Halstead Carpenter and Assoc., Ltd. is a licensed CPA, Accounting, Tax, and Consulting firm with over 25 years experience helping businesses and individuals in the greater Joliet, Shorewood, & Plainfield, IL, area. It has many long-time satisfied clients.

Meet Our Staff: 

Mary Carpenter, CPA 

President

Mary Carpenter, CPA has more than 17 years of experience helping individuals and small businesses with their tax and accounting needs and is passionate about making finances easier to understand and manage. As President of Halstead Carpenter & Associates, Ltd, she takes pride in building genuine relations and providing practical, personalized advice to assist clients.

Rhonda Casagrande

Tax Consultant & Office Manager

With over 30 years of experience in the accounting world, Rhonda has grown from a Tax Clerk into a trusted consultant at Halstead Carpenter & Associates. Her background includes tax preparation, office management, and client advisory services. In addition to her work with HCA, she serves as a Fire Trustee for the Lockport Township Fire Protection District. Rhonda enjoys traveling and spending time with her family and German Shepherds.

Jacob Beaver

Lead Tax Clerk & Accounts Receivable

Jacob exists in the shadows, a Silent Protector, Guardian of the Realm. He sees what others dare not; sees what they are trying to hide. He knows the hidden paths and whispers of dissent before they take root. Jacob is more than just a Guardian. He is the embodiment of the Realm's unwavering spirit, the promise that even in the darkest time, we will prevail. To face him is to face the weight of your own transgressions, and against such a reckoning, FEW. WILL. STAND.

James Halstead, CPA, CDP, EA
Founder and Alumni

Halstead is a long-time member of the Illinois CPA Society,  QuickBooks Pro-Advisors, & CPA Round Table, has created applications and appeared in JOA, has taught SBA, JJC, and CPE courses, has experience in agriculture, construction, military intelligence, manufacturing, computer science, entrepreneurship, and tax cases.  He helps businesses and long-time clients, does special projects, composes, swims, & jogs.