Skip to content

Our History

Integrity Never Goes Out of Style

Since our beginning, the Lear & Pannepacker, LLP team has understood the value of building solid, sustainable relationships with clients based on mutual trust. We have found a way to combine the ethics and objectivity inherent in accounting firms with the creativity and tech-savvy know-how demanded by today’s top clients; providing modern solutions to modern problems with old-fashioned integrity.

Who We Are

As leading Princeton CPAs, we work every day to provide our clients the highest quality professional accounting, auditing, bookkeeping, and tax planning so their businesses, personal finances, or not-for-profit organizations can grow and succeed. We believe the best approach is both personalized and strategic – solving today’s tax planning challenges with modern solutions, while keeping our eye focused on meeting your long-term goals.

Lear & Pannepacker, LLP has a proud tradition which emphasizes quality over quantity. Our growth plan has been tempered by this standard, as we invest time and training to bring you a team of dedicated experts to better meet your entrepreneurial needs. However, from time to time we meet professionals in our industry who manage local practices using this same guiding principle, and we have been fortunate to add their collective experience and wisdom to our team.

The firm takes a true team approach, collaborating with other professional advisors, while maintaining a dedicated focus on accounting and tax needs, to ensure clients are achieving their personal and financial goals.

Our Founding

Eric Lear founded Lear & Pannepacker, LLP in 1984, opening the first office on Nassau Street in downtown Princeton. Eric’s goal was to establish a firm of accounting professionals that emphasized outstanding client service and community involvement and worked proactively to meet its clients’ financial and business planning needs.

Gary Pannepacker worked with Eric early in his public accounting career, joining the firm in 1988 as its tax partner. Eric and Gary developed a teamwork approach to meeting client needs and solving even the most complex financial challenges, offering a combination of strategic business planning and detailed implementation to a growing family of entrepreneurial clients.

Scot Pannepacker joined the firm in 1989, becoming partner in 1999. After the unexpected passing of Gary that same year, Scot helped carry on the tradition of excellence established by Eric and Gary.

Our Growth

July 2006
Joanne Linda Waxman, PA
In July 2006, the practice of Joanne Linda Waxman, PA joined Lear & Pannepacker, LLP. The firm principal, Joanne L. Waxman, PA, merged with our firm with the intention of expanding the staff and expertise of her practice for the overall benefit of her clients. Joanne also strongly believed in the importance of ensuring her long-standing clients would remain in a comparable practice when she decided to retire “down the road.” Although Joanne is no longer with us, we have continued to provide her clients with the same level of support and sophistication that Joanne had provided over the years.
July 2006
January 2013
Hanlon, Buxton & Associates, LLP
In January 2013, the firm of Hanlon, Buxton & Associates, LLP joined Lear & Pannepacker, LLP. The principals, Joseph Hanlon Esq. and Melody Buxton CPA, had chosen us with the desire that their “family” of clients would be served by a group of like-minded professionals to provide additional expertise and professional support in anticipation of Melody’s retirement. Regrettably, Joe passed away unexpectedly in May 2013. Melody retired in October 2013, but remains of counsel to the firm. We remain committed to continuing their legacy of service by maintaining their dedication, proactive planning, and sense of responsibility to client services.
January 2013
January 2014
Vizzini & Marcucci LLC
In January 2014, the firm of Vizzini & Marcucci LLC joined with Lear & Pannepacker LLP. The principals of the firm, Angelo R. Vizzini, PA and Joseph J. Marcucci, PA, have an expansive tax practice and have served the Hamilton, Mercerville, Trenton and Bucks County area for over 37 years. Ang Vizzini brings expertise as a former senior employee of the New Jersey Division of Taxation, and Joe Marcucci specializes in both tax services as well as serves as the part-time CFO for a number of local volunteer fire companies. Ang and Joe plan to continue working with Lear & Pannepacker LLP, and are excited to develop business for our Hamilton, New Jersey office.
January 2014
January 2015
Semmel Management Consultants Inc.
In January 2015, the firm of Semmel Management Consultants Inc. joined Lear & Pannepacker, LLP. The Semmel firm, located in Roslyn on Long Island, represents an expansion of the practice into New York State. SMC founder Paul Semmel was a well-known accountant specializing in the entertainment industry, with clients performing in the arts, music, screen and stage. Paul had been battling illness for most of 2014 and passed away in February 2015. We are fortunate to have Paul’s son Nate Semmel and Paul’s long-time associate Soroj Hansraj to maintain the business and continue to work with the Semmel family of clients.
January 2015
July 2016
Jay Lesser CPA, PC
In July 2016, the firm of Jay Lesser CPA, PC joined Lear & Pannepacker, LLP. The Lesser firm, located in Plainsboro, NJ, has an expansive practice specializing in tax planning and compliance. Jay and his long-time associate Lisa Johnson joined the firm to continue providing the individual attention that he provided for over 30 years.
July 2016
January 2023
Mark Shavell, CPA
In January 2023, the firm of Mark Shavell, CPA joined Lear and Pannepacker, LLP. Mark’s firm was established in July 1987 and served various counties in Pennsylvania, namely, Philadelphia, Montgomery, and Bucks counties. Throughout the years, his firm served dental practices along with general accounting and tax practice clients. Mark’s firm also focused on advising and supporting small businesses located in the Philadelphia area by providing tax planning, compilation and review, payroll taxes, as well as other compliance services. Mark also brought with him to our firm his assistant of twenty years, Janet Farides, to help continue serving our clients. Mark and Janet are excited to join Lear and Pannepacker, LLP at our Newtown, PA location. They remain committed to serving clients in the Philadelphia area.
January 2023

Our Future

Today, Lear & Pannepacker LLP is an established top-tier regional accounting firm, proudly serving Central and North New Jersey and the greater New York metropolitan area. Our local clients range from Long Island/New York City to Philadelphia with an emphasis on Princeton, Hamilton, West Windsor, Lawrenceville, Hopewell, Trenton, Brunswick area and the US Route One business corridor. In addition, we prepare tax returns for numerous clients living and working throughout the United States as well as assist US citizens abroad and foreign businesses doing business in the US.

Lear & Pannepacker, LLP continues to develop a reputation in the greater Princeton market as a boutique firm of accounting professionals, customizing professional services to meet the individual needs of clients. Unlike many other accounting firms, Lear & Pannepacker, LLP resisted diversification into insurance and investment products, preferring to emphasize high-quality, specialized accounting services.

With every passing decade since the founding of Lear & Pannepacker, LLP in 1984, our accounting team has seen the ways of doing business evolve and modernize.  And yet, with the passing of each year, we become more and more convinced that the key to good business and lasting client relationships is still old-fashioned integrity. 

JOIN THE FAMILY

We're actively looking for qualified applicants to join our team.