Meet Our Team
R.J. Augustine has been voted as one of the best places to work in Illinois for the past 4 years. Our culture is based on a high level of mutual respect, hard work, competence, integrity, sense of humor and a team-orientated attitude. Maintaining a knowledgeable, well-informed team and a positive work environment is a primary objective of R.J. Augustine and Associates. Because we hire and retain employees who share our values and commitment, RJA is a great place to work. We’re proud of our team!
CPA | President & Founder
Richard J. Augustine Sr.
Richard J. Augustine has over forty years of experience in audit, tax and accounting. He has strong ties to the Schaumburg community, having served as Chairman of the Board for the Schaumburg Business Association in 2012. Throughout his tenure as our Principal, he has presented numerous lectures and programs on accounting and taxes all over the Greater Chicagoland Area. He has also served on a number of associations as an officer and director, including the Columbian Club Foundation, Northwest Suburban Fellowship Association, Casa Italia and the Italian American Chamber of Commerce. His dedication to our firm is the reason that R.J. Augustine and Associates has grown to be the successful company that it is today.
Vice President & Controller
Daniel Augustine
Graduating in June of 1993 with a Bachelor’s Degree in Public Accounting, Dan was a staff accountant for two years prior to joining R.J. Augustine & Associates in December 1995. As the Accounting & Operations Manager, Dan focuses on accounting, taxation and business valuations for small and medium-sized companies.
CPA | Audit Manager
Ted Derma
Theodore D. Derma has over twenty-five years of experience with our firm since receiving his Bachelor of Science in Business from Indiana University in 1987. As our Audit Manager, he has substantial knowledge in the areas of accounting and audit, and has assumed management responsibility for all of his accounting, auditing and tax engagements. Ted has served organizations such as The Prairie Center for the Arts, The Dominick’s Foundation, Responsive Marketing Communications and The Irving Press. He is a Certified Public Accountant and is a member of the Illinois State CPA Society, the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants and the Rolling Meadows Chamber of Commerce.
CPA | Tax Manager
Vivek Kapoor
Vivek Kapoor has over 30 years of experience in taxation. He graduated from university in India with a degree in Economics and English Literature, and received his CPA Certification through DePaul University after moving to the U.S. Vivek is an international tax expert and has been a part of the RJA Family for nearly five years.
CPA | Senior Tax Accountant
Lorry Scurto
Lorry has been a resident of the northwest suburbs of Chicago for her entire life. She graduated from Northern Illinois University receiving a B.S. in Accountancy. Lorry comes to RJA with a variety of tax, accounting and business experience acquired from various organizations including not-for-profits organizations, Fortune 500 companies and public accounting. Outside of work, Lorry is passionate about spending time with friends and family.
Tax Assistant
Johnathon
Augustine
John graduated from Carthage College in 2015 but has been doing work for RJA since his late high school years. What started off as a part time administration role, slowly grew into a desire to enhance his knowledge in the accounting and finance industry. Some of the current job responsibilities John has includes tax return preparation and compilation services. John is currently studying for his CPA license, with the goal of helping the company grow and expand with his newfound skills. When he is not working or studying for class, you can find John reading theology books or experimenting with new recipes across a variety of cuisines. John also enjoys being involved with initiatives that help serve underprivileged communities. Some of the organizations John likes to volunteer his time towards include Reality Ministries and DuPage PADS.
Office Manager & Firm Administrator
Christine Van Hauter
Christine came to RJA in 2006 with her value of 25+ years in accounting and management experience and an Associate's Degree in Business at Harper College in Palatine. Christine is the leader of administration along with firm administration. She is also a member of Association for Accounting Administration. Outside of RJA, she enjoys family, gardening and culinary arts.
CPA | Senior Tax Accountant
Stephen Heimiller
Stephen has been in the public accounting field for over 15 years. He graduated from Bradley University in 1992 with his BS in Accounting. When not crunching numbers Stephen enjoys participating in competitive bowling tournaments.
Administrative Assistant
Carrie Egilske
Carrie studied at the University of Wisconsin - Oshkosh and came to RJA in 2022 with a background in teaching. Some of her responsibilities include data entry, setting up and confirming tax appointments, organizing account workpapers, and managing invoices. One of Carrie's goals for the future includes travelling more. In her free time, Carrie enjoys outdoor activities such as hiking, camping, swimming and bike riding.
CPA | Senior Accounting
Brian Mickley
Brian K. Mickley graduated from DePaul University in June 1991, and has been with our firm for over 22 years. As one of our senior accountants, Brian has become extremely knowledgeable about accounting for small and medium-sized companies. He has assumed responsibility for his accounting, review and audit engagements.
CPA | Senior Auditor
Tony DalCompo
Tony joined RJA in 2016 with experience in a variety of areas including audits, reviews, compilations, and some corporate and personal tax returns. He has worked primarily with manufacturers, distributors, construction contracts, non-profit organizations, and employee benefit plans. Tony is a Certified Public Accountant and a member of the Illinois CPA society and the American Institute of CPAs.
Data Processing Coordinator
Deanna Ownby
Deanna joined the RJA Team in 2022 with a plethora of knowledge that stems from a variety of industries including healthcare, retail management, hospitality, and education. Deanna also has experience working with non-profit organizations such as Helping Hand, Schaumburg HOUSE and ILHSA. Some of her job responsibilities include managing client data bases and providing IT support to both staff members and cliental, along with other administrative support to all the staff. In her free time, Deanna enjoys spending time with her family while knitting, crocheting, and playing video games.