How It All Adds Up
The Story of D+L
In 1974, our founder Mike Dugan started an accounting practice in his own garage. He set out to make a different kind of firm, one that values people and relationships above all.
Since then, a lot has changed—new people, new technologies, new ways of working. But the values that have been with us since the beginning persist, and they continue to shape our firm today.
Keep scrolling to see how it all adds up.
1974-1981
In what he calls "an entrepreneurial seizure," Mike Dugan starts his own accounting practice in his garage.
Mike moves his new firm to an office on Forest Avenue in Glen Ellyn.
Mike & Doug Hoffmeyer become partners, and Dugan & Hoffmeyer is created.
1982-1989
We move to Taft Avenue in Glen Ellyn, then Roosevelt Road in Wheaton. 1984
Gerald Lopatka joins our firm and becomes a partner. 1982
We officially become Dugan & Lopatka, CPA’s PC. 1986
We hold our first company picnic! 1984
1990-1995
Mark Schultz becomes a partner and leads the audit practice. 1990
We get our first Mainframe
IBM computer, followed by
personal desktops. 1990
Gwen Henry becomes a partner in the accounting services department. 1990
We establish the IT company
Partners in Technology. 1994
We celebrate our 20th Anniversary! 1994
1996-2003
Pete Zich becomes a partner in the tax practice. 1996
Leo Misdom merges his practice and becomes partner, expanding Accounting Services. 1998
We publish our first Handy Tax Guide, which quickly becomes a client favorite. 1999
We celebrate our 25th Anniversary! 1999
We expand into wealth management, establishing a Financial Services division. 2000
Glenn Wack is hired as the firm's IT director. 2000
2004-2015
Hugh Elliott becomes a partner in the audit practice and subsequently leads the group. 2005
Karen Olson merges her practice with D+L, expanding the nonprofit practice. 2006
We acquire Hofner & Hofner Accounting Firm. 2010
D+L goes "paperless". 2010
As D+L grows, our office takes over the entire first floor.
Mike Dugan retires and Jerry Lopatka becomes managing partner.2013
2016-2023
Ron Marklund becomes a partner and leads the nonprofit practice. 2017
We move to our current
Warrenville location. 2018
Jerry Lopatka retires, and Pete Zich becomes managing partner. 2019
Mike Lee becomes a partner and leads the outsourced accounting practice. 2020
We help our clients navigate COVID-19. 2020
We adopt our tagline:
Accounting for What Matters." 2021
Celebrating 50 Years
of Dugan + Lopatka (2024)
The joy continues!
This One’s for Mike
“How It All Adds Up” was created in honor of our founder, Mike Dugan (1943-2019). While he served as our managing director for decades, Mike’s favorite role was the one he appointed himself: Director of Joy. As Director of Joy, Mike fostered a culture where people come first, relationships are the real bottom line, and the ultimate mark of success is joy.
Today, that culture lives on—and the joy continues.