For more than 35 years, the staff at Schuster & Meinsma have served as trusted business partners to clients throughout the eastern Iowa region. They have provided tax, accounting, payroll, and consulting services to individuals and businesses. Carol was a partner with a national firm until purchasing the practice in September 2008. Carol owned the practice from 2008 until Cathy Meinsma purchased the practice in 2021.
Over the years the name of our firm has changed, but the personal and professional service provided remains consistent with the high standards you expect from your accountant.
Your success is our success, and all of us here at Schuster & Meinsma look forward to working together with you to achieve the bright financial future you deserve!
At Schuster & Meinsma, our talented staff has the expertise to meet the needs of our diverse client base.
Carol A Schuster, CPA
Ms. Schuster graduated from St. Joseph High School, DeWitt, and University of Norther Iowa (UNI) with a Bachelor’s Degree in Business (Emphasis in Accounting). She has worked for, and became a partner, in both regional and national certified public accounting firms as a result of mergers over the years. She purchased the DeWitt location on September 1, 2008, from the national firm she was with. She is currently employed with Schuster Meinsma, CPAs as Cathy Meinsma purchased the practice on September 1, 2021.
Carol has been active in many community and professional organizations over the years including serving as past President of the DeWitt Chamber of Commerce and past chair of the Iowa Accountancy Examining Board and she currently serves as the Treasurer of St. Joseph’s Education Foundation and Treasurer of Crossroads Unlimited Co (a development corporation).
Carol has lived in the DeWitt area her entire life, except for a one year period in which she was in another state while her husband completed his military duty. He is now deceased but their three children, Shelly, Denise and Will live in DeWitt with their families.
Community Involvement:
- Past Chair and past Vice Chair on the Iowa Accountancy Examining Board, the regulatory board that oversee CPAs and LPAs in the State of Iowa. She served three 3-year terms with the Board having been appointed to this position by two different governors. She was the Chair of the Rules Committee and led the re-writing of Chapter 10 on Continuing Education and Chapter 13 on Professional Conduct.
- Past President and Board Member of the DeWitt Chamber of Commerce. Very active in the Chamber since 1976.
- Treasurer of the St. Joseph Education Foundation having held this position for over 20 years.
- Treasurer of Crossroads Unlimited Co since 1988. This is a development company that builds spec buildings in DeWitt in the Industrial Park.
- Finance Chair and board member of LincolnWay Community Foundation, an affiliate of the Community Foundation of Greater Dubuque for over 15 years. We connect the dots between community needs and those working to make a difference in rural Clinton County-serving Andover, Calamus, Charlotte, Delmar, DeWitt, Goose Lake, Grand Mound, Lost Nation, Low Moor, Toronto, Welton and Wheatland.
Catherine E Meinsma, CPA
Cathy Meinsma is a licensed Certified Public Accountant (CPA) with extensive experience in both public accounting and private industry. Cathy received her Bachelor of Science degree in Accounting from Iowa State University, then began her career at a national CPA firm, where she developed a strong foundation in accounting, auditing, tax, and financial services while working with a diverse range of clients.
Following her time in public accounting, Cathy transitioned to the private sector, serving as Controller and later Chief Financial Officer for a manufacturing company. In these leadership roles, she oversaw financial operations, strategic planning, and business growth initiatives, gaining valuable insight into the challenges and opportunities faced by business owners.
In 2019, Cathy joined Schuster & Co, bringing her broad financial expertise and commitment to client service to the firm. In 2021, she purchased the practice from Carol Schuster and continues to work closely with Carol to ensure a seamless experience for clients while building on the firm’s longstanding tradition of personalized, professional service.
Originally from Bettendorf, she now resides in DeWitt with her husband and two children. As a member of the local community, Cathy is committed to helping individuals, families, and businesses achieve their financial goals through personalized service, responsive communication, and sound financial guidance.
Community Involvement:
- DeWitt Chamber Ambassador
- Farm Bureau Member
- Marketers of DeWitt (MOD)
- Past Treasurer and Board Member of IA Nice
- Member of the North Scott Rotary
Susan A Hunter, CPA
Ms. Hunter is a lifelong resident of the DeWitt area. She graduated from Calamus High School in 1981 and Iowa State University in 1985. She furthered her education at St. Ambrose University, becoming a CPA in 1990. Sue has been an employee of Schuster & Co PC and its predecessor firm since January of 1992.
She is actively involved in the DeWitt community as a volunteer for the FFA alumni, 4-H, and Clinton County Cattlemen. She resides in rural DeWitt with her husband Charley. They are the parents of three children – Jacob, Will, and Alexandra.
Community Involvement:
- Graduate of the DeWitt Chamber of Commerce Leadership Institute
- Community volunteer for youth programs, including 4-H and FFA
- Clinton County Cattlemen’s Board of Directors
Ashleigh Determann
Ashleigh graduated from Camanche High School, St. Ambrose University with a Bachelor of Arts in Physical Education and Concord University with a Masters of Arts in Teaching. Ashleigh has been with Schuster & Meinsma and its predecessor Schuster & Co since July 2020.
Ashleigh moved to DeWitt in 2016. She is an avid fan of the Iowa Hawkeyes, Chicago Cubs & Chicago Bears. In her spare time she enjoys attending Hawkeye basketball games, being outdoors, riding RABGRAI (when local), spending time with her nieces & nephews and her dog Murray!
Connie Beer
Connie Beer is a native of DeWitt and has been a member of our staff since January of 1997. She graduated from DeWitt Central Community School and attended Clinton Community College and later Mount Saint Claire College, where she graduated with a double major in business and accounting. Ms. Beer is an active member of the DeWitt community where she serves as leader for the Minnehaha 4-H club, is the Eden Township Clerk, and also is an active member of the DeWitt Central FFA alumni organization.
Connie and her husband Rob are the parents of three children, Joshua, Katie and Caleb.
Jane Baxter
Jane grew up in McCausland, Iowa and graduated from North Scott High School in 1985. Later she
attended Hamilton Institute of Business, earning a degree in Accounting and Computer Information
Systems. After working the previous 29 years as a Payroll Manager in the Construction Industry in the
Quad Cities, she is looking forward to working closer to home in Dewitt where she resides with her
husband, Jody. She loves gardening and other projects especially working in the Spring at a local
greenhouse.
Colleen Boesch
Colleen Boesch grew up in southwest Michigan and she graduated from Lawton High School in Lawton,
MI before moving to Wisconsin for college. She attended Carthage College in Kenosha, WI where she
graduated in 2011 with her Bachelor of Arts degree with a major in accounting and a minor in Spanish.
After graduating, she began her career as a financial analyst with a publicly traded, global,
pharmaceutical company. She later accepted a position with a regulatory compliance consulting
organization where she worked in the accounting department in various roles for several years. In 2018,
Colleen was offered a position with a global retail brand and she worked there for six years with a strong
emphasis on financial reporting and general accounting. Colleen joined Schuster & Meinsma in 2024.
Colleen obtained her CMA (certified management accountant) certification in 2020.
In 2023, Colleen moved to the Dewitt area with her husband and their two young sons – Sawyer and
Theo. They moved to the area to live closer to family. In her spare time, Colleen enjoys spending time
with her family, hiking, cooking and reading. She is involved in the community through her church and
through various community events.
