AGP - Key Persons
Amy Smith, CPA, is a Manager in the Tax department. She specializes in Tax / International Tax and is located in the Akron office. She is a member of the Ohio Society of Certified Public Accountants and American Institute of Certified Public Accountants. Amy helps identify changes to a business when the client may not have recognized the change on their own. Amy helps businesses take advantage of tax savings and prevent possible noncompliance issues. She is a graduate of The University of Toledo with a Bachelor of Business Administration in Accounting.
Andrew Estock is an associate in the Tax department. He specializes in tax and international tax, and is located in the Beachwood office. He holds a Bachelor of Science in Accounting and a Master of Science in Taxation from The University of Akron.
Job Titles:
- Senior Associate
- Supervisor
Andrew Neal is a Senior Associate in the Tax department. He specializes in Tax / International Tax and is located in the Akron office.
Job Titles:
- Associate
- Senior Associate
- Senior Associate / Industry
Andrew Tucker is an Associate in the Tax department. He specializes in Tax / International Tax and is located in the Akron office.
Job Titles:
- Manager
- Manager / Industry
Ann Miller, CPA, is a Manager in the Tax department. She specializes in Tax / International Tax and is located in the Akron office. Ann graduated from Dyke College with a Bachelor of Science in Accounting. She is a member of the AICPA and OSCPA. Ann looks at tax issues from all angles, doing the research to see what else might be involved, and the long term ramifications of making a business decision.
Bethany Lawrence is a Manager in the Business Valuation & Litigation department. She specializes in Litigation Services and is located in the Akron office. Bethany is a member of the American Society of Appraisers (ASA). Bethany is former Treasurer & current Board Member of International Soap Box Derby. She earned a Bachelor of Science in Business Administration in Finance from Ashland University.
Robert (Bob) Fisher, CPA, CGMA, is a Principal in the Tax department and managing partner of our Akron office. He specializes in tax planning and preparation, succession planning and business advisory services for privately held companies. Bob holds a Bachelor of Administration/Accounting from the University of Akron and is a member of the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants, Ohio Society of Certified Public Accountants and Chartered Global Management Accountants. Bob is the past chairman of the board for St. John Villa, an independent living community for those who are developmentally disabled. Bob has also served as a board member for the Kent Area Chamber of Commerce. Bob is a member of our firm's executive committee, the guiding leaders of the firm and is currently the finance chair.
Job Titles:
- Principal
- Principal / Industry
Brandon Fredericks, CPA, leads the Advisory practice for Apple Growth Partners. Brandon and the rest of the team believe that every organization deserves Healthy Growth. He partners with clients to help them imagine the possibilities, innovate solutions, and transform their business to reach their greatest potential. With over a decade of experience in public accounting and business, Brandon works alongside clients to expand their teams and help them achieve goals. Brandon has collaborated and executed with clients on delivering financial results, preparing/executing M&A activities, and helping to evaluate their overall strategic position as they ready their teams and businesses for growth. As an advocate for young professionals and the industry at large, Brandon serves as Chairperson of the Accounting Advisory Board of Baldwin Wallace University, and is a member of the Leadership Council of Engage!Cleveland. He is also actively involved in the Association for Corporate Growth in Cleveland. Brandon holds a Bachelor of Arts in Accounting & Finance and a Master of Business Administration in Accounting from Baldwin Wallace University.
Job Titles:
- Senior Manager
- Senior Manager / Service
Brian Morgan, CPA is a senior manager in the audit and assurance department with more than 17 years of experience in accounting, auditing, and consulting services for clients across Northeastern Ohio. Brian assist with the identification of deficiencies in internal controls and provide best practices to develop controls to address deficiencies. He holds a Bachelor of Business Administration/Accounting degree from Cleveland State University. He's a member of the Ohio Society of Certified Public Accountants and American Institute of Certified Public Accountants and is located in the Beachwood office.
What does "leadership" mean to you? Leadership to me is about moving the organization and its people forward every single day, no matter the circumstances, and doing it ethically, and being flexible and open-minded in approach. Ever forward.
What does it mean for you to be part of the OC leadership team, and how do you all work together? We have fun, we despise consensus, we welcome debate, and we make our decisions promptly.
What is the most rewarding part of being a leader? Seeing an employee, or a client, realize a dream or major life goal, because of our organization.
How do you practice leadership in your daily life? I keep my mind open to just about everything, and I cherish dissension. The solution route to most problems doesn't look like a straight line, but rather, a prism.
Job Titles:
- Senior Manager
- Senior Manager / Industry
Chris Klaiber, CPA, MBA, COS, is a Senior Manager in the Audit department. She specializes in Audit & Assurance and is located in the Akron office. Chris has 25 years of experience as an auditor specializing in the real estate industry. Over the course of her career Chris has been able to help clients implement complex accounting and compliance requirements and provide assistance on a variety of issues. Chris has a Bachelor of Science in Business Administration and a Master of Business Administration in Accounting from Bowling Green State University. She is a member of American Institute of Certified Public Accountants and Ohio Society of Certified Public Accountants.
Clariss is an associate in our Audit & Assurance department. Clariss holds a Bachelors in Accounting/Finance from Miami University.
Job Titles:
- Macc, AICPA Advanced Defined Contribution Certificate
Job Titles:
- CGMA, Certified QuickBooks ProAdvisor
Job Titles:
- Assistant Director of Finance
Debbie Dodge is in the Tax department. She is located in the Akron office.
Job Titles:
- Principal, National Restaurant Practice Lead
Job Titles:
- Chief Operating Officer
- President
Erica Ishida, MPOD, joined Apple Growth Partners in 2020, having previously partnered with the firm as an external executive coach and leadership consultant. In less than a year, Ishida has transformed the firm's culture by focusing efforts on people and processes. Still navigating the ongoing pandemic impacts, Ishida collaborated with the firm's leadership team to develop a hybrid/remote work strategy for employees post-Covid-19. Ishida also established the groundwork for the essential foundation required for growth, including identifying policies and procedures, chartering a change management program, and founding accountability models for employees. As a certified leadership development coach, Ishida's experience includes people development, sales growth, cultural transformations, and individual and organizational growth. Through her consulting business, Coconino Partners, and positions as a C-level executive for Northeastern Ohio companies, she has helped companies and individuals achieve intentional development by focusing on leadership, culture, value creation, and change management, ultimately leading to revenue growth.
Job Titles:
- Associate
- Senior Associate
- Senior Associate / Industry
Hayley Browning, CPA, is an Associate in the Tax department. She specializes in Tax / International Tax and is located in the Akron office. She is a member of the Ohio Society of CPAs.
Job Titles:
- Senior Associate
- Senior Associate / Service
Ian Mansfield is a Senior Associate in the Audit department. He specializes in Audit & Assurance and is located in the Akron office.
Job Titles:
- Controller
- Senior Director of Finance
Janet Williams is a Controller in the Operations department. She is located in the Akron office.
Job Titles:
- Associate
- Senior Associate
Jayne Anderson is an Associate in the Tax department. She specializes in Tax / International Tax and is located in the Akron office. Jayne has worked in the accounting field for more than 25 years with all types of clients and sizes of companies. She listens to her clients needs and uses her knowledge to find a good fit for their specific needs. Jayne is a graduate of The University of Akron.
Job Titles:
- Principal
- CGMA
- Principal / Industry
Jeff Brooks, CPA, CGMA, is a Principal in the Tax department. He specializes in Tax / International Tax and is located in the Akron office. Jeff leads the firm's car wash focus and manufacturing niche and specializes in tax services for closely held businesses in those industries. As an advisor, he consults with corporate entities and business owners to maximize after tax financial positions by utilizing strategic planning and appropriate tax credit, deduction and deferral opportunities. Jeff serves on the Akron Tax Club Board, the Cascade Capital Loan Review Committee, and the Ohio University School of Accountancy Advisory Council, in addition to other business and civic activities. He is a member of the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants and the Ohio Society of Certified Public Accountants, where he also serves on the PAC Board of Trustees.
Jennifer Strobl is a Paraprofessional in the Finance department. She is located in the Akron office.
John Valle, CPA is a Principal in the Tax Department based out of our Akron office. John provides tax, accounting and advisory services to closely held companies and individuals. John's expertise with privately held companies consists of financial reporting, tax planning and minimization strategies, strategic planning on mergers and acquisitions, succession planning, business operations and long term strategies. John is a leader in AGP's construction and real estate niche and serves a number of closely held businesses in the real estate/construction, manufacturing/distribution, professional services and transportation industries. John holds a Bachelor of Science, Accounting and Master of Taxation from the University of Akron. He is a member of the Ohio Society of Certified Public Accountants and the American Institute of Public Accountants.
Job Titles:
- Associate
- Senior Associate
- Senior Associate / Service
Justin Johnson is an Associate in the Audit department. He specializes in Audit & Assurance and is located in the Akron office.
Job Titles:
- Specialist, Accounts Receivable
Lisa Morris is a Specialist focusing on Accounts Receivable in the Finance department. She is located in the Akron office.
Matthew Silla, ASA, CFA, is a Principal in the Business Valuation department. As an Accredited Senior Appraiser, Matt has been responsible for the development of several hundreds of business valuation engagements for a variety of businesses and ownership interests covering various industries. Matt has nearly 20 years of professional experience and has focused exclusively on valuation services since 2004. Matt is a member of The ESOP Association and the Ohio Employee Ownership Center. He is a frequent speaker on business valuation and ESOP topics. Matt is located in the Beachwood office.
Michele Burke, Notary Public, is in the Operations department. She is located in the Beachwood office.
Job Titles:
- Senior Associate
- Senior Associate / Industry
Morgan McLaughlin, MSA, is an Senior Associate in the Tax department. She specializes in Tax / International Tax and is located in the Beachwood office.
Job Titles:
- Managing Principal
- Principal
Job Titles:
- Macc, AICPA Advanced Defined Contribution Certificate