Celebrating Growth and Evolution: A Look Ahead for Our Firm
by Dennis Gardiner, CPA, Managing Partner
As we reflect on the past year and look toward the future, we are proud to celebrate significant milestones and exciting changes within our firm. 2024 marked the 60th anniversary of our firm’s founding by Dan Gardiner. It has been a remarkable journey, and we are honored to continue the work that began all those years ago. Both Mark and I had the privilege of working alongside our father for over 30 years, and I also had the unique opportunity to partner with my brother, Mark Gardiner, for over 40 years. After 42 years with the firm, Mark retired in 2024, a well-deserved milestone after decades of dedication.
In this edition of our newsletter, we are excited to announce important updates regarding our leadership team. As of the first of the year, my son, Matt Gardiner, and my son-in-law, Robert Bell, have become partners at the firm. This marks another exciting chapter in the Gardiner family legacy. Additionally, we are thrilled to welcome Joe Alsup as a new partner. Joe, previously a principal at a large national firm, brings a wealth of experience and expertise to our team. Based in Springfield, Illinois, he will play a pivotal role in helping us expand our presence in the region. We are looking forward to further developing our Springfield office and solidifying our footprint across Illinois.
As we continue to grow, we are fortunate to have a dedicated team that has contributed to our success. We’ve seen exceptional retention among our staff, with several individuals celebrating impressive milestones. Notably, Mark Rodruck from our Charles City office and Jim English from our Des Moines office both celebrated 30 years with the firm in 2024. Their long-term commitment is a testament to the strong culture we’ve cultivated here.
Our firm is ever-evolving, particularly in our audit approach. We are increasingly utilizing artificial intelligence and data extraction tools to enhance the efficiency and accuracy of our audits, ensuring compliance with industry standards. Despite these technological advancements, we remain deeply committed to serving the industries that have been the foundation of our success. Our work continues to focus on agricultural cooperatives and ag-related businesses, credit unions, local governments, and not-for-profit organizations, especially those that support our core industries. We also serve a variety of employee benefit plans.
As we look ahead, we are grateful for the continued support of our clients, staff, and partners. The future holds exciting opportunities, and we are committed to maintaining the high standards of service and integrity that have defined our firm for over six decades.
Thank you for being a part of our journey. Here’s to many more years of growth and success together!