Plante & Moran, PLLC, a regional public accounting and consulting firm in the Midwest, is moving full speed ahead with an aggressive growth strategy to continue to position itself as a professional services firm of choice for middle market businesses in the Great Lakes region.

The firm announced this week a merger with Chicago-based accounting firm Gleeson, Sklar, Sawyers and Cumpata (GSS&C). This merger will create the 10th largest accounting firm in the US. The combined firm, operating as Plante & Moran, will include 18 offices, including three Illinois locations, 1300 staff members & combined revenues of $191 million.

Bill Hermann, CPA, Plante & Moran’s Managing Partner, says the firm’s newly extended geographic reach builds on the firm’s 80 years of growth in Michigan and Ohio.

“Our merger with GSS&C is an entrée into one of the nation’s largest markets. We’ll build on GSS&C’s 37 years in the Chicago area, and Plante & Moran’s 80 years building and growing in Michigan and Ohio, to create a dynamic client-focused business advisory firm that is committed to grow in the Chicago area.“

George Cumpata, CPA, Managing Partner of GSS&C, will continue to lead the Illinois region. He acknowledges the growing trend of smaller firms partnering with larger regional firms to expand client service capabilities.

“Depth of targeted industry services has been the cornerstone of GSS&C since its founding,” explains Cumpata. “Merging our capabilities with Plante & Moran, however, takes us to an even higher level and we know that our clients and staff will benefit greatly from the intellectual resources and cumulative experience that a larger firm provides.”