our team

DENNIS HUNT

DENNIS HUNT
PRESIDENT/OWNER

Dennis was born and raised in Chippewa Falls, WI and is a graduate of McDonell Central High School (’86). He joined the Navy after graduation, and while serving his country earned a Bachelor of Accountancy degree from the University of San Diego. He later joined the Air Force and served in both Iraq and Afghanistan.

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While serving his country, Dennis went on to further his education, earning a Master’s certificate in Financial Planning from Kansas State University and a Master’s degree in Organizational Management from George Washington University in Washington D.C.

Dennis retired from the United State Air Force in 2008 and served as a Financial Management Officer for 14 years, leading large financial organizations. Dennis also worked for the Defense Intelligence Agency managing the agency’s financial system.

Dennis and his family returned to Chippewa Falls in 2012 and in 2015 he opened Chippewa Valley Financial Services.

He is active in his community serving on the Finance Committee at St. Peter’s Catholic Church in Tilden, he is a member of the leadership team for Boy Scout Troop 13, he is currently the Treasurer of the Chippewa Falls Elks Lodge, a member of the Chippewa Falls Optimist Club, the Chippewa Falls Chamber of Commerce and the Chippewa Falls VFW.

Dennis is married to Annette Hunt and together they have two sons, Drew and Zach.

LUARTA SODEN

LUARTA SODEN
SENIOR TAX ADVISOR, CHIPPEWA FALLS

Luarta was born and raised in Chippewa Falls, WI. She graduated from Chippewa Falls High School class of 1968 and then attended UW-Eau Claire, graduating with Bachelor of Education in Mathematics and Science.

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Luarta has worked with the tax industry for over 40 years. She managed a tax office in Chippewa Falls for 18 years and taught tax classes at all levels. She then owned and operated her own tax business, Chippewa Valley Tax Service, LLC for 20 years.

Luarta is married to Mike Soden and together they have two daughters, one son and four grandchildren. She is active with 4H, the Northern Wisconsin State Fair, military family support, the Lafayette Baseball program and the auxiliary for the local fire department.

In her free time she enjoys her annual snowmobiling trip, summer camping trips and relaxing during the off season.

SUSAN PEDERSON

SUSAN PEDERSON
CERTIFIED PUBLIC ACCOUNTANT (CPA), EAU CLAIRE

Susan earned a Bachelor of Accounting degree from the University of Minnesota, Duluth in 1997. After working in public accounting for four years and earning her CPA license in Minnesota, she worked at Northwest Airlines and then Midwest Coca-Cola Bottling Company.

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In 1998, she left her accounting manager position at Coca-Cola to be a stay-at-home mom and home school her children. During this time, she was active in her church as a Sunday school and VBS teacher.

In 2005, Susan moved to her husband’s home state of Wisconsin and built a home on acreage of his parent’s homestead. With the graduation of her children, Susan rejoined the workforce and took a position with Apple Pregnancy Care Center and a local accounting practice and in August of 2020, she joined the Chippewa Valley Financial Services team.

Susan lives in Eleva with her husband Brian. In her free time she enjoys doing home projects (aka “marriage building projects”) going for walks and spending time with her children and family.

KATHI RICE

KATHI RICE
EXECUTIVE ASSISTANT

Kathi was born and raised in Chippewa Falls, WI, graduating from McDonell Central High School in 1989. Kathi married Mitch Rice in 1999 and together they have six children – Dakota, Elise, Shawn, Dawson, Shanen and Sidney.

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Kathi has an Early Childhood background and worked at the YMCA in Chippewa Falls as the School-Age Child Care Director for 14 years. She then went on to manage two successful businesses for 10 + years and in 2018 decided to make a change and joined the Chippewa Valley Financial Services team as the Executive Assistant facilitating the investment piece of the business.

Kathi is a member of the Christian Mother’s Society at St. Peter’s Church, she is a member of the Tilden Lion’s Club and is the lead organizer for the Steppin’ Across Tilden for a Cause Run/Walk Event.

In her free time, she enjoys spending time with her family and friends, reading, refinishing furniture and traveling.

KATHARINE WOLFE, EA

KATHARINE WOLFE, EA
ENROLLED AGENT, CHIPPEWA FALLS and EAU CLAIRE

Katharine was born and raised in Fall Creek, WI. She graduated from Fall Creek High School in 1992 and went on to further her education by attending Chippewa Valley Technical College and receiving her Associate Degree in Accounting.

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Katharine worked for Potter Business Service, Inc. in Chippewa Falls for 19 years and in 2018 she joined the Chippewa Valley Financial Services Team.

Katharine is married to Jody Wolfe and has four wonderful children – Adora, Benjamin, Kristina and Veronica. In her free time she loves to spend time with her family and go camping.

MICHELE MCCLAY

MICHELE MCCLAY
ACCOUNTANT, CHIPPEWA FALLS

Michele was born and raised in Park Falls, WI. She graduated from Park Falls High School in 1987 and went on to further her education, attending UW Superior to earn a Bachelor’s degree in Mathematics in 1991.

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Michele then moved away from Wisconsin and lived in Colorado and Texas. She worked as a bookkeeper, a daycare teacher and volunteered as a religious education teacher while raising her two children.

In 2007, she moved back to Wisconsin and in 2018, Michele started her career at Chippewa Valley Financial Services where she continues to work as an accountant.

In her free time, Michele enjoys spending time with her children who are the highlight of her life.

JOSH STANGRET

Josh Stangret
Accountant, Eau Claire

Josh was born in Sioux Falls, South Dakota and moved to Wisconsin with his family in 1997. Joshua attended Cadott High School, graduating in 2014, and then attended Chippewa Valley Technical College, where he graduated in 2016 with an Associate degree in Accounting.

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Joshua went on to work for Royal Credit Union as a Member Account Representative and as a Deposit and Payment Specialist. In this time he also became a Certified Credit Union Financial Councilor. Josh joined the Chippewa Valley Financial Services team in June of 2021 where he works as an accountant and tax preparer.

In his free time, Josh enjoys spending time with his friends and family, reading, writing, and painting.

Joe Lanzer

Joe Lanzer
Financial Analyst, Chippewa Falls

Joe was born and raised in Bloomer, WI. He graduated from Bloomer High School in 2018 and then attended UW-Eau Claire where he graduated with a Bachelor of Business Administration in May 2022 while studying finance and economics. During his time in college, Joe worked at Kwik Trip and interned at two other financial services companies. Joe joined the Chippewa Valley Financial Services team in May of 2021 where he works as a Financial Analyst for the Investment side of the company and also as a tax preparer.

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In his free time, Joe enjoys playing sports and spending time outdoors. He now lives in Chippewa Falls with his wife, Emilee.
SETH SCHEMENAUER

Seth Schemenauer
Accountant, Chippewa Falls

Seth was born and raised in Chippewa Falls, WI and graduated from McDonell Central Catholic High School in 2017. After high school, Seth continued his education at the University of Wisconsin La Crosse where he earned a Bachelor’s Degree of Accountancy with a Minor in Information Systems.

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Seth joined the Chippewa Valley Financial Services team in July 2022 as an accountant and tax preparer. In his free time, Seth enjoys going up to his cabin, fishing, and spending time with family and friends.
LAURIE SLAMA

LAURIE SLAMA
Accountant, Eau Claire

Laurie was born and raised in Roseville, MN, a graduate of FB Kellogg Senior High School. She went on to further her education at Anoka-Ramsey Community College studying Computer Science and after graduation she taught math in a Christian school.

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In 1979, Laurie married her husband Dan and together they have seven children – Daniel Jr., David, Rebecca, Melissa, Elizabeth, Adam and Charity and twelve grandchildren – Lauren, (Daniel III) James, Sean, Grant, Aiden, Elodie, Dominic, Leanora, Lora, Aubrey, Adalynn and Wilson. Laurie was a homemaker and home-schooled her children until all seven were graduated.

Laurie then took a job as an office manager and also worked as a tax preparer for a few years before joining the team at Chippewa Valley Financial Services as an accountant.

Laurie enjoys volunteering at her church, reading, camping, gardening and spending time with her family.