Top 300 accounting firm Kruggel Lawton CPAs said on Feb. 6 that it’s combining with Cole Gavlas, a Portage, MI-based firm that provides a wide range of accounting services to their clients, including tax, business advisory, financial management, and other advisory offerings.

Financial terms of the deal, which will become official on June 1, weren’t disclosed. As part of the merger, 11 professionals and three partners will join Kruggel Lawton, expanding the South Bend, IN-based firm’s reach in southwest Michigan.

Barry Hall

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“We are delighted to have the Cole Gavlas team join Kruggel Lawton,” said Barry Hall, managing partner of Kruggel Lawton, said in a statement. “Combining our two very talented teams will create new opportunities to serve the Portage/Kalamazoo area. Cole Gavlas has an outstanding reputation for excellent client service and quality of work which will increase our depth and expertise across several service lines.”

After more than 10 years at a national firm, Jeffrey Cole decided to open his own practice. Founded in 1991, Cole and Co. began serving clients throughout southwest Michigan in Kalamazoo and Portage. Dan Gavlas joined the team in 1999 and was promoted to partner two years later. In 2009, they officially changed the name to Cole Gavlas when they moved into their current office in Portage. As the firm continued to grow, they brought on Jason Martin, who joined the leadership team in 2017. Cole Gavlas has been a member of the BDO Alliance for more than 22 years.

“We are excited to be joining Kruggel Lawton,” said Dan Gavlas. “The partnership between our two firms feels very natural because our values, culture, and approach to client service are so closely aligned. This is a great opportunity not only for our team but for our clients, and I look forward to continuing to serve our communities together.”

Also a member of the BDO Alliance, Kruggel Lawton currently has three offices in Indiana and one each in Michigan and Tennessee.