Faulk & Winkler Founding Partner Bert Faulk to Retire
Faulk & Winkler announces that as of August 31, its founding partner, Albert E. “Bert” Faulk will retire from active practice. Bert co-founded the firm in 1984 alongside David Winkler, with Denise Caravallo joining as partner two years later. Bert’s retirement closes a 42-year chapter as the firm turns to the next phase of its growth.
“Bert’s ongoing impact as a mentor, practitioner, and leader cannot be understated,” said Tommy LeJeune, Faulk & Winkler’s third and current managing partner. “Across his tenure, Bert has set an exceptional example for client service and technical proficiency, always looking towards the future. He is woven into the DNA of our firm. We have aggressive goals for the next 10 years, and Bert’s legacy will surely guide us as we work towards them.”
Bert graduated from the University of Louisiana at Lafayette in 1968 and served nearly two years in the U.S. Army's 8th Infantry Division before beginning his accounting career. After 14 years with Bourgeois, Bennett, he and Winkler opened Faulk & Winkler's first office with a staff of 10. Over the decades that followed, Bert built a reputation for deep technical expertise in governmental and healthcare accounting and for the kind of client relationships that outlast a single engagement. Indeed, many of the firm's longest-standing clients have worked with Bert since the early years.
“When David and I started this firm in 1984, we prioritized building deep, meaningful client relationships that position us to provide transformational service to their businesses and families,” Bert said. “I’m incredibly proud that those values have survived for 42 years and still underpin Faulk & Winkler’s operations today.”
What began as a small 10-person practice has grown into a firm of almost 70 team members across three capital region offices. The firm now provides business advisory, outsourced accounting, assurance, taxation, and retirement plan administration services (through it’s Sentinel division). That growth has accelerated in recent years: Faulk & Winkler has expanded its headcount by nearly 50% since January 2025, while remaining locally owned and operated. This recent growth includes five new senior- and director-level positions across its service lines. Kasey Melancon, Faulk & Winkler’s most recently-named partner, is the first based in Lafayette, where the firm plans to expand its presence with a new office opening in the fall of 2026.
“Reflecting on more than 50 years in accounting, what I’m proudest of are the people, leadership, and culture we’ve built at the firm,” Bert said. “While our team is constantly evolving for the future, the culture we’ve built on deep client relationships and proactively impacting people’s lives – both clients’ and employees’ lives – remains strong. I know the firm is in good hands and I look forward to watching it continue to thrive.”
Click here for more about the firm’s history.