Experienced Consultants
We have consultants in finance and accounting, audit, and business-to-systems support. Our finance and accounting team provides business advisory, CFO, Controller, staff augmentation, and staff development and training services to clients across a wide spectrum of industries. We spend significant time working with companies going through change and transition.
Our systems team is adept at serving clients in roles ensuring applications are operating in alignment with the overall business strategy. Our Consultants are well-versed in IT systems and support finance and IT departments with project strategy and execution, custom report design and process assistance.
Our extensive experience in serving as the functional business lead during new system implementations, paired with our collective experience as CFOs, controllers, and consultants with multiple publicly traded companies, gives Lake Michigan Partners the edge you need.
Chris Cutrara
Chris has more than fifteen years of experience as a consultant and auditor with big four and regional CPA firm experience. Chris specializes in assisting clients to improve their finance and overall back office and infrastructure. Within his most recent CFO role, Chris focused on improving working capital management and financial and operational reporting and results. Chris has significant change consulting and implementation experience. Working extensively with companies going through organizational change, Chris is a natural leader, possessing strong communication skills. Most of his career has focused on finance transformation, process improvement, and internal control engagements.
Chris managed and executed business processes and internal control engagements for multiple clients. He has assisted clients in aligning their business processes with overall corporate strategy. This included the development and/or redesign of business processes, which were efficient, effective, and in compliance with the applicable laws and regulations. More recently, Chris has gained significant experience specializing in interim CFO and Controller roles, finance transformation, acquisition integration, and assisting clients through change.
Chris earned his Masters of Business Administration from the University of Notre Dame. He received his Bachelor of Science degree in Accounting from the University of Dayton and is a member of the AICPA. Chris is active as a volunteer and Board Member of the Franciscan Outreach Homeless Shelter and Soup Kitchen.
Megan Uhles, CPA
Megan has worked in accounting and finance for over eighteen years in various roles including CFO, controller, consultant, and big four auditor. She has extensive experience in developing and implementing accounting systems, policies, and procedures; preparing for and coordinating audits; budgeting and forecasting; leading and mentoring teams; enhancing cross-departmental relationships; and communicating with board members. Megan delights in using her skills and expertise to build strong accounting functions that assist organizations to make strategic, data-driven decisions.
EDUCATION AND ASSOCIATIONS
Megan earned a Bachelor of Science degree in Accounting, with a Spanish minor, from the University of Illinois Urbana Champaign and is a member of the AICPA.
Amanda Schilling
Amanda has over 10 years of experience working with organizations of various sizes. She specializes in process improvement, data analysis, and new systems implementation. Her experience includes audit, tax, bookkeeping, payroll, and operations. She is passionate about strong, realistic budgets and real-time financial decision-making to help your business perform at its smartest and very best. Prior to joining the Lake Michigan Partners, Amanda served as the Controller of a west-coast marketing agency.
EDUCATION AND ASSOCIATIONS
Amanda earned a Bachelor of Science degree in Accounting from Iowa State University.
Stephen Piwnicki, CPA
Steve is an accounting and financial executive who fully understands the importance of finance/ accounting processes and related opportunities to improve. Extensive experience includes audit readiness, acquisition integration, merger and acquisition financial due diligence, and overall interim accounting support (CFO/Controller). Additionally, Steve has over twelve years of external audit experience at a middle-market CPA firm.
Steve has served as an interim CFO/Controller for a $40M middle market company. Successfully led the company through the opening balance sheet and first-year audit. Created financial and operational metrics and a thirteen-week forecast. Successfully transitioned role to a new CFO.
Steve supported a $200M private equity-owned middle-marked company. Created a monthly reporting package and board report. Successfully led the company through an audit and continues to support the client with monthly board and financial reporting, account reconciliation, and process improvement.
Various accounting and finance support for private equity portfolio companies. Additionally, Steve is the firm data analytics specialist primarily using power BI.
Steve currently supporting a venture capital-funded start-up as the interim CFO.