The Start of Something New
In May of 1984, Arthur (Bert) Faulk, III and David Winkler seized an opportunity to provide practical and innovative accounting services to clients, helping them achieve business success. Our founders opened Faulk & Winkler’s first office at 244 Peachtree Boulevard with a staff of 10 people.
Two years later, Denise Carvalho became partner at the firm overseeing tax services. As the firm grew, Faulk & Winkler moved to an office located at the Xerox Building on Corporate Boulevard shortly before building its current location at 6811 Jefferson Highway in 1989. At that time, the firm of 10 employees occupied 4,800 square feet.
Growing for Change
As business expanded into Ascension Parish, we opened our first satellite office in Donaldsonville in 1994 and moved to its current location in Gonzales in 1999.
In 1994, Tommy LeJeune joined the firm as a staff member in audit services and was promoted to partner in 2000. Tommy provides audit services to clients in the distribution, healthcare, not-for-profit, government, and construction fields.
Denise Carvalho retired after 25 years of service as partner in the firm in 2011.
In 2016, Melissa Terito and Jacob Waguespack were promoted to partners. Melissa joined our team in 2009 and worked closely with David Winkler, providing retirement plan services in the firm’s Sentinel division. Melissa managed Sentinel from 2016 until 2026. She now drives strategic growth initiatives across Faulk & Winkler and Sentinel.
Jacob Waguespack joined the firm in 2004 in the audit and accounting area. He co-leads the firm’s assurance services and spearheads the firm’s services for government and municipal agencies.
Recent Evolution
Co-founder David Winkler retired from the firm in 2018. At that time, Tommy LeJeune began his tenure as the firm’s third managing partner, guiding the firm’s overall strategic direction.
In 2019, Alex Tucker and Scott Lazaronewere named partner. Scott joined the firm in 2012 and worked in various capacities before being named leader of the firm’s Client Accounting Services (CAS) team, which provides outsourced accounting services and business advisory strategies. Scott also oversees the firm’s Operations teams and processes.
Alex Tucker joined the firm as a director in 2017. He now manages the firm’s tax planning and compliance services for privately held businesses as well as individuals with complex tax planning needs.
Lloyd Johnson was named parter when he rejoined the firm in 2021. Having originally joined the firm in 2014, Lloyd has worked with a variety of clients to identify big-picture business solutions through analysis of their books and processes. Lloyd now co-leads the firm’s audit and assurance practice, as well as the firm’s Sales and Marketing function.
Kasey Melancon, who joined the firm in 2017, was named partner in 2026. He now oversees the Sentinel division, providing third party administration for employee sponsored retirement plans.
A Bold Future
In 2026, co-founder Bert Faulk stepped away from active client service after an accounting career spanning 55 years. The principles on which David and Bert built the firm remain the foundation for its growth, strategy, and client service. Based on these principles, many of the firm’s clients have chosen to maintain their business with the firm over the course of decades.
Faulk & Winkler continues to embrace the service philosophy Bert and David outlined in 1984: to build deep, meaningful relationships with clients that position our team to deliver transformational results. Our mission, “to positively impact the well-being of those we serve by cultivating lasting relationships through personalized financial solutions,” bears that out.
Under Tommy’s direction, in 2024, the firm adopted the EOS operating model and set an aggressive ten-year-goal to become Louisiana’s destination accounting and advisory firm.
Today, the majority of the firm’s leadership team comprises Gen X and Millennial leaders. This group is charged with keeping the firm focused and on track to achieve its ambitious goals to serve Louisiana people, with Louisiana people.
Faulk & Winkler still operates out of its primary office on Jefferson Highway, with additional locations in Baton Rouge and Gonzales. In 2026, the firm will expand its Lafayette presence by opening a new office, the first of planned expansions designed to offer innovative service models for growth-minded business owners throughout the state.
BERT FAULK, CPA
Bert retired in 2026 after 55 years of experience in public accounting. Throughout his years, he focused on providing organizational accounting and tax issue guidance to governmental and healthcare organizations as well as business consulting to a variety of industries.
The depth of knowledge in accounting principles that Bert has shared with his clients is just one of the many reasons they remained loyal to him and the firm over the course of decades. Bert has often felt he should be the one paying for the opportunity to work with so many worthwhile people, prospects and organizations.
Bert’s passion for accounting developed while taking classes at the University of Louisiana at Lafayette. Shortly after graduating, he was drafted into the US Army where he served for one year and nine months. The military taught him the value of communication at all levels of an organization. After the army, he joined the firm of Bourgeois, Bennet, Thokey & Hickey, where he spent the next fourteen years.
At a young age, Bert learned the importance of working hard, taking responsibility for your actions, and treating others with respect and kindness. These qualities have created the base for his professional success and positively impacted the way he interacts with his clients and colleagues. He takes a genuine interest in his clients and truly listens to their needs and concerns. He is always focused on helping them improve their financial outlook.
A Louisiana native, Bert lives in Baton Rouge with his wife, Tina. They enjoy traveling and spending time with friends and family.
DAVID WINKLER, CPA
David spent 40 years in the trenches of the accounting industry. Along the way, he developed a passion for offering the firm’s clients personalized attention and responsive service of a local firm, as well as the resources, knowledge and breadth of services you would expect from a national accounting organization.
David served a variety of clientele from medical practice, engineering, and distribution companies. His focus was tax compliance and administrative issues affecting tax-qualified pension plans, including 401(k) plans and employer profit sharing plans. In addition, David worked with closely-held businesses to assist them in understanding issues that affect the profitability of their business and how to maximize new business opportunities using debt and equity.
He worked with clients to make the most of every penny by understanding their businesses from the inside out. In particular, he assisted numerous companies in the design of their pension plan to maximize the contribution rates for the business owners, while maintaining a reasonable cost for all other employees.
David pursued a career in accounting due to his fascination with numbers and the role they play in business and everyday life. He attributes his success to his passion for his clients and the firm. As a son of a US Naval officer, David experienced the need to adapt to various living environments, and the independence that was required to meet new friends every two years. This sense of independence gave him the ability to adapt to different situations and to take a global perspective.
After retiring from the firm in 2018, David now lives in Daniel Island, South Carolina with his wife Anne. He enjoys playing golf and spending time with his grandchildren.