BLUM & CLARK CERTIFIED PUBLIC ACCOUNTANTS - Key Persons
Allison started at Blum and Clark in 2013 as a tax season intern and the following year joined the team full time. Allison enjoys the range of work at Blum and Clark and the experience of working on broad topics in both personal and business tax preparation. She works with clients in a variety of industries, including attorneys, doctors and dentists, as well as real estate and restaurants.
Outside of work, Allison enjoys discovering new restaurants and breweries and attending concerts around San Diego. She also likes traveling and names Iceland a personal favorite.
Allison graduated from University of California, Davis with a double major in Economics and Political Science. In addition, she has received an accounting certificate from University of California, San Diego.
Audra Golden is a San Diego native that joined the Blum and Clark team in 2021. She began her career as a bookkeeper and H&R Block tax preparer in 2004.
She received her Bachelor of Business Administration degree in Accounting and her Master degree is Business Administration from Tarleton State University in Stephenville, Texas. She was a rodeo scholarship recipient and competed with the top rodeo team in the nation.
Audra became a CPA in 2013 and she is very passionate about the accounting profession in its entirety. She loves the challenges of an ever changing tax landscape and the excitement of tax season!
In her spare time she enjoys spending time with her husband and two children, going camping, surfing, and also training with her triathlon team.
Brigitte has been a member of the Blum and Clark family since 2006. Brigitte excels at assisting businesses and families with understanding their complete tax picture and identifying tax saving opportunities. She prides herself on listening to clients to provide tailored recommendations in line with their goals.
Outside of work, Brigitte loves being an active mother of two young children. She often spends weekends outdoors with her husband and kids appreciating the wonderful San Diego weather. Brigitte supports local families through charities such as the San Diego Food Bank and San Diego Rescue Mission and believes in giving back to the community.
Brigitte graduated summa cum laude from University of San Diego with a Bachelor of Accountancy and received a Master of Accountancy from San Diego State University.
Carol is a San Diego native and has been with Blum & Clark since 2000. Carol started her career in auditing and later expanded her areas of expertise to accounting and broader tax matters. A seasoned professional, Carol is analytical and results oriented. Carol especially enjoys collaborating with clients--both businesses and individuals--to share ideas and generate tax savings.
In her free time Carol enjoys cooking and hiking Torrey Pines. An avid tennis player, she has been a member of Balboa Tennis Club since 1998 and has toured the courts at Wimbledon in the UK during her travels.
Carol has a B.S. in Accounting from San Diego State University and has been a Certified QuickBooks ProAdvisor since 2007.
Elizabeth started as an intern for Blum and Clark in February 2012, while a junior at the University of San Diego. Upon graduating in May 2013, she joined the team full time as a staff accountant. Elizabeth enjoys working alongside her Blum and Clark colleagues as well as interacting with clients. She most enjoys teaching clients about tax matters since accounting is not everyone's first language. Elizabeth works with a wide array of clients, including partnerships, corporations, individuals, and non-profits.
In her free time, Elizabeth likes traveling, hiking, and spending time with family and friends. She is also an avid cook and likes putting her spin on new recipes.
Elizabeth graduated from the University of San Diego with both a Bachelor of Accountancy and a Master of Science in Taxation. Elizabeth is fluent in both English and Spanish.
Fred has been with Blum & Clark since July 2013. He appreciates the opportunity to be part of the highly motivated and friendly staff at Blum & Clark. Fred believes our consistent team commitment to our clients' best interests as well as the dedication to quality and client service that make Blum and Clark an exceptional place to work. Fred finds great satisfaction helping team members and clients solve a wide variety of complex individual, business and estate & trust tax matters.
Out of the office, Fred enjoys sailing with his wife, family and friends.
Fred graduated with a degree in Business Economics with an emphasis in Accounting from the University of California, Santa Barbara.
Hazel joined the Blum and Clark team in 2017. Her career began as a CPA at Ernst & Young based in Singapore where she worked in corporate and individual tax consulting. Upon returning to the states, Hazel got experience working at smaller public accounting firms. Following that, Hazel spent more than 10 years in a multi-national Hi_Tech conglomerate in their US corporate office. With her breadth of experiences, Hazel is attuned to the needs and challenges of both business and individual clients especially regarding international tax matters.
Outside of work, Hazel enjoys international travel and experimenting with cooking the exotic foods of the places she has visited.
Hazel graduated from Murdoch University in Perth, Australia. She is a Certified Public Accountant in both Australia and California.
A native New Yorker, Karen worked at a Manhattan CPA firm for 13 years where she specialized in individual and small business tax returns and strategic tax planning. She moved to San Diego with her husband and children in the fall of 2000 and brought her skills to Blum and Clark. Karen works with small businesses as well as individual clients and enjoys helping her clients properly plan for the future and minimize their tax liabilities.
When not in the office, Karen enjoys spending time with family and friends, hiking and exercising, and enjoying the beaches of San Diego.
Karen graduated from the State University of New York (SUNY) Oneonta with a bachelor's degree in Accounting.
Leanna has been an integral part the Blum and Clark team for 35 years. Her experience at Blum and Clark makes Leanna a tremendous asset in overseeing office administration, staff, and the day to day productivity of the team. Leanna keeps Blum and Clark at the forefront of technology and office efficiency. In addition to preparing taxes for clients, Leanna excels at assisting clients with business and accounting systems such as Quickbooks.
Outside of work Leanna is involved in her church, assists with bookkeeping, and has worked for many years with the Awana youth program. She also takes care of her mom and tries to keep track of her 11 grandchildren's activities and interests.
Leanna graduated from Cuyamaca College and has a Certificate in Business Management
Maria is a San Diego native who joined the Blum and Clark team in 2001. Maria works collaboratively with clients to achieve their financial goals. Maria has over 24 years of accounting experience working on both individual and business tax matters. She has the ability to customize her approach to all different client needs. Maria has a positive, proactive attitude and keeps projects on time and on task.
Outside of work, Maria is busy with her husband and two young girls. She spends weekends with her family supporting all their soccer and dance activities.
Maria is a graduate of the University of San Diego with a B.A. in Accounting. Maria is fluent in both English and Spanish.
Mitchell joined the Blum and Clark team in 2007 He is a staff accountant and prepares tax returns for both individuals and businesses. Mitchell also teaches Quickbooks to bookkeepers and business owners so they can keep meticulous records. Mitchell relishes the variety of work at Blum and Clark and finds that new clients and projects pop up daily. He enjoys strategizing with clients to ensure they receive the best possible results.
Before joining Blum and Clark, Mitchell was working full time as a Master Electrician for the San Diego Repertory Theatre Company. His position had him supervising the set up and operation of the lighting effects for all kinds of productions at the downtown theatre, including plays, musicals, and dance. He continues to be involved in theater around town and likes to spend time with his wife, two kids, and the family dog.
Mitchell graduated with a double major in Business and Theatre Arts from Chico State University.
Robert officially joined Blum and Clark, CPAs at the age of 14 to do accounting and tax return preparation under the tutelage of his father, the firm's founder, Richard Blum. At the time, Robert was the youngest person to earn a tax preparer certificate from H & R Block.
He pursued his passion for accounting and tax throughout his education, earning a Bachelor of Accounting degree from the University of San Diego, and a Master of Taxation degree from San Diego State University. After graduating from SDSU, Robert moved to San Francisco where he spent 10 years working as a tax manager and consultant at Price Waterhouse Coopers, then CFO of two start-up companies. It is there that he became passionate about helping owners of closely-held businesses navigate the complexities of US and international tax systems in order to achieve greater financial success. Today, Robert continues to spend the majority of his time working with clients to maximize efficiencies through a multi-faceted approach to business planning.
Robert is married to Tamara, a professor, triathlete, and musicologist. They have a beloved son Joseph. When not working the long hours required during tax season, the Blums can be found anywhere but San Diego! They are avid travelers, and as such, love people of different cultures around the world. Philanthropy plays a large role in their lives as well. Robert sat on the boards of the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society and the San Diego Repertory Theatre for many years. Tamara was a missionary working with orphaned children in Mozambique and Thailand. They continue to support several local and global missions.