Decatur, IL
Cynthia L. Phipps, CPA, Lake Land College , Mattoon , IL
Cindy is a native of Mattoon , Illinois . She graduated from the University of Illinois-Urbana Champaign with a B.S. in Accountancy in 1988 and an M.S. in Accountancy with a specialization in Taxation in 1989. Cindy began her career with Price Waterhouse in Indianapolis as a tax associate and senior tax consultant from 1989-1992. She continued her career as a senior tax accountant with The Anthem Group in Indianapolis from 1992-1995. In 1995 she welcomed the opportunity to teach full time at Lake Land College where she has served as accounting instructor, accounting program coordinator, and academic advisor for thirteen years. She is an active member in Eastern Illinois Business Educators Association and TACTYC (Teachers of Accounting at Two-Year Colleges). She and her husband David live in Mattoon with their three children
Kent Reeves, CPA, Fairfield, IL Kent earned his B.S. in Accountancy from the University of Illinois,
Urbana-Champaign. Upon graduation, he joined J. E. Fleming and Company,
CPA and became partner. Since 1989, Kent has been a sole practitioner.
He is active in a number of professional organizations, including the Illinois
CPA Society (Board of directors 2000-2002) and the Illinois CPA Endowment
Fund (Board of Directors, current member). Kent also serves his community
in many ways, as an active member of the Philippine Mission Churches of
Christ of Northern Luzon, Inc., Fairfield Community High School Board of
Education, Wayne County 4-H Foundation, Wayne County 708 Board, and the
Central Christian Church.
Kraig Ritter, BKD, LLP, Decatur, IL Kraig received a B. S. in Business from Eastern Illinois University
in 1987 with a double major in accountancy and computer management. He worked
for Moore Business Forms from 1987-1988. In 1988 he joined KPMG in Decatur,
IL. The KPMG office in Decatur was sold to Georg S. Olive in 1992. In 2001,
George S. Olive was merged with Baird, Kurtz, and Dobson to form BKD, LLP.
Mr. Ritter was elected to the partnership during 2005 and serves clients
in the financial services industry. He also serves as the Decatur office’s
recruiting coordinator. Kraig is a CPA, a member of the Illinois CPA Society,
and AICPA. Kraig and his wife Kelly, have two children—Hannah and
Jairon.
Catherine L. Rogers, Plant Finance Manager, R. R. Donnelley, Mattoon,
IL
Catherine graduated from Eastern Illinois University with her B.S. in Business
in 1993 and her MBA in 1999. She began her career with R.R. Donnelley in
Mattoon, IL in December 1993 as an Appropriation Accountant. From 1995-97
she was a ledger accountant and by January of 1997 she was financial supervisor.
She was senior accountant/business analyst at Cabot Corporation in Tuscola,
IL from November 1997-November 1998. In November 1998 she returned to R.R.
Donnelley as ledger supervisor. Since June 2003 she has been plant finance
manager which includes leading a finance staff of fourteen, providing decision
support and alalysis for plant management, maintaining fiduciary responsibility
of company assets and policies and facilitating division operating budget
process and lead monthly financial closes. Catherine reside in Mattoon,
IL.
Dean Scaros, CEO, Pay-Ease, Roselle, IL
Dean Scaros is the president of Pay-Ease , a recognized leader
in self service bill payment kiosk technology. Pay-Ease provides
a cost effective fully integrated network solution for collection and processing
of consumer bill payments via self-service kiosks. This is accomplished
by combining hardware, software, service, security, maintenance, repair,
and accounting into one complete package. Raised in Northwest Suburban Chicagoland,
Dean received a B.S in Accounting from EIU in 1981. After graduating Dean
began to hone his entrepreneurial skills. In 1984 he co-founded Silver Plus
Accounting Software, a premiere accounting software package for the IBM
PC. The product was purchased by Boise Cascade and was marketed through
their office product dealer network integrating the ordering software directly
to their inventory. Dean moved on and in 1988 founded Restaurant Software
Solutions. (RSS), which was a fully integrated accounting package for the
restaurant industry. The package integrated time attendance software to
POS devices to food costs and provided a unique daily accounting analysis
for the highly competitive industry. In 1991, Dean opened Samuel T's , which
he owned and operated until 1993. During that period Dean was also asked
to assume a position as the CFO of a major restaurant group in Chicago .
His duties included the automation and networking of the financial operations
of over 25 restaurants. In 1996, Dean moved to System Development Integration
as a director for the SDI Financial Services. There he was placed in charge
in developing the City of Chicago 's Department of Revenue's cashiering
system. This process involved the integration of 45 separate billing departments
into one centralized revenue center and accounted for $4.5 billion in revenue
utilizing 200 cashiers. In 2001, Dean founded Pay-Ease a
bill payment kiosk processing network. He has expanded the business and
has designed and built the next generation of ATM, called the ACM (Automated
Commerce Machine), the unit combines bill payment, ATM, and bio scanning
all into one system. Mr. Scaros has recently merged his business with Miesel
Investment Capital raising the capital to take the business model nationwide.
Jamie Smitley, Senior Accountant, General Accounting, Bunn-O-Matic Corporation, Springfield, IL Jamie graduated with a B.S. in Business (Accounting) from Eastern Illinois University in 2001, and completed her MBA at EIU in 2002. After graduating, Jamie began her career as an associate with McGladrey & Pullen, LLP in Springfield, Illinois. She has experience in audits of financial institutions and not-for-profit organizations. Jamie progressed through several levels to a role as Supervisor before joining Bunn-O-Matic Corporation in February 2008 as a Senior Accountant in General Accounting. In this role, Jamie is responsible for international accounting, core team cost accounting, analysis and general accounting functions for the Corporation. She is a Certified Public Accountant.
Kelsey D. Swing, Staff Accountant, Gilbert, Metzger & Madigan, LLP, Charleston, IL
Kelsey graduated with a B.S. in Business (Accounting) from Eastern Illinois University in 2003, and completed her MBA with Concentration in Accountancy at EIU in 2005. She joined Gilbert, Metzger & Madigan, LLP in 2002 as an intern. Kelsey performed an external graduate assistantship with the firm during the completion of her MBA and accepted full-time employment in 2005. Kelsey received her CPA certification in 2006. She has experience in tax preparation for individuals and small businesses and has considerable experience in audits of governmental entities and not-for-profit organizations. While a student at Eastern, she was active in Beta Alpha Psi, the Honorary Financial Information Professionals Fraternity; she held the posts of president and recording secretary for this organization and was the recipient of the Outstanding Junior and Senior Awards. She also served as vice-president of the Student Accounting Society. Kelsey is currently serving as a member of the Beta Alpha Psi Alumni Task Force for the International Board of Directors.
Susan Young, Associate Director of Athletics, University of Illinois , Champaign , IL
Young comes to the UI after nearly six years as Senior Vice President and Chief Operating Officer of First Mid-Illinois Band & Trust in Mattoon . Young will replace Debbie Case, who will retire from the University this summer.
Young is an accomplished executive with 22 years of tax, financial planning and investment advisory experience for several firms, including Ernst & Young, Fel-Pro Incorporated and KKP Group, as well as First Mid-Illinois Bank & Trust. She graduated from Eastern Illinois University in 1984 with a degree in accounting and earned her master's degree in taxation from DePaul in 1990.
Young has been very involved in the Eastern Illinois University Alumni Association, serving as president in 2004-05 and as a board member since 2001. Young has a son, Jack.
Business
Overview
