Cray Kaiser welcomes its newest staff members and interns to prepare for 2016’s busy tax season. Read more about what makes these accountants tick and why they knew they belonged at Cray Kaiser:
Alex Castaneda
Alex is a new hire (Dec 2015) and is a full time staff accountant.
“I was born and raised in Elmwood Park, IL. I found my passion for accounting when I was in high school. I took an accounting course and one day it just clicked! I knew I wanted to become an accountant that day going forward. On my free time I like to hang out with family, watch sports, and eat delicious chicken wings from Wingstop.”
Fun Fact: English is not Alex’s first language.
Aliya Arslanbayeva
“Originally, I grew up in Kazakhstan, but I am pursuing my masters degree in Accounting, currently, at Roosevelt University in Chicago. I will be graduating in the upcoming summer. In Kazakhstan, I started my first job at PWC under assurance services. Afterward, I worked in a private oil and gas sector for ConocoPhillips and Agip. Since then I’ve always known I was on the right path because I am very passionate about accounting and audit. I am excited to be an intern for Cray, Kaiser Ltd, and believe working with everyone here will be a rewarding experience and it will leave a very powerful impact on my career path. I am excited to gain more knowledge and contribute to the team in the upcoming tax season.”
Benjamin Tjoelker
“I am a senior at Trinity Christian College, and will be graduating at the end of April with a Bachelor’s degree in Accounting. I was also a four-year varsity soccer player. I am originally from Columbus, OH. A few of my other hobbies include running and kayaking.”
Danielle Meridieth
“I joined Cray Kaiser as receptionist in November of 2015. My background includes experience in office administration, retail management, and a post-secondary educational institution. I also have 20 years of competitive dance experience and have been a health and fitness coach for over five years. My hobbies include, fitness, watching movies, and spending time with my family. In my spare time, I also create home organization checklists and makeup tutorials.”
Fun Facts: Danielle is a certified bartender and also won First Runner Up and Miss Congeniality in a Miss Pre-Teen pageant.
Jesus Saul Moreno
“I am a senior at the University of Illinois at Chicago, studying business accounting with an interest in audit. I spent the last 13 years working at a private golf course as a caddie, bag room staff, valet and most recently as the caddie manager. I love to weight train, listen to music (classic rock), and play golf in my down time. One of my goals is to be a successful CPA and be the second cousin in my family to graduate college.”
Melanie Ross
“Although I hail originally from Toronto, Canada, I moved with my family to the Chicago area from New Jersey a couple of years ago. I have many years of experience in the financial services industry and am a Certified Financial Planner both in the US and Canada. I have successfully completed all parts for the enrolled Agent designation and am thrilled to be joining CK for this upcoming tax season!”
Fun Fact – Although I enjoy watching the Chicago Blackhawks, I’m a die hard Toronto Maple Leafs fan.
Parul Singh
“I am an undergraduate at DePaul University Majoring in Accounting. The three most important aspects to me are, family, integrity, and teamwork. I feel pride in helping the society as a whole so I have volunteered with a non-profit organization called Ladder Up which opened my eyes to the world of accounting. One quote that I always keeps me moving is, “Courage is not the absence of fear, but rather the judgement that something is more important than fear.” -Author Unknown.”
