Gary Frantzen brings nearly four decades of valuation and corporate finance consulting experience to DHJJ’s clients. He has advised clients across a wide range of industries, providing valuation services and financial modeling that support strategic decision making, business transitions, and financial planning. Gary partners closely with business owners, legal advisors, and banking professionals to deliver insights based on in-depth analysis and real-world application.
He began his professional journey as a civil engineer before moving into the financial consulting space, where he built a long-standing career with major accounting and consulting firms. He progressed from a junior consultant at Arthur Andersen to a partner role and later held leadership positions at several global consulting and investment banking organizations. At DHJJ, Gary focuses on delivering high-level valuation solutions that help clients make informed strategic decisions to achieve their business goals. He believes that DHJJ’s collaborative culture and client-first approach sets the firm apart in a very competitive industry.
Gary holds a Bachelor of Science in Civil Engineering from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign and an MBA in Finance from DePaul University’s Driehaus Graduate School of Business. He became a Chartered Financial Analyst (CFA) in 1992 and earned the Accredited Senior Appraiser designation in Business Valuation (ASA-BV) in 2017. Licensed as a Professional Engineer (PE) in Illinois (currently inactive), he brings a unique blend of technical precision and financial expertise to his work.
Outside of Work:
Gary and his wife Kaaren live in northwestern Wisconsin. They have a combined family of four adult children, two children-in-law, three grandpups, but no grandchildren…yet…
He enjoys exploring Chicago’s architecture, hitting the golf course, and traveling with his family. He’s had overnight stays in 48 of the 50 U.S. states—just Vermont and South Carolina to go!
A lifelong traveler, Gary dreams of following the path of the Silk Road and taking a trip on the Orient Express.
