Mission Statement
Our firm's mission is to grow and evolve our practice in order to continue to provide timely, relevant and quality service to our clients. We strive to stay ahead of the ever-changing nature of our profession by continuing to educate our professional employees through local and national education programs and to expand our information and resource-sharing base.
Firm History
Harper & Whitfield, P.C. was founded in September of 1979 by Roger H.J. Harper and Needham Bryan Whitfield. Both Roger and Bryan were senior managers at Peat, Marwick & Mitchell in Hartford, Connecticut prior to starting the firm. Shortly after Roger and Bryan founded the firm, Gregory P. Shillo, who was also a senior manager at Peat, Marwick & Mitchell, joined the firm and was promoted to partner in 1982. Greg became managing partner in 1988. In 1984, David M. Oleasz, a tax manager at Arthur Young, joined the firm as a manager and was promoted to partner in 1985. W. Scott Goetjen joined the firm as a staff accountant in 1982 and was promoted to partner in 1993. Roger died in April of 1989 and Bryan retired in June 1989.
Client Satisfaction
Our reputation is built upon a foundation of satisfied clients. Our goal is your complete satisfaction, nothing less. Whether we're preparing financial statements, dealing with the IRS or providing any other financial assistance, we have your best interests in mind.
Firm Roster
Gregory P. Shillo, CPA - Principal
Gregory Shillo is a certified public accountant and the managing partner of Harper & Whitfield, P.C. Prior to joining Harper & Whitfield, Greg was a manager in the Hartford office of Peat, Marwick, Mitchell & Co.(now KPMG). He is a 1970 graduate of the University of Connecticut and later received his Masters of Science in Taxation from the University of Hartford in 1973. His practice focuses on tax, accounting and estate planning and compliance for closely-held businesses and individuals.
Greg is a member of the following professional organizations:
American Institute of Certified Public Accountants
Connecticut Society of Certified Public Accountants
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David M. Oleasz, CPA - Principal
David Oleasz is a certified public accountant and a principal of Harper & Whitfield, P.C. Prior to joining Harper & Whitfield, Dave was a tax manager in the Hartford office of Arthur Young and Company (now Ernst & Young) and had also worked in the tax department of Aetna Life & Casualty. He is a 1978 graduate of the University of Notre Dame and later received his Masters of Science in Taxation from the University of Hartford. His practice focuses on tax and estate planning and compliance for individuals and closely held entrepreneurial clients, mergers and acquisitions, and non-traditional engagements.
Dave has served on the CSCPA Professional Ethics Committee, chairing the committee for the years ended May 1992 and 1993. He was also a member of the CSCPA State Taxation Committee, chaired the 1988 State Tax Forum and served for two years as editor for the State Taxation Column of the CPA Quarterly. He has also chaired (and remains a member of) the CSCPA State Tax Education Task Force, which has developed basic level Connecticut tax education seminars and manuals covering individual, corporate, S corporation, sales tax, and property tax modules. He is a former member of the CSCPA Board of Governors. He also serves as a "Special Master" for the joint program between the Connecticut Bar Association, CSCPA, Connecticut Department of Revenue Services and the Judiciary to mediate tax cases docketed for Connecticut Tax Court.
Dave is a member of the following professional organizations:
American Institute of Certified Public Accountants
Connecticut Society of Certified Public Accountants
Connecticut Business Owners Forum
Institute of Business Appraisers
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W. Scott Goetjen, CPA - Principal
W. Scott Goetjen is a certified public accountant and a principal of Harper & Whitfield, P.C. Scott works with owners of closely held businesses and not for profit organizations, assisting them in a variety of accounting, financial and tax issues. Scott works with a broad range of clients including manufacturing, wholesale distribution, churches and other not for profit organizations. He has also undertaken various fraud investigations.
Scott is a graduate of Purdue University, receiving his Bachelors of Science degree in Industrial Management in 1980. Scott has over 28 years of experience as a public accountant. He has also served as chairman of various committees and as Treasurer of the First Congregational Church in Bloomfield. He is currently their Treasurer of Investments and Trusts and the Church's Financial Manager.
Scott is a member of the following professional organizations:
American Institute of Certified Public Accountants
Connecticut Society of Certified Public Accountants
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Mary Elizabeth Shutran, CPA - Manager
Mary Elizabeth Shutran is a manager and certified public accountant at Harper & Whitfield, P.C. Marybeth joined the firm in 1984 after graduating from Central Connecticut State University. She also received a Masters of Business Administration with a concentration in finance from the University of Hartford.
Throughout her years of experience, Marybeth has focused on providing accounting and tax services to closely held businesses and their owners. These business clients represent a wide range of industries including manufacturing, distributors, insurance agencies, design companies, advertising agencies, software development companies, dentists and construction contractors.
Marybeth is a member of the following professional organizations:
American Institute of Certified Public Accountants
American Society of Women Accountants
Connecticut Society of Certified Public Accountants
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Todd R. Shelansky, CPA - Manager
Todd Shelansky is a manager and certified public accountant at Harper & Whitfield. Todd joined the firm in 1994 after graduating from Western New England College.
Todd provides accounting and tax services to a variety of closely held businesses and their owners. His clients include those in the manufacturing, wholesale distribution, and construction industries, as well as not-for-profit entities.
Todd is a member of the following professional organizations:
American Institute of Certified Public Accountants
Connecticut Society of Certified Public Accountants
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Rebecca B. Zappone, CPA - Manager
Rebecca (Becky) Zappone is a certified public accountant and a manager at Harper & Whitfield, P.C. Prior to rejoining Harper & Whitfield in September 2008, Becky was a manager for a large regional accounting firm where she worked for ten years. Becky began her public accounting career at Harper & Whitfield where she earned her CPA designation. She is a 1993 graduate of Saint Joseph College in West Hartford, CT and later received her Master of Science in Taxation from The University of Hartford in 1999.
Becky's practice focuses on tax planning and compliance for individuals and closely held businesses. She is involved in monitoring tax law changes and communicating with clients.
Becky is a member of the following professional organizations:
American Institute of Certified Public Accountants
American Society of Women Accountants
Connecticut Society of Certified Public Accountants
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Angie Y. Zima - Senior Accountant
Beth W. Gosciminski, CPA -Senior Accountant
Ania Skawinska, CPA - Senior Accountant
Ann L. Wesley, CPA - Senior Accountant
Joshua R. Pedersen, CPA - Senior Accountant
Wendy J. Penn, EA - Senior Accountant
Sandra J. Selig - Senior Accountant
Matthew D. Patterson, CPA - Senior Accountant
Patricia A. Cronin - Staff Accountant
Barbara Adamczyk, CPA - Senior Accountant
Agatha Cordeau - Staff Accountant
Donna Cote, CPA - Staff Accountant
Kevin M. Harris - Staff Accountant
Madeleine E. Lavieri - Paraprofessional
Patricia J. Marshall - Paraprofessional
Wendy A. Nickerson - Administration
Elissa K. Goodman - Administration
Sheila C. Woodman - Administration
Valerie Godin - Administration
Carol A. Oleasz - Administration
