Movers and Shakers: John Dauwalter helps navigate muddy business waters for clients

John Dauwalter, recently named partner in the Minneapolis office of accounting and advisory firm Baker Tilly, continues to help life science, ag, manufacturing and other companies navigate business challenges.

Dauwalter, who joined Baker Tilly Virchow Krause in 2002, was one of 15 employees promoted to partner nationally.

Dauwalter's clients include public and private companies doing business domestically and internationally. He offers accounting and consulting services to start-ups, established companies and clients changing ownership and monitors changes in regulations and compliance requirements.

"From an accounting perspective, it's my goal to make sure that there are no surprises to them," Dauwalter said. "They'll have daily challenges in their business, and my job is to help them navigate those."

His work with medical device and other life science companies ranges from helping start-ups understand how to obtain operating capital to explaining the implications of doing business overseas.

Among Dauwalter's areas of expertise is providing assurance and strategic tax services, including new market credits and tax incentives, to food and dairy businesses and cooperatives in Minnesota.

"It's a significant industry that's a little bit silent in Minnesota but has some pretty sophisticated companies when you dig into it," he said.

He has an accounting degree from the University of Minnesota Duluth.

Q: How do you approach working with companies at different stages?

A: Aligning our service with what their goals are and helping them achieve their business objectives and goals, whether it's transition on ownership or growth initiatives or cost-savings initiatives.

Q: What issues are your clients concerned about now?

A: The impact of the economy is always top of mind. Potential changes in tax law are top of mind. We understand how those changes impact our clients and help them plan around those items. A lot of companies have international reach and maybe overseas manufacturing facilities, so we help them understand how to navigate the international arena, which is always changing.

A: My clients in manufacturing and distribution produce a product. So there's a tangible good at the end of their process that they're providing. It's the ability to see that end product and understanding all the intricacies and complexities that go into it.