Staff – Gitzel & Company Chartered Professional Accountants

Professional & Senior Staff

Arnie Walstrom, CPA CGA (Phone ext 227)

Arnie joined the firm in 1989. He earned a Business Administration diploma from Red Deer College in 1986 and received his Certified General Accountant designation in 1997. Presently a senior accountant, Arnie provides tax and financial services to our Agri-Business and Owner-Managed business clients.

Janelle Schmelzer, CPA, B. Comm. (Phone ext 232)

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Janelle finished her Bachelor of Commerce degree at MacEwan University in December 2014, moved to Stettler and started her first accounting job at the firm in January 2015. She was the first at the firm to go through the new CPA program and received her Chartered Professional Accountant designation in March 2018. Janelle prepares financial statements and specializes in providing assurance services to the firm’s municipal, not for profit, and commercial clients.

Jessie Kistner, CPA, B. Comm. (Phone ext 233)

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Jessie earned her Business Administration Diploma from Red Deer College in 2016 and joined the firm in the same year. In 2021, she completed her Bachelor of Commerce Degree online through Athabasca University and continued on to complete her Chartered Professional Accountant designation in 2025.

Karen Gust (Phone ext 250)

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Karen obtained an Accounting and Finance diploma (with honours) from N.A.I.T. and has been with the firm since 1992. As part of the senior team, Karen prepares financial statements and also provides tax and financial services to our Agri-Business and Owner-Managed business clients.

Melanie Barkley, CPA CA (Phone ext 251)

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Melanie graduated from Augustana University College with a Bachelor of Management in Economics degree in 2010. Upon graduation she took a position with the firm and began articling towards her Chartered Accountant designation, which she received in 2014. Melanie is involved in the provision of not-for-profit assurance services, the preparation of financial statements, as well as the provision of tax services to our Agri-Business and Owner-Managed business clients.

Shari Lockyer, CPA CGA (Phone ext 235)

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Shari earned her Certified General Accountant designation in 2003 and has been with the firm since 2014. Shari is currently a staff accountant preparing financial statements and providing tax services to our Agri-Business and Owner-Managed business clients.