Van Winkle & Co. CPA Advisors will guide you expertly through the ever-changing tangle of tax laws in order to minimize your tax liability. We will evaluate your information and help you make smart decisions throughout the year that will increase your bottom line. We will assist you with setting both long and short-term goals that help you achieve your individual needs and desires.
Our Team
From traditional tax preparation to complex accounting solutions to planning for your future, our focus is on finding new opportunities and creating solutions that will help you succeed.
Robert Van Winkle
Robert is majority partner of Van Winkle & Co. CPA Advisors and a licensed Certified Public Accountant (CPA). His role not only encompasses the nuances of tax compliance and strategic planning but also thrives on direct engagement with a diverse clientele ranging from individual clients to bustling businesses. With a broad spectrum of tax and accounting expertise at his disposal, Robert provides relevant, timely, and strategic advice year-round, ensuring his clients’ financial clarity and success.
Born in the charming city of Aberdeen, South Dakota, Robert’s principles are deeply rooted in his Midwestern upbringing, which emphasizes integrity and hard work. He now calls Dayton home, living a fulfilling life with his wife and three children.
Outside his professional realm, Robert cherishes an active lifestyle, seeking adventure in golf, hunting, and travel. He also deeply values his time spent in the company of friends and family, nurturing relationships that enrich his personal life and provide balance to his dedicated professional endeavors.
Tom Jenson
Tom is the founder of Jenson & Co. (now Van Winkle & Co.) CPA Advisors and has been a CPA for more than 40 years. He started his career as a Revenue Agent with the Internal Revenue Service where he learned the ins-and-outs of tax compliance with that bureaucracy. Tom honed his tax skills in the tax department of a major national real estate development company and continued to develop valuable skills in public accounting prior to starting his own firm in September 1989.
Lifelong learning is important to Tom, and he has an earned MBA degree. In addition, he also has achieved the CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNER™ certification. Tom conducts seminars on tax strategies and tax planning and is recognized as a leading expert in the tax aspects of using Self-directed IRAs for nonstandard investments such as real estate.
He is active in civic and community organizations such as Rotary International, Maple Grove Arts Center, and Maple Grove Business Association and along with his wife, Laurel, is involved in their local church. Tom is a long-time resident of Maple Grove, where he and Laurel raised three sons. The family has expanded by three daughters-in-law, 12 grandchildren, and a dog.
Theresa Pietenpol
Theresa joined the team in November of 2022 as a CPA with over 33 years of public accounting experience. She likes the variety of services that CPA firms provide and enjoys working with clients on everything from payroll and accounting support to tax planning. The relationships with clients that develop over the years and being a part of a team have always been the most enjoyable aspect of her career.
Theresa and her husband recently moved to Maple Grove after living in St Paul for over 34 years and have one daughter and son-in-law. As an avid gardener, one of the first projects she worked on at their new home was revamping the garden spaces to accommodate her love for medicinal herbs, vegetables, and a butterfly garden. She also enjoys spending time with family and friends and trips to the North Shore and South Shore of Lake Superior.
Nicole Weestrand
Nicole joined the team in January 2015 to provide bookkeeping, payroll, and administrative assistance. Nicole is a Certified Payroll Professional and a QuickBooks Certified ProAdvisor. She enjoys using this training and knowledge to assist clients in understanding their payroll and uses customized training to help clients use their QuickBooks more effectively. Nicole has completed her AS in Accounting and her AAS in Accounting Technology and is excited to gain more knowledge in the field of accounting and continue to connect with clients.
Nicole grew up in Maple Grove and currently resides in St. Michael with her husband Dan, two sons, and a dog. In her spare time, Nicole enjoys spending time with family and friends and being outdoors either at home or up north.
Amy Doan
Amy joined the team in January 2022 with over 3 years of experience with client support for payroll and tax preparation and a marketing background of over 9 years. She has an AS in Business Administration and is currently continuing her education, with a concentration in Information Systems Management. Amy truly enjoys the challenges of the developmental stages of a project.
Amy believes that spending time and being present with her family and loved ones are all she really needs in her life. She and her family are originally from New Orleans, Louisiana, but currently live in Otsego. In her spare time, Amy enjoys baking, arts & crafts, playing board games, and learning new things. She also enjoys the outdoors, so whenever opportunity strikes, she’s likely out exploring Minnesota or going on road trips with her husband, two kids, and dog.
Melodie Miller
Melodie joined Van Winkle & Co. in September of 2023 as a Payroll/Bookkeeping specialist. She has an AS in Accounting, a BA in Education, and a M.Ed in Teaching and Learning. Having had experience in payroll, bookkeeping, as well as Mathematics Education, Melodie brings a unique blend of financial expertise and a commitment to education to every task. She especially enjoys making numbers and processes understandable to others.
Melodie and her husband grew up in Minnesota and have had the joy of living in several different states. They reside in Champlin, Minnesota where they spend time with family and friends. Melodie enjoys reading, puzzles, and spending time with her grandchildren.
Jack Tutt
Jack joined the team in January 2023 as a Bookkeeping Specialist. He attended college on an athletic scholarship and earned a Bachelor’s Degree in Business Accounting. Jack developed his work habits while working in his family’s business and is currently pursuing his CPA License. He enjoys working with numbers and is eager to learn all he can.
Jack currently lives in Brooklyn Park and enjoys playing board games in his free time as well as spending time with his family.
Laurel Jenson
Laurel is the Office Manager at Van Winkle & Co. and is responsible for the busy day-to-day operations of the company. With many years of professional experience, Laurel enjoys the client relations aspect of her job most of all.
She was born in Minneapolis, grew up in Brooklyn Park, and currently resides in Maple Grove, where she and her husband, Tom, raised their three sons. All three sons have brought three daughters-in-law into the family as well as 12 precious grandchildren. Spending time with family is one of her greatest joys. She would rather sit down with a bowl of popcorn than go out for a lobster dinner.
Daniel Claussen
Daniel joined Van Winkle & Co. in August 2023 as a staff accountant. He earned a bachelor’s degree in business accounting and is currently pursuing his CPA license. He is detail-oriented and eager to learn as much as he can.
Daniel currently lives in Corcoran and enjoys playing video games in his free time as well as spending time with his friends and family.
Lauren Tiscareno
Lauren joined Van Winkle & Co. in January of 2024 as the Administrative Assistant. She has several years of experience in office assistance, IT tech support, and customer service.
Lauren was born and raised in Southern California. She recently moved to Maple Grove to be closer to family. Even though she misses the California weather and beaches, she is adjusting to the changing seasons of Minnesota. In her spare time Lauren enjoys venturing out and seeing new places throughout the cities.
Cassie Viele
Cassie joined the team in January 2025 as a Bookkeeping/Payroll Specialist. After studying both Political Science and Economics at UND, Cassie earned a Bachelor’s Degree in Social Science in 2006. With 14 years of bookkeeping, payroll, and compliance experience, Cassie has achieved Bookkeeping certification from the Intuit Academy and is a certified QuickBooks Pro Advisor. She is passionate about helping business owners feel empowered through organized and easy-to-understand financials.
The mother of five (aged 1 to 13), Cassie and her husband, Andrew have been married for 16 years. They love being involved in their church and making music on the worship team. Random trivia, song lyrics, and movie quotes live rent-free in her head. Cassie is also a brain cancer survivor and grateful for every day she’s given!
Mark Cheeley
Mark takes on the role of Marketing Director with Van Winkle & Co. in January 2020. In 2014, Van Winkle & Co. formed a partnership with Mark Cheeley, Private Wealth Advisor with Ameriprise Financial, Inc. to assist us in providing financial advisory services to our clients. He has 22 years of experience as a Private Wealth Advisor and has received the following acknowledgments: Ameriprise Circle of Success, NABCAP Premier Advisor Award, and FIVE STAR Wealth Manager 2008-2020. As part of our commitment to your overall financial health, he specializes in financial planning, investments, insurance, education planning, and small business plans.
He has an MBA, with undergrad emphasis in Finance and Economics, and has earned designations including RFC® Registered Financial Consultant CRPC®, Chartered Retirement Planning CounselorSM CFS®, and Certified Fund Specialist.
Required Disclosure: Investment advisory products and services recommended by Mark are made available through Ameriprise Financial Services, Inc., a registered investment adviser. Ameriprise Financial, Inc. and its affiliates do not provide tax or legal advice. Consult your tax advisor or attorney regarding specific issues. Van Winkle & Co. is not a broker-dealer or investment advisory firm. Ameriprise Financial Services, Inc. Member FINRA and SIPC.
Adam Duffey
Adam joined Van Winkle & Co. in February 2024 as a Senior Accountant and has over 4 years of public accounting and tax experience. He holds a Bachelor’s in Accounting and is working towards getting his CPA license. He finds taxes to be fascinating and always does his best to ensure his clients are taken care of.
Adam grew up in Hastings Minnesota, and then moved to the Twin Cities to be closer to family and his education. During his free time, he can be found with a book, with family, or playing with his dog.
Kayla Barden
Kayla joined the Van Winkle & Co team in January 2025 as a senior accountant. With over 8 years of experience in tax and accounting, she specializes in everything from bookkeeping and payroll to individual, corporate, and partnership tax returns. Kayla is very detail-oriented and enjoys consulting with clients to achieve the best outcome possible for them in both the short and long term.
Kayla grew up in Lake Elmo and recently moved to East Bethel with her husband. In her free time, she enjoys cooking, scrapbooking, and playing board games. Kayla also loves to host gatherings to spend time with her friends and family.
Our Team
Van Winkle & Co. CPA Advisors will guide you expertly through the ever-changing tangle of tax laws in order to minimize your tax liability. We will evaluate your information and help you make smart decisions throughout the year that will increase your bottom line. We will assist you with setting both long and short-term goals that help you achieve your individual needs and desires.
From traditional tax preparation to complex accounting solutions to planning for your future, our focus is on finding new opportunities and creating solutions that will help you succeed.
Robert Van Winkle
Robert is majority partner of Van Winkle & Co. CPA Advisors and a licensed Certified Public Accountant (CPA). His role not only encompasses the nuances of tax compliance and strategic planning but also thrives on direct engagement with a diverse clientele ranging from individual clients to bustling businesses. With a broad spectrum of tax and accounting expertise at his disposal, Robert provides relevant, timely, and strategic advice year-round, ensuring his clients’ financial clarity and success.
Born in the charming city of Aberdeen, South Dakota, Robert’s principles are deeply rooted in his Midwestern upbringing, which emphasizes integrity and hard work. He now calls Dayton home, living a fulfilling life with his wife and three children.
Outside his professional realm, Robert cherishes an active lifestyle, seeking adventure in golf, hunting, and travel. He also deeply values his time spent in the company of friends and family, nurturing relationships that enrich his personal life and provide balance to his dedicated professional endeavors.
Tom Jenson
Tom is the founder of Jenson & Co. (now Van Winkle & Co.) CPA Advisors and has been a CPA for more than 40 years. He started his career as a Revenue Agent with the Internal Revenue Service where he learned the ins-and-outs of tax compliance with that bureaucracy. Tom honed his tax skills in the tax department of a major national real estate development company and continued to develop valuable skills in public accounting prior to starting his own firm in September 1989.
Lifelong learning is important to Tom, and he has an earned MBA degree. In addition, he also has achieved the CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNER™ certification. Tom conducts seminars on tax strategies and tax planning and is recognized as a leading expert in the tax aspects of using Self-directed IRAs for nonstandard investments such as real estate.
He is active in civic and community organizations such as Rotary International, Maple Grove Arts Center, and Maple Grove Business Association and along with his wife, Laurel, is involved in their local church. Tom is a long-time resident of Maple Grove, where he and Laurel raised three sons. The family has expanded by three daughters-in-law, 12 grandchildren, and a dog.
Theresa Pietenpol
Theresa joined the team in November of 2022 as a CPA with over 33 years of public accounting experience. She likes the variety of services that CPA firms provide and enjoys working with clients on everything from payroll and accounting support to tax planning. The relationships with clients that develop over the years and being a part of a team have always been the most enjoyable aspect of her career.
Theresa and her husband recently moved to Maple Grove after living in St Paul for over 34 years and have one daughter and son-in-law. As an avid gardener, one of the first projects she worked on at their new home was revamping the garden spaces to accommodate her love for medicinal herbs, vegetables, and a butterfly garden. She also enjoys spending time with family and friends and trips to the North Shore and South Shore of Lake Superior.
Nicole Weestrand
Nicole joined the team in January 2015 to provide bookkeeping, payroll, and administrative assistance. Nicole is a Certified Payroll Professional and a QuickBooks Certified ProAdvisor. She enjoys using this training and knowledge to assist clients in understanding their payroll and uses customized training to help clients use their QuickBooks more effectively. Nicole has completed her AS in Accounting and her AAS in Accounting Technology and is excited to gain more knowledge in the field of accounting and continue to connect with clients.
Nicole grew up in Maple Grove and currently resides in St. Michael with her husband Dan, two sons, and a dog. In her spare time, Nicole enjoys spending time with family and friends and being outdoors either at home or up north.
Amy Doan
Amy joined the team in January 2022 with over 3 years of experience with client support for payroll and tax preparation and a marketing background of over 9 years. She has an AS in Business Administration and is currently continuing her education, with a concentration in Information Systems Management. Amy truly enjoys the challenges of the developmental stages of a project.
Amy believes that spending time and being present with her family and loved ones are all she really needs in her life. She and her family are originally from New Orleans, Louisiana, but currently live in Otsego. In her spare time, Amy enjoys baking, arts & crafts, playing board games, and learning new things. She also enjoys the outdoors, so whenever opportunity strikes, she’s likely out exploring Minnesota or going on road trips with her husband, two kids, and dog.
Melodie Miller
Melodie joined Van Winkle & Co. in September of 2023 as a Payroll/Bookkeeping specialist. She has an AS in Accounting, a BA in Education, and a M.Ed in Teaching and Learning. Having had experience in payroll, bookkeeping, as well as Mathematics Education, Melodie brings a unique blend of financial expertise and a commitment to education to every task. She especially enjoys making numbers and processes understandable to others.
Melodie and her husband grew up in Minnesota and have had the joy of living in several different states. They reside in Champlin, Minnesota where they spend time with family and friends. Melodie enjoys reading, puzzles, and spending time with her grandchildren.
Jack Tutt
Jack joined the team in January 2023 as a Bookkeeping Specialist. He attended college on an athletic scholarship and earned a Bachelor’s Degree in Business Accounting. Jack developed his work habits while working in his family’s business and is currently pursuing his CPA License. He enjoys working with numbers and is eager to learn all he can.
Jack currently lives in Brooklyn Park and enjoys playing board games in his free time as well as spending time with his family.
Laurel Jenson
Laurel is the Office Manager at Van Winkle & Co. and is responsible for the busy day-to-day operations of the company. With many years of professional experience, Laurel enjoys the client relations aspect of her job most of all.
She was born in Minneapolis, grew up in Brooklyn Park, and currently resides in Maple Grove, where she and her husband, Tom, raised their three sons. All three sons have brought three daughters-in-law into the family as well as 12 precious grandchildren. Spending time with family is one of her greatest joys. She would rather sit down with a bowl of popcorn than go out for a lobster dinner.
Daniel Claussen
Daniel joined Van Winkle & Co. in August 2023 as a staff accountant. He earned a bachelor’s degree in business accounting and is currently pursuing his CPA license. He is detail-oriented and eager to learn as much as he can.
Daniel currently lives in Corcoran and enjoys playing video games in his free time as well as spending time with his friends and family.
Lauren Tiscareno
Lauren joined Van Winkle & Co. in January of 2024 as the Administrative Assistant. She has several years of experience in office assistance, IT tech support, and customer service.
Lauren was born and raised in Southern California. She recently moved to Maple Grove to be closer to family. Even though she misses the California weather and beaches, she is adjusting to the changing seasons of Minnesota. In her spare time Lauren enjoys venturing out and seeing new places throughout the cities.
Cassie Viele
Cassie joined the team in January 2025 as a Bookkeeping/Payroll Specialist. After studying both Political Science and Economics at UND, Cassie earned a Bachelor’s Degree in Social Science in 2006. With 14 years of bookkeeping, payroll, and compliance experience, Cassie has achieved Bookkeeping certification from the Intuit Academy and is a certified QuickBooks Pro Advisor. She is passionate about helping business owners feel empowered through organized and easy-to-understand financials.
The mother of five (aged 1 to 13), Cassie and her husband, Andrew have been married for 16 years. They love being involved in their church and making music on the worship team. Random trivia, song lyrics, and movie quotes live rent-free in her head. Cassie is also a brain cancer survivor and grateful for every day she’s given!
Mark Cheeley
Mark takes on the role of Marketing Director with Van Winkle & Co. in January 2020. In 2014, Van Winkle & Co. formed a partnership with Mark Cheeley, Private Wealth Advisor with Ameriprise Financial, Inc. to assist us in providing financial advisory services to our clients. He has 22 years of experience as a Private Wealth Advisor and has received the following acknowledgments: Ameriprise Circle of Success, NABCAP Premier Advisor Award, and FIVE STAR Wealth Manager 2008-2020. As part of our commitment to your overall financial health, he specializes in financial planning, investments, insurance, education planning, and small business plans.
He has an MBA, with undergrad emphasis in Finance and Economics, and has earned designations including RFC® Registered Financial Consultant CRPC®, Chartered Retirement Planning CounselorSM CFS®, and Certified Fund Specialist.
Required Disclosure: Investment advisory products and services recommended by Mark are made available through Ameriprise Financial Services, Inc., a registered investment adviser. Ameriprise Financial, Inc. and its affiliates do not provide tax or legal advice. Consult your tax advisor or attorney regarding specific issues. Van Winkle & Co. is not a broker-dealer or investment advisory firm. Ameriprise Financial Services, Inc. Member FINRA and SIPC.
Adam Duffey
Adam joined Van Winkle & Co. in February 2024 as a Senior Accountant and has over 4 years of public accounting and tax experience. He holds a Bachelor’s in Accounting and is working towards getting his CPA license. He finds taxes to be fascinating and always does his best to ensure his clients are taken care of.
Adam grew up in Hastings Minnesota, and then moved to the Twin Cities to be closer to family and his education. During his free time, he can be found with a book, with family, or playing with his dog.
Kayla Barden
Kayla joined the Van Winkle & Co team in January 2025 as a senior accountant. With over 8 years of experience in tax and accounting, she specializes in everything from bookkeeping and payroll to individual, corporate, and partnership tax returns. Kayla is very detail-oriented and enjoys consulting with clients to achieve the best outcome possible for them in both the short and long term.
Kayla grew up in Lake Elmo and recently moved to East Bethel with her husband. In her free time, she enjoys cooking, scrapbooking, and playing board games. Kayla also loves to host gatherings to spend time with her friends and family.