Partner Profiles

Our partners have worked for some of the biggest CPA firms and companies in the country and now apply their experience to the clients of Carlson Advisors. Working with them is like hanging with the popular group — of the chess club.

Melvin G. Enger, CPA | President
763.971.4808
menger@carlson-advisors.com

Mel's public accounting experience spans more than 22 years. During that time, Mel has become a specialist in assisting clients in the manufacturing, printing and graphic arts industries.

Provides management advisory services in business organization and long-term business planning
Has assisted numerous clients with mergers and acquisitions
Involved in traditional and nontraditional accounting, including entity planning and financing assistance
Assists business owners with a variety of tax and management consulting issues
Provides litigation support and expert testimony
Has conducted numerous seminars on forecasting, business planning, and operations reviews
Member of the AICPA and the Minnesota Society of CPAs
Active member of the Printing Industry of Minnesota Financial Executive Forum

Rick A. Riesgraf, CPA
763.971.4803
rriesgraf@carlson-advisors.com

Rick is a principal/shareholder of Carlson Advisors and has more than 25 years of public accounting experience serving clients in various industries, specializing in the graphic arts and transportation arenas.

Provides management advisory services in business organization and strategic planning
Has extensive experience with mergers and acquisitions, including due diligence studies
Has helped numerous business owners with business succession planning
Assists clients with performance management and operations reviews
Is skilled at entity planning and obtaining financing
Has significant experience in corporate, partnership and individual tax matters
Has presented seminars and training on estate planning, performance management, forecasting and other topics
Member of the AICPA Management Advisory Services Practice Section
Member of the Minnesota Society of CPAs
Serves on various non-profit boards
Active in various trade associations

Joel D. Henley, CPA
763.971.4814
jhenley@carlson-advisors.com

Joel has over 28 years of experience with assisting closely-held businesses through complex areas of tax law. Joel was a member of national accounting firms for ten years prior to joining Carlson Advisors.

Specializes in multi-state taxation and resolving difficult tax controversies with state and federal agencies
Is especially involved in real estate tax law and the accompanying tax ramifications
Has extensive experience in entity structuring (LLCs, LLPs, S versus C corporations)
Heavily involved in estate planning, taxation matters, acquisition and ownership succession planning
Experienced in compensation planning for executives
Has spoken on numerous occasions to various industry groups on tax issues
Has published articles on tax issues and participated in authoring a book on real estate transactions
Member of the Tax Practice Section and S Corporation Subcommittee of the AICPA

Jerald B. Ostergren, Jr., CPA
763.971.4807
jostergren@carlson-advisors.com

Jerry is the partner-in-charge of quality control for our auditing and accounting practice. With over 29 years of public accounting experience, he is responsible for maintaining the high quality standards of the firm and reviewing, interpreting, and training on all new financial accounting and auditing standards.

Specializes in audit and assurance
Partner-in-charge of benefit plan and assurance services
Proficient with forecasting, business planning, and operations reviews
Provides management advisory services to a variety of clients
Involved with/consulted on mergers, acquisitions and company valuations for clients in various industries
Has significant experience with nonprofits and financial services
Member of the AICPA and the Minnesota Society of CPAs
Active committee member of the Printing Industry of Minnesota

Dawn M. Polfliet, CPA
763.971.4828
dpolfliet@carlson-advisors.com

Dawn has 17 years of public accounting experience serving medium to large privately-held companies, many of which are in the graphic arts and insurance industries.

Has conducted audits, reviews and compilations of companies with revenues from $2M to $100M
Extensive business valuation experience
Provides assistance with forecasting, overhead rate studies and operations reviews
Works with clients on many corporate and individual tax matters
Provides CFO services for clients on an interim basis
Assists clients with benefit plan compliance requirements
Dawn is a member of the AICPA and the Minnesota Society of CPAs

William R. (Rob) Younkers, CPA
763.971.4838
ryounkers@carlson-advisors.com

Rob has 13 years of accounting experience serving medium to large privately-held companies with management advisory services and various attest and tax compliance responsibilities.

Strong emphasis in corporate tax planning and compliance
Audit experience includes companies with revenues from $2M to $100M, including the audit of a U.S. subsidiary of a foreign corporation
Coordinated the audit and tax services for a $250M corporation as an interim position in private industry
He provides assistance with forecasting, overhead rate studies and operations reviews
Other management advisory services include corporate and individual tax matters
Assists clients with employee benefit plan compliance requirements
Member of the AICPA and the Minnesota Society of CPAs
Treasurer of the Minnesota Society of CPAs Accountants Education Fund

Michael T. Niznik, CPA
763.971.4826
mniznik@carlson-advisors.com

Mike is a tax partner with Carlson Advisors. Prior to joining our firm, Mike worked with national and regional accounting firms.

Major experience consists of federal and state tax compliance for individuals, partnerships, S corporations, trusts, and non-profit entities
Works closely with clients who need multi-state taxation assistance
Assists in resolving federal and state tax controversies
Specializes in matters involving unrelated business income pertaining to nonprofit organizations
Works with clients on deferred compensation arrangements
Assists closely-held businesses and individuals with complex areas of tax law including entity structuring
Has been involved with or spoken at numerous seminars to industry groups regarding tax planning issues
Member of the AICPA and the Minnesota Society of CPAs
Chaired the Public Relations Committee of the Minnesota Society of CPAs, where, under his leadership, the Committee received an outstanding committee award
Serves on the youth Promotion and Tax Course Selection committees

Darren Kray, CPA
763.971.4823
dkray@carlson-advisors.com

During Darren’s 11-year tenure at Carlson Advisors he has developed a broad range of expertise assisting privately-held companies in the graphic arts, manufacturing, insurance and various other industries.

Strong emphasis in management advisory services
Significant experience in the areas of forecasting, mergers and acquisitions, corporate and individual tax planning, employee benefit plan compliance, and business structuring issues
Successfully conducts several multifaceted audits, reviews and compilations of companies with revenues ranging from $1M to over $100M
Member of the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants and the Minnesota Society of CPAs