About Us

Since 1980, as a full service CPA firm we have provided comprehensive accounting and consulting services in the St. Louis metropolitan area. We pride ourselves on being progressive in technology and industry practices, while adhering to the fundamental values of honesty, integrity and professionalism in each of our client engagements.  We have built a reputation for excellent service and forming long-lasting, business relationships.

Our Core Values:
Integrity
Respect
Teamwork
Work/Life Balance
Excellence
Responsibility

Our Team

Each of our team members is dedicated to responsive client service and helping our clients realize financial success.

Heidi Cardwell

Administrative Assistant

Kenneth Coplen, CPA/PFS

Shareholder & Director of SFC Financial

Kenneth's Bio

Ken is the founding member of Swink Coplen & Co., P.C.  He focuses on providing strategic tax planning, compliance and consulting services to closely held businesses and high net worth individuals. Beyond traditional compliance services, he also provides estate planning, risk assessment, cash management and financial planning and advisory.

Ken serves his clients as a trusted advisor, providing specialized consulting and research services based on their individual needs. He works with a variety of clients and has significant experience with real estate and manufacturing entities. Ken’s ability to learn and understand his clients’ specific goals enables him to introduce creative solutions designed to grow their organization and maximize their overall financial picture.

Prior to joining Swink Coplen & Co., P.C., Ken began his professional career in the private sector. He worked as an accounting manager for R. Rowland & Co., a St. Louis-based, New York Stock Exchange (NYSE) member organization.

Ken resides in Millstadt, Illinois with his wife and two children. In his free time he enjoys golfing, watching and playing basketball and spending quality time with his family.

Memberships & Affiliations

Certified Public Accountant Missouri and Illinois
Personal Financial Specialist
Registered Investment Advisor
Licensed Insurance Agent
American Institute of Certified Public Accountants (AICPA)
Missouri Society of Certified Public Accountants (MOCPA)
Financial Planning Association (FPA)

Coetta Fredrickson

Staff Accountant, Outsourced Controller Services

Coetta's Bio

Coetta earned an Associate’s Degree in Accounting in 2013 and is currently enrolled at Maryville University working towards her Bachelor’s Degree in Accounting. Coetta joined Swink Coplen & Co., P.C. in March of 2019. Coetta has three years of accounting experience, specializing in manufacturing and wholesale distribution. Now at Swink Coplen & Co., P.C., she dedicates her time to performing daily accounting duties and preparing financial reports.

Coetta grew up in a military family causing her to live all over the world. She settled in Missouri and lives in Ballwin with her sons. Coetta spends her free time hiking, making home improvements, and traveling.

Allison Hockett

Administrative Assistant

Chris Kovach, CPA

Staff Accountant, Tax Services

Chris' Bio

Chris earned a Master of Accountancy from Truman State University in 2012. Chris joined Swink Coplen & Co., P.C. in February of 2013. As a staff accountant in the tax department, Chris assists with tax planning, preparation, and consulting services for our clients. Chris works with a wide range of clients including residential real estate, property management, construction, IT consulting, and restaurants/bars. Chris also assists upper management with consulting and estate planning for high net worth individuals

Chris currently resides in South St. Louis County. Outside of work, he enjoys competing in local and state-wide amateur golf tournaments, along with playing many other recreational sports. He is also a fan of Blues hockey and Cardinals baseball.

Memberships & Affiliations

American Institute of Certified Public Accountants (AICPA)
Missouri Society of Certified Public Accountants (MOCPA)

Pam Maurer

Administrative Assistant

Paige Myers

Staff Accountant, Tax Services

Paige's Bio

Paige earned a Bachelor of Science in Finance and is a currently a candidate for a Master of Science in Forensic Accounting from Webster University, Fall 2019. Paige joined Swink Coplen & Co., P.C. in November 2018, as a staff accountant in the tax department. Paige assists with tax planning, preparation, and consulting services for our clients.

Paige currently resides in Festus, MO.  She enjoys traveling and trying new cuisines, crafting: including crochet and jewelry making, staying active through hiking and yoga, and watching cartoons with her nieces, nephews, and cat Olive.

Memberships & Affiliations

Student member of Missouri Society of Certified Public Accountants (MOCPA)

Julie Peeples

Staff Accountant, Outsourced Controller Services

Julie's Bio

Julie earned a Bachelor of Science in Business Administration from the University of Missouri – St Louis. Julie joined Swink Coplen & Co., P.C. in January of 2019. Julie has more than 10 years of experience including accounting, payroll, and property management. Now at Swink Coplen & Co., P.C., she dedicates her time to performing daily accounting duties and preparing financial reports.

Julie is a valued resource to the Swink Coplen & Co., P.C. team and attributes her success to her organizational skills and attention to detail.

Julie grew up in St. Louis and lives in Fenton with her family. She enjoys time with her family and her hobbies include jogging, working out, golf and house renovations.

Jacob Potter, CPA

Shareholder & Director of Tax Services

Jacob's Bio

Jacob joined Swink Coplen & Co., P.C. in 1999 as a staff accountant, was promoted to Director in 2011 and was admitted as a shareholder in 2017. As a director, he helps lead the client management, quality control and staff development for the firm’s tax practice. He provides proactive tax planning, preparation and consulting services for clients in a variety of sizes and industries. In addition, he also serves as the Cost Segregation Team Leader for the firm. Jacob has worked with individual, LLC and corporate clients in the following industries:

  • Commercial and Residential Real Estate
  • Manufacturing
  • Wholesale Distribution
  • Professional Services
  • Restaurants

Beyond the basic tax preparation and consulting, Jacob provides several specialized tax services. Some of the specialized services include assisting retirement, and handling IRS and state audits. With a passion for real estate, Jacob has consulted on commercial and residential real estate acquisitions and sales, loan refinancing, tax deferred like kind exchanges and Section 754 step-up in basis.

Continuing to take a proactive role in the development of his professional career, Jacob’s clients benefit from his dedication to continuing professional education and ability to stay abreast of accounting and tax issues.

Jacob lives in South County with his wife and their 2 sons. He enjoys spending time with family, golfing and watching Cardinals baseball.

Memberships & Affiliations

Certified Public Accountant Missouri and Illinois
Professional Memberships
American Institute of Certified Public Accountants (AICPA)
Missouri Society of Certified Public Accountants (MOCPA)
University of Missouri Saint Louis Alumni Association

Kimberly Russo

Director of Firm Administration

Kim's Bio

Kim joined Swink Coplen & Co., P.C. in January 1992 as a staff accountant. In 1996, Kim moved into the role of the firm’s first firm administrator.  As the firm’s Director of Firm Administration, Kim is responsible for the day to day operations of the firm. These activities include but are not limited to the human resource function, financial reporting for the firm, managing both the administrative team and the out-source controller division, facilities management and any other items that are not necessarily client centric.

Kim attributes her success to her organizational skills, ability to multi-task on various projects, and her innate ability to connect with people.  Over the years, Kim has developed expertise in many different areas of managing a CPA firm.

Kim grew up in St. Louis and currently resides in Creve Coeur, MO with her husband and two children.  She enjoys traveling, working out, hosting dinner parties and remodeling rooms in her house. Kim is very active volunteering at the Humane Society of Missouri and is an active member of the DeSmet Mother’s Club.

Memberships & Affiliations

Society of Human Resource Management
AICPA – CPAFMA member
Missouri Society of CPAS – Auxiliary Member

Sharon Stanton

Administrative Assistant

Earl Swink, CPA

Managing Shareholder

Earl's Bio

Earl is the founding member and President of Swink Coplen & Co., P.C. (formerly known as Swink, Fiehler & Company, P.C.). He has dedicated the past 38 years to nurturing Swink Coplen & Co., P.C. into a professional services firm committed to providing outstanding client service.

Prior to founding Swink, Earl worked at Arthur Andersen where he provided tax, audit, and consulting services to a variety of industries, including real estate, insurance, financial services, manufacturing and construction. He prides himself on providing proactive, value-driven advice to his client base. A hands-on approach and dedication to positively impacting his clients operations truly enables Earl to serve them as their trusted business advisor.

Earl has extensive experience working with clients in a number of capacities, including advanced income and estate planning, succession planning, investment strategies, profit enhancement services, financing assistance, corporate reorganizations, strategic planning and other specialized services. He has worked on over 200 merger and acquisition transactions, including due diligence and consultation in the areas of deal structure, funding, valuation, integration and other related business issues.

Earl is a well-known financial leader in the St. Louis market. He is a St. Louis native and has remained in the area with his family.

Memberships & Affiliations

Certified Public Accountant, Missouri and Illinois
American Institute of Certified Public Accountants (AICPA)
Missouri Society of Certified Public Accountants (MOCPA)
University of Missouri St. Louis Alumni Association
Alliance of Merger & Acquisition Advisors (AMAA)
Enterprise Bank, Sunset Hills – Board Advisor Member

Joan Tod, CPA

Manager, Tax Services

Joan's Bio

Joan joined Swink Coplen & Co., P.C. in January 2012. As a manager in the tax department, Joan provides tax planning, preparation, and accounting services for our clients and also assists them with their daily business operations. She works with a diverse client base including non-profit, manufacturing, distribution, property management, and service entities.

Following her graduation from the University of Missouri-Columbia in 1983, Joan began her public accounting career as an auditor for a large public accounting firm. She then went to work in industry as a financial accountant for Brown Shoe Company. From there she went back into public accounting and did everything from tax planning and tax preparation to basic accounting and assistance with write-up work and special projects.

Joan attributes her success to her organizational skills, hard work, and ability to interact well professionally and personally with clients and colleagues. She has spent significant time working with non-profits and family-owned businesses and enjoys getting to know them and learn about their specific needs.

Joan grew up in St. Louis and currently resides in Oakville, MO with her husband. She enjoys traveling, gardening, running and reading. She has also volunteered in different capacities throughout the years. She served as the treasurer for the Meramec Sharks Hockey Club when her sons played hockey in the club. She has mentored college students through Missouri Society of CPAs.

Memberships & Affiliations

Certified Public Accountant Missouri
American Institute of Certified Public Accountants (AICPA)
Missouri Society of Certified Public Accountants (MOCPA)

Sharon Zimmer

Staff Accountant, Outsourced Controller Services

Sharon's Bio

Sharon joined Swink Coplen & Co., P.C. in 2013 as an outsourced controller accountant bringing her accounting education with an eagerness to learn and desire to grow.

Sharon graduated with her Master’s degree in Accounting from the University of MO – St. Louis and has almost ten years of accounting experience, starting as a tax intern at a small local CPA firm, transferring to a full time accountant at a commercial real estate company. Now at Swink Coplen & Co., P.C., she dedicates her time to performing daily accounting transactions and preparing financial reports. Her focus and clientele includes real estate clients and not-for-profit clients.

Sharon is a valued resource to the Swink Coplen & Co., P.C. team and her clients, providing them with guidance regarding the accounting and financial aspects of their business, providing support, and being ready and available to accept and accomplish any task.

Outside of the office, Sharon spends her time with her husband volunteering with their church in South City, gardening, and running with their two dogs.

Memberships & Affiliations

Missouri Society of Certified Public Accountants (MOCPA)