Lexington, KY

Article

Professional Experience

As an Associate Director in Dean Dorton’s Accounting and Financial Outsourcing (AFO) group, Kaydee Ruppert can leverage more than 25 years of accounting, finance, and administrative experience. Her expertise includes financial and human resource management, strategic planning, budgeting, alignment of technology, and process coordination. Kaydee grew up working in a family-owned business and went on to manage the business functions of several small businesses before specializing in the nonprofit industry.

Kaydee’s career has focused almost exclusively on the nonprofit industry. Her experience includes senior leadership positions within various nonprofits focused on faith-based education, grant-funded basic needs programs, and the performing arts. Kaydee has also facilitated and led several multi-organizational projects and affiliations in the nonprofit sector and has received recognition as a servant leader.

Over the past eight years, Kaydee has championed outsourced accounting and advisory solutions for small and mid-sized nonprofit organizations, endeavoring to match their operational and strategic needs to robust but cost-effective solutions. Kaydee understands the scrutiny placed on nonprofit financial information and the importance of attracting and freeing resources to serve a mission.

Certifications

  • Certified Public Accountant
  • Certified Sage Intacct Accounting Specialist
  • Certified in Client Accounting Advisory Services, AICPA

Professional Activities

  • American Institute of Certified Public Accountants
  • Wisconsin Institute of Certified Public Accountants

Community Involvement

  • Greater Fox Cities Area Habitat for Humanity, Finance Committee Member

Board Involvement

  • St. Mary Catholic School System, Board Member, present
  • Tri-Country Community Dental Clinic, Secretary, Board Member, present

Education

  • Master of Science in Administrative Science, University of Wisconsin-Green Bay, Green Bay, WI
  • Bachelor of Science in Accounting, Viterbo College, La Crosse, WI

Contact

* Required Fields
Name(Required)
Subscribe
You can opt out of communications at any time. Privacy Policy.

Article

Professional Experience

Jason D. Miller is President & Chief Executive Officer of Dean Dorton. With more than 25 years of experience in technology and consulting, Jason brings a unique advisory perspective to firm leadership.

Prior to becoming CEO in 2026, Jason led the firm’s Business Consulting practice, overseeing technology consulting, cybersecurity, data analytics & AI, healthcare consulting, forensic accounting, valuation, transaction advisory, HR consulting, and accounting outsourcing services. He also served as Dean Dorton’s first Raleigh Market Leader. In that role, Jason was instrumental in helping integrate multiple mergers and organic strategic hires and introducing the Dean Dorton brand to our first market outside of Kentucky.

Unlike many accounting firm CEOs whose backgrounds are rooted solely in tax or assurance, Jason began his career in software development and technology consulting. His experience as a virtual CIO and strategic advisor has shaped his belief that the future of accounting lies at the intersection of technology, advisory insight, and trusted relationships.

As CEO, Jason is focused on accelerating advisory growth, developing exceptional talent, and ensuring Dean Dorton remains innovative, independent, and future-ready.

Professional Activities

  • American Institute of Certified Public Accountants, Technology Section
  • AICPA/CPA.com CAS 2.0 Advisory Council

Special Honors & Achievements

  • Upstream Academy, Emerging Leaders Program, 2009-2012 
  • Leadership Lexington Graduate, 2008 
  • National Student Employee of the Year, 1998 

Education

  • Bachelor of Science in Industrial Technology Management, Berea College, Berea, Kentucky

Contact

* Required Fields
Name(Required)
Subscribe
You can opt out of communications at any time. Privacy Policy.

Article

Professional Experience

David’s practice consists primarily of servicing and advising closely-held and family-owned businesses and their owners, including high-net-worth and ultra high-net-worth individuals and families. These services include income and estate tax planning, strategic planning, business consulting, succession planning, and compliance services (e.g., accounting, financial statements, and tax services). David also serves other professional service organizations, such as attorneys, engineers, physicians, veterinarians, and other consultants. Some of the particular industries that he concentrates on are retail, wholesale and distribution facilities, manufacturing, equine, various service businesses, estates, and trusts.


David has more than 35 years of extensive experience serving clients with complex tax issues and related business advisory services. He began his career with KPMG (1987-1994), then continued at Barr Anderson Roberts, PSC (1994-2015), and joined Dean Dorton in 2016 through a merger. He is an active community member, serving on various boards and committees throughout the region.

Professional Activities

  • American Institute of Certified Public Accountants
  • Kentucky Society of Certified Public Accountants
  • CPA Associates International, Past Tax Committee and Family-Owned Businesses Committee Member
  • PDI Global, Tax Newsletter, Past Editorial Board Member
  • Dean Dorton, Board Member

Certifications

  • Certified Public Accountant

Community Involvement

  • Bluegrass Community Foundation, Audit & Finance Committee
  • Central Kentucky Apartment Association, Board Member
  • Shriners Hospital for Children, Corporate Council
  • Bluegrass Farms Charities, Board Member
  • Woodford Christian School, Past Finance Committee Member, Past Board Member and Treasurer
  • University of Kentucky Alumni Association, Lifetime Member

Education

  • Bachelor of Science in Accounting, magna cum laude, University of Kentucky, Lexington, Kentucky Beta Alpha Psi Accounting Honorary, Dean’s List

Contact

* Required Fields
Name(Required)
Subscribe
You can opt out of communications at any time. Privacy Policy.

Article

Professional Experience

Elizabeth’s practice focuses on tax planning and compliance strategies for closely-held businesses and their owners. Elizabeth has more than 20 years of experience advising business owners, high-net-worth individuals, and families in financial planning matters, including income, fiduciary, estate, and gift tax structuring, and reporting. Her practice industries include professional services (attorneys, engineers, veterinarians, and other consultants), retail, wholesale/distribution, restaurants, and equine. She is also experienced in consulting and fiduciary compliance services for corporate trustees and U.S. Bankruptcy Court trustees.

Speaking Engagements

  • Presenter, UK Midwest-Midsouth Estate Planning Institute, 2023
  • NBI Continuing Legal Education, “Tax Impact of Divorce,” 2016
  • Presenter at Surgent McCoy/Edward Jones All Star Tax Series, 2012

Professional Activities

  • American Institute of Certified Public Accountants
  • Kentucky Society of Certified Public Accountants
  • Kentucky Bar Association
  • Bluegrass Estate Planning Council, Board Member

Certifications

  • Certified Public Accountant

Community Involvement

  • Leadership Lexington, Class of 2017-2018
  • Central Kentucky Riding for Hope, Board Member

Education

  • Bachelor of Science in Accounting, cum laude, departmental honors, University of Kentucky, Lexington, Kentucky
  • Juris Doctor, University of Kentucky College of Law, Lexington, Kentucky
  • CPA Associates International Leadership Development Program, 2011

Contact

* Required Fields
Name(Required)
Subscribe
You can opt out of communications at any time. Privacy Policy.

Article

Professional Experience

Nick specializes in fraud prevention, detection and deterrence. Prior to joining Dean Dorton in 2014, he worked with a top national accounting firm in Chicago. He has performed a variety of forensic accounting, fraud investigation, and fraud prevention projects and speaks regularly on those topics. His relevant experience includes:

  • Forensic Accounting: Nick has managed a variety of investigations and forensic accounting assignments related to asset misappropriation, financial statement manipulation, Ponzi schemes, product diversion, shareholder dilution schemes, and corruption. Nick has provided forensic accounting services to clients in diverse industries including oil and gas, construction, real estate, manufacturing, nonprofit, retail, banking and other financial services.
  • Litigation Support/Accounting Arbitration: Nick has assisted with the computation of damages in a variety of matters related to companies engaged in manufacturing, wholesale distribution, construction and financial services. He has also performed calculations for the neutral arbitrator in post-acquisition disputes including working capital adjustments and earn-out agreements.
  • Internal Control and Fraud Risk Assessments: Nick has conducted numerous fraud risk assessments and internal control evaluations for clients. He evaluates the company’s internal control environment, identifies weaknesses and assists with implementing cost effective controls to prevent and deter fraud within the organization. Nick has provided internal control and fraud risk assessments to clients in diverse industries including healthcare, retail, farming, real estate and manufacturing.
  • Background Investigation/Asset Tracing: Nick has managed background investigations and asset tracing assignments to assist with the collection of court judgments, pre-transaction due diligence and to support financial investigations by identifying undisclosed related-party relationships. He has provided these services on behalf of manufacturers, nonprofit entities, insurance companies, banks, private investors and individuals in divorce proceedings.

Professional Activities

  • Certified Public Accountant in Commonwealth of Kentucky
  • American Institute of Certified Public Accountants, Certified in Financial Forensics
  • Association of Certified Fraud Examiners, Certified Fraud Examiner
  • Kentucky Society of Certified Public Accountants, Fraud Committee Member

Certifications

  • Certified Public Accountant
  • Certified in Financial Forensics
  • Certified Fraud Examiner

Education

  • Master of Science in Accounting, Loyola University, Chicago, Illinois
  • Bachelor of Science in Accounting, Pikeville College, Pikeville, Kentucky

Contact

* Required Fields
Name(Required)
Subscribe
You can opt out of communications at any time. Privacy Policy.

Article

Professional Experience

Lee has more than 10 years of public accounting experience, providing tax compliance and accounting services to a broad range of clients in various industries, including equine, real estate, construction, natural resources and healthcare. Lee specializes in high net worth individuals and closely held businesses in a variety of industries on tax, general business consulting matters and financial planning.

Lee has a broad range of clients across a variety of industries, including construction, equine, health care, natural resources, and real estate and investment companies. He works mostly in the tax compliance area, with a concentration in multi-state businesses, family offices, and high net worth individuals.

Professional Activities

  • American Institute of Certified Public Accountants
  • Kentucky Society of Certified Public Accountants

Certifications

  • Certified Public Accountant

Community Involvement

  • Bluegrass Estate Planning Council
  • Bluegrass Community Foundation, Golf Committee
  • KyCPA, Golf Committee
  • Vision 2020 Group

Education

  • Bachelor of Science in Accounting, University of Kentucky, Lexington, Kentucky
  • Master of Science in Accountancy, University of Kentucky, Lexington, Kentucky

Contact

* Required Fields
Name(Required)
Subscribe
You can opt out of communications at any time. Privacy Policy.