In May 1984, the firm of Faulk & Winkler was founded on providing practical and innovative results to clients helping them achieve business success.  Our founders, Arthur (Bert) Faulk, III and David Winkler opened our office on 244 Peachtree Boulevard with a staff of 10 people.  Two years later, Denise Carvalho became partner at the firm overseeing tax services.  As the firm grew, Faulk & Winkler moved to an office located at the Xerox Building on Corporate Boulevard shortly before building its current location at 6811 Jefferson Highway in 1989. 

 As business expanded into Ascension Parish, we opened our first satellite office in Donaldsonville in 1994 and moved to its current location in Gonzales in 1999.  What began as a 4,800 square foot office with less than 10 people has expanded into over 10,500 square feet and 50 team members.

 In 1994, Tommy LeJeune joined the firm as a staff member in audit services and was promoted to partner in 2000.  Tommy serves the firm’s clientele providing audit services to distribution, healthcare, not-for-profit, governmental and construction organizations.

 In 2013, Jeremy Klibert was promoted to partner after working as a staff member for 8 years.  Jeremy began working with audit clientele, but moved into the tax area in 2008 and now oversees the firm’s tax planning and compliance services.

 In 2016, Melissa Terito and Jacob Waguespack were promoted to partners.  Melissa joined our team in 2009 and worked closely with David providing retirement plan services over her tenure.  She now manages this service area for the firm.  Jacob Waguespack joined the firm in 2004 in the audit and accounting area.  Jacob is responsible for overseeing audit services.

 With the retirement of David Winkler in 2018 and Denise Carvalho in 2011, the firm continues to embrace the service philosophy started by the founding partners in 1984.  Faulk & Winkler’s mission “to proactively impact the well-being of those we serve” in combination with its holistic approach has allowed the firm to prosper by serving as true business partners with clients in achieving financial success. Many of those clients are longstanding with some being with the firm since inception.

BERT FAULK, CPA

Bert has acquired nearly 50 years of experience in public accounting. Throughout his years, he focused on providing organizational accounting and tax issue guidance to governmental and healthcare organizations as well as business consulting to a variety of industries.

The depth of knowledge in accounting principles that Bert has shared with his clients is just one of the many reasons they have remained loyal to him and the firm over the years. Bert has often felt he should be the one paying for the opportunity to work with so many worthwhile people, prospects and organizations. 

Bert’s passion for accounting developed while taking classes at the University of Louisiana at Lafayette. Shortly after graduating, he was drafted into the US Army where he served for one year and nine months. The military taught him the value of communication at all levels of an organization. After the army, he joined the firm of Bourgeois, Bennet, Thokey & Hickey where he spent the next fourteen years. 

At a young age, Bert learned the importance of working hard, taking responsibility for your actions and treating others with respect and kindness. These qualities have created the base for his professional success and positively impacted the way he interacts with his clients and colleagues. He takes a genuine interest in his clients and truly listens to their needs and concerns. He is always focused on helping them improve their financial outlook. 

A Louisiana native, Bert currently lives in Baton Rouge with his wife, Tina. While away from the office, he enjoys traveling and spending time with his friends and family.

DAVID WINKLER, CPA

David spent 40 years in the trenches of the accounting industry. Along the way, he developed a passion for offering the firm’s clients personalized attention and responsive service of a local firm, as well as the resources, knowledge and breadth of services you would expect from a national accounting organization.

David served a variety of clientele from medical practice, engineering and distribution companies. His focus was tax compliance and administrative issues affecting tax-qualified pension plans, including 401(k) plans and employer profit sharing plans. In addition, David worked with closely-held businesses to assist them in understanding issues that affect the profitability of their business and how to maximize new business opportunities using debt and equity.

He worked with clients to make the most of every penny by understanding their businesses from the inside out. In particular, he assisted numerous companies in the design of their pension plan to maximize the contribution rates for the business owners, while maintaining a reasonable cost for all other employees.

David pursued a career in accounting due to his fascination with numbers and the role they play in business and everyday life. He attributes his success to his passion for his clients and the firm. As a son of a US Naval officer, David experienced the need to adapt to various living environments, and the independence that was required to meet new friends every two years. This sense of independence gave him the ability to adapt to different situations and to take a global perspective.

David now lives in Daniel Island, South Carolina with his wife Anne. He enjoys playing golf and spending time with his grandchildren.