Vision. Leadership. Traction.

The Story, the People, the Philosophy Behind Kaizen CPAs + Advisors

What began as a small family firm in Antioch, Illinois has grown into a multi-state team of CPAs, advisors, and problem solvers—driven by a mindset of continuous improvement and built to help others thrive.

Meet the Partners

The partner team behind the vision, strategy, and structure that help Kaizen—and our clients—grow with purpose.

clay-hamlin-partner-01

Clay Hamlin

Managing Partner

Clay grew up in Antioch, Illinois. After earning a philosophy and literature degree from Notre Dame and a master’s in taxation from DePaul, he joined his family’s firm, James C. Hamlin & Co., in 1996.

Two years later, he bought the business from his father and expanded into IT, payroll, marketing, financial services, and insurance.

Clay is a licensed CPA in both Illinois and Wisconsin. He also holds Series 7 and 63 financial licenses, along with a life insurance license. He spent eight years on the board of St. John’s Prep, serving the last four as Chair.

eric-joern-partner-01

Eric Joern

Partner

Eric joined Kaizen in 2013 after earning his accounting degree from Columbia College of Missouri. A licensed CPA and trusted advisor, he comes from a long line of entrepreneurs and brings real-world experience in concrete, automotive service, and small business operations.

He now leads Kaizen’s Automotive concentration, using his background as a service advisor and industry connections to help shop owners run smarter, more profitable businesses. 

Watch Eric's video

john-chiappetta-partner-02

John Chiappetta

Partner

John graduated from Carthage College and earned his MBA from DePaul’s Kellstadt Graduate School of Business. In 2003, he bought a small tax practice in Antioch, IL, and spent the next two decades expanding it through multiple mergers. In 2022, he merged his firm with Kaizen CPAs + Advisors.

He’s focused primarily on tax planning and compliance, and holds both the CFP® designation and a financial representative license. John enjoys working closely with clients to help them plan for a strong financial future and make confident, informed decisions.

amy-beinecke-partner-03

Amy Beinecke

Partner & COO

Amy earned her Business Administration degree from Winona State University and grew up around small business—her dad owned one, and it sparked her early interest in how businesses run.

She joined Kaizen (formerly James Hamlin & Co.) in 1997 as a Staff Accountant, rising through the ranks to lead staff in 2002, join the executive team in 2014, and become Partner in 2022.

Amy thrives on improving systems and processes and loves helping others grow. She’s also a Certified EOS Integrator, focused on driving efficiency and results.

From Family Firm to
Strategic Business Partner

Kaizen CPAs + Advisors began on June 1, 1964, when Jim and Carol Hamlin founded James C. Hamlin & Co. in Antioch, Illinois. In 1996, their son Clay joined the firm. Two years later, he purchased the business and began expanding—first through accounting and advisory services, then into related areas like payroll (now known as YPD), IT, and marketing.

In October 2021, the firm evolved again. Eric Joern became a partner, and the business rebranded as Kaizen CPAs + Advisors—a name that reflects both our growth and our values. With nearly 60 years of history behind us, we embraced a modern identity to match our commitment to progress.

The following year, our momentum continued. On January 1, 2022, Amy Beinecke became a partner after decades of leadership within the firm. That same day, we merged with SCL CPA PC and welcomed John Chiappetta to the partnership—broadening our reach and strengthening our team.

Today, Kaizen represents more than just a name. It reflects a philosophy of continuous improvement—small, intentional steps toward better. The word itself comes from a Japanese concept that aligns perfectly with how we think, how we work, and what we help our clients achieve.

Inform. Inspire. Improve.
That’s the Kaizen formula—and we apply it to every step of the journey.