VERTEX ACCOUNTING PARTNERS - Key Persons
David has worked in tax and compliance since 2014, has been a CPA since 2015, and a certified fraud examiner since 2018. His professional experience spans individual tax preparation and tax planning, transfer pricing documentation, and drafting responses to state and federal tax authorities.
His superpower, however, is his ability to relate to all kinds of clients. His years of experience in creative and business ventures, fueled by an almost bottomless curiosity, have given him first-hand experience far beyond the corporate walls. He's run a small business (designing and sewing custom handmade shirts); served creative clients (professional advertising and fashion photography); and worked in high-pressure production environments (cooking in Classical French and fine dining restaurants).
If he seems to have an uncanny understanding of your circumstances, it's probably because he's been there himself.
David lives in Elmwood Park with his wife and two children. His hobbies include cooking (French, Japanese, barbecue), and music-his record collection outweighs his piano, and both have been taking a backseat to his new drum kit.
Job Titles:
- Senior Accountant
- Vertex Accounting Partner
Gail Birt earned her Bachelor of Science Degree in Accountancy and MBA in Finance from DePaul University. When she joined De Sio, Franzen & Associates, Ltd in 2004 as a staff accountant, her focus was on preparing client financial statements. Gail has earned QuickBooks Pro Advisor certification by completing annual continuing education. She currently, also provides payroll processing and sale tax return preparation for our clients.
Gregory S. Adams, CPA, MST has over 40 years of experience in public accounting assisting clients in areas of business and personal tax planning.
Prior to joining Vertex Accounting Partners LLC, Greg was a senior tax partner with a national accounting firm, where he assisted closely held business clients in the areas of business formation and entity selection, deferred compensation plan design, reorganizations and representation before the IRS. Greg also has significant experience with individual tax matters including estate and gift taxation and intergenerational tax planning and structuring, as well as tax issues for non-profit organizations.
Greg has a bachelor's degree in Accounting from Bradley University and a Master's of Science in Taxation, with distinction from DePaul University. He is a member of the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants. Greg is also active in amateur ice hockey in Illinois, a member of the Illinois Hockey Officials Association and a USA Hockey certified official instructor.
Job Titles:
- Staff Accountant
- Vertex Accounting Partner
Jacob earned his Bachelor of Science degree in accounting and recently graduated from Bradley University. He is the most recent addition to Vertex Accounting Partners. His current focus is bookkeeping, preparing client financial statements, and payroll. He has a passion for personal taxes as well as business and is dedicated to understand the U.S. Tax Code to guide his clients to efficiently manage their finances.
In the time that Jacob has been at Vertex, he has shown that he is a devoted team player and is always offering to assist others.
Since Jacob recently graduated, he is eager to return to school and begin the process of acquiring his CPA license.
Job Titles:
- Office Manager
- Vertex Accounting Partner
Karyn Capparelli is an enthusiastic and innovative professional with extensive experience in office management. She joined Vertex Accounting Partners in 2018. She is passionate about making every client feel like family. Karyn is married and has three wonderful children and lives in nearby Yorkville, IL.
Job Titles:
- Senior Accountant
- Vertex Accounting Partner
Lenore Smart grew up in Long Island, New York. She attended State University of New York Albany, graduating Magna Cum Laude in 1974 with a double major in English and Political Science. She lived and worked in New York City and upstate New York before moving to the northwest suburbs of Chicago.
After spending some years in retail and becoming a stay-at-home Mom for five years after the birth of her son Dylan in 1983, she decided to go back to school to get a degree in accounting. Her first class was taught by Roger Puls, CPA, who invited her to work with him in March of 1988. As a single mom, she continued working with Roger, attended school at night and eventually earned enough credits in accounting to take the CPA exam. She became a CPA in 1992. Puls & Associates eventually moved from Lake Forest to Schaumburg, where she worked with Roger until he retired and sold the practice to Christopher Beaulieu in December 2018.
While working with Roger, Lenore learned to work closely with high-end clients with complicated tax issues. She prepares tax returns for individuals, corporations, and partnerships. She also became a Quickbooks Pro Advisor, which allowed her to add bookkeeping, financials, sales tax preparation and payroll to her skill set.
She worked with Chris at Blue Money Strategy until his sudden death in January 2020. Shortly thereafter, Steven Franzen and Vertex Accounting Partners acquired Blue Money Strategy. Lenore takes pleasure working with some of the same clients for over 33 years. She also works as the accountant at her husband Danny's company, Smart Inc, which he started in 1978. Lenore, Danny, and their two mini dachshunds have lived in Elgin for the past 21 years.
Job Titles:
- Senior Accountant
- Vertex Accounting Partner
Michael R. Davidson, Enrolled Agent (EA) comes to Vertex Accounting Partners after 7 years of service with the Internal Revenue Service. Graduating from DeVry University (Phoenix Campus ) with his B.S. degree in accounting in October of 2007, Michael has gained extensive knowledge and experience over the last 12 years through customer and account services as the Business Manager of the Deer Valley YMCA (AZ), tax auditing as a Revenue Agent with the Small Business/Self Employed division of the IRS (AZ & IL), tax return preparation for all types of tax returns (Individual, Corporate, Partnership, Trust/Estates, etc) as a Senior Accountant with Vertex Accounting Partners, LLC.
Under the guidance of Steven P. Franzen, CPA, PFS & CGMA - Managing Partner, Michael has furthered his skills in the accounting areas of Bookkeeping, Payroll, Entity Design, Tax Planning, etc. Michael is also Vertex's primary authority on servicing clients with tax issues and matters with the IRS and state & local tax agencies. Using programs such as the 2019 Illinois Tax Amnesty Program (10/1/2019 to 11/15/2019) and the IRS Offer-In-Compromise program, clients seeking our assistance have benefitted from Vertex's understanding of successfully completing these programs and saving thousands on taxes, penalties and interest.
Michael resides in Warrenville, IL. And, welcome to the world his new son, Marek Davidson (7/12/2018) and looks forward to servicing you and your family or business needs for years to come!
Job Titles:
- Manager of Business Operations
Natalie Morris has more than 21 years of experience in the fields of customer service and management. She began her career as an Administrative Assistant in 2001 under the guidance of Roger Puls of Puls & Associates. Throughout Natalie's career she gained extensive experience in project management, office management, client servicing, and operations.
Christopher Beaulieu stepped into Roger's shoes when he retired at the end of 2018. Natalie continued to evolve and conquer new responsibilities eager to assist Chris with the growth of his company, Blue Money Strategy Inc. When Chris passed away in early 2020, Steven Franzen, and friend of Chris, welcomed Natalie to join Vertex Accounting Partners as Manager of Business Operations. She is dedicated to her clients and values the relationship that she has with them.
Natalie, her husband, dog and cat currently reside in Mundelein, IL. She enjoys painting, entertaining and the great outdoors on her free time and loves to escape down to Florida where she and her husband plan to retire.
Job Titles:
- Staff Accountant
- Vertex Accounting Partner
Job Titles:
- Senior Accountant
- Vertex Accounting Partner
Dick received his accounting degree from the University of Iowa in 1965 and is a 1967 Illinois CPA.
During his initial job interviews, it became clear that the one place he did not want to go was Chicago. The opportunity to join Arthur Andersen & Co. in Chicago changed his mind, and 50 some odd years later he is still in Chicago. As a tax manager in the Small Business Division of Andersen, he provided income tax and business advice to individuals and closely held companies, both large and small. That experience is what has led him to continue this approach to service throughout his career. One of Dick's largest clients was a member of one of Chicago's old-time wealthy families. It became apparent that this family should transition from Dick's "client" at Andersen to his employer. He became the General Manager handling the tax and financial affairs for the family. This included exposure to extensive oil and gas, real estate, and ranching investments, as well as continuing income tax services.
Dick's next position was as the chief financial and tax manager for a local entrepreneur, whose holdings were primarily in the transportation logistics area, along with substantial personal investments. As those investments became more valuable, they were sold to a large publicly owned company. This led to Dick's affiliation with Puls & Associates, a local CPA firm. That firm was sold to Blue Money Strategy, which has now become a part of Vertex Accounting Partners.
Dick has also served as the Treasurer and Board Member of Creativets, a 501(c)(3) charitable organization helping combat veterans deal with the hidden wounds of war, such as PTSD and Traumatic Brain Injury. Dick and his wife Donna, their two children and 3 granddaughters all reside in the greater Chicago area.