Welcome to the Partners Profile Page. Included are descriptions and profiles of each of the partners at Ericksen, Krentel & LaPorte. At EK&L you will always have the support of the entire team combined with the expertise of our seven industry-leading partners. Your engagement team will consist of the individuals whose backgrounds best suit your needs. As your requirements grow or change, you can continue to draw upon our bank of talented professionals. Your satisfaction and success will always be our goal.

Firm History

In a one-room office in the Maritime building on Carondelet Street, Lec Krentel and Ben Ericksen shared a partners' desk and began what is 45 years later, a thriving 40-person accounting and consulting firm.  How does an accounting firm continue to grow and thrive in today's fast-paced and ever-changing business economy? We believe it is due to our focus on quality client service and a commitment to employing people with the highest levels of professionalism and dedication to our clients' needs. We have seen our practice grow, not just in the number of clients or employees, but in the diversification of the services we provide. We have tried to respond to our clients needs by providing valuable services and by developing our firm to stay current with the changes in our own industry as well as those of our clients. It is with great pride that we can review our client lists and see many longtime clients that have grown and evolved with us. Likewise, many of the partners and staff have been with the firm for much of their professional careers - providing a level of continuity in personnel that is unusual in today's business climate. Four and a half decades have passed since Ben and Lec shared a desk and a simple philosophy that if you build a firm dedicated to client service and hire the best people to provide those services, the firm will grow and the clients will benefit. And, while we have seen the firm evolve into an organization capable of keeping pace in an age of burgeoning technology and a global economy, we are steadfast in our belief that it is our people who make us successful.

It is the spirit of our people and the loyalty of our clients that have set us apart for over 40 years. Our commitment to the success of our clients, together with our "not-just-the-numbers" approach is only part of our formula for success. At Ericksen, Krentel & LaPorte, our broad menu of services is second only to the quality of our people.

Partners Profile

James E. LaPorte, CPA
Managing Partner

James LaPorte has been the managing partner of Ericksen,Krentel & LaPorte since 1995, and a partner since 1978. He specializes in the fields of Audit, Management Advisory Services and Litigation Support, having served as a court-appointed expert in business matters for judges of the 24th Judicial District Court in Jefferson Parish. He has experience in a broad range of industries including maritime, governmental, construction, automotive dealerships, hospitality and real estate development.

Mr. LaPorte received his BBA inAccounting from Loyola University in New Orleans where he was inducted into the honor societies of Alpha Sigma Nu, Beta Gamma Sigma and BetaAlpha Psi. Today he is involved with the boards of several non-profit foundations and serves in the capacity of trustee for several clients' family trusts. He is President of the Clifford F. Spanier Foundation,Chairman of the Finance Committee of the Christian Brothers Foundation andTreasurer of the Christian Brothers School Board. He also serves as the Chairman on the Finance Committee of the Catholic Foundation Board and on theAdvisory Council of theA.B. Freeman School of Business atTulane University. He is a member of Legatus, an organization of Catholic CEOs.

James LaPorte is a member of Greater New Orleans, Inc., and the New Orleans Metropolitan Convention andVisitors Bureau. His professional memberships include the American Institute of Certified PublicAccountants (AICPA), and the State Society of Louisiana Certified PublicAccountants (SLCPA).You may e-mail Mr. LaPorte at jlaporte@ericksenkrentel.com.

Richard Mueller, CPA
Tax Partner

Richard Mueller joined Ericksen,Krentel & LaPorte in 1983 and was admitted as a partner in 1990. Mr.Mueller is a senior partner in the firm'sTax Section and specializes in tax planning, research, and compliance for individuals, corporations, S corporations, partnerships, trusts and estates. Rich has vast experience in the marine transport, restaurant, insurance, construction, real estate and gaming industries.Additionally, he is experienced in representation before the IRS concerning tax audits and resolving tax issues. Rich was born in Milwaukee,Wisconsin but has called New Orleans home for over 35 years. He is a graduate ofArchbishop Rummel High School and the University of New Orleans with a Bachelor of Science degree in Accounting.
Mr.Mueller is a member of the New Orleans Sports Foundation, where he volunteers for several events, including serving as a Lieutenant for The Host Committee of Super Bowl XXXI and XXXVI in New Orleans. He is also a member of the Louisiana RestaurantAssociation. He serves on the board for Louisiana Guardianship Services, Inc. and is treasurer for the Bayou Multiple Sclerosis Foundation. His professional memberships include theAmerican Institute of Certified PublicAccountants (AICPA), the Society of Louisiana Certified Public Accountants (SLCPA), and the National Society ofTax Professionals (NSTP)

You may e-mail Mr. Mueller at rmueller@ericksenkrentel.com

Ronald H. Dawson, Jr., CPA
Partner

Ronald H.Dawson Jr. joined the firm in 1981. He is the partner in charge of the firm'sAudit andAttest Section. He has worked with many types of businesses and has assisted them in the development and implementation of meaningful accounting and financial reporting systems. He specializes in accounting, auditing and systems design and has expertise with governmental, not-for-profit,marine transport, construction, retail, continuing care retirement communities, automobile dealerships and gaming related organizations. He holds a bachelor's degree inAccounting from the University of New Orleans. Mr.Dawson is a member of Associated Builders and Contractors, French Quarter Businessmen'sAssociation and the Krewe of Caesar. He serves as Treasurer of the Clifford F. Spanier Foundation and Beacon Prep. Ronald Dawson's numerous professional memberships include the Society of Louisiana Certified PublicAccountants (SLCPA),where he is a reviewer in the Quality Review Program, a member of the Peer Review Committee, Accounting andAuditing Committee andAnnual Convention Committee. In the past, he has also served on the Litigation Support Services Committee of the SLCPA. Mr.Dawson is a member of theAmerican Institute of Certified PublicAccountants (AICPA), a member of Government Finance OfficersAssociation, and the New Orleans Chapter of the Society of Certified PublicAccountants, for which he has taught several training courses in accounting and auditing. You may e-mail Mr. Dawson at rdawson@ericksenkrentel.com.

Kevin M. Neyrey, CPA, CVA, PFS, AEP
Partner

Kevin M.Neyrey joined the firm in 1984. He is the partner in charge of the firm'sTax Section. He has extensive experience in providing business valuation services, litigation services and estate and personal financial planning services, tax planning for businesses, individuals, estates and trusts. In addition,Mr.Neyrey has considerable experience with the maritime industry, the retail grocery industry, the video gaming industry and real estate. His educational background includes a Master of Science degree inAccounting-Taxation from the University of New Orleans, a Master of Business Administration degree fromTulane University and a Bachelor of Science degree inAccounting from Southeastern Louisiana University.

Mr.Neyrey's professional memberships include theAmerican Institute of Certified PublicAccountants (AICPA),where he is a member of the Personal Financial Planning Division and accredited as a Personal Financial Specialist (PFS). He is a member of the Society of Louisiana Certified Public Accountants (SLCPA) and the New Orleans Chapter of the SLCPA where he serves as a member of the Litigation Services Committee and has served as past Chairman of theTaxation Committee.

Kevin Neyrey is a member of the Executive Committee of the New Orleans Estate Planning Council and serves on the Board of Directors of the National Association of Estate Planners and Councils (NAEPC). He is certified as an Accredited Estate Planner by the NAECP. He is also a member of the NationalAssociation of the CertifiedValuationAnalysts,where he is certified as a CertifiedValuationAnalyst (CVA).

You may e-mail Mr. Neyrey at kneyrey@ericksenkrentel.com. 

Claude M. Silverman, CPA, CITP
Partner

Claude M. Silverman joined the firm in 1983. He is the partner in charge of the firm's Information Technology Section. He specializes in audit, consulting and information technology services and has extensive experience in hotel, restaurant, hospitality, health care, non-profit and professional services industries. He also has experience with audit and compliance issues relating to 401(k) Plans, Defined Benefit Plans, and Health &Welfare Benefit Plans.

Mr. Silverman received his Bachelor of Science Degree inAccounting from the University of New Orleans in 1982.

Claude Silverman's industry memberships include the Medical Group ManagementAssociation and Healthcare Financial Management Association. He is also a member of the New Orleans Metropolitan Convention and Visitors Bureau,Greater New Orleans Hotel and LodgingAssociation and the Jefferson Chamber of Commerce.

Mr. Silverman's professional memberships include theAmerican Institute of Certified PublicAccountants (AICPA),where he is a member of the InformationTechnology Division. He is also a member of the Society of Louisiana Certified PublicAccountants (SLCPA) and the New Orleans Chapter of the LCPA.untants (SLCPA) and the New Orleans Chapter of the LCPA.

You may e-mail Mr. Silverman at csilverman@ericksenkrentel.com.

W. Eric Powers, CPA
Partner

W. Eric Powers is anAudit Partner with more than 20 years of accounting, auditing and consulting experience. Mr. Powers' has extensive experience in all phases of auditing for clients, including non-profit organizations, local government entities and 401(k) plans, as well as construction companies, retailers,wholesalers and other closely held corporations.

Mr. Powers holds a Bachelor of Science in Finance from Indiana University. Upon graduation, he began his public accounting career with Ericksen,Krentel & LaPorte and was admitted as partner in 1999.

Mr. Powers' professional memberships include theAmerican Institute of Certified PublicAccountants (AICPA), the Society of Louisiana Certified PublicAccountants (SLCPA) and the New Orleans Chapter of the Society of Certified PublicAccountants. He currently participates as a qualified reviewer in the Louisiana State Board of CPAs Quality Review Program and is an active member of the Peer Review Committee of the SLCPA. Eric Powers is also a member of Greater New Orleans, Inc., theAssociated Builders and Contractors, East Jefferson BusinessAssociation and the Ormond Country Club.

You may e-mail Mr. Powers at epowers@ericksenkrentel.com.

Dennis J. Tizzard, CPA, CFE, CVA
Partner

Dennis Tizzard joined the firm in 1990. He is a partner in the firm's Consulting Services Section. He has extensive experience in providing litigation support services, forensic accounting services, business interruption loss analysis services, business valuation services and small business consulting services.

Mr.Tizzard holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Accounting from the University of New Orleans. He is a Certified Fraud Examiner as designated by theAssociation of Certified Fraud Examiners, and is also a CertifiedValuationAnalyst, as designated by the NationalAssociation of Certified Valuation Analysts.

Mr. Tizzard's professional memberships include theAmerican Institute of Certified PublicAccountants (AICPA), Society of Louisiana Certified Public Accountants (SLCPA), theAssociation of Certified Fraud Examiners (ACFE) and the NationalAssociation of CertifiedValuationAnalysts. He is also a member of the Krewe of Endymion and the Sons of theAmerican Republic.

You may e-mail Dennis Tizzard at dtizzard@ericksenkrentel.com.

James E. Tonglet, CPA
Partner

James Tonglet began his career with Ericksen,Krentel& LaPorte in 1989. Mr.Tonglet is a partner in the firm'sAudit andAttest Section and has experience dealing with a wide variety of entities including privately owned small businesses, governmental agencies, non-profit organizations and industries such as hospitality, healthcare, technology, insurance, retail and manufacturing.

James is a native of New Orleans and holds a Bachelor of Science degree inAccounting from the University of New Orleans. He also attended Louisiana State University in Baton Rouge.

His professional memberships include theAmerican Institute of Certified PublicAccountants (AICPA) and the Society of Louisiana Certified Public Accountants (SLCPA). He is a member of theAccounting andAuditing Standards Committee of the Society of Louisiana Certified Public
Accountants and has served as a member of the Uniform CPA Exam Standards Setting Panel and the Uniform CPA Exam PracticeAnalysis Panel of theAmerican Institute of Certified PublicAccountants.

James has represented the firm as a member of the Greater SlidellArea Chamber of Commerce, the New Orleans Metropolitan Convention and Visitors' Bureau and the Hospitality Finance andTechnology Professionals Association.

You may e-mail Jim Tonglet at jtonglet@ericksenkrentel.com.