Mowery & Schoenfeld promotes seven to partner roles

Mowery & Schoenfeld has promoted seven partners to its leadership team as the Illinois-based accounting and advisory firm marks its 30th anniversary.

The promotions span tax, assurance, transaction advisory services and client advisory services, expanding senior leadership across several of the firm's main practice areas.

Justin Goetz, Jim Odegard and TJ Van Derpluym were promoted to tax partner. Doug DeLara became assurance partner, Mark Hallgren was promoted to transaction advisory services partner, and Cameron Richey and Nicole Zambetti were named client advisory services partners.

The appointments add seven new partners drawn from employees who joined at different stages of their careers and work across a range of client sectors.

Managing Partner Jeff Mowery said the move reflects the firm's internal leadership pipeline.

"As we celebrate 30 years as an independent firm, these promotions reflect the next chapter of Mowery & Schoenfeld's growth. We have always believed that our future depends on developing leaders from within, investing in our people, and building teams who can meet clients' needs today while guiding them for what comes next. These new partners represent the talent, mindset, and commitment that will help propel our firm forward," Mowery said.

Practise areas

DeLara joined the firm in 2023 and works in assurance services. His experience includes assignments in manufacturing and distribution, technology, agriculture and nonprofit organisations, as well as employee benefit plan audits.

Goetz joined the tax team in 2019 and focuses on private clients and high-net-worth individuals. He also mentors members of his team.

Hallgren, who joined in 2018, works in transaction advisory services. He has advised on transactions involving manufacturing, distribution, and technology companies, as well as search funds.

Odegard joined in 2021 as an experienced CPA and tax professional. He specialises in federal tax planning and compliance for technology, manufacturing and professional services companies and their owners.

Richey started as an intern in 2012, working first in assurance before moving into client advisory services. He now supports clients in construction, healthcare, manufacturing and nonprofit sectors.

Van Derpluym joined in 2025 with experience in public accounting. His work centres on transaction advisory, tax diligence and Subchapter K compliance matters for partnerships and private equity partnerships.

Zambetti joined the firm in 2014 as a first-year assurance associate. She later moved into business advisory and outsourced accounting services as part of the client advisory services team.

Internal promotion

The group reflects a mix of long-serving staff and more recent hires. Several newly promoted partners built their careers inside the firm, while others joined with established expertise in tax, assurance, and deal-related advisory work.

Mowery & Schoenfeld, founded in 1996, is based in Illinois. It operates across tax, assurance, transaction advisory, wealth management and international tax services, serving businesses and entrepreneurs.

The latest appointments place particular emphasis on tax and advisory work. Three of the seven promotions were in tax, while two were in client advisory services, reflecting the scale of those practices within the firm.

The seven partners have educational backgrounds that include Northern Illinois University, the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign, DePaul University, Benedictine University, Illinois State University, Elmhurst College and the University of New Hampshire.

Richey's path from intern to partner is one of the clearest examples of the firm's internal progression model. Zambetti also moved through multiple roles after joining at entry level.

The promotions also highlight the breadth of sectors covered by the new partners, including manufacturing, distribution, technology, healthcare, agriculture, nonprofits, professional services, construction and private equity partnerships.

With these additions, Mowery & Schoenfeld has expanded its leadership bench across core accounting and advisory disciplines as it reaches its 30-year mark.