Antioch

Clay Hamlin

Clay grew up in Antioch, Illinois, and in a sense, never left. After graduating from Notre Dame with a degree in philosophy and literature and earning his master’s degree in taxation from DePaul University, in 1996 he joined the firm James C. Hamlin & Co., Inc., founded by his parents...

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  In 1998, Clay purchased the firm from his father and started businesses in IT, payroll, marketing, financial services, and insurance. Clay is a licensed CPA in Illinois and Wisconsin and has financial services licenses Series 7 and 63, as well as a life insurance license. He served on the board of St. John’s Preparatory School for 8 years, with the last four years as Chair. He played hockey through high school and “men’s league” until the age of 39, and he once even completed the Chicago Marathon. These days he enjoys playing golf with family and friends. An avid lifelong learner, Clay reads books of just about any kind and listens to lecture series from the Teaching Company. (He says – and his two grown children lovingly agree – this puts him in true Geek status, but he doesn’t mind the label.)

Eric Joern

Eric is a graduate of Columbia College of Missouri with a degree in accounting and joined the firm in 2013. He is a licensed CPA and a key business advisor at Kaizen.

Coming from generations of entrepreneurs, small business is in his blood...

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  He has spent his working career getting his hands dirty with concrete, increasing profits and efficiency, managing an automotive service department, and currently is a key resource for many small business owners. Eric is currently the lead on our Automotive concentration, with years of experience as an Automotive Service Advisor and connections in the industry to better serve his clients. Eric enjoys live music, working with his hands, and spending time outdoors with his wife and their two pooches. A big fan of the Chicago Bears, Cubs, Bulls, and Blackhawks, he jumps at the chance to catch ‘em live and in person when he can.

Pierre Langlois

Pierre graduated with a degree in accounting from Northeastern University in Boston. Licensed in Wisconsin and Illinois, Pierre has been with the firm since 2003 (he says it seems like only yesterday) and credits his success to having a great team and really getting to know and understand his clients...

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  Pierre has served on various boards of directors and previously served on Nippersink District 2 school board and RSGSA soccer board. And, if you’re ever heading to the Boston area and want to know where to get fantastic lobster bisque or fresh lobster shipped to you (psst...James Hook & Co), Pierre’s your man. According to Pierre, it’d be criminal not to stop at Regina’s Pizzeria for the world’s best slice!