Kruggel Lawton is proud to announce that Barry Hall, CPA, CGMA, and Kate Leichty, CPA, have been honored in Forbes’ inaugural Best-in-State CPAs list. This distinguished accolade highlights their exceptional expertise, dedication to the accounting profession, and unwavering commitment to client service.
Forbes' Best-in-State CPAs list aims to identify and celebrate the most outstanding Certified Public Accountants across the United States. The selection process is rigorous, involving nominations from the business community, thorough vetting, and evaluation by Forbes' editorial team.
Hall, recognized as one of Forbes' Top 200 CPAs in America in 2024, serves as the Managing Partner at Kruggel Lawton. Since his election in 2013, he has collaborated with the partner group to significantly expand the firm’s geographic footprint and revenue. Under his visionary leadership, the firm has opened five additional offices and grown to nearly $30 million in revenue. Hall also played a pivotal role in establishing the award-winning Frontier Team, now known as the KLimb to 2030 Team, which includes hand-selected managers focusing on planning for the firm’s future by exploring new growth opportunities and evaluating current client needs. In 2023, Kruggel Lawton was honored with the Innovation Award from BDO, recognizing the KLimb Team’s exceptional contributions to the firm and the strategic vision driving the group.
“It is truly an honor to be recognized on Forbes’ inaugural list,” said Hall. “I am so grateful to my fellow partners and the entire Kruggel Lawton team for the support they give me. No honor is ever earned alone, and this recognition is a testament to the collective effort and dedication of everyone involved.”
Hall holds an active Indiana CPA license and is a member of the Indiana CPA Society (INCPAS) as well as the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants (AICPA). In addition to being a past President for INCPAS, he is a current member of the AICPA council, the chair of the Board of Directors for Granger Community Church, and a member of the Beacon Health System Audit Committee.
Leichty, promoted to partner in 2023, was the first female partner in the firm's Goshen office, and the third woman to be promoted to the partnership level. She is a key resource for tax law changes and mergers and acquisitions. Leichty is an advocate for the firm’s mentor program and an active member of KLWIN (Kruggel Lawton Women’s Initiative Network). She is deeply invested in the firm’s future and takes great pride in fostering a culture of continuous learning and development, passionately mentoring staff to ensure their professional growth. Her efforts have significantly impacted the firm’s success and the achievements of its team members. In 2024, she received the Women to Watch Award at the annual INCPAS Celebration for her dedication to the profession, her community and the firm. Additionally, she was named one of Michiana’s Forty Under 40 in 2023 for her career success and community engagement.
"I am deeply honored to be named one of the top CPAs in Indiana by Forbes," said Leichty. "I am grateful for the trust and support of my clients and colleagues and am excited to continue making a positive impact in the accounting profession."
Leichty holds an active Indiana CPA license and is a member of INCPAS as well as AICPA and the California Society of CPAs. For the past several years, she has served on the Board of Directors for Everence Financial. In 2021, she took on additional responsibilities becoming the chair of the Governance Committee. Leichty also serves as the Treasurer for the Goshen Theater.
