Curt Mastio started Founder’s CPA in 2017 and currently serves as the Managing Partner of the firm.  After obtaining both his Bachelor’s and Master’s degrees in accounting from the University of Illinois in Urbana-Champaign Curt started his career in Big Four public accounting.  Shortly thereafter Curt served as the Chief Financial Officer of Storage Squad began his stint as an Adjunct Instructor at Northwestern University’s Farley Center for Entrepreneurship and has been teaching Accounting & Finance to undergraduate students for 6+ years.  In his current role Curt oversees strategy, operations, and business development at Founder’s CPA.  Further, Curt has experience working directly with 200+ startups and small businesses providing accounting, tax, and outsourced CFO services.  His industry expertise lies in the SaaS, Blockchain, Marketplace, and Fintech industries.  He has served as a key advisor working directly with startups that range from pre-revenue to companies generating over $30 million dollars a year in revenue.  Lastly, he serves a key role working directly with the firm’s clients that have collectively raised over $200 million in venture capital funding to date.

Curt is also an active advisor, mentor, and investor in the startup ecosystem.  He has facilitated numerous workshops, webinars, and presentations to incubators and other startup-centric organizations.  He is also an active mentor for Techstars in both Chicago and Iowa.  Outside of his daily professional duties Curt is actively involved with Beat the Streets Chicago and was a founding member of its Young Professionals Board.  His efforts in both leadership and community involvement were recognized when he was awarded the Illinois CPA Society’s Outstanding Young Professional Leadership Award in 2020.  He was also a panelist at their annual conference in 2022 where he spoke about his experiences starting and operating a public accounting firm.  He maintains an active Certified Public Accountant designation that he obtained in 2014.

Outside of work, Curt can be found spending time with his friends & family including his dog Rufus.  His hobbies include golf, boating, cooking, reading, and attending sporting events & concerts.

Jake is a results-oriented Certified Public Accountant and Partner with over a decade of experience in accounting and taxation. He has a proven track record of success in providing comprehensive accounting services to a diverse range of clients, including individuals, sole proprietors, businesses, and non-profits.

As the leader of the Accounting Services practice at Founder’s CPA, Jake is responsible for overseeing the delivery of high-quality financial reporting and compliance services to clients. He also provides expert tax planning and consultation services to help clients navigate complex tax laws and regulations. With a passion for working with technology-focused startups in the SaaS, regtech, and edtech space, Jake is committed to helping his clients achieve their financial goals. He is known for his exceptional client service and ability to deliver measurable results that drive business success.

Jake began his career at Rub & Brillhart, LLC after graduating Summa Cum Laude from DePaul University with an accounting degree. He quickly rose through the ranks at Rub & Brillhart, LLC, eventually achieving the position of Partner in 2018. He recently joined Founder’s CPA as Partner following the merger of Rub & Brillhart, LLC and Founder’s CPA. He is a member of the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants and Illinois CPA Society.

In his free time, Jake enjoys golfing, boating, and spending time with his family and pets.

Scott is a Partner and Director of Tax at Founder’s CPA who helps clients navigate complex tax and financial issues.

His areas of expertise include family office services, private equity, closely held businesses, and income tax and financial planning for high-net and ultra-high-net worth clients. He counsels clients on the evolving federal and state tax landscape and rapidly changing financial climate to ensure their goals are achieved in a tax efficient manner.

Scott was previously a partner at the Chicago boutique firm Rub & Brillhart, LLC and joined Founder’s CPA following the merger of both firms.

Scott has a B.S. in Accounting and M.S.T. in Taxation from DePaul University.

An audiophile, Scott continues to explore and expand his knowledge in music and has amassed more than 4,000 LPs, 45s, cassettes and cds over twenty-plus years of collecting. A long-time resident of the Logan Square area of Chicago, he can often be found at various restaurants and cocktail bars. He’s a supporter of Arsenal FC in the English Premier League and the McLaren Formula 1 team.

Abdul is a Certified Public Accountant and a Senior Tax Manager at Founder’s CPA. He graduated Summa Cum Laude from Northeastern Illinois University with a degree in accounting and has been with the firm since early 2018.

He loves working on tax matters involving pass-through entities and international taxation. Prior to this role, he worked in corporate accounting in the retail sector.

Abdul is passionate about the complexities of the tax code and the potential to create savings. He is dedicated to helping the firm’s clients maximize their tax savings while ensuring compliance with all current regulations. He keeps himself up-to-date with the ever-evolving tax code and laws, regularly reading professional publications, and attending continuing education courses.

In his free time, he enjoys racking up flight hours in flight sim, reading, lockpicking, and is a car enthusiast.

Chris Arlinghaus is a Senior Manager at Founder’s CPA, focused on the accounting services and outsourced CFO service lines. He joined Founder’s in the fall of 2017 becoming the first member of the team to join Curt in the early days of the company. Prior to FCPA, Chris had 5 years of experience as an IT consultant working with multi-national pharmaceutical companies on IT systems implementation, software selection, and regulatory compliance.

“I have loved working at Founder’s for the last 6 years because of the people. As a consultant, I got to work at a number of different companies from my various projects; what made the difference every time was the people I was working with. At Founder’s, we have a special culture that sets us apart from other firms. I’m excited for work each day because of the people I get to work with.”

Chris graduated from Cornell University with a bachelors in Biology and a minor in Applied Economics and Management.

Outside of Founder’s, Chris is a sports junkie with a special love for college football. He enjoys weekend adventures with his wife and daughter, and family reunions when visiting back home in Cleveland.

Colin Burton is a Senior Manager on the Accounting Services side at Founder’s CPA. He joined the team as an Associate in 2018 before being promoted to Senior Associate in 2019, Manager in 2021, and Senior Manager in 2025. He attributes this to his determination, work ethic, and mentors inside and outside of Founder’s.

Colin specializes in providing both outsourced accounting and CFO services to clients in a variety of industries. He takes pride in his expectational work product, in-depth knowledge of accounting principles, and strategic financial guidance that helps clients achieve their financial goals. 

He earned bachelor’s degrees in Accounting and Finance from Bradley University. He is a Certified Public Accountant in the state of Illinois. 

Colin enjoys spending time with family, socializing with friends, traveling, and all things sports. You can spot him at Notre Dame or White Sox games. 

Megan is an Accounting Services Senior Manager at Founder’s CPA. She joined the team in Fall 2020 as a manager to oversee the month end close process for a variety of clients, the majority of them in the venture-backed technology and crypto industries. 

She started her career in tax with one of the Big Four firms focusing on financial services clients. She then pivoted into corporate accounting in the real estate industry and gained experience working with single family homes, offices, retail, parking, and hospitality. 

She has a BS in Accounting from The University of Arizona, a MSA from Northern Illinois University, and is a licensed CPA in the state of Illinois. 

Megan has a passion for fitness and is a nutrition coach at a local CrossFit gym. She also enjoys traveling, trying new restaurants, reading, and spending time with her family, friends, and pets. 

Jamey is a Manager on the Accounting Services team at Founder’s CPA who joined the company in January of 2023.

He started his career in multistate tax services at a big 4 financial services firm, and since then has worked in the nonprofit space, hospitality industry, venture capital, and SAAS/tech. He brings his cross-industry knowledge to all of his FCPA clients.

He has a BS of Accountancy from DePaul University in Chicago.

Outside of work, Jamey enjoys singing, live theatre, traveling, volleyball, working out, trying new restaurants, and spending as much time as possible with his dog, Albus.

Joe Alioto is a Manager with the CFO Services team. He joined Founder’s CPA in 2023.

Joe graduated from the University of Minnesota, Twin Cities with a degree in applied economics. He has spent the bulk of his career assessing and executing mergers, acquisitions, and venture capital investments for publicly traded industrial conglomerates as well as advising early stage, high-growth startups. He is passionate about working with clients to build and execute finance, fundraising, and growth strategies in pursuit of their long-term objectives.

Outside of work, Joe enjoys learning new instruments, recording music, exploring new cities, cooking (and eating) new foods, and long bike rides.

Tyler is a Tax Manager at Founder’s CPA. He joined Founder’s CPA with a background in Tax, Compliance, Resolution, and Advisory work. Prior to joining, Tyler was at an accounting firm specializing in both individual and entity compliance, advisory and planning. He also provided full service accounting to a broad array of clients.

Tyler received his Juris Doctor from University of Illinois Chicago Law School. He is licensed to practice law by the Illinois state bar.

Tyler lives in the Logan Square neighborhood of Chicago with his wife and their dog. Outside of work, he enjoys playing golf, reading, gardening, and walking his dog, Lincoln.

Patrick is a Senior Associate on the Accounting Services team. Prior to joining Founder’s CPA in late 2022, he worked in private accounting where he gained experience in multiple industries. He has a bachelor’s in accounting from St. Ambrose University and an MBA from Eastern New Mexico University. Patrick is a solution-oriented, outside-the-box thinker with a focus on process improvement, efficiency, and accuracy.

Outside of work, Patrick enjoys videogaming, golfing, bowling, and traveling.

Caitlyn Dobner is a Senior Associate on the Accounting Services team at Founder’s CPA. 

She started her career on the corporate accounting team at a top music publishing company. Since then, she has worked in a variety of industries including healthcare technology, commercial insurance, logistics, and marketing, as well as with small business entrepreneurs. Caitlyn graduated from Belmont University with degrees in Accounting and Music Business. 

Outside of work, she enjoys going to concerts, spending time by the lake, being a casual Chicago sports fan, consuming true crime and reality TV content, spending time with her friends and family (including three nieces, three nephews, and one great-niece), and spoiling her three cats (Noelle, Tanner, and Peggy). 

Doug Burbank is a Senior Associate with the Accounting Services team. He joined Founder’s CPA in August of 2022. His experience prior to joining the team was with internal accounting departments for staffing agencies and a long stint with corporate accounting working on revenue. Doug graduated from Indiana University and brings a detail oriented, solution based approach with an emphasis on process improvement.

In his free time, Doug spends time with his family and pets, enjoys trying out new restaurants, and likes to host board game nights.

Gibson is a Senior Associate in the Tax Services at Founder’s CPA, having joined the firm in October 2021. He specializes in the tax preparation and review of tax returns for high-net-worth individuals, estates and trusts, foreign corporation reporting, and a variety of business entities. In addition to his tax-related responsibilities, Gibson provides month-end closing accounting services primarily in the legal and rental real estate fields.  

Gibson relocated to Chicago in 2020 after earning a bachelor's degree in Finance with a minor in Information Systems from California State University, Northridge. He further advanced his education by completing a Master of Accountancy at Northern Illinois University in the Summer of 2023. He is currently in the process of sitting for the CPA exam. 

In his free time, Gibson enjoys spending time with his family, playing basketball, and watching a variety of sporting events. 

John Koncar is a Senior Associate on the Accounting Services team at Founder’s CPA. He joined the team in December of 2023.

John began his career in Big Four public accounting, working primarily in audit and forensic accounting. He then gained experience in internal control monitoring and corporate accounting at a large food and beverage company, before spending time at a consulting firm working with distressed businesses in turnaround and restructuring consulting.

He has a bachelor’s degree and a master’s degree in accounting from the University of Illinois in Urbana-Champaign and is a licensed CPA in the state of Illinois.

Outside of work, John enjoys listening to music and going to concerts, watching the White Sox, playing the drums, and exploring Chicago with his wife and dog.

Jose Garcia is a Senior Associate with the Accounting Services team. He joined Founder’s CPA in July of 2023. Prior to joining the team, he worked as an accountant for a Network of Charter schools and has experience working as an analyst in the food manufacturing industry. 

He graduated from Northeastern University with a bachelor’s degree in accounting. He brings his problem-solving skills and a strong ethic to support the team. 

Outside of work, Jose enjoys spending time with his family, driving out to national parks for a hike, and bicycling. 

Julie Strauss is a Senior Associate on the Accounting Services and Tax team at Founder’s CPA. She joined the team in 2025. 

Julie began her career in Big Four public accounting in audit and financial due diligence. She has gained experience in sales finance working at a Fortune 500 food and consumer products company. She has a bachelor’s degree in accounting from the University of Illinois in Urbana-Champaign and is a licensed CPA in the state of Illinois. Additionally, she currently sits on the professional board for two charities in the Chicago-land area. 

In her free time, Julie enjoys attending workout classes around Chicago, spending time with friends, spoiling her mini-bernedoodle, Coconut, and traveling the world (22 countries and counting).

Rebecca Berger is a Senior Administrative Assistant at Founder’s CPA, where she has been a part of the team since August 2021. She focuses on supporting Curt, helping the FCPA team stay organized, and coordinating projects with clients. 

Rebecca attended Columbia College Chicago and received a Bachelor of Arts degree in Cinema Art + Science with a concentration in Post-Production. Prior to her current role, Rebecca most recently worked as a Facilitator at The Adler Planetarium in Chicago. During her five years there, she helped many people gain an appreciation for space and the stars. 

In her spare time, Rebecca enjoys cheering for the Blackhawks, going to anime conventions, and playing video games, especially puzzle (Portal 2) and adventure games (Genshin Impact and Zenless Zone Zero). Her favorite space fact is that when Betelgeuse (a red-giant star 642.5 light years away) explodes within the next 100,000 years, it will be bright enough to see during the day, if you’re around to see it! 

Zach Carnes is a Senior Associate at Founder’s CPA and a member of the tax team. He also provides accounting services to a variety of clients, many of which are in the digital asset space. He joined the team as a staff accountant in 2019 after graduating from Bradley University with his Master’s Degree in Accountancy. While gaining experience in the various service lines, he earned his Certified Public Accountant license in the state of Illinois.

In his free time, Zach enjoys playing a wide range of video games, working out, and listening to comedy podcasts.

David joined Founders CPA in 2023 as a Tax Associate. He also works on the accounting services team outside of the tax season. David graduated from Carthage College with a major in finance and a minor in economics. He has experience working on individual and small business tax returns, accounts receivable, and medical billing prior to Founders. David is diligent, detail-oriented, and a problem solver. 

Outside of work, David enjoys playing golf, pickleball, or any activity outside in his free time. He also enjoys cooking, boating, and spending time with his family and friends. 

Rufus joined the team in August of 2019 to focus on improving overall office morale.  Though Rufus lacks the work ethic embodied by his other coworkers, he makes up for it by providing pure happiness to everyone he meets.  Try to have a meeting with Rufus without giving him a belly rub (you can’t).