Richard J. Alfera, MST, PFS, CPA
Rick is the firm's president and managing partner of daily operations, he is also responsible for administering the firm's Tax & Compliance and Business & Consulting practices. He provides specialized tax services, planning, research, and compliance counseling to businesses in a wide variety of industries. He also has extensive experience with mergers, acquisitions, reorganizations, and business consulting including litigation support for attorneys regarding those areas of expertise. Rick acts as a business advocate, providing integrated planning for closely held businesses and family members.
Prior to joining the firm, Rick worked at an international big-four accounting firm, where he advised companies with annual sales of $1 million to $100 million, as well as several Fortune 500 companies. Subsequently, he served as a senior accountant for Rockwell International, where he was responsible for federal and multi-state income tax compliance. He also acted as the tax manager of the Allen-Bradley Company, a Rockwell subsidiary.
Among other professional teaching and training responsibilities, Rick has taught national tax training seminars. He has a master's degree in taxation, cum laude, from Robert Morris College and a bachelor's degree in accounting, cum laude, from Duquesne University.
Rick is the past President and member of the executive board of directors of the Northern Allegheny County Chamber of Commerce, a founding member of the Marketing Committee and past President of the South Hills Chamber of Commerce, a member of the Tax Section of the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants, a past board member of the Western PA School for the Deaf, a member of the Pennsylvania Institute of Certified Public Accountants and the Ohio Society of Certified Public Accountants. He is also a member of the North American Tang Soo Do Karate Association.
Email: rjalfera@gbaco.com
Read Rick's Most Recent Blog Posts:
- Types of Business Entities | S Corporations
- Types of Business Entities | Corporations
- Types of Business Entities | Partnerships
James R. Baird, III, CPA/ABV, CVA
A Partner in the Audit & Assurance, and Business & Consulting departments, James (Jamie) works closely with our clients, their controllers, and bookkeepers, in providing tax and accounting services that best meet their diverse needs. Jamie’s experience includes serving public and closely held businesses with accounting and auditing, profit enhancement, business plan analysis, and business valuations. His experience includes working with companies in various industries including real estate, healthcare, manufacturing, and not for profit.
Jamie graduated magna cum laude from Robert Morris College with a BS in Business Administration. Jamie is a CPA, a Certified Valuation Analyst (CVA), and Accredited in Business Valuation (ABV). ABV is a professional designation awarded to CPAs who specialize in calculating the value of businesses. The certification is overseen by the AICPA and requires the applicant to pass an exam, have 1,500 hours in performing valuations and 75 hours of continuing professional education within the last five years. There are only approximately 3,200 CPA/ABV’s nationwide.
Jamie is a member of the Pennsylvania Institute of Certified Public Accountants, the American Institutes of Certified Public Accountants and Forensic and Valuation Services Section and National Association of Certified Valuation Analysts.
Email: jrbaird@gbaco.com
Read Jamie's Most Recent Blog Posts:
Stephen J. Spitz, CPA
Steve is a Partner in the Audit & Assurance department. Prior to becoming Partner, Steve began as a consultant with GBAC in 2002, with experience primarily in audits, reviews, and compilations of financial statements of companies in various industries including governmental, not for profit, service, manufacturing, medical, and real estate. He graduated Cum Laude from Saint Francis College in Loretto, Pa., with a degree in accounting in 1998 and became a Certified Public Accountant in 2001.
Steve is one of our firm’s newest audit partners. He began providing Peer Review services as a team captain in 2016 after going through the firm’s internal peer review training and the courses required by the AICPA. Steve is a current member of the PICPA Peer Review Committee and is an integral part of our firm’s peer review service offering.
Steve is a member of the Pittsburgh Young Professionals.
Email: sjspitz@gbaco.com
Read Steve's Most Recent Blog Posts:
Lauri A. Lisanti, MAcc, CPA, CPS
.jpg?width=313&height=313&name=Lisanti_Lauri-22677eLinkedin%20(1).jpg)
Lauri was promoted to Partner, Client Account Services in July 2021. She is responsible for the Firm’s controllership services and client account services group, which provides business, accounting, and computer software consulting to clients in a variety of industries including nonprofit organizations, manufacturing, retail and professional services. Lauri's responsibilities include the installation of and training for accounting software, annual maintenance and upgrades of software, technical support, accounting services both on-site and off-site and payroll services. Lauri has extensive knowledge of accounting software packages, such as all versions of QuickBooks, including Enterprise Solutions. Lauri also manages the group, which includes hiring, training and scheduling and reviewing the work of staff. She also assists on audits, prepares compiled and reviewed financial statements and corporate tax returns. In addition, Lauri is also a certified payroll specialist, manages payroll services for the firms’ clients, and is responsible for the firm’s accounting.
A member of the firm since 2003, Lauri is a graduate of Chatham University with a Master of Accounting degree, where she graduated summa cum laude. Lauri also graduated from Robert Morris University with a Bachelor of Science degree in Business Administration and a Bachelor of Science degree in Accounting, where she graduated Magna Cum Laude. Lauri became a Certified Public Accountant in 2014.
Lauri is a member of the Brentwood Baldwin Whitehall Chamber of Commerce Women’s Networking Group and is on the board of directors of South Park Theatre, a nonprofit community theatre.
Email: lalisanti@gbaco.com
Read Lauri's Most Recent Blog Posts:
- QuickBooks Tips | Transferring Data to Your Accountant
- QuickBooks Tips | Managing Cash Flow Using the Vendor Center
- QuickBooks Tips | How to Fix Duplicate List Items
Derek M. Backa, CPA, CVA
Derek Backa, a firm partner in the Tax & Compliance, and Business & Consulting departments. Derek has particular experience serving closely held businesses where he counsels and assists business owners with profitability analysis, tax planning and compliance, loan request packages, business plan development, real estate transactions, and general business matters. He also assists businesses and individuals on a wide range of financial planning matters.
Prior to joining the firm, Derek was a personal financial planning consultant for a Pittsburgh-based firm, serving corporate managers, attorneys, physicians, and engineers. In addition to his accounting and financial experience, he has more than 10 years experience in manufacturing, where his responsibilities included production scheduling and inventory control, as well as fabrication and distribution of product lines for the steel industry. In December 1998, Derek completed the National Association of Certified Valuation Analysts (NACVA) program and earned the designation of Certified Valuation Analyst (CVA).
Derek, who holds Series 7 and Series 63 securities licenses, has a bachelor's degree in business administration and accounting from the University of Pittsburgh. Derek is past chairman of the board of the Pittsburgh Chapter of the American Cancer Society and currently, serves as a board member for the Pennsylvania Division of the American Cancer Society. He is also a member of the American and Pennsylvania Institutes of Certified Public Accountants.
Email: dmbacka@gbaco.com
Read Derek's Most Recent Blog Posts:
Jennifer A. Varley, CPA
Jennifer was promoted to Partner in 2017 after serving 9 years as a manager in the Audit & Assurance department at GBACO.
Jennifer joined the firm as a Manager in the firm’s Audit & Accounting Group in 2008. She has over 30 years of experience providing auditing, review and compilation services to a wide variety of clients. She has been responsible for GBACO's Nonprofit Financial Services practice and Housing & Urban Development (HUD) Audits specialty area. Her diverse experience also includes providing tax compliance and planning services for individuals, corporations, partnerships, and non-profit tax organizations.
Jennifer graduated from Duquesne University with a bachelor’s degree in business administration with a concentration in accounting. A CPA since 1987, she is also a member of the Pennsylvania Institute of Certified Public Accountants.
Email: javarley@gbaco.com
Explore Jen's Blog Posts
Matthew B. Sarver, CPA
Matt was promoted to Partner in the Audit & Assurance Department in December, 2021. He spends the majority of his time providing auditing services to clients in a variety of industries including nonprofit organizations, manufacturing, and professional services. In addition to his normal managerial responsibilities related to the audit and accounting engagements assigned to him, Matt will be responsible for assisting with the firm’s quality control areas and his specialty areas which include ERISA plans and HUD audits.
Matt is a Magna Cum Laude graduate of Robert Morris University with a Bachelor’s of Science degree in Accounting. In addition, Matt became a certified public accountant in 2009.
Email: mbsarver@gbaco.com
Read Matt's Most Recent Blog Posts:
Stacey L. Schroeffel, MST, CPA
Stacey was promoted to Partner in the Tax Department on January 1, 2025. She provides preparation and review of federal, state, and local tax returns for individuals, non-profit organizations, and businesses in a variety of industries. In addition to tax compliance, Stacey assists clients with quarterly and annual tax projections and planning or research. She regularly communicates with the Internal Revenue Service and state tax authorities to resolve client tax issues. Administratively, Stacey is responsible for scheduling all tax work, meeting tax deadlines for any client filings, and supervising and training new tax associates and interns. She participates in hiring and evaluating staff members in the tax department as well.
A member of the firm since 2013, Stacey is a graduate of Robert Morris University with a Master of Science in Taxation and a Bachelor of Science in Business Administration with a major in Accounting from the Indiana University of Pennsylvania. Stacey became a Certified Public Accountant in May, 2000.
Stacey is a member of the Pennsylvania Institute of Certified Public Accountants and the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants
Michael D. Leopold
Michael Leopold joined the firm in 2024 as a Manager in the Tax & Compliance department. Michael has experience at regional accounting firms and private corporations. He provides preparation and review of Federal, State and Local tax returns for individuals, non-profit, and corporate clients.
Michael received his Bachelor of Arts in International Business Management from Gustavus Adolphus College in St. Peter, Minnesota and his Masters of Science in Accounting from the University of Pittsburgh, Joseph M. Katz Graduate School of Business.
Email: mdleopold@gbaco.com
Rita R. Day
Rita was hired in 2007 as the Office Manager of the firm. Rita's responsibilities include functions in finance and accounting, personnel and human resources, marketing/practice management and development, and general administration. She has a variety of experience working with companies in industries including education, service, technology, and manufacturing organizations, providing services similar to what her current responsibilities entail. Rita holds a Commonwealth of Pennsylvania Notary Public Commission. Rita is an active member of the Brentwood Business Owners Association and the Brentwood Baldwin Whitehall Chamber of Commerce.
Email: rrday@gbaco.com
Wendy L. Bauman
Wendy is a business systems consultant in the Consulting Group of Goff Backa Alfera & Company, LLC. In this capacity, Wendy spends the majority of her time providing business and computer software consulting to clients in a wide variety of industries, including nonprofit organizations, manufacturing, retail and professional services. Wendy’s responsibilities include the installation of and training for accounting software, annual maintenance and upgrades of software, technical support, bookkeeping services both on-site and off-site, as well as preparation of payroll related tax returns. Wendy has extensive knowledge of several “off-the-shelf” accounting software packages including but not limited to Peachtree Complete, QuickBooks Pro (all levels and versions), Real World, Mas 200, Business Works and Mind Your Own Business (MYOB).
Wendy became the firm’s first employee when she was hired in 1988 as the firm’s administrative assistant. Since that time, Wendy has taken the initiative to become very proficient in providing the services noted above to many of the firm’s clients.
Email: wlbauman@gbaco.com
