AYOTTEDECKER - Key Persons
Job Titles:
- Member of the Ayotte Decker Team
- Tax Associate
Bianca is the newest member of Ayotte Decker's tax department. She has more than 5 years of accounting, and taxation experience. She has extensive tax experience with small-to-medium businesses, individuals (including high net worth), trusts, and non-profit organizations.
Bianca graduated from Northern Illinois University obtaining a Bachelor of Science degree in Accounting and a Masters of Accounting Science. Bianca is currently working to complete the requirements necessary to receive her Certified Public Accountant (CPA) designation.
When she is not working, Bianca loves spending time with her husband and two children. She also enjoys traveling, playing volleyball, and attending her children's sporting events.
Job Titles:
- Member of the Ayotte Decker Team
- Senior Tax Manager
Daniel recently joined Ayotte Decker as a Senior Tax Manager. He has over 10 years of experience in public accounting working closely with businesses ranging from small to large. He is a highly experienced tax preparer who has worked with clients in many industries including construction, real estate, manufacturing, and professional services.
Daniel is a graduate of Elmhurst College (now known as Elmhurst University), where he earned his Bachelor of Science degree in Accounting and is now a licensed Certified Public Accountant (CPA).
While not working, in his free time, he enjoys spending time with his wife Lizz, daughter Charlotte, and their dog, Misky. Daniel plays volleyball and baseball and is a lifetime fan of the Chicago White Sox.
Job Titles:
- Member of the Ayotte Decker Team
- Partner
- Partner, Audit and Assurance
- Vice President and past President of the Fox Valley Chapter of the Illinois CPA Society
Gary P. Steeno is a partner at Ayotte Decker and has more than 25 years of experience serving small-and-medium-sized businesses with their auditing, accounting, and tax needs. He is the quality control and assurance partner for the firm and holds primary responsibility for Ayotte Decker's audit quality.
Gary has extensive experience auditing employee benefit, nonprofit, as well as corporate financial statements in the distribution-broker, construction, and banking industries. He has performed review, compilation, and tax planning services for clients in the entertainment, travel, professional services, insurance, landscaping, real estate, retail, and medical services industries. He provides tax planning and preparation services for small and medium size businesses and 1040 preparation, as well as various advisory services based on client needs. As with all Ayotte Decker team members, Gary prides himself on providing that extra personal service and drive to get the job done right and on time.
Gary has been with Ayotte Decker since 2009, and prior to Ayotte Decker was a manager or senior for small and medium sized CPA firms in the Chicago area. He is a graduate of the University of Wisconsin Green Bay in managerial accounting.
Currently, a member of the AICPA and Illinois CPA societies, Gary serves as the current Vice President and past President of the Fox Valley Chapter of the Illinois CPA Society. He is also a member of the AICPA nonprofit and tax sections.
Gary enjoys traveling with family, golf, running, and that team "Up North."
Job Titles:
- Managing Partner
- Member of the Ayotte Decker Team
John Ayotte founded Ayotte Decker, LLC in 1991, and currently serves as managing partner. In his role as a client advisor and as the leader of AyotteDecker, John's goal is to help everyone around him succeed. Success can be defined in many ways, and John encourages those he works with to define what is important to them and what they want to achieve, helping them through each step of the process.
John has substantial experience with closely held business, complex estate and trust planning, business sales and purchases, and succession planning. He has helped clients selling their businesses find buyers and negotiate sales, and has helped clients purchasing businesses with the search and due diligence process.
John has been known to call clients to discuss and brainstorm without a pre-formed agenda to see what he could do to help them. He knows his clients, and his clients know him. With such personal relationships in place, John feels best equipped to help his clients reach their goals.
A Certified Public Accountant (CPA), John holds a Masters of Science in Taxation from DePaul University in Chicago, and has over 30 years of experience working in the tax and accounting field.
John and his wife Teri have three adult children. His son, Scott, recently joined AyotteDecker as an accounting associate. For years, John has played competitive and recreational tennis and is an avid bicyclist.
Job Titles:
- Partner, Audit and Assurance
Kimberlie has been in public accounting since 1998 and joined Ayotte Decker at the beginning of 2010. She has extensive audit experience in various industries including manufacturing, distribution, professional services, financial institutions, and employee benefit plans. While she specializes in audit, review, and compilation services, Kimberlie also provides tax services and agreed upon procedures for various industry and entity types.
Before joining the firm, she worked as an audit manager of a national firm for four years, and prior to that at a local firm for over six years. Kimberlie graduated with a Bachelor of Science in Accounting from Robert Morris University in 1997. She is a certified public accountant licensed in Illinois since 1998 and a member of the IL CPA Society.
In her spare time, Kimberlie loves to spend time with her daughter and family. She is also involved in programs and fundraising with a non-profit organization supporting individuals with special needs.
Job Titles:
- Member of the Ayotte Decker Team
- Partner, Audit & Assurance
Job Titles:
- Member of the Ayotte Decker Team
- Senior Tax Accountant
Laura Strain has been in the accounting profession for over 30 years. She received a Bachelor of Business Administration from Hope College, Holland, MI. Laura joined Ayotte Decker LLC in 2006 on a part-time basis, which allowed her the flexibility to spend time carpooling her daughters to their activities.
Laura prepares many tax returns with a focus on individual returns. She also assists with small corporate returns, e-filing tax returns, and any special projects that arise. She is proficient in QuickBooks.
Outside the office, Laura enjoys spending time with family and friends. She also loves traveling, gardening, cheering for the Cubs and Blackhawks, and reading.
Job Titles:
- Accountant
- Member of the Ayotte Decker Team
Job Titles:
- Member of the Ayotte Decker Team
- Partner Tax
Scott Ayotte joined Ayotte Decker in 2011 after spending several years as a financial analyst and accountant for a Fortune 500 manufacturing firm. He specializes in working with small businesses and individuals, constantly integrating accounting with modern technology to make his clients' lives easier.
Scott received his Master's Degree in Accounting and his Bachelor's Degree in Economics and is Ayotte Decker's technology guru. His technical background allows him to keep the firm on the cutting edge of the modern era's advancements and use innovation consistently throughout our service offerings.
An avid outdoorsman, Scott enjoys waterskiing, snow skiing, cycling and other activities that keep him active. He is a lifelong Chicago Cubs and Chicago Blackhawks fan.
Job Titles:
- Audit Manager
- Member of the Ayotte Decker Team
- Tax Associate
Stephanie joined Ayotte Decker's audit and assurance department in 2021. She has been in public accounting since 2006, and she has extensive audit experience in various industries, specifically labor unions, employee benefit funds, and other tax-exempt entities.
Stephanie graduated from Illinois State University with a Bachelor of Science/Master of Professional Accountancy. She is a certified public accountant in Illinois and is a member of the Illinois CPA Society and the AICPA.
Stephanie has three children, and when she is not working, she loves spending time with family and friends, attending her children's events, and running.