TAX SCHOOL - Key Persons
Bob Rhea, EA has been associated with the Tax School since 2005 as an instructor and as a reviewer for the University of Illinois Federal Tax Workboo k. Since 1984, he has assisted farmers with accounting, tax, and consulting services in west-central Illinois through the University of Illinois FBFM program, and was named CEO in June 2020. Bob completed 18 years as the national executive director for his professional organization, NAFBAS. He serves as trustee for John Wood Community College, was selected as the inaugural Distinguished Alumnus, and is a board member for United Community Bank. Bob received his bachelor's degree from Western IL University and Master's degree from the University of Illinois. Bob resides in Camp Point; family includes his wife, Debbie, 3 children, Tracy, Casey, and Ashley, their spouses, and 7 grandsons.
Job Titles:
- Member of the Technology & Marketing Management Team
- in 2021 As the Marketing and Web Specialist
- Marketing and Web Specialist
Brenda Williams joined Tax School in 2021 as the Marketing and Web Specialist after working 13 years as a Digital Engagement Manager for Farm Credit Illinois. She has a bachelor's degree in Broadcast Journalism from Western Illinois University and a master's degree in communication from Illinois State University. She enjoys photography, quilting, and camping. She is married and lives in Mahomet, Illinois.
Catherine Riddick has been associated with the Tax School since 2008 as an instructor and as an author and reviewer for the University of Illinois Federal Tax Workbook. She is a CPA and licensed attorney. She worked for one of the large CPA firms in the Chicago area for 10 years and has had her own CPA firm in LaGrange, Illinois, since 1994. Catherine received a bachelor's degree from Old Dominion University in Norfolk, Virginia and a law degree from Washington and Lee University in Lexington, Virginia.
Cathy Keltz joined the Tax School in July 2020 in the middle of the pandemic as the Account Officer. She graduated from Eastern Illinois University with a Bachelor of Science in Administrative Information Systems. She enjoys spending time with her family and friends, visiting wineries, and traveling. She is married and lives in Champaign.
Chris Korban joined Tax School in January 2023 as a Tax Materials Specialist. He became a CPA in 2013 and worked in public accounting for nine years prior to his employment with the University of Illinois. He earned both his BA in accounting and his master's in accountancy at the University of Illinois. He lives in Champaign.
Job Titles:
- Office Support Specialist
Gina Marsh has been Director of Tax School since 2021 after working for the program for seven years in a variety of roles. She has a bachelor's degree in communication from Truman State University and a master's degree in education from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign. She volunteers on the local Make-a-Wish Illinois Regional Council, comes from a family of farmers, and resides in rural Champaign County, IL with her husband, Aaron, and their honeybee hives.
Jerry Brune has been an instructor for the Tax School and has served as an author and reviewer for the annual University of Illinois Federal Tax Workbook since 1999. Jerry was employed as a revenue agent with the IRS for 31 years before retiring. Jerry has taught accounting and business taxation courses at Illinois Central College and the University of Illinois at Springfield, respectively. Jerry is an EA and CPA, and he currently practices in Bolingbrook. His alma mater is St. Joseph's College in Rensselaer, Indiana.
John Richmann joined Tax School in May 2021 as a Tax Materials Specialist. He became an enrolled agent in 2011 and owned a tax practice in St. Charles until autumn 2021. John earned a bachelor's degree from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology and an MBA from the University of Texas at Austin. He and his wife live in Champaign.
Keith Baum joined the Tax School in 2017 as an instructor and a reviewer for the University of Illinois Federal Tax Workbook. He graduated from the University of Illinois in Springfield in 2007 with a degree in accountancy, and after working for several firms, launched his own practice in 2014. His practice centers on tax preparation and taxpayer representation for individuals and small businesses. Keith is an enrolled agent (EA) and an NTPI Fellow. He is married and lives in his birthplace of Round Lake, Illinois.
Job Titles:
- Assistant Director, Tax Materials
Kelly Golish, CPA, has been employed with the Tax School since 2014 as an author/subject matter expert and currently serves as the managing editor/assistant director. She worked at various tax firms in San Jose, Cleveland, Decatur, and Danville prior to her employment with the University of Illinois. She earned both her BA in accounting and her master's in accountancy with an emphasis in taxation at the University of Notre Dame. She is married with five children.
Rich Walden has served as chapter author and reviewer for the University of Illinois Federal Tax Workbook, and has been an instructor with the Fall Tax School since 1982. A graduate of Blackburn College, Rich was employed by the IRS as a revenue agent for 6.5 years. He is a certified public accountant (CPA) with a private practice in Carlinville, Illinois, and serves in various board member roles for several banks, a software company, and a community hospital.
Sam Phillips is a native of southern Illinois and a graduate of Southern Illinois University in Carbondale. Sam has been affiliated with the Tax School as an instructor and reviewer for the University of Illinois Federal Tax Workbook since 2007. He is a CPA and has been in public accounting since 1988. Sam worked for two CPA firms in Southern Illinois and now owns his practice with locations in Salem and Breese. His special interests are in the areas of small business and agricultural taxation. Sam is married and resides in Salem, Illinois.
Job Titles:
- Architect
- Member of the Technology & Marketing Management Team
- Software Engineer
Sue Voth has been affiliated with the Tax School as an instructor since 2002. Sue has been a national presenter for National Association of Tax Professionals (NATP) seminars and has served as an author and reviewer for the University of Illinois Federal Tax Workbook since 2002. Sue is an enrolled agent (EA) and owns a tax practice in Quincy and Maryville, Illinois.