Plante Moran names new Traverse City managing partner, signals local growth

Plante Moran, a national accounting, tax and consulting firm, has installed Chris Walski as managing partner of its Traverse City office, the firm announced in early January. The leadership change took effect Jan. 1, 2026, and follows the decision by B.J. Wolff to prepare for retirement after a period of local leadership.

Walski will focus on business development and growing the Traverse City staff while continuing to lead the firm’s acute healthcare reimbursement services group and serving as market segment leader of acute healthcare consulting. The appointment comes as part of a broader round of firm changes that also named Drew Mattox managing partner in Fort Collins and Scott Phillips managing partner in Cleveland.

The shift matters to Grand Traverse County because Plante Moran’s local office plays a role in advising businesses, non-profits and health providers on tax, accounting and reimbursement issues. By emphasizing healthcare reimbursement and consulting, the firm signals a continued drive toward advisory work that helps hospitals and clinics navigate complex payment systems and regulatory shifts. That specialization can translate into more locally based expertise for area health systems and potentially new professional positions as the Traverse City office grows.

Succession at locally based professional services firms also affects continuity for clients and the regional labor market. Wolff’s retirement preparation creates a leadership transition that Walski is expected to smooth while pursuing business development. For clients, that may mean expanded service offerings and deeper ties to the firm’s national resources; for the local workforce, it could yield hiring opportunities in accounting, consulting and reimbursement specialties as the office seeks to expand staff.

Plante Moran framed the leadership changes as strategic for the firm’s future. Plante Moran managing partner Jason Drake said he is excited about the new leaders and their role in shaping the firm’s future while preserving the firm’s client-first culture. For the Traverse City business community, the appointment highlights how national firms are reorienting local offices around advisory services and sector expertise, particularly in healthcare, a sector that remains central to regional employment and budgets.

The effective date of the changes was Jan. 1, 2026, with the firm’s announcement issued on Jan. 5, 2026. Local clients and professionals seeking more information about services or potential openings can contact the Traverse City office directly to learn how the transition may affect specific engagements.