Liaison Lead
Chloe Benzer | chloe.benzer@crowe.com https://www.linkedin.com/in/chloe benzer b822b4107/
Chloe Benzer is a Loan Review Consultant with Crowe. Prior to moving to Crowe, she worked for a regional Michigan bank for three years. Chloe graduated from Aquinas with a degree in Business Admin. and recently completed her Masters in Economics through Purdue University. Chloe competed in ACG Cup 2016 in her junior year at Aquinas, placing second overall, and received a job opportunity via the competition. She serves as Co Chair on ACG’s Young Professionals board and also serves on the ACG West MI Board.
As General Manager of SnackWerks of Michigan LLC, Gunther has overall responsibility for the operations and growth of this contract manufacturer of snack foods. Gunther brings over 20 years of food processing experience to bear at SnackWerks, having held leadership positions in Sales, Marketing, R&D, Information Technology, Transportation and Logistics, and Customer Service at Interbake Foods, now a part of Hearthside Food Solutions, and Ideal Snacks, a contract manufacturer of compression popped snacks that is now a part of Pepsico.
Gunther has held Board of Director positions with the Food Processing Suppliers’ Association, and the Richmond, VA chapter of the Association for Corporate Growth. He chaired the ACG Cup committee in Richmond, and is looking forward to continuing his engagement with ACG and the Cup competition in western Michigan.
Education
A.B, University of Michigan MBA, The Darden School at the University of Virginia
Liaison Lead Gunther Brinkman | gunther@snackwerks.com https://www.linkedin.com/in/guntherbrinkman/ General Manager, SnackWerksHeather R. Edwards, MSHP https://www.linkedin.com/in/heatherredwards/
Heather Edwards supports ACG Western Michigan’s committees and programming efforts and creates social media content for the organization. Heather is the lead organizer of the ACG Cup competition and works closely with the ACG Cup Committee to ensure all elements of the initiative run smoothly.
Prior to supporting ACG, Heather spent a decade as a researcher and library assistant in local history at the Grand Rapids Public Library, where she focused on researching patron inquiries, genealogy, accessioning archival collections, public history research projects, and leading house history trainings.
Heather has experience working with state and local governmental units advocating for the built environment and interpreting national guidelines for compliance with the Secretary of Interior’s Standards for Historic Preservation, as well as local ordinance interpretation for historic districts in Traverse City, Ann Arbor, and Grand Rapids. A skilled researcher, Heather is adept at creating narratives to craft historic district study reports, historic and architectural integrity reports, historic building materials assessments, and historic preservation easement baseline assessment reports
Heather holds a Bachelor of Science in History and English (World Literature) from Central Michigan University and a Master of Science in Historic Preservation from Ball State University’s College of Architecture and Planning. She is a certified historian with a keen interest in stories that weave together the social, public, and built history of places and the people who inhabit them.
Matt has over 14 years of business valuation experience including valuation of numerous ownership interests in closely held businesses and intangible assets for a wide variety of purposes including management planning, gift and estate tax, healthcare compliance, financial reporting (ASC 350, 360, 718 and 805), employee stock ownership plans, and acquisition/sale advisement, among others. Industries involved in the business valuation services include healthcare, manufacturing, distribution, retail, technology, transportation, and real estate. He holds a bachelor of arts in finance from Michigan State University and the Accredited Senior Appraiser (ASA) designation from the American Society of Appraisers.
Matthew J. Fegan, ASA | mattf@ehtc.com https://www.linkedin.com/in/matthewfegan/
Valuation Services Director EHTC
Eric Fischer | efischer@bdo.com
https://www.linkedin.com/in/ericthomasfischer/
Eric is a Partner with the BDO Grand Rapids Tax Practice and has 16 years of experience in Federal income tax matters for private and public companies. Prior to BDO, Eric spent nearly five years with the Big Four and his primary area of focus is complex Pass through, Interest Changed Domestic International Sales Corporations (“IC DISC”), Private equity, and family owned companies. Eric serves clients in many industries including manufacturing, distribution, real estate, technology, high tech, wholesale, and retail. Eric has significant experience in the following:
Supervision and management of tax engagements Research of complex tax topics
Communication of deliverables to owners and management
Management of federal and state examinations
Merger and acquisition structuring
IC DISC planning and structuring
Eric holds a Masters of Science in Taxation and a BA in Accounting, both from Michigan State University. He is the immediate past president of the ACG Western Michigan Board of Directors, and is also involved with the Grand Rapids Community Foundation, Grand Rapids Habitat for Humanity, and Junior Achievement of the Michigan Great Lakes.
Krista Flynn is the Midwest Regional Executive of Commercial Banking for PNC Bank. She focuses on leading her teams in excellence, to provide financial solutions to businesses across the lower Middle Market space in 9 states.
She has over 25 years of experience in the financial services industry, including President of West Michigan for Huntington Bank and its predecessors; Commercial Banking Market Leader at PNC Bank; and various positions at JPMorgan Chase and its predecessor banks, including roles in Middle Market, Capital Markets, Automotive Specialty Group, and Credit.
Krista is on the Boards of The Michigan Economic Development Corporation, The Grand Rapids Chamber of Commerce, Grand Action 2.0, and K Connect. She also volunteers and supports Kids’ Food Basket, the Association for Corporate Growth Western Michigan, and Heart of West Michigan United Way.
Krista holds a B.B.A. in Finance from the University of Michigan and an M.S. in Finance from Walsh College. She has been honored as one of West Michigan’s 50 Most Influential Women, the 200 Most Powerful Leaders in West Michigan, and a finalist for the Deal of the Year Award in Finance (2019), the Woman of the Year (2022 Brilliance Awards) and Athena Awards (2022).
Krista Flynn, Midwest Regional Executive Commercial Banking PNC Bank
Ashley Gray is a Senior Strategist with DTE Energy, focused on new decarbonization technologies and new business growth within the natural gas industry. She currently manages DTE Gas’ renewable natural gas environmental attributes (RNG EA) and carbon offsets and supports the Company’s Natural Gas Balance Program, which offers DTE Energy’s natural gas customers the opportunity to balance their natural gas emissions through a mix of carbon offsets and RNG EA.
Ashley previously focused on supporting sell side transactions, capital raise, and business valuations for privately held companies from $2 $25 million in EBITDA. She has transaction and valuation experience across a number of industries, including building products, industrial services, precision metal manufacturing, plastic thermoforming, business services, commercial banking, and technology. She has several years of investment banking and corporate development experience, most recently as a Senior Associate at a large dental service organization, where she focused on growing the acquisition pipeline, completing financial and operational analysis, and supporting transaction execution on potential acquisition targets.
Ashley is an active member of ACG Detroit and ACG Western Michigan. Ashley earned both her Masters of Business Administration and Bachelor of Business Administration in Finance and Accounting, with Honors, from Grand Valley State University’s Seidman College of Business. Ashley maintains SIE, Series 79, and Series 63 licenses through FINRA.
Jacob Helwick | Adamy Valuation
Jacob Helwick is a Manager with Adamy Valuation. He provides clients with valuation and financial advisory services in connection with employee stock ownership plans; financial reporting; estate and gift tax reporting; economic damages; management succession planning; divorce; corporate strategic planning; and other financial transactions across a breadth of industries. His background in valuation and financial advisory services stems from former roles in an Analyst and a Senior Analyst capacity.
Prior to joining Adamy, Jacob worked for a large Michigan based bank as a Commercial Credit Analyst in a multi year leadership development program. In this position, he was tasked with assessing credit risk and underwriting loans for real estate, commercial, and industrial purposes. He also previously served as a risk management intern for a well known, global chemical company, and spent two years living abroad in Tokyo, Japan.
Jacob is a graduate of Grand Valley State University (GVSU) where he received a degree in accounting and finance. He was an active member of the Seidman Investment Portfolio Organization, the Vice President of a competitive club sport, a co facilitator of a leadership program for first year and transfer students, and one of ten pre selected students to manage an equity and fixed income portfolio over the course of his senior year.
Currently, Jacob is pursuing the Accredited Senior Appraiser (ASA) credential. He remains an active participant in the Grand Rapids community, serving as a mentor to students in the Seidman College of Business at GVSU and as co chair of the Valuation Seminar for the Association for Corporate Growth Western Michigan Chapter.
Jessica Kuster Program Manager
As the Program Manager for Hello West Michigan, Jessica handles marketing, communications, and events for the organization. She oversees the intern program, providing them a high-level learning experience. Educate employers and prospective candidates about the region is a central part of Jessica’s role.
Hello West Michigan is a talent attraction and retention organization promoting West Michigan as a great place to live and work. The organization, which helps member companies increase their rate of success in recruiting top talent, was the first organization of its kind in the country.
Prior to joining Hello West Michigan, Jessica served as Program Coordinator at Grand Rapids Opportunities for Women (GROW). She handled planning and implementation of all entrepreneurial training programs and fundraising events, along with the intern program.
Jessica earned her Bachelor of Science in International Business and minors in Spanish and Management from Cornerstone University. Originally from Chicagoland, Jessica is still discovering new things to love in West Michigan. Fall colors top the list.
Todd McGuire is a manager in the Valuation Group at Plante Moran. He has valued numerous closely held businesses and intangible assets for the purpose of management planning, gift and estate tax, healthcare compliance, marital dissolution, financial reporting (ASC topics 350, 805, and 820), C to S conversion, and purchase and sale advisement. Todd has completed a variety of projects in an array of industries including healthcare, distribution, manufacturing, professional services, retail, technology, transportation, and real estate. Todd holds a BBA in Marketing and Economics from Grand Valley State University.
Todd McGuire | Plante Moran
modegaard@bdo.com
Direct: (616) 802 3509 Mobile: (425) 443 5851
200 Ottawa Avenue NW Suite 300 Grand Rapids, MI 49503
Tel: 616 774 7000 Fax: 616 776 3680 www.bdo.com
Brandon C. Tomash Miller Johnson
