Matt Thomas

Matthew R. Thomas, CPA, CFE, graduated from Ohio State University (BSBA, 1993) with a major in accounting and finance at which time he joined Balestra, Harr & Scherer, CPAs as a staff auditor. Matt is a manager specializing in auditing cooperatives but has experience auditing various other types of entities, including nonprofit organizations and employee benefit plans. He is a member of the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants, the Ohio Society of Certified Public Accountants and the National Society of Accountants for Cooperatives. Matt is also a Certified Fraud Examiner.

Andrew Ruck

Andrew T. Ruck, CPA, graduated from Ohio University (BBA, 2003), with a degree in business administration with emphasis in accounting and management information systems. He has been assigned full time to the audit staff since September of 2003. During his career he has been involved in numerous audits of clients in several industries including agriculture, construction, employee benefit plans, nonprofits, and governmental. Andy is a member of the Ohio Society of CPAs and National Society of Accountants for Cooperatives.

Amanda Pridemore

Amanda Pridemore, CPA, graduated from Wittenberg University (BA, 2003) in management and accounting. Amanda was an intern in 2002 and was hired as a full-time employee for the firm in August of 2003. Since joining our firm, she has been involved in audits of electric cooperatives, agricultural cooperatives, construction, nonprofit organizations and government entities. Amanda is a member of the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants and the Ohio Society of Certified Public Accountants. She also serves on the Audit and SOX Committee for the North American Region of Polaris International.

Chris Gleason

Christopher P. Gleason, CISA, graduated from Ohio State University (BSBA, 1996) with a major in Accounting and MIS, and is a Certified Information Systems Auditor. Chris joined the firm as an auditor in 1996. He also provides his expertise in computer business applications, assisting clients with their hardware selection and software installation needs. Chris has served as a manager on several agriculture, electric, employee benefit, and nonprofit audit and consulting engagements. Chris also serves as the firm's Director of Information Technology.

Paul Rennick

As Director of Quality Assurance and Training for the Government Sector of Balestra, Harr & Scherer, Paul has the responsibility for overseeing the quality of auditing and consulting services the firm provides to its governmental clients.

Paul has more than thirty years of government experience with thousands of hours of government audit and consulting experience. Mr. Rennick has worked on numerous city, county, school district, utility and other government audits and consulting projects. Mr. Rennick's experience includes 10 years with the Auditor of State of Ohio where he worked as an auditor for almost 4 years, then left for 4 years as noted below, then was hired as the District Audit Manager for a 10 county area in Southern Ohio where he worked for over 4 years and then was promoted as a Deputy Auditor responsible for Management Advisory Services (now Local Government Services) for 2 years. Mr. Rennick worked for the accounting firm of Ernst & Whinney (now Ernst & Young) for 4 years in the government consulting area. During this time period he was responsible for a number of projects including working on segments of the initial GAAP conversion for the State of Ohio, conducting several governmental software evaluations, and numerous other governmental projects. Since 1994 Mr. Rennick worked as an auditor/consultant for his own firm for three years and then for Balestra, Harr & Scherer, CPAs since that time.

Paul earned a BS degree in Business Administration from Wilmington College. He is licensed to practice as a Certified Public Accountant in the State of Ohio. Paul has served as treasurer and member of the church board for Sciotoville Church of the Nazarene from 1999 to the present time. Paul is a member of the Ohio Society of CPAs and the American Institute of CPA's.

Brenden Balestra

As Director of Audit Services for the Government Sector of Balestra, Harr & Scherer, Brenden has the responsibility for overseeing the auditing services the firm provides to its governmental clients. These clients include more than 150 Counties, Cities, Villages, Townships, Colleges, School Districts, and other government agencies. Brenden has more than fourteen years of experience auditing local governments and state agencies and has spent his entire career with the firm.

Brenden earned BS degree in Accounting from Liberty University. He is licensed to practice as a Certified Public Accountant in the State of Ohio. In Addition, Brenden is a Certified Information Systems Auditor, Certified in the Governance of Enterprise IT, and Certified Government Auditing Professional.

Brenden is a member of the American Institute of CPAs, the Ohio Society of CPAs, the Association of Government Accountants, the Government Finance Officers Association, the Information Systems Audit & Control Association, and the Ohio Association of College and University Business Officers. Brenden volunteers as an assistant for the City Little League, and actively participates in various local charity events.

Bill Lemons

As Senior Audit Manager of Audit Services for the Government Sector of Balestra, Harr & Scherer, Bill has the responsibility for managing audit quality, including scheduling audits, staff management, and review of the work papers and final audit product for the firm's governmental clients. Bill has more than thirty-two years of experience auditing local governments and state agencies in the public sector and in the private sector. Upon retirement from the State of Ohio, he has continued his local government auditing career in the private sector.

Bill earned a BS degree in Finance from the Ohio State University. He is a member of the Association of Government Accountants and is a Certified Government Financial Manager. Bill has spent several years as a volunteer in his home community as an officer in the PTO and the local Little League. He also volunteered as a leader in the Boy Scouts of America.

Tim Loper

As Audit Manager for the Government Sector of Balestra, Harr & Scherer Timothy has the responsibility of managing staff auditors for the common goal of providing our clients the best services possible. He has spent his entire career in public accounting working on governmental and not for profit audits.

Timothy earned a BSBA with a concentration in accounting from Shawnee State University. Timothy volunteers as a coach for the Local Little League, Youth Basketball League and Youth Soccer League.

Timothy is a member of the Association of Government Accounts

Robert Maddix

As a Senior Audit Manager for the Government Sector of Balestra, Harr & Scherer, Robert has the responsibility for overseeing Audit Managers and insuring that the audits meet the governmental audit standards. Robert has five years of experience auditing local governments and state agencies and has spent his entire career with the firm.

Robert earned BS degree in Accounting from Union College (KY). Robert volunteers as a coach for the Little League and Youth Basketball League. He actively participates in his church.

Chrissy Downs

As an Audit Manager for the Government Sector of Balestra, Harr & Scherer, Chrissy has the responsibility of managing staff auditors to ensure our clients receive the best possible services. She has worked in the accounting industry for 7 years, 5 of which have consisted of a sole concentration in governmental and not for profit auditing and accounting. Chrissy joined Balestra, Harr & Scherer in January of 2010.

Chrissy obtained her BS degree in communication with a minor in accounting from Ohio University - Chillicothe in 2006. She currently resides in Chillicothe with her husband and three children.

Rick Galloway

As Audit Manager for the Government Sector, Rick has the responsibility of managing staff auditors for the common goal of providing our clients the best services possible. Rick has more than twenty-five years of experience in accounting and auditing concentrated in the government, coal, banking, and public accounting industries.

Rick earned a BBA with a concentration in accounting from Ohio University. He is licensed to practice as a Certified Public Accountant in the State of West Virginia. In addition, Rick is a Certified Internal Auditor.

Patty Stockwell

Patricia A. Stockwell, CPA, graduated from Ohio University (BSBA 1986) with a major in accounting. Patty joined the firm in 1998 and is responsible for the firm's tax and accounting practice. She manages and supervises the day-to-day activities of several staff and the tax and accounting services to many individuals and small businesses throughout Ohio. Patty is a member of the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants and the Ohio Society of Certified Public Accountants.

Rita Knece

Rita J. Knece, CPA, graduated from Ohio Dominican University with a BS in Education and completed the necessary accounting course work to sit for the CPA exam in 1986. Rita worked for Balestra, Harr & Scherer, CPAs soon after passing the CPA exam for several years and was re-hired as a full-time employee for the firm in January of 2006. Since joining our firm, she has worked in the tax department specializing in taxation of agricultural cooperatives and small business entities. Rita is a member of the Ohio Society of Certified Public Accountants.

Caleb Nickell

As one of the firm's tax managers, Caleb has the responsibility of overseeing the tax practice of the firm's Piketon office, and will also work with tax clients in the Columbus office. The clients that he manages include a range of sole proprietors, partnerships, LLCs, corporations and not-for-profit organizations.

Caleb has more than 9 years experience in public and corporate accounting and finance. His experience includes all phases of financial, tax, and business advisory services including preparation and review of financial statements, individual, business and estate tax planning, and consulting engagements.

Caleb earned a B.S. in Accounting & Finance, and has an MBA in Finance from Ashland University. He is a member of the United Way and Pike County Community Fund's finance committee and served consecutive terms as treasurer for the Chillicothe Jaycees. He is also a member of the Columbus Young Professionals Network.

Shelly Jarrell

As Senior Consulting Manager for the Government Sector of Balestra, Harr & Scherer, Shelly has the responsibility for overseeing the consulting services the firm provides to its governmental clients. These clients include Counties, Cities, Villages, Townships, Colleges, School Districts, and other government agencies. Shelly has been with the firm for more than fourteen years and during this time has performed GAAP conversions and audits, and has prepared financial reports for local governments including Comprehensive Annual Financial Reports.

Shelly earned a BS degree from Muskingum College (now Muskingum University) majoring in Accounting, Business, and Economics. She is a member of the Association of Government Accountants.