The Milestone Approach
We are making a difference for the entrepreneurs out there making a difference every day.
Milestone is not your typical professional services firm. We believe in true business partnerships that make life easier, provide the best information to make smarter decisions, and help clients build successful companies.
Our team is your team, and our model is simple: You get decades of executive-level leadership at a fraction of the cost of a full-time resource. Because every business deserves access to strategy and expertise, no matter their size.
We partner with your business to provide the best possible answers facing your business today, tomorrow, and down the line.
We are the trusted HR and Accounting partner for businesses of all sizes and specialties
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“Milestone has been a great partner for our growing company. We initially engaged them to help us identify gaps in our HR infrastructure, but it quickly evolved into a recurring role for both Accounting and HR support. They help us think strategically about our back office functions and how to leverage them to help us achieve our goals as a company.”
Milestone knows our (complicated) business absolutely as well as we do. Nothing about the arrangement feels fractional, which was our biggest hesitation going into this. They proved us wrong almost immediately and have continuously demonstrated unbelievable work for us!
“Milestone does all kinds of things for us, but the biggest benefit is sleeping better at night. With Milestone, I don’t have to worry about where I am financially, or if my business is in compliance. Their team stays on top of that so I can focus on running my business. ”
At Milestone our core values are more than just words, it’s who we are. They form the foundation of our firm and serve to guide us in building relationships with clients, team members, and partners. We call them our Core4.
Be Growth Minded
Every situation is a learning opportunity. We consistently strive to build our skillset, identify efficiencies, and discover ways the collective “we” can improve. The status quo simply isn’t enough. We encounter new challenges and situations on a daily basis and appreciate the opportunity that creates to expand our knowledge base. We collaborate and ask for feedback knowing that results are more important than ego, and that the combined experiences of our team outweigh our individual abilities.
Be Outcomes Focused
Every problem has a solution. We start with the end in mind – what is the outcome our internal and external customers are looking to achieve? We approach each situation with the intent to discover the problem to be solved – and then we solve it. Externally, we keep our clients’ short, mid, and long-term goals in mind to create reasonable, scalable solutions. We take a step back first and then we zoom in. Internally, we strive for connection between our individual contributions and company objectives, letting us better understand the role we have in moving our company forward.
Be Someone Others Want to Work With
Every team member has the ability to make those around them better. The work is hard and some days are certainly better than others, but ultimately, we choose to be here and to champion our mission because we believe in our ability to positively impact organizations. We respectfully challenge each other because that kind of challenge leads to growth and best-case outcomes for all involved. Being someone others want to work with also means we are balanced individuals. Although we are passionate about what we do, work isn’t our whole world and it doesn’t define us. Be Kind. Be Helpful. Genuinely Care. There is no place here for drama, but healthy debate is always welcome.
Be An Example of Accountability
Everyone owns something and every contribution is necessary. In a collaborative environment we can’t succeed unless we all hold up our end of the bargain. This starts with delivering, as promised, every time. We are accountable to our clients, to each other, and to ourselves. We are not perfect but we own our mistakes. We make the difficult decisions and hard calls – even when we don’t want to.
Founders
Tom Gabbert CPA
Founder / CEOTom Gabbert has been a pioneer and thought leader in the outsourced accounting industry since 2003. He is a successful entrepreneur who loves helping fellow entrepreneurs realize their dreams. Tom understands the unique challenges of starting, growing, and exiting a business. Not only has he done it twice himself, but he has guided numerous clients over the years through successful exits. Along the way, Tom has also helped his clients raise over $250M in growth capital (seed, Series A, Series B). He has a unique background that combines extensive financial and operational experience with a proven track record of client success.
Tom is a Certified Public Accountant and holds an undergraduate degree in Accounting from the University of Notre Dame.
He enjoys traveling and spending time with his family. He is also an avid history buff and die-hard Cubs fan.
Melissa Stout CPA, CMA
Founder / VP – OperationsMelissa oversees client operations at Milestone. She is seasoned financial executive with over 20 years of accounting and operational experience. Her knowledge of accounting systems and integrated workflow platforms helps her utilize the latest, cutting edge tools to streamline financial operations and maximize efficiency. She is passionate about helping entrepreneurs succeed by leveraging best-in-class technology platforms with proven strategies for process improvement. Melissa has worked with a wide variety of clients, specializing in accounting and business issues unique to the software-as-a-service (SaaS) and professional services industries.
In addition to her CPA certification, Melissa is a Certified Management Accountant (CMA) who holds an undergraduate degree from the Indiana University Kelley School of Business, with dual majors in accounting and marketing.
She enjoys spending time with her two children and is an avid sports fan, following the NFL and college basketball in her spare time.
Brenna Whitaker SHRM-SCP
Founder / VP – HR ServicesWith over 20 years of Human Resources experience, including both corporate and consulting roles, Brenna is a seasoned People Ops leader. She excels in her ability to keep the needs and objectives of the organization top of mind while still remaining a strong advocate for the team, company culture, and strategic HR initiatives. Prior to Milestone, Brenna served as the VP of People Ops at both mAccounting and inDinero.
Brenna is a graduate of Indiana State University and a SHRM Senior Certified Professional.
Brenna lives in Westfield with her husband and two young children. Current hobbies include falling asleep watching Netflix and folding laundry. She hopes to develop additional hobbies when her children are older.
Todd Richardson
Founder / Board MemberTodd is passionate about employee engagement and supporting businesses through all of their people-related needs. A labor/employment and business attorney by trade, Todd began his career in private practice before becoming General Counsel and head of HR for the (then) fifth largest private residential real estate company in the U.S. Following his time in real estate, he served as EVP, Administration at ExactTarget, which was acquired by Salesforce.
After ExactTarget, Todd went on to found, run, and consult with multiple companies, including Emplify (co-founder), Ntracts (CEO), and Cheetah Digital (Chief Administrative Officer). Todd currently serves as the CHRO and Vice President for Human Resources at Indiana University.
Leadership team
Ellen Elpers
Director – Technology Services
Ellen started her career in outsourced accounting as a staff accountant working closely with Melissa Stout, and quickly rose through ranks to emerge as the leader of the Technology Services group. Ellen has the rare combination of strong technical accounting skills, a good understanding of and aptitude for technology, and an engaging leadership style. In her role at Milestone, Ellen works closely with clients and fellow team members to leverage best-in-class technology tools to improve processes and drive efficiency.
Zach Yeagy
Director – Accounting Operations
Zach brings extensive Controller and Operations experience in service-based businesses. He combines strong accounting skills with exceptional project management abilities and a deep understanding of how operations and finance must work together to drive business success. Known for his engaging and collaborative leadership style, Zach is consistently outcomes-focused in his approach. In his role at Milestone, he guides clients and team members with actionable financial guidance while supporting internal leadership, hiring, planning, and training initiatives.
Accounting Services
Accounting services for everything your business needs to stay on track and plan for the future. Learn more about our Accounting Services.
HR Services
Your HR partner to manage everything from day-to-day programs to business-changing strategies. Learn more about our HR Services.
Payroll Services
The expertise you need to ensure timely and accurate payroll processing and a good employee experience. Learn more about our Payroll Services.
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Transform your back-office into a competitive advantage.
