COOKE - Key Persons
Alex joined Cooke, Lavender, Massey & Company, P.C. in July of 2021. He came to the firm after earning two Bachelor's Degrees In Business (Majors: Accounting and Information Systems, and Finance) in 2016 and a Masters of Accounting and Information Systems in 2017 from Virginia Tech, and has recently become a CPA. During his time at Virginia Tech, Alex played saxophone in the school's marching band.
Upon graduation, he spent two years working at BDO, followed by a year and a half working at KPMG, both in the Richmond, VA area. During his time at both firms, he gained experience working on a variety of audit engagements, including public, large nonpublic, employee benefit plan, and review engagements with a variety of clients including insurance, financial institutions, retail, and manufacturing firms.
Alex moved back to the Blacksburg area in 2021 to join the firm. Since starting with Cooke, Lavender, Massey & Company, P.C., he will assist with the firm's audits of non-profit organizations, nonpublic companies, local governments, etc. He also will perform other engagements including compilations, reviews, and preparations of financial statements. Additionally, he will assist with preparation of corporate, partnership, and individual income tax returns.
Alex currently resides in Pearisburg. He enjoys spending time with his family and friends, attending local concerts, playing music, traveling, and Virginia Tech athletics.
Job Titles:
- Bookkeeper / Payroll Specialist
- New Business Services
Amy joined our team in January of 2003. She has over 20 years of experience with payroll tax laws, human resources employment regulations, and bookkeeping services. She works closely with the firm's clients in preparing payrolls, bookkeeping, and providing accounting services and financial statements.
Amy has served as a Notary Public since August 2001 and continues to holds this service. She has been developed extensive skills with all QuickBooks platforms and is certified as a Pro-Advisor.
Braxton joined Cooke, Lavender, Massey & Company, P.C. in June of 2020. He graduated from Washington & Lee University in 2020 with a Bachelor of Science in Accounting and plans to become a CPA. During his four years at W&L Braxton played for the school's football team.
Dianne joined the accounting team of Cooke, Lavender, Massey & Company, PC in 2008. She has earned an Associate of Business Administration in Management and a Bachelor's Degree of Business Administration in Accounting. Having previously worked exclusively in taxation, Dianne appreciates the diversity of, and expansion into, the various areas of accounting she is able to experience with the firm.
Dianne has worked closely with her clients to assist them with both their personal and business needs, ranging from bookkeeping and payroll services, to income tax preparation, and accounting and reporting for trusts and estates. Dianne is also involved with the audits, reviews, and compilations of business entities, to include for-profits, not-for-profits, foundations, and authorities.
Dianne currently resides in Blacksburg, Virginia. She enjoys spending time with the family dogs, riding bikes, or just cooking up a delicious meal.
Evan joined Cooke, Lavender, Massey & Company, P.C. in November of 2020. He graduated from University of Virginia's College at Wise in 2020 with a Bachelor of Science in Accounting and Business Administration.
Evan will assist with the firm's audits, compilations, reviews, and other agreed upon procedures. He will also prepare a variety of tax returns for corporate, partnership, and individual clients. During his time at UVA-Wise, he gained experience doing volunteer tax preparation and providing financial consulting. Evan also interned with a regional accounting firm and a local bank prior to joining Cooke, Lavender, Massey & Company, P.C.
Evan currently lives in Floyd, Virginia.
Jeff is a partner in our firm. He has worked with Cooke, Lavender, Massey & Company, P.C. since 2008. He came to the firm after earning both a Bachelor's Degree In Business (Major - Accounting and Information Systems) in 2007 and a Masters of Accounting and Information Systems in 2008 from Virginia Tech. In 2010, he passed the CPA exam and maintains his license in Virginia.
In his time at Cooke, Lavender, Massey & Company, P.C., Jeff has managed many of the firm's audits of non-profit organizations, nonpublic companies, local governments, etc. He also performs other engagements including compilations, reviews, and preparations of financial statements. Additionally, he assists with preparation of corporate, partnership, and individual income tax returns.
Jeff currently resides in Blacksburg with his wife, Lindsay, and their daughters, Abigail and Sophie. He enjoys spending time with his family, playing golf, traveling, and Virginia Tech athletics.
Professional Affiliations:
American Institute of Certified Public Accountants
Virginia Society of Certified Public Accountants
John earned a Bachelor's Degree in Business (Major - Accounting and Information Systems) in 2011 and a Masters of Accounting and Information Systems with a concentration in Taxation in 2012 from Virginia Tech. He passed his CPA exam in 2017 and maintains his license in Virginia.
Upon graduation, he spent three years working at Ernst & Young in the DC Metro area. During his time at EY, he gained experience working on tax compliance with a variety of clients including large defense contractors and multinational private equity firms.
John moved back to the Blacksburg in 2015 to join the firm. Since starting with Cooke, Lavender, Massey & Company, P.C., he has performed audits for non-profit organizations and nonpublic companies. He also performs other engagements including compilations, reviews, and preparations of financial statements. Additionally, he assists with preparation of corporate, partnership, and individual income tax returns.
John lives in Blacksburg with his wife, Logan. He enjoys golf, traveling, and Virginia Tech athletics.
Professional Affiliations:
American Institute of Certified Public Accountants
Virginia Society of Certified Public Accountants
Judy is a staff accountant with our firm. She joined our firm in January when we acquired Blake & Moody. She had worked for them since December 2017. She graduated from West Virginia Business College in 1984 with a Bachelor's Degree in Business (major - Accounting). After moving to Virginia in 1988, she worked several local business in their accounting departments. For the last two decades, Judy has worked in public accounting with several local firms. During this time she has gained valuable experience with payroll processing, bookkeeping services, and income tax preparation. She works closely with the firm's clients in preparing payrolls, bookkeeping, and providing accounting services and financial statements.
Judy resides in Christiansburg with her husband Bill. She has a son Mark who lives in and works for the city of Roanoke. She enjoys spending time with her family, traveling, and sewing and quilting.
Lurleen joined our team in December of 2023; bringing to the firm 25 years of experience in payroll preparation, bookkeeping, and corporate, partnership, & individual tax return preparation. She currently holds an Associate Degree of Business Management in Accounting from New River Community College and a Bachelor of Science Degree in Business Administration in Accounting from Radford University. Lurleen takes pleasure in working directly with clients, helping them meet their accounting, tax, payroll and bookkeeping goals.
When away from the office , Lurleen enjoys gardening, cooking, and spending time with her precious dog Jada.
Mike began his public accounting career in Roanoke, Virginia in December, 1974 after completing his degree requirements at Virginia Tech (BS in Business and Major in Accounting). He became a licensed Certified Public Accountant in January 1977. Mike moved to Blacksburg in 1979, and founded the firm of Michael B. Cooke CPA, PC in May 1988. The firm name changed to Cooke, Lavender, Massey & Company, PC in 2019.
Mike has practiced in many areas of public accounting including auditing, accounting, corporate, partnership, and individual taxation, small business advisory, and estate administration and taxation. In recent years, Mike has concentrated in the area of individual tax planning and preparation and assisting Estate Executors and estate taxation and administration.
Mike has been actively involved with various civic groups, nonprofit organizations, and coaching youth sports during his career. He enjoys playing golf, fishing, travel, and supporting Virginia Tech athletics.
He lives in Blacksburg with his wife Mary. He has two grown children, Samantha who lives in London, England and John who lives in Blacksburg and is a CPA with the firm.
Professional Affiliations:
American Institute of Certified Public Accountants
Virginia Society of Certified Public Accountants-Life member
Nicole joined our team in July 2020 as the Office Manager. She was previously the office manager of a dental practice in Blacksburg and is looking forward to working in a larger office. She will help the firm with the daily functions of the office so our focus can be on our valued clients.
Nicole currently resides in Christiansburg with her husband Shane and their daughter Natalie. She enjoys spending her time with her family, volunteering in the community with the Blacksburg Junior Women's Club, traveling, home decorating, and any kind of DIY projects.
We have two staff members who have been certified as a Quickbooks ProAdvisor. Quickbooks is a very popular small business accounting software, and their certified ProAdvisors are professionals who have demonstrated a high level of expertise in using their platform to help clients.
Shane has over 31 years of public accounting experience, of which, 30 years have been with our firm. He has served as lead partner on many types of engagements during his career. He currently serves in an oversight role on our audit and attestation engagements and, as needed, discusses matters with our clients.
Shane received his Bachelor of Business Administrations (Accounting focus) from Radford University, in 1987. He became a licensed Certified Public Accountant in 1994.
Shane currently resides in Christiansburg with his wife, Deanne. He enjoys spending time with his family, pets, and participating in outdoor activities.
Professional Affiliations:
American Institute of Certified Public Accountants
Virginia Society of Certified Public Accountants
Todd is a partner with the firm and has more than 17 years of public accounting experience providing auditing, accounting, tax and consulting services in a wide variety of areas. Todd began his public accounting career with Cooke, Lavender, Massey & Company, P.C. in 2002. Over the years, he has served as lead partner on numerous engagements including audits, reviews, compilations, and preparations of financial statements, in a vast range of industries. Todd also has extensive tax experience in the areas of individual, partnership, corporate, and non-profit taxation.
Todd received his Bachelor of Science in Accounting from The University of Virginia's College at Wise, in 1997. He became a licensed Certified Public Accountant in 2004 and maintains his license in Virginia.
Todd currently resides in Christiansburg with his wife, Jenny, and their daughters, Lindsey and Lauren. He enjoys spending time with his family, coaching and watching his daughters play youth sports, and watching both collegiate and professional sports.
Professional Affiliations:
American Institute of Certified Public Accountants
Virginia Society of Certified Public Accountants
Job Titles:
- Certified Public Accountants - Life Member