Who We Are
acceler8 llc was founded to provide a single, integrated source for tax, accounting and business advisory services uniquely designed for the small business owner. Our broad experience, combined with our ability to instill a sense of entrepreneurial vision and creativity allows acceler8 to identify the strategic direction required to accelerate revenue growth and provide the practical advice and professional solutions to the many challenges of owning and running a business.
- Kjell C. Andreassen, MBA, AInstIB, CExP
Kjell C Andreassen, MBA, AInstIB, CExP is a Managing Partner of acceler8 llc and Exit Planning Advisors LLC. He has extensive experience as an entrepreneur and advisor to a number of emerging and start-up ventures and has held senior executive positions with a number of public and private companies. He is an experienced instructor, teaching college and executive training courses in finance, international marketing and small business management. Kjell is a Certified Exit Planner (CExP) with extensive experience in providing exit planning and succession planning services to business owners. He is an Assistant Professor at Western International University and an Accredited Executive Associate of the Institute for Independent Business (AInstIB). Kjell has an MBA from Arizona State University, a Master of Business and Marketing from Oslo Business School and a Postgraduate Degree in Business Education. He has served on a number of corporate Board of Directors and he has completed the Global Leadership Certificate Program at Thunderbird, the Garvin School of International Business. Kjell is the Chairman of the Ambassadors Committee of the Tempe Chamber of Commerce and serves as a Mentor for the National Association of Women Business Owners (NAWBO) and the Greater Phoenix SCORE.
- Michael A. Johnston, CPA, MBA, CBA
Michael A. Johnston , Certified Public Accountant, MBA, CVA is a Managing Partner of acceler8 llc and the Exit Planning Advisors LLC. He has over 20 years of experience in public and private industries. Most recently, he was founder and Managing Partner of Michael A. Johnston, CPA PC, a full service accounting firm which combined its business with acceler8 in 2010 to offer expanded accounting, tax and business advisory services to its clients. He has been in the accounting field since 1982. He attained his Bachelor’s Degree in Business Administration – Accountancy from Northern Arizona University and a Masters in Business Administration from Arizona State University. Mike has worked in both the public arena as a CPA and in the private sector as a controller for a local law firm. Mike has extensive background in corporate and individual tax preparation and business valuations. His corporate client base consists of construction companies as well as professional service, manufacturing and distribution companies. Mike is a Certified Valuation Analyst (CVA) providing a full range of business valuation services, and a member of the National Association of Certified Valuation Analysts (NACVA).
- Terry Gilbreath, CPA
Terry Gilbreath, Certified Public Accountant, was the founder and Managing Partner of Terry Gilbreath, CPA PC, a full service accounting firm which combined its business with acceler8 in 2010 to offer expanded accounting, tax and business advisory services to its clients. Prior to joining a predecessor CPA firm in 1992, he had extensive financial and management experience in Big Five Public Accounting, construction, manufacturing, real estate and service related industries. Terry graduated magna cum laude from Eastern Illinois University with a B.S. in Accounting. His work experience ranges from being a senior accountant at a national accounting firm’s Phoenix office to chief operating officer, executive vice-president of a major commercial construction company. Terry’s background includes management in growth and turnaround environments in accounting and operating departments. He is a member of the Arizona Builders Alliance, Arizona State Society of Certified Public Accountants, and American Institute of Certified Public Accountants (”AICPA”). He is also a member of the Consulting and Tax Division of the AICPA. Terry has a Certificate of Educational Achievement in Tax Planning and Advising for Closely Held Businesses. He served as Chair of the Legislative Liaison Committee of the Arizona Builders’ Alliance and also served on the Board of the Tempe Chamber of Commerce as the Vice Chair in charge of Business Development. His participation in the predecessor firm was recognized by the Tempe Chamber of Commerce as the 1996 Small Business of the Year.
- Don A Orton, CEO of Tucson Business Advisors
Don A Orton is CEO of Tucson Business Advisors. He is a serial entrepreneur, having held senior executive positions with several successful startup ventures as well as a number of publicly held corporations. He currently advises a number of small business and healthcare clients. Mr. Orton has earned an MBA from the University Of Minnesota, Carlson School of Management and a Bachelors Degree in Electrical Engineering from the South Dakota School of Mines and Technology. He is an Accredited Executive Associate of the Institute for Independent Business and a Certified Diagnostics Coach with CMT Mentors. His industry experience spans a wide variety of manufacturing, service and healthcare related industries.
“Kjell Andreassen was able to sit down with our staff and, in a very short time, identify key items that were vital to our company’s success for the upcoming year. Through the business planning process that he conducted, we are now have a written road map for success with objectives that are meaningful and quantifiable…..we appreciate all of the work and effort expended on this project!”
Mark W. Bagnall, CLU
the bagnall company, United Benefit Advisors
