Staff Directory

Vikki L. Geras, CPA, has been with Swartz Retson since 1981. A graduate of Indiana University, her expertise is Information Technology.

She volunteers at St. Teresa of Avila Catholic Student Center at Valparaiso University, assisting with their annual graduation day brunch for students and their families. On Thanksgiving, she helps at St. Teresa’s Café Manna.

Michael A. Jones, CPA, CMA, has been with Swartz Retson for more than 30 years. Primarily practicing in matters involving assurance, he is involved with audits, reviews and compilations. His industry focus is construction and manufacturing.

An Indiana University graduate, Michael has served on various nonprofit boards for more than 20 years.

Ken Krupinski is a Swartz Retson shareholder. Ken began his accounting career in 1969 after receiving his B.S. in Accounting from Ball State University. He worked for Haskins & Sells, Sara Lee Corp and Consumers Glass Ltd before starting at Swartz Retson in August 1979. Ken currently concentrates on corporate and individual taxation, estate and gift planning, succession planning and investment analysis and alternatives. His client base consists of small businesses and individuals in many different industries.

Ken is a CPA and is a member of the American Institute of CPA’s and the Indiana CPA Society. He is currently on the Boards of St Mary Medical Center, Legacy Foundation, Peoples Bank and the Catholic Foundation for the Diocese of Gary. Over the years he has also been active in Rotary, Red Cross, Kiwanis, and the University Club.

Tammy Lynch manages the Swartz Retson tax department. Her expertise includes the areas of tax planning and compliance, tax research and transitional planning for individuals, businesses and nonprofits.

She joined the firm in 1992 and became an owner in 2010. In addition to working with clients, she oversees staff training in the federal and state income tax areas. Tammy earned a B.A. in Economics from DePauw University, graduating from the Management Fellows honors program. She has been a CPA since 1989.

Tammy is a member of the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants and the Indiana CPA Society. She serves on several local nonprofit boards and committees.

Richard A. Young, CPA, has been with Swartz Retson since 1983. Practicing in the area of assurance, he is involved with audits, reviews and compilations. He has extensive experience in performing ERISA audits and OMB Circular A-133 (Single Audits).

A Walsh College graduate, Richard has been a volunteer advisor or board member for several nonprofit organizations. He has served as a peer review committee member for the Indiana CPA Society.

Richard Zondor has more than 30 years of diversified public accounting experience including extensive experience in taxation and healthcare consulting. Rich’s clients include large and small S-corps, C-corps, partnerships, PC’s, as well as individuals.

He holds a B.A. in Accounting from Calumet College of St Joseph and an MBA from DePaul University. Along with being a CPA he is also a Certified Management Accountant. He has been licensed to practice in both Indiana and Illinois since 1980 and is a member of the American Institute of CPA’s, Illinois and Indiana CPA Society’s, the Institute of Management Accountants and the Medical Group Management Association.

Rich has been an instructor at both Calumet College and Indiana University Northwest. He has taken advanced course work in specialized tax planning earning the Certificate of Educational Achievement for Advising Closely Held Businesses. Rich is currently on the Board of Catholic Charities.

David C. Batusic has been with Swartz Retson since 1978 and oversees the Business Valuation and Litigation Support Services practice. He holds a B.S. in Business from Indiana University and earned his CPA license in 1981. Accredited in Business Valuation (ABV), Certified Valuation Analyst (CVA) and Certified Management Accountant (CMA), he has valued more than 300 businesses.

Dave has considerable experience as a testifying expert in State and Federal courts. He has prior audit experience and has tax experience with closely held businesses with specific expertise in the automotive industry. He also has considerable experience in succession planning, buy sell and stock redemption issues and ownership transition.

He is a member of American Institute of Certified Public Accountants, National Association of Certified Valuation Analysts and Institute of Certified Management Accountants.

Community involvement includes currently serving as first vice chair of the Crown Point Community Foundation and as past president of the Andrean High School Foundation and Indiana CPA Society-Calumet Chapter.

After four years with Frank J. Baker & Co. in Chicago, Ruth joined Swartz Retson in 1994. A CPA, she is currently a manager in the audit department. While her expertise lies in the realm of nonprofit organizations, she has experience with automobile dealerships, construction and manufacturing.

Holding a BA, summa cum laude, from Mundelein College, Ruth is licensed through the Indiana State Board of Accounts and is a member of the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants and Indiana Certified Public Accountant Society.

She has served on various boards of nonprofit organizations.

As a Swartz Retson tax accountant, Buddy Dowden’s main responsibilities include accounting and tax preparation services for small business and individuals. Her prior experience includes working in the manufacturing sector as a cost accountant.

With a BS in Accounting from Purdue University Calumet, she is currently pursuing a Masters of Accountancy at Purdue University Calumet.

Buddy’s volunteer activities have included the 2-Day Avon Walk for Breast Cancer, Leukemia Light the Night fundraiser and the Salvation Army Angel Tree program.

Matt Dudzik joined Swartz Retson as a tax accountant in 2009. After earning a B.S. in Psychology from Indiana University, he received a post baccalaureate in accounting and an MBA from IU Northwest. His responsibilities include preparation of individual and business tax returns, assisting with tax projections and quarterly and year end accounting and payroll taxes.



He is a past board member of Woodland Childcare Development Center and current member of the St. John Chamber of Commerce and Schererville BNI. Matt volunteers time to Housing Opportunities events, Boys and Girls Club and Junior Achievement.

Jennifer Hanicq joined Swartz Retson in 2009. Her responsibilities include client bookkeeping, financial statement and tax preparation. She is active in the Schererville Chamber of Commerce.

Holding a B.S. in Accounting from Purdue University Calumet, she previously worked in the banking industry.

Carolyn Harris, with Swartz Retson since 1998, provides multi-faceted support to all departments. She earned a diploma in secretarial accounting from Sawyer College of Business and has a professional background that includes clerical, bookkeeping and office management.

Rosa Houtsma joined Swartz Retson as a staff accountant in June 2008. Her main responsibilities include client bookkeeping, payroll taxes, financial statements, and tax preparation for small businesses. Rosa is a graduate of Dordt College with a B.A. in Accounting and Finance.

She is also a CPA and a member of the American Institute of CPA’s and the Indiana CPA Society.

Joy is a certified employee benefit specialist and a third party administrator for defined contribution retirement plans. Her responsibilities include defined contribution recordkeeping, Form 5500 filings and assistance with transmittals to the Department of Labor, discrimination and coverage testing, assistance with distributions, loans, and hardship withdrawals, and plan design.

An alumnus of Northern Illinois University, she joined Swartz Retson in 1993.

John Kamphuis came to the firm in 2006.  He prepares tax returns for corporations, partnerships, individuals, trusts and nonprofit organizaitons.  He is also involved in helping clients with delinquent returns, setting up payment plans for those who cannot pay immediately, and negotiating offers in compromise for those whose ability to pay is in doubt or whose circumstances warrant abatement of some or all of their tax, penalties and interest.

John is a member of the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants and the Indiana CPA Society. He earned his MBA from Purdue University Calumet.

Jessica Kardelis has been with Swartz Retson since 2008 and is currently working toward a degree at Ivy Tech. She manages the front office, is switchboard operator, works with accounts payables and receivables, and does data entry and various other tasks.

Peggy Knotts provides support for 25 professionals and has been with Swartz Retson since 1999. Her previous administrative experience includes insurance, banking and nonprofit.

Beyond the office, her hobbies include reading, cooking, crocheting, drum and bugle corps, and motorcycles.

As a staff auditor at Swartz, Retson, Tanya Muvceski is currently in the audit department where she works on compilations, revews, and audit engagements for clients in various industries.

Tanya received a B.S. in Accounting  and Business from Indiana University Northwest and is currently pursuing a  Masters of Accountancy at Purdue University Calumet.

Tom Newman joined Swartz Retson in November 2009. His current responsibilities include preparation of business, individual, payroll and nonprofit tax returns along with tax projections and financial statements.

Tom is a graduate of Purdue Calumet with a B.S. in Accounting and a Masters Degree of Accountancy. Tom participates in Housing Opportunities events and enjoys helping Purdue Cal students pursue their accounting careers.

Christine Purbaugh joined Swartz Retson in 1976 and has experience in multiple aspects of the public accounting profession. For the last 15 years she has specialized in the areas of fiduciary taxation, estates and trusts, and Indiana property tax.

Christine graduated Magna Cum Laude from Indiana University in 1975 with a Bachelor of Science degree in Business Administration, major in Accounting. A licensed Certified Public Accountant since 1978, she is the firm’s Fiduciary Tax Specialist.

A native of Northwest Indiana and Andrean High School graduate, she has served on advisory committees for several community organizations including the Lake Area United Way. She currently serves on the Finance Council of St. Mary Catholic Church/School in Griffith.

Sylvia Ramirez joined Swartz Retson as an intern in March 2009 and subsequently became a full time employee. Sylvia is currently in the audit department where she works on attest engagements for clients in various industries.

Sylvia received a B.S. in Accounting/Finance from Purdue Calumet and is currently pursuing the CPA designation.

Stephen Sienicki started with Swartz Retson in December 2007. He currently is in the audit department and specializes in compilation, review and audit engagements, primarily for nonprofit organizations and employee benefit plans.

Stephen received his BBA and MBA in Accounting from Davenport University. He is a CPA, a Certified QuickBooks ProAdvisor, and a member of the Indiana CPA Society.

Robert Swartz is a licensed CPA in Indiana and holds a Certified Information Technology Professional designation from AICPA. His primary duties include assisting clients in properly utilizing technology to manage their business processes.

He earned a B.S. degree in Accounting from Indiana University 1963. A member of Indiana CPA Society and AICPA, Robert is a former member of Indiana CPA Society board of directors and a current member of the Indiana University Northwest Business Advisory Board.

Lauren Trumbo began working at the firm in 2008 in the tax department. Her responsibilities include individual, corporate and nonprofit tax returns as well as monthly accounting and payroll processing.

She graduated from Purdue University Calumet with a Bachelor of Accountancy in 2008, earned a Master of Accountancy in the spring of 2011 and is currently pursuing the CPA designation.

Lauren is involved with the Crossroads Chamber of Commerce and Central Baptist Church.

Barbara Van Prooyen has been with Swartz Retson since January 1983. Her main responsibilities include the preparation of business and individual tax returns along with providing accounting services and financial statement preparation. Her 28+ years of experience also allows her to be of significant value to her many clients seeking financial advice.

Barbara received her B.S. in Accounting from Trinity Christian College. She became a CPA in1986 and is currently a member of the American Institute of CPA’s and the Indiana CPA Society. Barbara has served on the Board of Directors of Trinity Christian and is currently on the Board of Elim Christian Services which provides education and services for special needs children and adults.

Debra Van Prooyen joined Swartz Retson in 1993 and currently manages the accounting department. She specializes in accounting and taxation for medical practices & small businesses, payroll rules and regulations, and human resource consulting.

She graduated with high honors from Trinity Christian College in Palos Heights with a B.S. in Accountancy. After receiving her CPA designation, Debra completed the Professional Education Program from the College for Financial Planning in Denver. Professional affiliations include membership in the Indiana CPA Society and American Institute of Certified Public Accountants.

She is also involved with various non-profit organizations in Northwest Indiana.

Gregory R. Ward joined Swartz Retson in December 2001. A CPA, he formerly worked for PricewaterhouseCoopers, LLP. Gregory is accredited in Business Valuation (ABV) and has performed more than 150 business valuations and financial audits/reviews/compilations for privately held companies.

He holds a B.S. in Business Administration from Indiana University and is member of the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants and Indiana CPA Society. Gregory has held several offices in the Indiana CPA Society, is a past board member of Information Systems Audit and Control Association and is an active member of the Valparaiso Chamber of Commerce.

Paige Wories started at Swartz Retson as an intern in March 2010. Paige is currently in the audit department where she works on a variety of audit, review and compilation engagements.

Paige graduated from Trinity Christian College with a B.S. in Accounting and is currently pursuing the CPA designation.