Your Dedicated Team
A team you can trust with over 50 years of combined experience
About JMA
Please take a moment and read more about our people,and our credentials. If you have any questions or would like more detailed information about how we can help you, don’t hesitate to contact us. We are happy to assist you!
We are a firm led by CPAs that concentrates our combined 50 years of government, credit union, and other not-for-profit organization experience with attention that only a niche-focused firm can provide. Our clients come back to us year after year and recommend us to their colleagues because they know they are in good hands. Whether you need a little help or a lot, we can assist you with customized, cost-effective service solutions specific to your organization.
Michele L. Renz, CPA
Owner/Administrative Partner
“I derive the most satisfaction from assisting clients in resolving issues or improving their business operations. I also love contributing to my community by offering my professional knowledge and accounting skills to enhance efficiency at non-profit and government organizations.”
In addition to her role as Partner for the Firm’s credit union and not-for-profit clients, Michele Renz is the Administrative Partner at J. Martin & Associates, LLC. She provides traditional attest and internal auditing services and specialized regulatory compliance and consulting services to the credit union industry and other nonprofits, including social service organizations and public and private foundations. She also provides operational consulting services to school districts and assists school districts with establishing and operating foundations.
Michele has been a guest speaker and participant in events hosted by various Pennsylvania Credit Union Association chapters. She previously served as the supervisory committee chairperson and treasurer of Cornerstone Credit Union in Freeport, Illinois. She is a founding member and the current Treasurer of Neighborhood North: Museum of Play, a children’s museum in Beaver Falls, Pennsylvania, and has helped clients establish and set up nonprofit organizations. She is passionate about serving and improving her community through assisting public organizations with their accounting and business operational needs.
Before working with J. Martin & Associates, LLC, Michele was an auditor with PricewaterhouseCoopers, serving clients in the financial, manufacturing, engineering, and retail industries. She later served as a senior accountant with Honeywell International. Michele is an Indiana University of Pennsylvania graduate and member of the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants (AICPA).
A resident of Beaver, Pennsylvania, Michele and her husband David have two children, Luke and Leah, and a pet cockapoo, Lacy. Michele enjoys bike riding, reading, spending time outdoors, and family travel to different beaches.
Joel Martin, CPA
Managing Partner
“After 25 years in the industry, it has become my passion to help school districts, as well as local governments, understand best practices for their accounting departments, in order to make them as efficient as possible to serve their residents.”
Joel Martin, a graduate of Geneva College, is the Managing Partner at J. Martin & Associates, LLC, leading and overseeing the Firm’s practice areas. Prior to his founding of J. Martin & Associates, LLC, he served nearly 15 years as a Partner at Cottrill Arbutina and Associates, PC, and as a result of a merger, transitioned into the role of Partner at H2R CPA. Joel has managed hundreds of attest audits, single audits, and consulting contracts for Western Pennsylvania public school districts, charter schools, municipalities, tax collectors, and not-for-profit organizations. He is a sought-after expert in school district and charter school business office administrative office operations.
Joel currently helps school districts, and local government clients formulate best practices for accounting departments. He explores ways to integrate a variety of staffing structures, as well as identifying in-efficiencies in various areas of accounting design. Joel enjoys “thinking outside the traditional box” to help many local governments work together to accomplish their accounting objectives. Joel and his Firm provide top level, government accounting assistance, as well as day to day accounting management, in order to create synergies with multiple governments and school districts who desire a very efficient accounting practices.
Joel shares his sought-after expertise at industry seminars and associations. He has spoken for the Pennsylvania Association of School Business Officials (PASBO) and at seminars sponsored by Cottrill Arbutina on topics such as GASB 34 and real estate tax audits. He also frequently speaks to school and municipality boards regarding the latest accounting standards and the financial impacts they present.
Joel is a member of the American and Pennsylvania Institutes of CPAs. He and his wife, Tammie, and six children live in Industry, Pennsylvania. A transplant from Phoenix, Arizona, Joel can often be found late at night watching his beloved West Coast sports teams.
Chad Agnew
Partner/Owner
“I enjoy the professional relationships with my coworkers and clients. I am most satisfied when our hard work tangibly benefits our clients.”
Prior to his role of Partner at J. Martin & Associates, LLC, Chad Agnew worked over 15 years as a project manager at Cottrill Arbutina & Associates, LLC and H2R CPA. Chad specializes in audit and accounting services for school districts, municipalities, and other governmental and non-profit entities. Having managed hundreds of audits for clients, he is viewed by his co-workers and professional contacts as a highly respected advisor.
Because of Chad’s experience, he has the perspective and expertise to not only provide excellent audit services, but to also offer internal control suggestions to our clients, assisting them in creating efficient operations while mitigating risks associated with their business dealings.
A graduate of Geneva College, Chad holds a Bachelor of Science in Business Administration.
Originally from New Brighton, Pennsylvania, Chad and his wife, Alison, are residents of Big Beaver, Pennsylvania, and they have four adult children. He is an avid baseball fan and his hobbies include golf and watching his beloved Pittsburgh sports teams.
Katherine Butler, CPA
Audit and Consulting Director
“What I find most fulfilling in my role at jmA is navigating the intricate financial landscapes of organizations dedicated to giving back to their community. Assisting with the fiscal health of not-for-profit organizations and local Credit Unions committed to social good brings a profound sense of fulfillment, and knowing that I am making a meaningful contribution to the positive growth of these organizations and communities.”
With eight years of experience, Katie, a CPA and Geneva College alumni, excels in guiding clients through financial complexities. Specializing in the not-for-profit and credit union industries, Katie’s commitment extends beyond the professional realm. She believes passionately in giving back through her work with not-for-profits, viewing it as a meaningful way to contribute to her community.
Having spent three years at Cottrill Arbutina & Associates, LLC, and nearly two years in PNC Bank’s internal audit department, Katie brings a wealth of experience to her role. Joining J. Martin & Associates in 2021, Katie continues to champion financial integrity, focusing on audit and attest services and operational consulting services for all jmA’s clients, including school districts and foundations. Katie’s dedication extends to volunteering on the Neighborhood North Museum of Play Board of Directors as Board Secretary, embodying her commitment to community service. With a grounded approach and genuine passion, Katie ensures clients receive expertise and a trusted ally in navigating the financial landscape.
Katie, her husband, Wayne, and their two dogs, Skylar and Howlitzer, live in Allison Park, Pennsylvania. Katie enjoys spending time with friends and family and exploring new places in and around Pittsburgh.
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50 YEARS OF COMBINED EXPERIENCE
Our Certifications
Our firm participates in the Peer Review program prescribed by the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants (AICPA) and the Pennsylvania Institute of Certified Public Accountants. We are members of the AICPA Government Audit Quality Center.
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