Our Team - Ritz & Associates PA

Matt Ritz, CPA, MBT

Matt began his career in 2007 at a large global CPA firm. After working with clients of all sizes and entity types, as well as spending four years working in industry, Matt joined the firm in 2015. He enjoys working with small businesses as the planning and consulting has a direct impact on the individuals he is working with. In addition, Matt enjoys the variety of issues that can arise from working with small businesses, accounting and non-accounting.

The variety of experience Matt has encountered throughout his career allows him to identify issues that can be extremely beneficial to his clients. He takes pride in saving his clients’ money and providing sound advice.

Outside of work, Matt enjoys spending time with his wife Mandy and their two girls – Elin and Ada. In addition, some of Matt’s hobbies include jogging, playing golf, and laboring through Minnesota sports seasons. He plans to make Gopher Football fans out of his daughters by bribing them with treats if they go to games with him.

Chris Ritz, CPA

Chris has been a CPA for over twenty-five years, with experience in auditing and tax at regional firms, Eide Bailly and Crowe Horwath, before joining the current team almost fifteen years ago. He also spent five years as a trader of financial futures in Chicago. This diverse background provides a broad range of experience in handling client attestation services and outsourced bookkeeping, as well as small business and individual tax planning and compliance work.

Chris graduated from the University of Notre Dame with a degree in accounting in 1997. After stops in Indianapolis and Chicago, he is now back home, living in Lakeville, MN with his wife Amanda and their three boys – Ben, Nate and Jake. He spends his free time on a diamond or in a gym, coaching his sons’ basketball and baseball teams.

Jason Price, CPA, MBT

Jason has been practicing in public accounting for twenty years and began his career at Grant Thornton, a large global CPA firm. After many years there, Jason spent some time as a partner with CliftonLarsonAllen, and recently joined Ritz & Associates as an owner in 2021.

Over the course of his career, Jason has specialized in working with privately held, family-owned businesses across many different industries, and high net worth individuals. His prior time spent at larger firms provided him with a variety of experiences that help Jason drive value with his clients beyond the preparation of their tax returns. These experiences allow him to assist clients with mergers and acquisitions, identifying and implementing value added planning ideas, IRS and state audit defense, and succession/estate planning for their business and families to name a few.

Outside of work, Jason enjoys spending time with his wife Sarah, and their three boys – Zach, Lucas, and Josh. He spends most of his free time at the hockey rink, lacrosse field, or on the golf course. He enjoys coaching his son’s sports teams and is also on the Osseo/Maple Grove Hockey Association board.

Craig DeBerg, CPA

Craig has over forty years of experience providing professional services to the public finance industry in all fifty states. Prior to joining Ritz & Associates, Craig led the public finance practice for three nationally recognized CPA firms – KPMG, Grant Thornton, and RSM.

Craig has cultivated numerous long-term relationships in his field and his work in the industry is well-known throughout the country.

Craig lives in Edina with his wife, Gloria, and has three grown sons making their way in the real world. He is still actively involved in Edina youth basketball.

Craig has never been a party to litigation or administrative challenge resulting from his services to Public Finance clients.

Kyle Nees

Kyle Nees, CPA

Kyle joined Ritz & Associates in 2018 after twelve years of experience as an auditor and financial planning & analysis professional throughout the public accounting, retail, and restaurant industries. This diverse background has prepared Kyle well to assist clients with an array of accounting and attestation needs in a professional and efficient manner. He appreciates being a trusted and valuable accounting resource for any business.

Kyle graduated from the University of Wisconsin-Eau Claire with a degree in accounting in 2007 and earned his CPA in 2012.

Kyle lives in St. Michael with his wife Rachel and their two children – Bennett and Harper. When he’s not traveling or enjoying time with his family, you can find him on the golf course, testing a new recipe on his smoker, or cheering on Wisconsin sports teams.

Jane Myers

Jane’s professional career began working with the original founder of the firm at a Big Four public accounting firm thirty-five years ago. She was part of the firm when it was founded in 1994 and has been here ever since. Her roles within the team are almost too numerous to list, but include tax preparation, third party bookkeeper for clients, and administrative assistant.

Jane’s general knowledge of all facets of our business at Ritz & Associates provide a valuable resource to both staff and clients alike. Her clients know that if something needs addressing, she will see it through until it is complete.

Jane is a new resident of Shakopee and spends her free time with her three grown children and their families, siblings, and extended family as well as her 4-legged friends.

Lisa Kirscht, CPA

Lisa is a CPA who has been with the team since early 2019. She graduated from the University of Minnesota-Twin Cities and worked for a Big Four firm and a large regional firm for 20 years. Lisa left public accounting for 5 years to work as a consultant for a hedge fund company. There she helped set up a multi-family office for the partners of the company with duties that included quarterly tax planning and tax return review.

Lisa’s experience and attention to detail have positioned her to be the lead preparer on the firm’s most complex individual tax returns. She also is involved with business returns, non-profit returns, and tax planning.

Lisa lives in Prior Lake with her husband, Tom, and has two adult children. Lisa enjoys spending her free time biking, cross country skiing and gardening with her husband.

Brenda Jorde

Brenda Jorde joined the team in 2003 as the office manager and administrative assistant. Along with keeping the firm up and running, Brenda also processes the firm’s attestation reports, tax returns, and assists with administration of the public finance department.

Brenda lives in Minnetonka with her husband, Eric, and they have two sons – Joe and James. She also has other frequent visitors at her home, as she is actively involved with Helping Paws, Inc., as a foster trainer for future service dogs.