About Me
I grew up in Tampa, Florida with two wonderful parents, Melba and Danny (both Happily Retired) along with one Brother, Nelson (A Realtor here in Jacksonville). My family instilled in me the values of honesty, compassion, integrity, hard-work, effort, and love of learning that continue to guide me in all that I do. In 2013 I married my wonderful Wife Sarah, whose parents both have held C.P.A.s and operated a successful firm in Columbus, Ohio for over 40-years! She remains the rock in my life that challenges and motivates me to rise to new heights every-day in all that I do! In February 2020, our life forever changed when we welcomed our son Logan into our family. This made me realize that I wanted to create something for my family that I could one day hopefully pass on to my son, which led me to pursue an ongoing dream of owning my own firm.
Education & Designations
I attended Tampa Jesuit High School, a highly prestigious and noted institution where I received a Catholic and College-Prep based education and earned my High-School Diploma with High Honors. Upon graduation, I completed a 4-Year Bachelor’s Degree at the University of Florida in 2003 and in 2012 I completed a Master’s in Business Administration (Tax and Accounting Concentration) via Saint Leo University. I graduated with Highest Honors and earned acceptance into the Sigma Beta Delta Honors Society for Business, Management, and Administration.
In 2016, I earned a “Chartered Property Casualty Underwriters” designation (more commonly known as C.P.C.U.). Many view this designation as a C.P.A. type equivalent in matters related to Insurance and requires the completion of several Masters-Level Courses related to Insurance. In 2020, I realized a dream when I earned a Certified Public Accountant License (C.P.A.) in the State of Florida. Both the C.P.C.U. and C.P.A. remain active and in good standing. Lastly, I recently received my Notary Commission within Florida.
Professional Experience
Over the years I have worked in both the Public and Private Sector respectively where I have gained tremendous exposure and experience that has molded and shaped me over time. Fresh out of college, I began work in the field of child protective services where I ultimately worked for several years in matters of case management and financial administration. My work here included my first experiences with Bookkeeping, Utilization Management, and general finance and I worked under the C.F.O. of the organization, himself a C.P.A. that first put the idea of that career path in my mind. I also took a second job during these years where I worked in a Tax Office under another C.P.A. as a Tax Preparer and later Office Manager and little did I know how much that experience, which started out as just a means of earning some extra income, would change my life.
After these experiences, I took a management position for a major Insurance Company where I spent the next few years and gained invaluable experience as to the inner workings of insurance and the role that I could play in helping others tailor coverage for their specific needs. I also learned the relationship that insurance plays relative to a person’s larger financial picture. I did work for a mid-sized accounting firm for a few years as a Tax Senior where I gained exposure and experience working with clients and returns of a larger and more technical nature, to include those with millions in revenues.
Most recently, I have spent several years working for the Accounting Firm owned by my In-Laws in Ohio (both in Ohio and also remotely from Florida) where they have helped to groom me for this wonderful opportunity and adventure of owning and operating my own firm. This included the responsibility of handling all of the day-to-day affairs of the business, managing any and all client needs, ensuring compliance with all deadlines, and addressing any other matters that might arise during the course of business.