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About Us

About Our Firm

 

 

For years, Esterbrooks has been providing quality, personalized financial guidance to local individuals and businesses. Our expertise ranges from basic tax management and accounting services to more in-depth services such as audits, financial statements, and financial planning.

Esterbrooks is one of the leading firms in and throughout the area. By combining our expertise, experience and the team mentality of our staff, we assure that every client receives the close analysis and attention they deserve. Our dedication to high standards, hiring of seasoned tax professionals, and work ethic is the reason our client base returns year after year.

Our Mission

Our mission is to help clients maintain financial viability in the present, while taking a proactive approach to achieve future goals. This requires open communication to reach an understanding of our clients' needs through research and sound analysis. Esterbrooks is dedicated to meeting these goals with high standards of excellence and professionalism. We have been a staple of the area's business community for years, and pride ourselves on the level of esteem we have earned.

Our dedication to hard work has earned the respect of the business and financial community in and around the area. We believe this to be a direct derivative of our talent and responsiveness to our client base. Whether you are a current or prospective client, rest assured that individuals and businesses who choose Esterbrooks receive competent and timely advice.

Our Team

Mike Pederson, CPA

President

mpederson@esterbrooks.com 218-727-6846

Mike is a graduate of Concordia College, Moorhead with degrees in accounting and computer science. He is a member of the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants and the Minnesota Society of Certified Public Accountants. Mike practices in the areas of audit and accounting with a concentration in nonprofit organizations and employee benefit plans.

Roger A. Peterson, CPA

Vice President

rpeterson@esterbrooks.com 715-392-5101 ext. 101

Roger is a graduate of Duluth Central High School and the University of Minnesota - Duluth with a degree in accounting. He is a member of the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants and the Minnesota Society of Certified Public Accountants. Roger practices in the areas of advisory services to closely-held businesses, assistance with financing, business succession planning, and estate planning.

Mark C. Ball, CPA

Shareholder

mball@esterbrooks.com 218-727-6846

Mark is a 1992 graduate of Duluth East High School and the University of Minnesota, Duluth with a degree in accounting.

Mark is a member of the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants and the Minnesota Society of Certified Public Accountants.

Mark is a QuickBooks Pro Advisor. His practice areas include individual, corporate, and non-profit taxation. Other areas include financial planning, accounting system consultation and implementation, and financial reporting for small and medium sized business, including both compilation and review services.

Outside of work, Mark enjoys coaching his son's community soccer team, spending time with family and friends, and most outdoor activities including fishing, hunting, and camping.

Ryan Sather, CPA MBT

Shareholder

rsather@esterbrooks.com 218-623-7454

Ryan is a graduate of Duluth Denfeld High School, the University of Wisconsin-Superior with a degree in accounting, and the University of Minnesota, Twin Cities with a master’s degree in Business Taxation. His professional activities include: Member – American Institute of Certified Public Accountants, and Member – Minnesota Society of Certified Public Accountants.

Ryan practices in the areas of individual, corporate, and non-profit taxation. He also practices in mergers and acquisitions, financial reporting for small and medium sized businesses, including both compilation and review services, and tax planning for complex transactions.

Ryan’s experience prior to joining Esterbrooks Scott Signorelli Peterson Smithson, Ltd has provided him with a vast background of tax experience. Ryan spent many years working in public accounting servicing mostly small and medium businesses, and individuals. Additionally, he has 6 years’ experience in large corporate tax departments performing a wide variety of compliance, reporting, research and planning functions.

Outside of work, Ryan enjoys traveling, spending time with family and friends, training his Chocolate Lab, and doing home improvement projects.

Knute Pedersen Jr, CPA

Shareholder

KPedersen@esterbrooks.com 715-392-5101

JR graduated from the University of Minnesota with a bachelor’s of science in business degree. He is a member of the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants and the Wisconsin Society of Certified Public Accountants. JR is a certified public accountant and has more than 17 years of public and private accounting experience. His practice concentration is on business and individual tax, tax planning, and helping clients with financial statement preparation. JR serves as treasurer on the Superior Advisory Board of the Superior Salvation Army.

John H. Signorelli, CPA

jsignorelli@esterbrooks.com 218-727-6846

John is a graduate of Duluth East High School and the University of Minnesota, Duluth with a degree in accounting. His professional activities include: Member - American Institute of Certified Public Accountants Member - Minnesota Society of Certified Public Acountants Member - Arrowhead Estate Planning Council. John practices in the areas of business and nonprofit organization auditing, tax preparation and planning, and estate planning.

Sharlene Killorin, CPA

Senior Manager - Trust, Estate and Individual Tax

skillorin@esterbrooks.com 218-727-6846

Kjersten Larson, CPA

Audit Department

klarson@esterbrooks.com 218-727-6846

Kjersten is a graduate of the University of North Dakota with a degree in accounting. She is a member of the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants and the Minnesota Society of Certified Public Accountants. Kjersten practices in the areas of audit and accounting with a concentration in nonprofit organizations as well as employee benefit plans.

Kjersten spends her time outside of work with her husband and three kids. Keeping up with her family takes up most of her free time, but she also enjoys reading, spending time with her friends and being involved in her church community.

Steven M. Ruce

Tax and Accounting

sruce@esterbrooks.com 715-392-5101 ext. 103

Steve is a graduate of the University of Minnesota - Duluth with a degree in accounting. He is a member of the Lake Superior Transportation Club Board of Directors, and the Share Advantage Board of Directors. Steve practices in the areas of income tax preparation and planning and services to small businesses and nonprofit organizations, including consultation as a Quickbooks ProAdvisor.

Sarina Johnson-Like, CPA

Audit Department

SJohnsonLike@esterbrooks.com 218-727-6846

Sarina is a graduate of Winona State University with a degree in accounting. She is a member of the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants and the Minnesota Society of Certified Public Accountants and has also obtained her IFRS Certificate. Sarina practices in the areas of audit and accounting with a focus on nonprofit organizations and single audits. Prior to joining Esterbrooks Scott Signorelli Peterson Smithson, Ltd. Sarina spent seven years with a public accounting firm in Winona, Minnesota where she focused on nonprofit audits and has also held positions in the private sector which provided a wide range of additional accounting experience. Sarina has been an accountant since 2006.

Outside of work, Sarina enjoys being outdoors and spending time with family, friends and her two dogs.

Brady Peterson

Staff Auditor

bpeterson@esterbrooks.com 218-727-6846

Michael Fisher

Staff Accountant, Tax and Accounting

MFisher@esterbrooks.com 218-727-6846

Mike is a graduate of the College of St. Scholastica with a Bachelor’s of Arts degree in Accounting. He is a member of the Minnesota Society of Certified Public Accountants. Mike serves as a board member for Harbor Pointe Credit Union.

Mike practices in the areas of individual and small business income tax preparation and planning services as well as small business financial reporting services.

Avery Azure

Staff Accountant

aazure@esterbrooks.com 218-727-6846

Jonathan Estes

Staff Accountant

Jonathan Estes 218-727-6846

Lori Aho

Payroll

laho@esterbrooks.com 218-727-6846

Sandy Peterson

Payroll and Bookkeeping

SJPeterson@esterbrooks.com 218-727-6846

Sandy is a graduate of Superior Senior High School and UW-Superior, with degrees in Accounting and Elementary Education. She has more than 20 years of public and private accounting experience. Sandy provides bookkeeping and payroll services, as well as support with QuickBooks desk top and online products. Other areas include assistance with individual and business income tax returns.

Outside of work, Sandy enjoys chasing kids, dogs, and horses.

Cindy Muskovitz

Individual, Trust and Estate Tax

cmuskovitz@esterbrooks.com 218-727-6846

Dan Baumgartner

Office Manager

dbaumgartner@esterbrooks.com 218-727-6846

Dan Baumgartner attended Duluth Central and Duluth Marshall high schools, and Hamline University in St. Paul where he competed on the Men’s Basketball team.

Dan joined Esterbrooks in March, 2013.

Outside of work, he was a high school basketball coach for 8 years, and loves spending time on the golf course.

Sarah Reynolds

Reception

Sarah.Reynolds@esterbrooks.com 218-727-6846

Sarah has been in the Hospitality Industry for over 14 years and joined the team in 2019.

Outside of work Sarah enjoys spending time with friends and family, gardening and grilling.