PUGH CPAS - Key Persons


Alicia Young

Education: University of Tennessee B.S. Business Administration, Accounting

Allison Eadie

Education: Attended Tennessee Wesleyan, Bachelor of Science in Accounting Experience: Allison has served clients in auditing and accounting services related to a variety of industries, including construction contractors, local governments, utility districts and not for profit organizations. Some of her services include:

Andi Anderson

Job Titles:
  • Member of the Officers Team
  • Tax Officer
Education: Andi received her LL.M. in Taxation from Georgetown University Law Center and attended The University of Tennessee - College of Law where she earned her JD with a concentration in business transactions. She graduated magna cum laude from Middle Tennessee State University with a Bachelor of Science majoring in journalism. Andi is admitted to the state bar in both Tennessee and South Carolina and is licensed to practice in the United States Tax Court. Experience Prior to joining Pugh CPAs, Andi was engaged in the private practice of law for ten years. Andi specializes in providing consulting and tax planning services for individuals, closely-held businesses, estates, and trusts as well as preparing gift and estate tax returns. She will offer guidance to individuals and their families to achieve their estate planning goals in a tax efficient manner. Her services include:

Barrett Simonis - President

Job Titles:
  • Member of the Officers Team
  • President
Experience: He has experience in auditing, accounting, and consulting services related to a variety of industries, including financial institutions, governmental and not-for-profit entities, employee benefit plans, and closely-held companies. In addition to his client service roles, Barrett also is actively involved with the firm's recruiting efforts as well as marketing and business development initiatives. His services include: Financial statement audits Review and compilation services Agreed-upon procedures engagements Mergers and acquisitions consulting System and Organization Controls (SOC) reports Strategic business and financial planning

Barron D. Kennedy

Job Titles:
  • Member of the Officers Team
  • Audit Administrative Officer
  • Audit Officer
Education: University of Tennessee B.S. Business Administration, Accounting (Magna Cum Laude) - Master of Accountancy-concentration audit Southeastern School of Banking of the Tennessee Bankers Association Experience: Barron has experience related to a variety of industries, including financial institutions, governmental and not-for-profit entities and closely-held companies.

Brandon Barry

Job Titles:
  • Member of the Officers Team
  • Tax Officer
Education: University of Louisiana Monroe B.S. Business Administration (Cum Laude) Experience He has experience in providing federal and multi-state tax services to individuals and businesses, including real estate companies, manufacturers, service providers and non-profit organizations. Brandon also has experience with payroll, QuickBooks and 9 years auditing private companies, governments and non-profits. Preparation of corporate, partnership/LLC, tax-exempt and individual tax returns

Brient Kittrell

Job Titles:
  • Tax Manager
Education: University of Tennessee, Knoxville, B.S. Accounting University of Tennessee, Knoxville, MAcc-Tax Concentration Experience: Brient has experience in providing federal and multi-state tax services to individuals and businesses including banks, real estate companies, not for profits, and high net worth individuals.

Carol Faircloth

Job Titles:
  • Manager of Our Small Business Services
  • Senior Manager - Tax
Education: B.S. from University of Illinois Experience: Carol is also the manager of our Small Business Services team. She specializes in providing tax and bookkeeping services to individuals and businesses. Her experience is with a variety of businesses, including construction contractors, real estate developers, non-profits and retailers. She also has experience with multi-state returns. Her services include: Preparation and review of individual, corporate, partnership/LLC, trust and gift returns

Christi Fightmaster - CMO

Job Titles:
  • Director of Marketing
  • Director of Firm Development
Education: Maryville College B.A. in Communications Experience: She joined the firm in 2014 after 10 years of serving as Public Relations Director for MEDIC Regional Blood Center. Prior to joining MEDIC, she served as VP of Marketing for Asbury, Inc. Implementing marketing strategies for the firm's overall exposure Managing firm's marketing budget, along with community sponsorships

Cyndi Rempert

Job Titles:
  • Senior Manager - Audit
Education: Elmhurst College, Bachelor of Science in Accounting Experience: Cyndi has served clients through auditing and accounting services primarily in the not-for-profit arena. Having started her career as an auditor in the Chicagoland area, she yearned for more warmth, both in the weather and in the community. Unable to resist the charm of Tennessee, she was proud to make Knoxville her home in 2022 and looks forward to contributing to Pugh CPAs and the East Tennessee culture. Some of her services include:

Daniel Messing

Job Titles:
  • Member of the Officers Team
  • Officer & Tax Leader
  • Tax Administrative Officer
Education: University of Tennessee B.S. Business Administration, Accounting (Magna Cum Laude)

Devin Ralston

Job Titles:
  • Firm Administration
  • Senior IT Auditor
Education:
 BS, Management Information Systems - Tennessee Tech University Graduate of Tennessee School of Banking Graduate of Graduate School of Banking at LSU Certified Information Systems Security Professional (CISSP) - ISC 2 Experience:
 Devin has almost two decades of information technology and security experience. He has extensive experience in management of bank operations, compliance, identity theft protection, intrusion protection and detection systems, investigations, and bank secrecy, as well as multiple systems and processes relating to deposit operations. He has been directly involved with the use of multiple operating systems and has served as the system administrator of multiple networks/domains. He has worked with multiple industries in the cybersecurity space, including banking, manufacturing, municipalities, and public utilities, and has helped develop actionable cybersecurity plans including policies and procedures. Through his previous experience, he was responsible for developing multiple policies and managing related procedures including: Information Security Policy, Internal Controls, IT Risk Assessment, Vendor Management, Business Continuity Management and Disaster Recovery Plan.

Gary Mitchell

Job Titles:
  • Audit Officer
Education: University of Tennessee B.S. Business Administration with dual majors in accounting and finance. Experience: Gary's areas of expertise include auditing and accounting services related to a variety of industries including governmental entities, utility districts, municipalities, government contractors, construction contractors, not-for-profit organizations, governmental pension plans and other industries. Gary also served six years in the Tennessee Army National Guard as a Chief Warrant Officer 2 flying the OH-58D Kiowa Warrior helicopter. Professional & Civic Affiliations: Member of Tennessee Society of Certified Public Accountants (TSCPA) Member of American Institute of Certified Public Accountants (AICPA)

Jacob Pratt

Job Titles:
  • Tax Officer
Education: University of Tennessee B.S. Business Administration

Jake Houston

Job Titles:
  • Manager - Tax
Education: University of Tennessee, Knoxville, B.S. Accounting University of Tennessee, Knoxville, MAcc Experience: Jake has experience in providing federal and multi-state tax services to individuals and businesses. He has worked with manufacturing companies, retailers, banks, not for profits, and high net worth individuals. Jake also has experience helping large businesses comply with ASC 740, accounting for income taxes.

Keith O'Connor

Job Titles:
  • Audit Officer
Education: University of Tennessee B.S. Business Administration with a major in accounting Experience: Keith has served clients in auditing and accounting services related to a variety of industries, including financial institutions, construction contractors, real estate developers, manufacturers, local governments, and not for profit organizations.

Kelly Tucker

Job Titles:
  • Tax Officer
Education: Union College B.S. Business Administration (Golf Scholarship) Tennessee Technological University Master in Business Administration Experience: Kelly specializes in providing tax services to individuals and businesses. Her experience is with a variety of businesses, including real estate companies, wholesalers, manufacturers and non-profit organizations. Kelly also has extensive experience with multi-state and consolidated tax returns.

Kimberly Young

Job Titles:
  • Tax Officer
Experience: Prior to joining Pugh CPAs in 2006, Kim worked in the tax department of the largest family owned retail department store in the United States. She specializes in providing tax services to businesses and individuals and has various tax experience including financial institutions, real estate developers, and retailers. She also has extensive experience in multi-state tax planning and partnerships. Preparation of corporate, partnership/LLC, individual, trust, and estate tax returns

Kristen Mikles

Job Titles:
  • Senior Manager - Tax
Education: University of Tennessee B.S. Business Administration & Master of Accountancy with Tax Concentration Experience: She specializes in providing tax services to businesses and individuals and has various tax experience including financial institutions, rental real estate companies, and wholesalers. She also has extensive experience in multi-state and consolidated returns.

Kristin M. Garrett

Job Titles:
  • Vice President of Administration
Education: University of Tennessee B.S. Business Administration with a major in accounting (high honors) Experience: She transitioned to this role in 2007 after working in Audit & Assurance and the Tax Department at Pugh CPAs. Oversight of the firm's internal accounting and support staff

Maggie Hogan Campbell

Job Titles:
  • Tax Manager
Education: University of Tennessee B.S. Business Administration, Accounting

Michael Harvey

Job Titles:
  • ABV / CFF, CFE, CGMA

Mike Heffner

Job Titles:
  • Senior Manager - Tax
Education: University of Tennessee B.S. Business Administration (honors) University of Tennessee Master of Accountancy-Tax Concentration Experience: Mike provides tax services to a variety of businesses including financial institutions, construction contractors, real estate developers, and manufacturers. He also provides an assortment of tax services to individuals. Preparation of corporate, partnership/LLC, individual, trust, and gift tax returns

R.E. Foust

Job Titles:
  • Tax Officer
Education: University of Tennessee B.S. Business Administration, Accounting

Susan Foard

Job Titles:
  • CGMA / TAx Officer

Ted Hotz

Job Titles:
  • Audit Officer
Education: Appalachian State University B.S. Business Administration, Accounting Experience: He has been in public practice in North Carolina and Tennessee since 1986. He has worked in many areas of accounting, auditing, and advisory services including governmental entities, employee benefit plans, and various commercial entities. Ted is the partner-in-charge of the Government Contracting Niche for the firm.

Travis D. Lowe

Job Titles:
  • Audit Officer
Education: BS in Business Administration (Major - Finance) and an MBA (Concentration - Accounting). Both from TTU. Experience: He has experience in auditing and accounting services related to a variety of industries, including financial institutions, governmental entities, government contractors, not-for-profits, and other industries.

Whittney Stowe

Job Titles:
  • Audit Manager
Education: Tennessee Wesleyan University, Bachelor of Science Business Administration - Accounting University of Tennessee at Knoxville, Master of Accountancy - Taxation Experience: Whittney has served clients through auditing and accounting services primarily in the governmental and not-for-profit arena. She began her career dual practicing as an auditor and tax practitioner in the Knoxville area. She quickly realized, however, that the world of audit and attestation was her niche. Specializing in governmental and not-for-profit services, she is excited to join and serve the Pugh CPAs family and continue serving her East Tennessee community.

Will J. Pugh

Will J. Pugh (Bill) graduated from the University of Tennessee and worked for seven years for the Internal Revenue Service. In 1968 he entered public accounting and in '69 founded Pugh and Company. While growing and managing the Firm, he served on the Tennessee State Board of Accountancy for 18 years, chairman for six. He has served on the boards of Tennessee Society of CPAs, National Association of State Boards of Accountancy, and the American Institute of CPAs. He helped draft changes to the Tennessee Accountancy Law that improved professional and ethical standards in the accounting profession which will benefit future generations. He received two Distinguished Service Awards from national accounting organizations and numerous awards from other accounting organizations. He has served on several boards, such as Helen Ross McNabb Center and Foundation, YMCA, Knoxville Chamber of Commerce, East Tennessee Foundation, Leadership Knoxville, Zoo Knoxville, Holston Conference of the United Methodist Foundation, Inc., and many others. Mr. Pugh is a true Vol for Life! He's an honorary member of UT Letterman's Club, a member of the Benefactor's Club, received awards for extraordinary service to various University departments, and received the Outstanding Accounting Alumnus Award in 2002 and the UT Outstanding Alumni Award in 2009. He also established endowments for student scholarships, faculty awards, and professorships, passing his love of the profession to future generations.