Our team
MEET THE JOURNEY CREW
At Journey, we take your business seriously — and we have fun while we’re at it! We’ll treat you like a real person, not a transaction, and we want you to walk away from every interaction at ease and still laughing at our jokes.
TIM JIPPING, CPA
Managing Partner
Tim has worked as a CPA for nearly 20 years and founded Journey in 2018. He splits his time between the firm’s locations but is based in the Chicagoland office. Tim used to be an actor, and his favorite movies include The Godfather Part II (but definitely not Part III), The Departed and the masterpiece known as Dumb and Dumber.”
How you’ll work with Tim
“As one of the first people to interact with potential and new clients, I take a long-term perspective to ensure the partnership is a good fit, both for the client and our team. My energetic yet casual nature puts clients at ease and has garnered me the reputation of being ‘unlike your typical accountant.’ ”
LIZA MDANAT, CPA, MBA
Partner
Liza holds both her CPA and MBA and has worked at Journey since 2019 at the Chicagoland office. She is fluent in Arabic, loves to travel, and enjoys drawing.
How you’ll work with Liza
“From the very beginning, my goal is to help clients feel like they belong. I take great pride in creating a warm and informative first impression, aiming to ease any worries, address their questions, and assure them that their partnership is valued right from the start.”
ASHLEY VAN MANEN, CPA, MST
Director, Tax Services
Ashley holds both her CPA and MST and has been with Journey since 2021. She has 16+ years experience in the tax field, and is based at the Grand Rapids, MI, office. She is an accomplished pianist and has played since she was 8 years old.
How you’ll work with Ashley
“My primary goal is to ensure my clients can have full confidence in knowing that their tax returns are prepared correctly with the aim of minimizing their tax liability and reducing risk. I love digging into the details, so they don’t have to, allowing them to focus on their business.”
EMILY GRATSON
Director, Strategic Initiatives
Emily has 15+ years’ experience in the education/business sectors and joined the Journey team in 2023. She works out of the Grand Rapids, MI office. She is fluent in Spanish and enjoys traveling, particularly throughout Latin America.
How you’ll work with Emily
“My goal is to help strengthen and grow our systems, processes, and (most importantly) our people so that we can better serve our clients. I primarily work behind-the-scenes to support my incredible Journey team members so they can continue to offer our clients exceptional tax/accounting services!”
RENEE BROÑOLA
Senior Associate, Accounting
Renee hails from the Philippines and has been with Journey since 2021. She has worked with accounting clients throughout Europe, Hong Kong, and the United States. She enjoys listening to music, watching movies, and hiking.
How you’ll work with Renee
“I strive to make our clients feel comfortable and supported right from the start, so they know they can come to me with whatever questions they have. I take special care in ensuring our work product is accurate and our clients are thrilled with our service.”
GINA CUMMINGS
Associate, Accounting & Tax
Gina has been a Journey team member since 2021 and works out of the Chicagoland office. She loves to learn and share new tricks in Excel, and she enjoys pencil drawing in her spare time.
How you’ll work with Gina
“I seek to offer a patient, consultative approach when working with my clients. I want them to feel comfortable asking me anything—big or small—and know that I will do my best to fully answer each question in a way that is easy to understand.”
KRISSA FAUSTO
Senior Associate, Accounting
Krissa has spent 12+ years in the accounting and tax industry and joined Journey in 2021. She lives and works in the Philippines, enjoys watching documentaries, and loves spending time in nature. While working, she enjoys listening to The Carpenters.
How you’ll work with Krissa
“A client-first approach best describes my work ethic. When we commit to something, I will move heaven and earth to deliver. I enjoy diving into details to make sure we’re providing the perfect balance of accuracy and consistency, but never losing sight of timeliness.”
CINDERELLA LAYGO, CPA
Associate, Accounting
Cinderella earned her CPA certification in the Philippines and joined the Journey team in 2023. She has more than seven years accounting and tax experience in the government and business sectors. To relax, she enjoys watching American TV comedy series.
How you’ll work with Cinderella
“I work diligently to ensure my clients’ reports are thorough and accurate. I know my clients count on this high-level of accuracy, so I do everything I can to demonstrate that they can count on me want to execute to this while providing great service along the way.”
CLINT LONEY
Associate, Accounting & Tax
Clint joined the Journey team in 2023 and is based at the Grand Rapids, MI, office. Prior to working in the tax/accounting field, Clint worked as private investigator. He is an avid hockey player and enjoys outdoor activities and working with his hands.
How you’ll work with Clint
“I partner closely with business owners and their employees to maximize their efforts within their business and industry. I work hard to understand my clients’ needs from a professional perspective while displaying an honest sense of team-oriented care.”
MARTIN MORRIS, CPA
Senior Manager, Accounting + Tax
Martin joined the Journey team in 2023 with more than decade of experience in the accounting field. He holds both a Master’s in Accounting and CPA certification, and is based at the Chicagoland office. In his free time, he home brews his own beer and has crafted nearly 20 different types.
How you’ll work with Martin
“Life is challenging enough, so my goal is to help take some of those challenges off your plate. I believe in providing a transparent and personalized approach to client interactions. This begins by listening to their needs, then collaborating closely, ensuring clear communication every step of the way.”
LAIDEE RICARDEL
Associate, Accounting
Laidee joined the Journey team in 2023 and is based in the Philippines. She has 10+ years of experience in accounting. In addition to working with numbers, she also enjoys doing peoples’ hair and make-up to help them feel their best.
How you’ll work with Laidee
“My experience in the field has taught me that every client has unique needs, goals, and expectations. My goal is to tailor my process and approach to effectively meet these unique needs. I view my clients as an extension of my team, and I will work with them in the best way I can to help them achieve their financial objectives.”
KLENT ROSEQUE
Associate, Accounting
Klent is a licensed financial advisor based in the Philippines who joined the Journey team in 2023. Outside of work, he enjoys engaging in free diving activities and competing in badminton leagues.
How you’ll work with Klent
“As I work with clients on month-end closing and other accounting-related needs, I strive to be as helpful as possible. This includes maintaining an open channel of communication, providing timely updates on financial matters, and assisting with whatever questions may arise along the way.”
EVAN VERBURG
Associate, Accounting & Tax
Evan joined the Journey team in 2022 and is based in Grand Rapids, MI. Evan’s favorite movie is Forrest Gump, and he enjoys constructing large Lego models in his free time.
How you’ll work with Evan
“I partner closely with clients to support them with month-end closing, tax preparation, and other accounting-related needs. In each of these areas, I continue to explore new and innovative ways to explain complex topics so my clients leave feeling empowered and equipped to make the best decisions.”
