James McAuliffe

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
  • Risk management
  • Estate and trust taxes

Professional Certifications and Education

  • Certified Public Accountant (CPA)
  • Oakland University, Bachelors in Accounting
  • Walsh College, Master of Science in Taxation

Professional Membership

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

Carrie Lapka is a Senior Manager in the Saginaw office. She leads the firm’s Healthcare Services Group and has over 20 years of experience in business consulting and management, financial decision-making, and tax planning with an emphasis on the healthcare industry. 

Specializations

  • Healthcare business consulting, including strategic advisory services for organizational management, financial decision‑making, operational optimization, and long‑term tax planning within the healthcare industry.
  • Interim Chief Financial Officer (CFO), providing leadership in financial oversight, cash‑flow management, budgeting, organizational performance assessment, and executive‑level decision support.
  • Directing the financial, operational, and administrative functions of medical practices.
  • Development, review, and interpretation of financial statements to support compliance, strategic planning, and operational efficiency.
  • Comprehensive tax strategy development, preparation, and compliance for individuals and healthcare organizations.

Professional Certifications and Education

  • Certified Public Accountant (CPA)
  • Certified Physician Practice Manager (CPPM)
  • Certified QuickBooks ProAdvisor
  • Saginaw Valley State University, Bachelor of Professional Accountancy

Professional Membership

  • American Institute of Certified Public Accountants
  • Michigan Association of Certified Public Accountants
  • American Academy of Professional Coders
  • Medical Group Management Association

Publications/Seminars

  • Webinar: Building Financial Forecasts: The Smart Practice Playbook Series, 2025
  • Webinar: Understanding Financial Statements: The Smart Practice Playbook Series, 2025

Community Involvement

  • Caseville Public School – Past Treasurer
  • Humane Society of Bay County – Past Treasurer

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

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

Professional Certifications and Education

  • Certified Public Accountant
  • Certified Merger & Acquisition Advisor
  • Walsh College, Master of Business Administration
  • Indiana University – Bachelor of Business Administration

Professional Membership

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

Publications/Seminars

Community Involvement

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

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

Rachel Van Slembrouck is a Principal in the Saginaw office. She co-leads the firm’s Client Accounting Software Team and is a member of the Healthcare Services Group. Rachel joined Yeo & Yeo in 2013.

Specializations

  • Account and bank account reconciliation
  • Accounting software consulting services with an emphasis on QuickBooks
  • Budgeting
  • Business advisory services
  • Business income taxes
  • Financial dashboards and custom reporting
  • Financial statement preparation
  • Outsourced accounting
  • Payroll tax reporting
  • Paycheck Protection Program, Employee Retention Credit, and other business relief initiatives
  • Strategic planning
  • Tax planning and preparation

Professional Certifications and Education

  • Certified Public Accountant
  • Saginaw Valley State University, Bachelor of Professional Accountancy
  • Certified QuickBooks ProAdvisor

Professional Membership

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

Publications/Seminars

Community Involvement

  • Saginaw Young Professionals Network
  • Saginaw County Animal Care & Control Advisory Council, Chair
  • Saginaw County Animal Care & Control Advisory Council, board member; treasurer for 2018 millage campaign
  • Bethlehem Lutheran School, volleyball coach

Awards

  • Spirit of Yeo Award (2018) – recognizing one individual each year who exemplifies the attributes of the firm’s mission and core values

Denise Garrett is a billing manager with more than 20 years of medical billing experience. She is a Certified Professional Coder with expertise in the coding of diagnoses, services, and procedures for physician practices. Her expertise benefits medical practice clients throughout Michigan. She is a member of the firm’s Healthcare Services Group. Denise is a member of the American Academy of Professional Coders Chapter Association (AAPCCA) national board of directors and serves on the executive committee as the Vice Chair. 

Specializations

  • Specializations in the coding of diagnoses, services and procedures for physician practices, clinics and third-party payors
  • Application of CPT® and HCPCS procedure and supply codes and ICD-10 diagnosis codes used for billing professional medical services to insurance companies
  • Business needs for healthcare entities including operational efficiencies, staff training and technology
  • Compliance with government laws, regulations, rules, and guidelines
  • Revenue cycle management
  • Medical audits

Professional Certifications and Education

  • Certified Physician Practice Manager (CPPM®)
  • Certified Professional Compliance Officer (CPCO™)
  • Certified Professional Medical Auditor (CPMA®)
  • Certified General Surgery Coder (CGSC)
  • Certified Professional Coder (CPC)
  • Certified Outpatient Coder (COC)
  • Certified Inpatient Coder (CIC)
  • Certified Emergency Department Coder (CEDC)
  • Certified Surgical Foot & Ankle Surgical Coder (CSFAC)
  • Certified Professional Biller (CPB®)

Professional Memberships

  • American Academy of Professional Coders (AAPC)
  • American Academy of Professional Coders Chapter Association (AAPCCA) national board of directors
  • National Alliance of Medical Auditing Specialists (NAMAS)
  • American Association of Medical Coding Professionals (AAOMCP)

Community Involvement

  • Aaron’s Gifts from Home

Traci Cook is a Billing and Coding Consultant and Account Manager with more than 20 years of medical billing and coding consulting experience. She serves healthcare clients throughout Michigan. She is a member of the firm’s Healthcare Services Group.

Specializations

  • Coding of diagnoses, services, and procedures for physician practices, clinics and third-party payors
  • Application of CPT®, HCPCS procedure and supply codes and ICD-10 diagnosis codes used for billing professional medical services to insurance companies
  • Medical documentation, fraud, abuse, and penalties for documentation and coding violations based on governmental guidelines
  • Medical record audits to decrease risk and improve compliance for the firm’s healthcare clients
  • Review of billing procedures to help maximize reimbursement for providers’ offices

Professional Certifications and Education

  • Saginaw Valley State University, Bachelor of Arts in English Education
  • Certified Professional Coder (CPC)
  • Certified Professional Medical Auditor (CPMA®)

Professional Memberships

  • American Academy of Professional Coders
  • Michigan Medical Billers Association

Community involvement

  • Nouvel Catholic Central Elementary – Social Activities Committee

Suzanne Lozano is a Principal in the Saginaw office. She leads the firm’s Outsourced Accounting Solutions team and is responsible for the daily operations of the Saginaw office’s Tax & Consulting group. She is a member of the firm’s Healthcare Services Group. She is also a founding member of Yeo & Yeo’s Career Advocacy team. Suzanne joined Yeo & Yeo in 1999.

Specializations

  • More than 25 years of experience in business consulting for management, financial decision making, and tax planning with an emphasis in the medical, retail, and construction sectors
  • Strategic planning
  • Private industry experience

Professional Certifications and Education

  • Certified Public Accountant (CPA)
  • The Ohio State University – Bachelor of Science in Business Administration

Professional Membership

  • Michigan Association of CPAs
  • American Institute of CPAs
  • Inforum – Great Lakes Bay Region and its Women in Finance Affinity Group – past leader
  • Saginaw County Chamber of Commerce

Publications/Seminars

  • Conducted seminars on Why You Need a CPA and Starting a Medical Practice
  • Conducted webinars for The Michigan State Medical Society’s Physician Executive Development Program
  • Conducted seminar How Health Care Reform Will Affect your Business
  • Don’t Wait to Start Succession Planning
  • C Corporation or Convert to an S Corporation – Is the Time Right?
  • Article published in Michigan medical award-winning magazine of the Michigan State Medical Society
  • Contributed to two articles on Women in the CPA World – Accounting Today & Organizational Excellence
  • eBook – Outsourced Accounting and Small Business Services—Are They Right for Your Business or Organization?

Community Involvement

  • Mid-Michigan Children’s Museum – Past Chair
  • Leadership Saginaw Alumni Association
  • Children’s Zoo of Celebration Square – Past Advisor
  • Peace Lutheran School and Church Foundation Board – Past Treasurer
  • Allen E. & Marie A. Nickless Memorial Foundation – Treasurer
  • Wickson-Link Memorial Foundation – Treasurer
  • Charles F. & Adeline L. Barth Charitable Foundation – Treasurer
  • Saginaw County Chamber of Commerce – Past Board Member, Past Treasurer and Past Member of the Executive Committee

Awards

  • Thomas J. Thompson Achievement Award – honoring one Yeo & Yeo employee each year who exemplifies Thompson’s positive attitude and notable service to the community and to the firm- 2004
  • Michigan Association of Certified Public Accountants’ Women to Watch – Established Leader Award – 2015

Brian Dixon is the Managing Principal of the firm’s Saginaw office. He is a member of the firm’s Education Services Group and Health Care Services Group. He joined Yeo & Yeo in 1998.

Specializations

  • Audits of healthcare organizations
  • Audits of local school districts
  • Audits of not-for-profit organizations
  • Audits of small businesses
  • Audits under government auditing standards
  • Single audits under OMB A-133 and 2 CFR 200

Professional Certifications and Education

  • Certified Public Accountant (CPA)
  • AICPA Advanced Single Audit Certification
  • Northwood University, Bachelors in Accounting

Professional Membership

  • Michigan Association of Certified Public Accountants
  • American Institute of Certified Public Accountants
  • Healthcare Financial Management Association
  • Michigan School Business Officials

Publications/Seminars

Community Involvement

  • Frankenmuth Credit Union, board chairman
  • Carrollton Education Foundation, board treasurer 
  • Saginaw Hospital Finance Authority, board member
  • United Way of Saginaw County, board treasurer
  • Saginaw Area Jaycees Foundation Scholarship Fund, SCF Fund Representative
  • Yeo & Yeo Foundation, Vice President
  • Leadership Saginaw Alumnus

Kati Krueger is the President of Yeo & Yeo Medical Billing & Consulting. She is a member of the firm’s Healthcare Services Group. She joined Yeo & Yeo in 2002.

Specializations

  • Medical billing and management solutions
  • Provider and medical staff credentialing
  • Connecting providers to an appropriate Physicians Health Organization (PHO)
  • Medical practice management
  • Train client’s staff members on patient demographics, Quality Payment Program (QPP), insurance website portals and how to navigate Open Practice Solutions software
  • Business needs for healthcare entities including operational efficiencies, staff training and technology
  • Revenue cycle management
  • Lean Medical Billing
  • ICD-10-CM

Professional Certifications and Education

  • Certified Medical Practice Executive (CMPE)
  • Saginaw Valley State University – bachelor’s degree

Professional Membership

  • Medical Group Management Association
  • Michigan Medical Group Management Association
  • Health Care Compliance Association

Publications/Seminars

  • AAPC local chapter presenter
  • Client and staff trainings on patient demographics, Quality Payment Program (QPP), insurance website portals and how to navigate Open Practice Solutions software
  • Presented portions of Yeo & Yeo Medical Billing & Consulting’s ICD-10 coding seminars, July-September 2015

Community Involvement

  • Yeo Foundation past Board Secretary, Grants/Giving Chair and Affiliate Representative
  • Nouvel Catholic Central Elementary volunteer
  • Saginaw Township community events

Awards