Connor Braun

Connor Braun is a Manager in the Tax & Consulting Service Line. He specializes in tax planning and preparation with an emphasis on the manufacturing, construction, and real estate industries. He is based in the Saginaw office.

Specializations

  • Business and individual tax planning with an emphasis on the manufacturing, construction, and real estate industries

Professional Certifications and Education

  • Certified Public Accountant (CPA)
  • Central Michigan University, Bachelor of Science in Business Administration, Accounting

Professional Membership

  • Michigan Association of Certified Public Accountants
  • American Institute of Certified Public Accountants

Daniel Gruzd II is a Manager based in the firm’s Saginaw office. He specializes in tax planning and business consulting with an emphasis on the manufacturing, construction, and retail industries.

Specializations

  • Accounting software consulting; emphasis on Quickbooks and Sage
  • Business and individual tax planning
  • Business consulting
  • Experience in the following industries – manufacturing, construction, and retail
  • GAAP basis financial statements
  • Reviewed financial statements

Professional Certifications and Education

  • Certified Public Accountant (CPA)
  • Dale Carnegie graduate
  • Northwood University, Master of Business Administration in Accounting
  • Saginaw Valley State University, Bachelor of Business Administration in Accounting

Professional Membership

  • American Institute of Certified Public Accountants
  • Michigan Association of Certified Public Accountants
  • Saginaw Young Professionals Network

Publications/Seminars

  • Presentation: Speaker for “Understanding the Impact of the One Big Beautiful Bill” at the Saginaw County Chamber of Commerce Small Business Development Program
  • Presentation: Speaker for “Understanding the Impact of the One Big Beautiful Bill” at the Midland Business Alliance Issues and Answers event

Community Involvement

  • Positive Results in Downtown Saginaw – Holidays in the Heart of the City Planning Committee

Nicholas McFadden is a Manager based in the firm’s Ann Arbor office. He specializes in tax planning and business consulting. He has experience serving organizations in a wide range of industries, including construction, retail, manufacturing, transportation, real estate, and professional services.

Specializations

  • Corporate restructuring
  • Multi-state taxation
  • Strategic tax planning and compliance for businesses

Professional Certifications and Education

  • Certified Public Accountant (CPA)
  • Eastern Michigan University, Bachelor of Science in Political Science
  • Eastern Michigan University, Master of Science in Taxation

Professional membership

  • American Institute of Certified Public Accountants
  • Michigan Association of Certified Public Accountants

Jim is a Principal in the Troy office. He joined Yeo & Yeo on July 1, 2024, with the merger of Berger, Ghersi & LaDuke PLC, serving as a Principal. Jim has over 40 years of deep financial expertise working in both public accounting and private company. He serves a variety of industries, including specialization in real estate, construction, manufacturing, medical, nonprofit, and technology.

Specializations

  • Accounting, tax and financial preparation for businesses and individuals
  • Business advisory, planning and forecasting
  • Estate and trust taxes
  • Risk management

Professional Certifications and Education

  • Certified Public Accountant (CPA)
  • Oakland University, Bachelor’s in Accounting
  • Walsh College, Master of Science in Accounting

Professional Membership

  • American Institute of CPAs
  • Employee Benefit Plan Audit Quality Center
  • Michigan Association of CPAs

Zaher Basha is a Principal in the Troy office. He is a member of the firm’s Valuation, Forensics and Litigation Support Group and the Healthcare Services Group. Zaher joined Yeo & Yeo in 2014 and has ten years of public accounting experience.

Specializations

  • Business advisory services
  • Business valuation
  • Mergers and acquisitions
  • Special emphasis on the healthcare industry
  • Tax planning and preparation

Professional Certifications and Education

  • Certified Public Accountant (CPA)
  • Certified Merger & Acquisition Advisor (CM&AA)
  • Indiana University, Bachelor of Business Administration
  • Walsh College, Master of Business Administration

Professional Membership

  • Alliance of Merger & Acquisition Advisors (AM&AA)
  • American Institute of Certified Public Accountants
  • Auburn Hills Chamber of Commerce
  • Michigan Association of Certified Public Accountants
  • Michigan Association of Certified Public Accountants’ Healthcare Task Force
  • Troy Chamber of Commerce

Publications/Seminars

  • Podcast: A Breakdown of the Paycheck Protection Program
  • Podcast: Tax Effects of Cryptocurrency

Community Involvement

  • Making Strides Against Cancer walks
  • Syrian American Rescue Network, treasurer
  • The Syria Institute, volunteer

Awards

  • Auburn Hills Chamber of Commerce – Tomorrow’s 20 Award, May 2025
  • Spirit of Yeo Award (2019) – recognizing one individual each year who exemplifies the attributes of the firm’s mission and core values

James Edwards III is a Senior Manager in the Ann Arbor office. He co-leads the firm’s Client Accounting Software Team and is a member of the Manufacturing Services Group. James joined Yeo & Yeo in 2011.

Specializations

  • Business advisory services with an emphasis on the manufacturing sector and for-profit entities
  • Managerial accounting solutions
  • Tax planning and preparation for individuals and businesses

Professional Certifications and Education

  • Certified Public Accountant (CPA)
  • Grand Valley State University, Bachelor of Business Administration in Accounting
  • Grand Valley State University, Master of Science in Accounting
  • QuickBooks Certified ProAdvisor – Desktop
  • QuickBooks Certified ProAdvisor – Online

Professional Membership

  • American Institute of Certified Public Accountants
  • Michigan Association of Certified Public Accountants

Publications/Seminars

  • Article: If Your Manufacturing Company is Considered “Small,” it May be Eligible for Tax Benefits
  • Article: Are You Writing Off Outdated Inventory Properly?

Community Involvement

  • Ann Arbor Area Community Foundation Network of Professional Advisors
  • Ann Arbor Track Club, treasurer
  • Leadership A2Y graduate, 2021
  • LEA Global Volunteer Week

Chris Sheridan is a Principal and serves in the Consulting & Tax Service Line. He is a member of the Business Valuation and Litigation Support Services Group and the Manufacturing Services Group. He joined the firm in 2012.

Specializations

  • Business consulting for financial reporting and tax issues with a strong focus on manufacturers
  • Business valuation and litigation support services for privately owned businesses
  • Consulting related to new business start-ups, corporate restructuring and succession planning
  • Fraud investigation and prevention
  • Managerial consulting, including designing and implementing accounting systems and internal controls

Professional Certifications and Education

  • Certified Public Accountant (CPA)
  • Central Michigan University, Bachelor of Science in Business Administration
  • Central Michigan University, Master of Business Administration
  • Certified Fraud Examiner (CFE)
  • Certified Valuation Analyst (CVA)
  • Emerging Leaders Academy graduate, 2025

Professional Memberships

  • American Institute of Certified Public Accountants
  • Bay County Chamber of Commerce
  • Energize Bay Area Young Professionals Network
  • Michigan Association of Certified Public Accountants
  • Michigan Manufacturers Association
  • MICPA – Manufacturing Task Force
  • Mid-Michigan Manufacturers Association (M3A)
  • National Association of Certified Valuators and Analysts
  • Saginaw Valley Young Professionals Network

Publications/Seminars

  • Article: Lease or Buy? Changes to Accounting Rules May Change Your Mind
  • Article: Lease Accounting Standard Implementation Delayed
  • Article: External Factors in a Business Valuation
  • Article: Use a Baseline Business Valuation to Determine What Your Business Is Worth
  • Article: Michigan Manufacturing Association – MFG Forum Recap
  • Webinar: Revenue Recognition – How to Identify Your Impact Under the New Standard

Community Involvement

  • Bay Future, past Board Member
  • Great Lakes Bay Economic Club, Board Member
  • Montessori Children’s House of Bay City, Board Member
  • Stevens Center for Family Business, Executive Council Member (July 2023 – June 2025)
  • United Way

Awards

  • National Association of Certified Valuators and Analysts / CTI “40 Under Forty” honoree, 2021

Fred Miller is the Vice President of Yeo & Yeo Technology. He started his career with Yeo & Yeo in 1995 and has held several roles in the organization. Fred currently manages a diverse team of software consultants and application developers that specialize in providing unique solutions to address our clients’ business needs. He also works with clients as their Account Executive to strategize the best ways to protect and grow their businesses with technology. 

Specializations

  • Business needs assessment and ERP solution architecture
  • Customer application and report development
  • Database design and administration
  • Database platforms: Microsoft SQL Server, Pervasive Software
  • Implementing manufacturing and distribution ERP systems
  • Part of YeoBoard & YeoView development team
  • Payroll and Human Resources Information Systems
  • Programming languages: COBOL, VB.net, Visual Basic, VBA

Professional Certifications and Education

  • Sage 100 Certified Application Consultant
  • Sage 100 Certified Payroll Consultant
  • Sage HRMS Certified HR and ESS Implementation Consultant
  • Sage HRMS Certified Payroll Implementation Consultant
  • Sage HRMS Certified Technical Consultant
  • Saginaw Valley State University, Bachelor of Science in Computer Information Systems
  • Saginaw Valley State University, Master of Science in Technological Processing

Publications/Seminars

  • Article: Manufacturing, Technology and the Recession
  • Article: The Importance of Cybersecurity in Manufacturing
  • Article: MAS 90 is Now Sage 100c

Community Involvement

  • Bay Arenac ISD Career Center, Emerging Technologies Advisory Board
  • Saginaw Career Complex, volunteer
  • Saginaw Valley State University, Industry Advisory Board for the Computer Science Department

Tara Stensrud is a Principal in the Midland office. She joined Yeo & Yeo in 2006. She is a member of the firm’s Manufacturing Services Group and the Consulting Services Group.

Specializations

  • Business consulting, financial reporting and tax issues, with a strong emphasis on the manufacturing and agriculture sectors.
  • Employee stock ownership plan (ESOP) administration assistance
  • Personal financial planning
  • Preparation and analysis of financial statements
  • QuickBooks consulting
  • Social Security benefit claiming strategies
  • Tax planning and preparation services for individuals and small and midsize businesses

Professional Certifications and Education

  • Certified Public Accountant (CPA)
  • Advanced Certified QuickBooks ProAdvisor
  • Central Michigan University, Bachelor of Business Administration
  • Investment Advisor Representation
  • National Social Security Advisor (NSSA®)
  • Personal Financial Specialist (PFS)
  • Upstream Academy – Emerging Leaders Academy graduate

Professional Membership

  • American Institute of Certified Public Accountants
  • Central Michigan Manufacturers Association
  • Michigan Association of Certified Public Accountants
  • Michigan Manufacturers Association

Publications/Seminars

  • Article: ESOPs Offer Businesses a Variety of Potential Benefits
  • Article: Personal Property Tax for Michigan Manufacturers — 2016 Brings Significant Changes
  • Article: ESOPs Offer a Tax-Efficient Exit Strategy for Business Owners
  • Presentation: Speaker for What Does Tax Reform Mean for You? presented for clients of Edward Jones
  • Training: Internal instructor for Corporate Tax training for Yeo & Yeo staff
  • Training: Internal instructor for Advanced QuickBooks training for Yeo & Yeo staff

Community Involvement

  • Alma Action Association, former treasurer
  • Alma Women’s Club, former member
  • Alma-St. Louis Rotary, former member
  • Gratiot Area Chamber, former ambassador
  • Leadership Gratiot alumni
  • Midland Noon Rotary
  • Shelterhouse, finance committee member

Awards

  • Avantax Planning Partners℠ Client Advocate Award (2023)

Disclaimer

Investment advisory services are offered through Avantax Planning PartnersSM. Commission-based securities products are offered through Avantax Investment ServicesSM, Member FINRA, SIPC. Insurance services offered through licensed agents of Avantax Planning Partners. 3200 Olympus Blvd., Suite 100, Dallas, TX 75019. The Avantax entities are independent of and unrelated to Yeo & Yeo Wealth Management. Although Avantax does not provide or supervise tax or accounting services, our Financial Professionals may offer these services through their independent outside business. Not all Financial Professionals are licensed to offer all products or services. Financial planning and investment advisory services require separate licenses.

Jeff is the President of Yeo & Yeo Technology. He started at Yeo & Yeo in 1996 as a software specialist and has held several management positions since. He has over 30 years of experience in business development, product management and business operations within high technology companies.

Jeff has helped to expand Technology to a team of more than 30 professionals. He has also been instrumental in advancing technology within the firm and for the clients that Technology supports.

Specializations

  • Helping businesses streamline their technology infrastructure to reduce overall technology expenditures and increase efficiencies
  • IT solutions for manufacturing, financial services, professional corporations and small businesses
  • Technology assessments/consulting and annual IT budgeting
  • Software/hardware consulting and procurement
  • Sage 100 and Sage HRMS

Professional Certifications and Education

  • Central Michigan University, Bachelor of Science in Business Administration with a major in Finance and minors in Business Administration and Management

Professional Membership

  • BDO Alliance USA
  • Ingram Micro Trust X Alliance – former Secretary, Vice President, and President

Publications/Seminars

  • Article: 10 Ways to Reduce IT Expenses
  • Article: 10 Ways to Reduce IT Expenses
  • Article: Identity Theft: Lock the Company Doors to Client and Employee Information
  • Article: Technology Pacesetters
  • Presentation: Internet Security & Fraud Prevention
  • Presentation: What You Need to Know About Internet Security
  • Presentation: Is Your Data Secure?
  • Presentation: Sales Management Challenges
  • Presentation: Virtualization, IT Backup and Disaster Recovery, and Hosted Services
  • Presentation: Defending Your Small/Midsized Business from Cyber Attacks: Cybersecurity Insights & Best Practices — 2022 and 2023 Central Michigan University Cybersecurity Awareness Month Conference
  • Presentation: Cybersecurity Panelist — November 2022 Wake Up Midland Talk Show
  • Presentation: Cybersecurity and Technology Sessions for Local Schools and Colleges
  • Podcast: Protecting Your Information During Tax Season and Beyond
  • Training: Yeo & Yeo Technology Opportunities — internal training podcast

Community Involvement

  • Central Michigan University Cybersecurity Advisory Board, member
  • Saginaw Career Complex Cybersecurity Program, Advisory Committee, chairperson
  • Delta College Advisory Information Technology Committee, co-chair
  • Saginaw READ Association, past Board Chair, current board member, finance committee chair, and volunteer
  • Saginaw Career Complex, volunteer
  • Yeo & Yeo Foundation, president

Awards

  • 2010 recipient of the firm’s prestigious Thomas J. Thompson Achievement Award

Jacob Sopczynski is a Principal and leader of the firm’s Manufacturing Services Group. Jacob serves many clients as a consultant and specialist in the application of data extraction techniques, tax planning and assurance services. He joined Yeo & Yeo in 2005 and serves on the firm’s board of directors.

Specializations

  • Audits of Federal Awards
  • Audits of local governmental units, school districts and nonprofit organizations
  • Data extraction uses and techniques
  • Government Auditing Standards
  • Information management and technology assurance
  • Manufacturing, Construction, Distribution
  • Tax planning for business and personal

Professional Certifications and Education

  • Certified Public Accountant (CPA)
  • Saginaw Valley State University, Bachelor of Professional Accountancy

Professional Membership

  • American Institute of Certified Public Accountants
  • Automation Alley, finance committee
  • Government Finance Officers Association
  • Great Lakes Bay Manufacturers Association
  • Michigan Association of CPAs Manufacturing Task Force
  • Michigan Institute of Certified Public Accountants
  • Michigan Manufacturers Association

Publications/Seminars

  • Article: Three Ways to Develop Manufacturing Leaders
  • Article: Re-evaluate Your Company’s Competitiveness in a Changed Economy
  • Article: Get Ready for FASB’s New Lease Accounting Requirements
  • Article: Social Media Tips for Manufacturing
  • Article: Why the Three key Elements of Integrity are Critical for Your Accountant
  • Podcast: Tax Effects of Cryptocurrency

Community Involvement

  • 1,000 Leaders Initiative
  • International Academy of Flint, board of trustees
  • Gen Forward
  • Leadership Bay County Alumni
  • The Hundred Club of Genesee, Shiawassee and Lapeer Counties