(248) 357-9000Southfield, MI
What do Skittles, Rubik’s Cube, Fondue, and MRPR all have in common? We’re all 50 years young!
At MRPR, we’re celebrating our 50th anniversary as a company all year long.
Our team is the backbone of our success, each member bringing unique skills and passion to the table. Their shared experiences and aspirations not only shape our present, but pave the way for a brighter, more innovative future for our firm. We sat down with our team members at varying stages of their career to talk about why they joined, their favorite workplace memories, and where they see the firm going in the future.
It’s the people behind the scenes that make our firm not just a workplace, but a community.
Keep reading to meet some of our team members and to glean a sense of past, present, and future.
Erica Braun, CPA
Q: Describe what your role at MRPR looks like, including any expertise, etc.
I am a Principal member and mainly work with audit and attest clients. My industry experiences include insurance, manufacturing, restaurants, and employee benefit plans.
Q: What about MRPR motivated you to join the company, and when did you join?
I joined the company in January of 2004. One of my professors recommended I interview at MRPR as I was unsure if I wanted to go down the A&A or tax path. Since MRPR allows all staff to try everything before deciding which path they want to take, I felt like this was a perfect fit for me. And it was, I am still here after 20 years.
Q: Can you share a memorable moment or achievement during your time with the company?
Back when we used to come to the office on Saturdays we used to take a break before lunch and play minute-to-win-it games. The one memory that stands out is when we played human tic tac toe. There was so much laughing, bonding, and of course competition. This made working the long hours during January-April worth it. This game still gets brought up at company events!
Q: What strategies do you think the firm should adopt to stay ahead in the rapidly evolving business landscape?
MRPR needs to be open to try new ideas in evolving the business. It’s ok to try something new and fail, this is the only way to learn. We learn from trial and error and look to improve what was implemented.
Meagan Cooke, CPA, MST
Q: Describe what your role at MRPR looks like, including any expertise, etc.
As a Senior Tax Manager, my primary focus is on identifying and implementing tax-saving opportunities while proactively addressing potential tax pitfalls. I am also a member of the tax leadership team and participate in the firm’s campus recruiting efforts.
Q: What do you enjoy most about working here?
What I enjoy most about working at MRPR is the firm’s genuine open-door policy. While many firms claim to have this, MRPR truly embodies it. I always feel supported, knowing that the entire firm is on my team and ready to assist with client engagements.
Q: What are the key areas where you believe the firm should focus its efforts in the next 10 years?
MRPR has been a front-runner in our market when it comes to technological advancements. We’ve positioned ourselves as a remote-capable firm and continuously evaluate new technologies to ensure our staff can perform at the highest level. Looking ahead to the next 10 years, I believe the landscape for mid-sized accounting firms will change rapidly with the emergence of technologies like Generative AI. We should remain open to adopting solutions that enhance our environment and expand our service offerings.
Q: Can you share a memorable moment or achievement during your time with the company?
An instance that is particularly memorable was a client engagement with a not-for-profit organization where I leveraged my experience in the industry and conducted significant tax research to save the client over $240,000 in unrelated business income tax. The client was thrilled with the outcome, and it was gratifying to see the funds reinvested into an organization serving the community.
Patrick Costyk, CPA
Q: Describe what your role at MRPR looks like, including any expertise, etc.
I am an Audit Manager with 8+ years of experience in Multifamily Housing and Commercial Real Estate.
Q: What about MRPR motivated you to join the company, and when did you join?
The people here were looking for growth of their employees, not just the growth of the firm.
Q: How do you see your role evolving?
Continue my growth as a manager and help team members grow in their professional careers.
Q: What do you enjoy most about working here?
The flexibility, the changes the company is willing to adapt to, and the people.
Amber Cummins
Q: Describe what your role at MRPR looks like, including any expertise, etc.
I am a Staff Accountant with a bachelors in accounting. I have passed the CPA exam, and I am currently working on my MST. I’m newer to the industry and the team and focused on learning the field and understanding our clients’ needs.
Q: What about MRPR motivated you to join the company, and when did you join?
Everyone I spoke to was very kind and personable.
Q: What do you enjoy most about working here?
I’ve had the opportunity to work on different engagements across various industries. I’ve been able to learn different skills while I decide what I’d like my career path to look like. There is also a lot of flexibility in my schedule which allows a good work life balance.
Q: What strategies do you think the firm should adopt to stay ahead in the rapidly evolving business landscape?
I think MRPR is on the right path focusing on client relationships while still providing the expertise needed.
Steven Everson, CPA, MST
Q: Describe what your role at MRPR looks like, including any expertise, etc.
As Equity Principal and Visionary, I am focused on technology and startups, engineering and manufacturing niches. I am a member of the executive committee, tax team, WMU campus recruiting team, experienced recruiting team, and the R&D tax credit team.
Q: What about MRPR motivated you to join the company, and when did you join?
Our people and feel of the firm during the interview process, our Managing Partner at the time, Mark Rottermond, was entrepreneurial and supportive of growing in the Ann Arbor market. During the interview process Mark organized a dinner with members of the firm, myself, and my wife. It was a nice gesture and a very comfortable dinner – it’s all about the people!
Q: What do you enjoy most about working here?
Tough one, but has to be our people. Having been here for ~12 years and seeing the growth of individuals and families over time is pretty cool. I believe we have a special firm…and it’s because of our people.
Q: What are the key areas where you believe the firm should focus its efforts in the next 10 years?
Growth and development of our team, growing our footprint to west Michigan, becoming the business advisory firm of choice to closely held, entrepreneurial companies.
Joe Holloway
Q: Describe what your role at MRPR looks like, including any expertise, etc.
As a Staff Accountant I have worked in many different areas during my two years of service at MRPR including completing audits, reconciling bank accounts in QuickBooks Online, and working on many tax returns. I am a Certified QuickBooks ProAdvisor and am currently preparing to take my first CPA exam.
Q: What about MRPR motivated you to join the company, and when did you join?
My senior year at Western Michigan University, I went to the accounting career fair event on campus and was looking to join a firm that would allow me to have an all-around experience in accounting and a company that would allow me to grow in my career and learn as I work. After talking to the representatives who were at the event for MRPR, I knew it was a firm I wanted to join.
Q: What are the key areas where you believe the firm should focus its efforts in the next 10 years?
I think recruiting is a key area for the firm to focus. The team is focused on bringing in experienced hires and also more interns from local universities for busy seasons. Wealth management and business advisory is becoming a larger area within the firm, as well and should continue to expand over the next few years.
Q: What do you enjoy most about working here?
The thing I enjoy the most about MRPR are the people that I work with. I feel that I have been able to create strong work relationships with my colleagues and we are always willing to help each other whenever needed, no questions asked. There is a strong work culture at MRPR.
Chanelle Owens, CPA
Q: Describe what your role at MRPR looks like, including any expertise, etc.
I am a Senior Accountant and QuickBooks ProAdvisor. I predominately work with small business clients and clients in the real estate and construction industries.
Q: What about MRPR motivated you to join the company, and when did you join?
I changed careers after 24 years in the mortgage industry and had a hard time finding a good fit in public accounting. Unexpectedly, MRPR reached out to me for a quick chat and after interviewing with the team I found the culture was a perfect fit for me.
Q: What do you enjoy most about working here?
I enjoy the culture, the way we invest in relationships both internally and externally and the way we collaborate as a team.
Q: What strategies do you think the firm should adopt to stay ahead in the rapidly evolving business landscape?
Leveraging automation for ourselves and our clients.
Zach Thompson, CPA
Q: Describe what your role at MRPR looks like, including any expertise, etc.
I am a Senior Accountant, generalist, involved with staff training. I am a QuickBooks ProAdvisor and I work directly with clients.
Q: What about MRPR motivated you to join the company, and when did you join?
I joined in August of 2022, motivated by the big firm opportunities in a smaller firm atmosphere. Many of the employees have had a long career with MRPR and that was a positive motivator.
Q: What do you enjoy most about working here?
The variety of work I get, the ability to work in team atmospheres and build relationships with nearly everybody in the firm. There isn’t a face I don’t recognize. Company events are fun and it’s nice to hang out with coworkers in an informal setting.
Q: Is there anything else you would like to share about your experiences or insights working here?
Every day is different and provides a new opportunity. It keeps you on your toes and there are plenty of opportunities to go “above and beyond” and expand your role within the firm.
Angie Williams, CPA
Q: Describe what your role at MRPR looks like, including any expertise, etc.
I am a Principal with expertise in the construction niche. I have 20+ years of experience in the industry.
Q: What about MRPR motivated you to join the company, and when did you join?
I joined MRPR in October 2017. I felt a connection to the warmth and openness of the people I met at the firm when I first started speaking with MRPR. I was excited about the team approach to servicing clients and the growth opportunities offered.
Q: What are the key areas where you believe the firm should focus its efforts in the next 10 years?
A continued focus on its people and development and training so we can service clients proactively and efficiently.
Q: What strategies do you think the firm should adopt to stay ahead in the rapidly evolving business landscape?
Continue to make strategic partnerships to help in growth of business and talent, embrace change, leverage technology, and continue to invest in talent.
Cheers to 50 Years!
In 1974, disco music was on the rise, Muhammad Ali faced George Foreman in a legendary boxing match, and The Godfather Part II captivated audiences.
Meanwhile, Jim Mathews and Ron Nightingale embarked on a mission to create a tax and consulting firm focused on helping people. MRPR is proud to be celebrating 50 years as a public accounting firm, and we couldn’t do it without our team members and clients.
We continue to be dedicated to helping our clients achieve success, navigating industry changes, and putting people first.