SOUTH BEND/ELKHART – Kruggel Lawton CPAs, a full service accounting and business advisory firm, is pleased to announce the addition of eight new professionals. Lauren Gehrke, Jordan Hesters, Jeff Jurgonski, Zach Lesh, and Kyle Pletcher join the South Bend office while Paula Kercher, Cody Newport, and Arniel Sia join the firm’s Elkhart location.

Lauren Gehrke has joined the South Bend office as a staff accountant. Her work will focus primarily on tax engagements. Originally from Hutsonville, Ill., Lauren earned an associate degree from Illinois Eastern Community Colleges-Lincoln Trail College, Robinson, Ill., and a B.S. in accounting from Indiana State University, Terre Haute, Ind. She has two years of prior experience in both corporate and public accounting.

Jordan Hesters has joined the South Bend office as a staff accountant after serving as an intern during tax season at the start of the year. His work focuses primarily on individual, corporate, estate, and property tax work, as well as assurance services for clients. He received a B.A. in accounting/management from Purdue University, West Lafayette, Ind.

Jeff Jurgonski has joined the South Bend office as a staff accountant. Having started his career in public accounting in 2013, Jeff specializes in assurance services for nonprofit organizations and privately held, family-owned businesses. Originally from the Niles, Mich., area, he received a B.A. in accounting/business administrations/economics from Central Michigan University, Mt. Pleasant, Mich.

Zach Lesh has joined the South Bend office as a staff accountant. He has two years of prior public accounting experience in both tax and assurance services, including employee benefit plan audit work. Originally from South Bend, Ind., Zach received a B.S. in accounting and finance from the Kelley School of Business at Indiana University, Bloomington, Ind.

Kyle Pletcher has joined the South Bend office as a staff accountant. Originally from the Walkerton, Ind., area, Kyle comes to the firm with over four years of corporate accounting experience in the technology and professional services industries. He earned a B.S. in accounting from Manchester College, North Manchester, Ind.

Paula Kercher has joined the Elkhart office as a staff accountant in the Business Accounting Services Group. Originally from Middlebury, she received a B.S. in accounting from Indiana University South Bend and has over 25 years of experience in both public and corporate accounting. In her role at Kruggel Lawton, Paula will provide bookkeeping and general accounting services to clients.

Cody Newport, CPA, has joined the Elkhart office as a senior staff accountant. Originally from Fort Wayne, Ind., he received a B.S. in accounting and finance from Valparaiso University. With two years of prior public accounting experience, Cody specializes in assurance work for clients, including some benefit plan audits.

Arniel Sia has joined the Elkhart office as a staff accountant after serving as an intern during tax season at the start of the year. His work focuses primarily on individual, corporate, estate, and property tax work, as well as assurance services for clients. He received a B.A. in accounting/business administration from Grace College, Winona Lake, Ind.