Lisa Pronschinske, CPA, has been promoted to executive vice president and chief financial officer at Ayres. Pronschinske is currently accounting director and will enter her new position on January 1, 2025.

Executives concluded Pronschinske offered critical qualities they were seeking: a command and passion for accounting, the confidence to challenge current executives, and an ethical approach to business.

“I look forward to adding Lisa’s voice and leadership skills to the Executive Committee,” says Bruce Ommen, PE, president and chief executive officer. “Lisa’s learning curve will not be too steep as she enters her new role in guiding Ayres’ financial success, thanks to her nearly seven years as accounting director.”

Pronschinske anticipates her biggest focus as CFO will be working with Ayres’ Operations Committee to help the company achieve its strategic goals and better serve clients.

Ommen observed that it has long been Pronschinske’s career ambition to become a CFO. She has been expanding her perspective to better understand the obstacles operational divisions encounter, providing her a well-rounded view of how various decisions can affect portions of the firm in different ways. She is integrating others’ input into her decisions, is willing to learn things she has not already mastered, and is seeking ways to be collaborative, Ommen says.

Pronschinske has been responsible for managing the accounting department, including driving internal controls and process improvements. A certified public accountant, she has been responsible for accounting staff oversight; monthly financial statements; revenue review; annual budget, cash flow, and business plans; internal control reviews; financial reporting; outside audit management; and overhead cost analysis. Pronschinske also oversees various accounting functions such as project costing, billing, budgeting, fixed assets, accounts receivable, accounts payable, cash, cash books, and payroll.

Pronschinske has approximately 20 years of professional experience. She earned her CPA in Wisconsin in 2006 after earning her Bachelor of Business Administration (accounting major) and Master of Accountancy from the University of Wisconsin-Madison. She serves on the Biomedical Subcommittee of the Northwest Wisconsin Chapter of the American Red Cross, and she is a graduate of the Eau Claire Area Chamber of Commerce’s Leadership Eau Claire program.

Pronschinske has been involved in multi-departmental software implementations and picked up oversight of Ayres’ information technology staff while the company conducted a search to fill that position in 2021-2022.

With this promotion, Ayres continues to value promoting from within and adding diverse voices to its leadership. Pronschinske is only the second female who has served on the Executive Committee.

“I think there is something to be said for diversity of perspective,” Pronschinske says. “Given that I’ve worked at other companies and have that female perspective, I hope to bring a different viewpoint for consideration. I think having those diverse viewpoints really does get us to the best answer.” Pronschinske previously worked for firms in the financial services sector before coming to Ayres in 2017.