Meet Our Team

Ryan has over 20 years of experience in public accounting. In 1997, he graduated from Arizona State University with a Bachelor of Science in Accountancy. He began his career in 1995 with Johnson and Koivisto, PLLC before partnering with Paul to open Koivisto and Koivisto, P.C. in 2002 – and now with Deb and Barb to form KAKB. Ryan works with closely held businesses and their owners and shareholders to provide tax and accounting guidance. He also has a special interest in Estate and Trust tax planning and is certified to perform business valuations. Ryan enjoys outdoor activities such as golf, running and basketball as well as spending time with his family. He is also actively involved with his church.

Paul has over 30 years of experience in public accounting and holds a Bachelor of Arts in Management from the University of Phoenix. Originally from Minnesota, he is licensed in both Arizona and Minnesota. He specializes in tax planning and financial advice for his diverse clientele. Paul thoroughly enjoys working with the firm's clients and being a part of their growth. In his free time, he loves to run and spend time with his family – which includes over 80 grandchildren!

Deb has over 30 years of experience in the financial and accounting profession. She is certified in Arizona and New York and has a Bachelor’s Degree in Accounting, a Master’s in Management and a Certificate of Advanced Graduate Study in accounting and tax. She also has certificates of educational achievement in Personal Financial Planning and in Estate Planning and she spearheads our newly introduced Financial Planning area. Deb’s industry experience includes being CFO or Controller of various corporations including U-Haul. She has been an instructor for the American Institute of CPAs in Strategic Planning and serves on various community boards. She is also an avid football fan for her Alma Mater - Auburn.

Barb has almost 30 years of experience in the financial and accounting profession and also holds the designation of Certified Financial Planner (CFP). Before moving into the accounting area, Barb received a Bachelor’s Degree in Music and a Master of Divinity degree and worked in both of these professions. She has additional graduate courses in accounting, tax and business. In industry, she has been Chief Financial Officer of a $10-million corporation and has published several articles on investments. She has lectured and taught seminars on numerous topics including: charitable giving as an estate planning tool, tax preparation, and estate planning. She and Deb have worked together for almost 25 years.

Sharon is an Arizona native and current resident of Anthem. She is an experienced professional with over 25 years experience in the financial & accounting profession including over 20 years in public accounting. Sharon has a Bachelor’s Degree in Accountancy from Western International University. In addition, she is a Certified QuickBooks Proadvisor, member of the Delta Mu Delta national honor society for business administration and the Golden Key International honor society for general studies. She has worked with a multitude of industries – professional services, construction, manufacturing, real estate & restaurants. Sharon is extremely knowledgeable about business tax matters and heads up our accounting & payroll services.

Since there are three “Deborah’s” on our team, she goes by “Debbie Ann” so we can keep people straight! She is an Illinois native who has been in California and Arizona since high school. She has been a CPA for over 25 years, licensed in Arizona and California and earned a bachelor’s degree in business administration/public accounting from California State University – San Bernardino. Debbie Ann has experience working in a variety of CPA firms from large national firms to small local firms. She also has extensive experience with trusts and estates. She is involved with numerous community service organizations including Soroptimists International of Saguaro Foothills and the Arizona JCI Senate.

Brant originally started work as an intern in Arizona for the spring 2018 tax season. He then graduated from Saint Cloud University in Minnesota with a Bachelor of Science in Accounting in December 2018. Brant has been working at our Buffalo, Minnesota office since the fall of 2018. He enjoys working with closely held businesses and their owners, and is a Certified QuickBooks Desktop and QuickBooks Advanced Online ProAdvisor. Brant likes to travel and spend time with family.

Brita Jurvakainen has 20 years of experience in small business accounting, specializing in the construction industry. She has helped multiple new businesses start up and maintain their accounting departments. Brita is also a notary public. She is currently working on her Bachelor's degree in Accounting which will be completed August 2021. Brita is a native of the Seattle area but moved to Arizona in 2003. In her free time, she enjoys outdoor activities - hiking, biking and camping with her husband and children.

Heidi has been in the accounting industry for over 25 years. She has been a colleague of Paul Koivisto over the length of both their distinguished careers. As a staff accountant in the Minnesota office of KAKB, she provides vital assistance to the firm’s clients. Heidi’s business experience includes knowledge of accounting and bookkeeping for construction firms, commercial contractors, as well as working with a construction law attorney. She earned her Bachelor in Business Administration degree from St. Cloud State University, graduating Magna Cum Laude in May 2001.

Debbie is our office administrator and the person you will meet at our front desk in the Carefree Office as well as the voice you hear answering our phones for all of our office locations. Debbie has over 15 years as an administrative professional. She hails from the Midwest and attended Prairie State College - Illinois. Debbie has lived in Arizona since 2005. Debbie also holds the important internal position of Director of Fun, making sure that we all remember to laugh and enjoy our time as we work together.

Lori is a staff accountant who works in our Scottsdale, Arizona office. Lori has worked with Paul and Ryan since January 2016. She has over 25 years of experience in the public accounting field as well as in the private sector. Lori previously served as a staff accountant and office manager of a public accounting and audit firm here in Arizona, as well as a ski retail business in Colorado. Originally from Arkansas, Lori earned a Bachelor’s degree from the University of Arizona and enjoys spending time with her grandchildren.

Silas is a retired CPA and also is certified by the IRS as an Enrolled Agent and qualified to practice before the IRS. Silas is an Illinois native and graduated from Illinois State University with a major in Business Administration. He had a long career with International Paper in accounting management positions and has worked for over 15 years preparing tax returns since his retirement from full time work. He enjoys the RV lifestyle and is an Arizona snowbird. He and his wife enjoy the desert so much that they recently purchased a home in Desert Hills, where they enjoy their grandchildren, hiking & gardening. Silas is a tax-season-only team member and he’ll be RV-ing around the country much of the rest of the year.

Les is semi-retired having been a CPA in both New York and Arizona. He is a native of Rochester, New York and graduated from the University of Rochester with a Bachelor of Sciences degree in Accounting. Les relocated to Arizona with his wife and three children in 1980. He has worked for over 40 years in both the public and private business sectors. Les has prepared corporate and individual tax returns during his career and enjoys the challenges of tax preparation. When not doing seasonal work, Les enjoys playing softball, golf and visiting his grandchildren in Tampa, Florida with his wife Gail.

John has over 25 years of experience in the income tax and accounting profession and was a partner with Arthur Andersen before his “retirement.” He has a degree in business administration as well as a law degree. His main experience is in federal income taxes including compliance and consulting. He has worked with small family owned businesses as well as large publicly owned companies. He also has experience in merger and acquisition consulting, succession planning for family owned businesses, IRS and state audits and estate planning. He was in charge of a 40-person tax division in a large CPA firm. He adds great strength and experience to our team.

Lynn has over 40 years of experience as a CPA. His educational background includes a Bachelor’s Degree in Chemical Engineering, a Master’s Degree in Accounting and a Master’s Degree in Taxation. Lynn's business experience started with Arthur Andersen, formerly one of the largest national public accounting firm, and he subsequently served as the Chief Financial Officer of several independent Coca-Cola bottlers and of a subsidiary of Airgas. Lynn is active in his church and serves as Treasurer of the Chaplaincy for the Homeless, a Phoenix non-profit working with the homeless.