TKO - Key Persons

Job Titles:

• Tax Manager at Tighe

Axat is a Tax Manager at Tighe, Kress & Orr, PC. He specializes in tax filing and accounting consulting. With over 9 years of experience in public accounting, he brings a wealth of knowledge and expertise to assist individuals and businesses in navigating the intricate world of taxes.

Job Titles:

• Treasurer and Assistant Scoutmaster

Job Titles:

• Manager
• Member of the Leadership Team
• Accounting Services Manager at Tighe

Cam is an Accounting Services Manager at Tighe, Kress & Orr, P.C. with more than seven years in public accounting experience. His specialties include assisting small business owners through a wide variety of accounting needs and providing businesses superior guidance and support for business tax planning. Additionally, Cam is a QuickBooks Online ProAdvisor.

Job Titles:

• Member of the Leadership Team
• Principal
• CVA

Cindy is a Principal with over 15 years of public accounting experience. She leads the Entrepreneurial Services Group within Tighe, Kress & Orr. Cindy specializes in implementing strategic accounting services. Cindy also has accounting and tax experience with small to mid-sized business and individual clients. Cindy strategizes how to mitigate tax and penalties due. On one occasion, she helped a client save over $33,000 in tax by drafting a private letter ruling to the IRS, in which, the result was no tax or penalty due. Cindy has extensive experience with QuickBooks and QuickBooks Online and enjoys consulting with startup businesses. She has assisted several businesses in software conversions and upgrades. Cindy takes pride in partnering with her clients to ensure they are maintaining accurate accounting records, have proper period end closing procedures and understand their accounting statements. She has a keen eye for attention to detail and creating policies and procedures. Cindy acts as an ally to her clients by assessing the needs of an organization and making recommendations using her many years of experience. Cindy is a graduate of Aurora University. She is a licensed Certified Public Accountant in the State of Illinois and is a Certified Valuation Analyst. Cindy is a member of the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants, Illinois CPA Society, National Association of Certified Valuators and Analysts (NACVA), Government Finance Officers Association (GFOA) and serves on GFOA's Special Review Committee. Cindy is a Principal with over 13 years of public accounting experience. She specializes in dealing with assurance services, assisting over seventy governmental and not-for-profit clients, as well as reviewing and supervising audits and other consulting engagements.

Job Titles:

• Member of the Leadership Team
• Accounting Services Manager at Tighe

Heidi is an Accounting Services Manager at Tighe, Kress & Orr, P.C. with more than twelve years of public accounting experience. Her specialties include assisting businesses with accounting and tax consulting and compliance, and providing clients superior guidance and support through their various accounting needs. Heidi has extensive experience with QuickBooks Desktop and QuickBooks Online, along with a variety of other accounting software's, and enjoys assisting clients with training and problem solving. She has assisted several businesses in software conversions and upgrades. Heidi ensures her clients maintain accurate accounting records, have proper period end closing procedures and understand their accounting statements. Heidi received her Bachelor of Science in Accountancy and Master of Operations Management Information Systems from Northern Illinois University. She is a Certified Public Accountant, member of the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants and Illinois CPA Society. When not at the office, Heidi likes making memories with her family and friends. She also enjoys being outdoors, hiking, fishing, gardening and relaxing.

Job Titles:

• Audit Manager
• Member of the Leadership Team
• Audit Manager at Tighe

James is an Audit Manager at Tighe, Kress & Orr, P.C. with over five years of public accounting experience. The majority of his experience is in assurance services for privately held middle-market companies, not-for-profit entities, and employee benefit plans.

Job Titles:

• Member of the Leadership Team
• Senior Tax Manager

Joe is a Senior Tax Manager at Tighe, Kress & Orr, P.C. with more than eight years in public accounting experience. His expertise includes advising and planning for a wide variety of business and individual tax clients, responding to Federal and State inquiries, as well as specializing in pass-through entity taxation for businesses. Additionally, Joe works extensively with Quickbooks and a variety of other accounting programs. Joe's involvement with pass-through entities ranges from inception with detailed knowledge of what is required to start a business, to setting up and maintaining proper books, succession planning and eventual dissolution. He works with clients ensuring that compliance with every necessary Federal and State agency has been met.

Job Titles:

• Member of the Leadership Team
• MAS
• Tax Director

Joe is a Tax Director at Tighe, Kress & Orr, P.C. with over eight years of Big 4 public accounting experience. The majority of his experience and concentration is in tax consulting and compliance, accounting advice, tax planning, estate planning and researching complex tax issues. He has been involved in managing large domestic real estate tax engagements involving general partnership and corporate compliance, state and international tax issues, 1099 reporting requirements, unrelated business income tax, property acquisitions/dispositions, and debt restructuring. Prior to joining Tighe Kress & Orr, P.C. Joe was a manager in the real estate tax practice at KPMG, LLP. Joe's accomplishments include managing and providing comprehensive tax planning and consulting services related to federal, state, and international income tax matters for large privately held investment companies within the Chicago Metropolitan area. He provides his clients with effective and efficient opportunities to plan and structure pass-through entities to maximize business tax savings. He also handles complex compliance and consulting in the tax areas of: C-Corporations, S Corporations, partnerships, REITs and individuals. Joe has prepared and analyzed quarterly taxable income projections to assist in the various federal, state, and international quarterly tax withholding obligations. Additionally, he has supplied audit assistance regarding ASC 740 income tax accounting on pass-through and tax exempt entities. Prompt responses to inquiries and open communication are two of the core services Joe strives to provide to his clients. He works hand in hand with his clients to create opportunities for them to make more knowledgeable decisions. Joe listens to his clients to fully ascertain their needs, and then breaks down each issue individually to ensure his clients understand. Whether it be a Schedule C, partnership, C-Corporation or S-Corporation, he goes above and beyond to maximize returns and minimize liability. Joe received his Bachelor of Science in Accountancy and Master of Accounting Science degrees from Northern Illinois University. He is a Certified Public Accountant and is a member of the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants and the Illinois CPA Society.

Job Titles:

• Member of the Leadership Team
• Principal

Keith is a founding shareholder of the firm, and is the Principal in charge of the accounting & tax department and the business development of the firm. His area of concentration is helping his client base develop a strong accounting foundation and a solid tax planning strategy.

Job Titles:

• Member of the Leadership Team
• Tax Manager
• MAS
• Tax Manager at Tighe

When Matt is not at work, you will most likely find him outside or camping his wife Erin and their two children, John & Alex. Matt is a Tax Manager at Tighe, Kress & Orr, P.C. with over nine years of public accounting experience. The majority of his experience and concentration is in tax & accounting consulting and compliance, tax planning, and researching complex tax issues for businesses and high net-worth individuals. Prior to joining Tighe Kress & Orr, P.C. Matt was at RSM US, LLP in their Manufacturing & Distribution tax group. Matt has experience working with high net worth clients, estates and trusts, and businesses. He has been involved in tax planning for charities, partnership and corporate tax compliance, multi-state filings, payroll and 1099 related compliance and consulting. Matt prides himself in working with his clients and their advisors. He finds that communication is critical to ensuring the optimal tax answer for his clients. Matt's accomplishments include helping a client obtain an over six figure refund from the IRS that spanned several years and involved the tax advocate group within the Internal Revenue Service. He has also generated significant tax savings for his high net-worth clients through active tax planning and consultation. Matt received his Bachelor of Science and Master of Accounting science degrees from Northern Illinois University. He is a Certified Public Accountant in Illinois and is a member of the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants and the Illinois CPA Society.

Job Titles:

• Member of the Leadership Team
• Senior Tax Manager

Job Titles:

• Managing Principal
• Member of the Leadership Team
• MST, CVA

Bob is a founding shareholder and is the Managing Principal of the firm. Bob oversees all service areas of the firm but has a primary focus in taxation, business valuation, litigations services and the construction, manufacturing, and distribution division of the firm. His area of concentration is in accounting, general business planning and tax consulting for middle-market and closely held businesses. Prior to establishing Tighe, Kress & Orr, Bob was with Arthur Andersen LLP and RSM McGladrey in Chicago. Bob believes in maintaining close contact with each of his clients and their business. For many years, he has worked with prominent construction, manufacturing and distribution clients in the Chicago area, which has enabled him to consult on very complex issues. Bob is a Certified Valuation Analyst with the National Association of Certified Valuators and Analysts. He performs asset and stock valuations for businesses for the following purposes: transaction (acquisition, divestiture, and reorganizations), taxation (federal income, gift, and estate), dispute resolution, and management information and planning. Bob believes that business valuations help owners understand their business in a much greater depth and, in many situations, provide opportunities to make the business more profitable and help owners with succession plans. Bob is a founding shareholder and is the Managing Principal of the firm. His area of concentration is in accounting, general business planning and tax consulting for middle-market and closely held businesses.

Job Titles:

• Manager
• Member of the Leadership Team
• Manager at Tighe

Sandra is a Manager at Tighe, Kress & Orr, P.C. with more than six years in public accounting experience. Her specialties include assisting with setting up start up businesses and providing clients superior guidance and support through their various accounting needs. She is also involved with managing various IRS and State correspondence audits and notices. She has experience with tax planning for pass-through entities and individual tax clients. Additionally, Sandra is a QuickBooks ProAdvisor and concentrated in accounting consulting and helping clients navigate through various accounting software to ensure proper reporting. Sandra graduated from the Driehaus College of Business at DePaul University with a Bachelor of Science in Accountancy and Marketing. She is a Certified Public Accountant and is a member of the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants as well as the Illinois CPA Society. She began her public accounting career straight out of college with Tighe, Kress & Orr, P.C. and has gradually moved up within the firm over the years. When not at the office, Sandra enjoys spending time and making memories with her family and friends, traveling and working on her never-ending home renovations.

Job Titles:

• Audit Manager
• Member of the Leadership Team
• MAS

Sharon is an Audit Manager with over 4 years of public accounting experience. She specializes in providing assurance services for privately held middle market companies and not-for-profit entities. She has experience planning and supervising audits, reviews, compilations, and agreed upon procedures. Sharon was awarded the AICPA's Elijah Watt Sells award in 2018, which was achieved by passing all four sections of the CPA exam within one year, on the first attempt, with a cumulative average score above 95.5. Sharon received her Bachelor of Science in Accountancy and Master of Accounting Science degrees from Northern Illinois University. She is a Certified Public Accountant and is a member of the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants, and the Illinois CPA Society. When Sharon is not at work she enjoys gardening, spending time outdoors, and reading. She also likes traveling and spending time with her husband, Jimmy, and their son Benjamin.

Job Titles:

• Member of the Leadership Team
• Principal

Steve is a Principal with over 15 years of public accounting experience. He specializes in providing assurance, tax, and consulting services for privately held middle market companies, not-for-profit entities, as well as employee benefit plans.

Job Titles:

• Member of the Leadership Team
• Principal
• MAS

Tim is a Principal with over 12 years of income tax compliance and consulting experience. He specializes in individual and pass-through entity taxation with experience in the real estate and private equity investment industries, including family-owned and operated business enterprises, privately-owned pass-through entities, real estate investment trusts, and international ventures. He has been involved with multifarious tax issues among various filings, including: partnership, S-Corporation, C-Corporation, trust, estate, and individual tax returns. Prior to joining Tighe Kress & Orr, Tim was a Manager in the tax practice at True Partners Consulting, LLC and a Senior Associate in the tax practice at KPMG, LLP. Tim's accomplishments include planning and structuring entities to maximize tax savings, as well as working directly with his clients and their financial advisors to collaborate on tax-favorable life and retirement planning. He helped secure refunds in excess of $250,000 for one of his clients by identifying a unitary filing position among a parent and subsidiary corporations and amending three years of state tax returns. He has also worked on behalf of his clients in several "No Change" IRS and state audits and has acted as a liaison between his clients and taxing jurisdictions where he has been successful on several occasions at reducing or eliminating penalties. Open communication with clients and prompt responses to inquiries are the core services Tim strives to provide. He listens to his clients to really find out their needs, and then breaks down each issue individually to ensure his clients fully understand. Whether it's structuring a business, preparing for a sale, or planning for retirement, Tim works with his clients to maximize tax savings while providing outstanding customer service. Tim received his Bachelor of Science in Accountancy and Master of Science in Accountancy degrees from Northern Illinois University. He is a Certified Public Accountant and is a member of the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants and the Illinois CPA Society. Outside of work, Tim officiates high school football and serves as the treasurer for Inter-Athletic Council of Officials (IACO), which strives to improve and develop high school sports officiating in Illinois. At his current church, Tim serves as the Vice Chair of the Board of Administration, teaches Sunday school, and sings in the choir. At his former church, Tim served as treasurer and led a committee in charge of financial oversight of all functions of the church, working together with the bookkeeper in setting budgets, handled day-to-day financial issues, and assisted whenever was needed with any business-related matter. He also enjoys playing golf and spending time with his wife Candy and daughters Madyson, Emily and Abigail. Tim is a Principal with over 16 years of income tax compliance and consulting experience. He specializes in individual and pass-through entity taxation with experience in the real estate and private equity investment industries, including family-owned and operated business enterprises, privately-owned pass-through entities, real estate investment trusts, and international ventures.

Job Titles:

• Member of the Leadership Team
• Tax Director at Tighe

Vicki is a Tax Director at Tighe, Kress & Orr, P.C. with over 20 years of experience serving clients in a variety of industries including manufacturing, distribution, trucking, construction, service and not-for-profit. Her experience includes advising business and individual clients on a broad range of tax and business matters including strategic and complex tax planning, multi-state taxation, state and local taxation, and tax credits and incentives. Vicki provides specialized tax and accounting services to closely held businesses and their owners, high net worth individuals, as well as start up businesses, charities and private family foundations. Vicki's knowledge in tax strategies was developed through the many real life situations that she encountered during her career. As her experience increased, she played a leading role as the primary relationship manager on larger accounts with revenues ranging from $25 million to $650 million and with operations in numerous states and localities. To date, a few of Vicki's major accomplishments include filing an income tax or sales tax return in every state in the union and in five other countries, helping a client defer over $750,000 in revenues by filing for a change in accounting method, and assisting numerous clients with obtaining four and five-figure refunds on returns previously filed by others through identifying preferential tax strategies. Prior to joining the team at Tighe, Kress & Orr, P.C., Vicki was a Tax Manager at Borhart Spellmeyer & Company, LLC. During that time, she gained experience serving a wide variety of clients ranging from high net-worth individuals and trusts, to start-up companies and well-established multi-state companies with complex tax issues. Vicki's ability to understand your business and become a strategic partner, rather than a once a year duty, is what makes her valuable to you and your continued success. By taking on the role of trusted advisor, Vicki will assist in many aspects of your business, such as strategic planning, tax planning and succession planning. Vicki earned her Bachelor of Science in Accountancy and Management from Upper Iowa University. She is a Certified Public Accountant, a member of the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants and a member of the Illinois CPA Society. Vicki has lived in the Northwestern suburbs her whole life, and currently resides in Elgin with her husband Dan and numerous pets. Outside of the office, Vicki serves as treasurer on the board of a local non-profit theatre and enjoys taking her dogs to the river in the summer, hiking in the fall and patronizing as many museums and live theatre shows as she can.