SMITH AND HOWARD CPAS AND ADVISORS - Key Persons
I constantly seek opportunities to connect, develop, and embolden our people to passionately serve our team, our clients, and our community.
Andrew joined Smith and Howard in 2014 as an intern and is a manager in the Tax practice. Andrew's main focus is with the firm's Professional Service and Nonprofit groups, specializing in law firms and private schools. Beyond his specializations, he also works with corporations, multi-state partnerships, and high-net-worth individuals all in an effort to provide comprehensive, value-added consulting to his clients' immediate and future needs.
Anyone can do the right thing when people are watching. But someone with true integrity will do the right thing when no one is watching or when it's the harder option. I believe that our firm consistently lives this value through our communications with clients and doing what's right - even if it's not the answer a client wants to hear.
Beth joined Smith and Howard in 2015 and is a Manager in our Accounting and Advisory practice. She provides her clients with on-site accounting assistance, personal property and real property tax, payroll, as well as sales and use tax services.
Business Development is an area that most accountants try to avoid with all their might. In my role, I get to use my strength of opening doors and making connections to mentor and coach our people to become good business developers too. They find out for themselves that business development is actually not that scary and it helps our clients, prospects and our communities.
Brandy joined Smith and Howard in 2015 and is a Senior Business Advisor, putting her deep experience to work helping better our firm, our clients and our local community.
Job Titles:
- Senior Manager
- Member of the Georgia Society of Certified Public Accountants
One of the most enjoyable parts of my job is having the privilege of working closely with many people who have a wide range of knowledge and experience. The ability to exchange ideas and learn new things from each other excites me and motivates me.
Caleb is a member of the Georgia Society of Certified Public Accountants and American Institute of Certified Public Accountants. He serves on the board of Decatur Makers, a makerspace focused on being a welcoming, family-friendly community of inquisitive, motivated people who work together in a safe environment to discover, understand, design, and create interesting things.
I find it incredibly fulfilling to be a trusted advisor and partner with my clients. I love providing solutions and opportunities to help them meet current business and personal goals, as well as being a part of their family team to bring all around long-term success. It's inspiring to see how the success of our clients provides success to their employees and communities.
I strive to ensure our people learn something new, every single day of their careers. I genuinely feel that when people are engaged and challenged, it makes the service we provide our clients even more exceptional than it was the day before.
Our PEOPLE value is of utmost importance to me as we collaborate in a team environment where we help each other grow professionally and rely on each other to provide excellent client service.
Job Titles:
- Director of Business Development
I've been most fortunate that many invested much in me by coaching, teaching and mentoring. My appreciation is in a commitment to share valuable life lessons with bright, motivated and purpose-driven people to help them to be all that they can be.
As someone who started here as an intern while still working on my undergraduate degree, I've really felt encouraged and supported in every step of my career. I'm passionate about helping my coworkers feel the same way, because without the best people we cannot be the best firm.
Smith and Howard is successful because we want our team to progress and grow. We care about our team and desire to see growth professionally and personally.
We do the right thing, even when nobody is watching. This applies to how we treat our clients, employees, competitors and acquaintances.
Job Titles:
- Partner, Assurance Practice
Our clients' value always resonates with me in everything I do. I love working with my clients and they never get less than 110% from me.
Job Titles:
- PFS, Partner, Tax Practice
Job Titles:
- Senior Manager
- Member of the Georgia Society of Certified Public Accountants
We grow stronger together is the Smith and Howard value that is most important to me. Our team is truly a united group that works together toward a common goal. Mentoring and coaching has been a critical part of my career development and the development of others.
Erin is a Senior Manager in the Assurance practice. She began her career in public accounting through an internship with Smith and Howard's Assurance and Tax departments and joined the firm's Assurance practice in 2008. Erin is a member of our Nonprofit, Employee Benefit Plan and Manufacturing and Distribution groups.
Erin is a member of the Georgia Society of Certified Public Accountants and American Institute of Certified Public Accountants.
New and existing clients need guidance in making sense of the data, seeing what is missing in their accounting, or utilizing technology for process improvements. When I serve clients to tackle these different scenarios, I find joy in their success.
Job Titles:
- Partner, Assurance Practice Leader
Always doing the right thing is the most important value to me. Leaders have their integrity challenged daily with the many decisions that have to be made. Integrity is my North Star.
It is important to me that my client interactions are conducted with the highest level of integrity and transparency in order to ensure Smith and Howard continues to be viewed as a highly respected and one of the premier accounting and advisory firms in the country.
Jeff Brown joined Smith and Howard as a Senior Business Advisor in 2019. Prior to joining the firm, he worked with companies in the security and risk management space. Jeff specializes in directing and guiding organizations to achieve financial success through Smith and Howard's service offerings.
Originally from Western Canada, Jeff has spent more than 20 years selling technology software and services solutions in the United States. This includes helping organizations operating in the U.S. understand and address their enterprise security risks and vulnerabilities.
A long-tenured and well-respected leader at the firm, John provides counsel and strategic guidance across Smith and Howard to help maximize advantages for our clients.
John joined Smith and Howard as an audit partner in 1990 and served as managing partner from 2010-2018. He is now a consulting partner with the firm, and spends his time assisting Smith and Howard and facilitating a select group of Alliance accounting firms located across the United States.
John and his wife live in Decatur. He has traveled the world with his family and on mission trips to the Agalta Valley in Honduras with fellow Rotarians.
Education
University of Georgia - Bachelor of Business Administration in Accounting
Affiliations
American Institute of Certified Public Accountants
Georgia Society of Certified Public Accountants
Metro Atlanta Chamber (Board of Advisors)
Metro Atlanta Rotary
Leadership Gwinnett
YMCA (Advisory Board)
Big Brothers Big Sisters (Advisory Board)
2019 Super Bowl Host Committee (Volunteer)
Chick-Fil-A Peach Bowl (Volunteer Committee)
Georgia Gwinnett College Foundation (Former Trustee)
Special Olympics Georgia (Former Member of the Honorary Board of Directors)
Trinity Lutheran Church
I make it my personal mission to meet and exceed expectations whenever possible. Helping our clients with everything from filling in any ‘GAAP' of understanding to recommending better processes for making their lives better - it's my favorite part of what I do.
I believe that our people are our greatest asset, and I am committed to providing an environment that will help us grow stronger together.
I strive to meet client needs and provide value to our clients with timely, personal and meaningful service.
Often times when looking at technology, the focus is on the software or the computer, but I focus on our people - both our internal staff and clients - and how we can help them succeed and excel. Our tools can help them work smarter and improve our everyday tasks to make their work easier and more impactful.
I embrace all of our values, but for me, integrity is the foundation for all of them. If I focus on doing the right thing every time, I'll succeed at helping our clients, growing with my colleagues and getting better every day.
Among Smith and Howard's recognition for marketing activities during Julie's tenure are four Marketing Achievement Awards from the Association for Accounting Marketing, including Corporate Social Program of the Year. Julie is a member of the PEAK Community, a private group of marketers committed to getting 1% better every week. She is a past member of the Thomson Reuters Checkpoint Marketing Advisory Board, a former board member of the Corporate Volunteer Council of Atlanta and a member of the Association for Accounting Marketing (AAM), where she is a past board member of the Atlanta chapter.
The most important aspect of my job is being dependable to our clients. I want our clients to feel comfortable and confident reaching out to me with any problem or question at any time.
Kaitlin joined Smith and Howard back in 2015 as an intern and is now a Manager in our Assurance Practice. She is a member of the firm's nonprofit, real estate, construction, and manufacturing and distribution groups, focusing on financial statement audits and employee benefit plans.
Job Titles:
- Principal
- Principal, Assurance Practice
The following quote pretty much sums it up: ‘The customer...is not an interruption in our work. We are not doing him a favor by serving him. He is doing us a favor by giving us an opportunity to do so.'
Karl is a principal in our Assurance practice. Prior to joining the firm, he spent several years at a large regional accounting firm in their audit group.
Job Titles:
- Chief Human Resources Officer
- Strategic Human Resource Leader
'The whole is greater than the sum of its parts' could not be more relevant when referring to our PEOPLE value. I truly believe that the efforts and talents of all of us, combined, together make us a better firm. Our diversity in strengths and talents - working toward common goals - create the unique boutique environment for both our clients and employees. In my role, I strive to create, encourage and inspire this approach within my own team and all other teams within the firm.
Kerry joined Smith and Howard in 2021 as the firm's Chief Human Resources Officer. She is responsible for developing and executing human resource strategy in support of the overall business plan and strategic direction of the firm, specifically in the areas of succession planning, talent management, change management, organizational and performance management, training and development, and compensation.
Kerry is a strategic human resource leader with almost 20 years of experience leading human resource organizations and efforts in large global companies. She is specifically skilled in recruiting, training, labor relations, compliance and performance management.
Job Titles:
- Partner, Assurance Practice
I love when my clients reach out to me for advice or ask for my opinion. I want to be their trusted advisor, and being able to provide guidance is rewarding and motivating.
Kimberly is a frequent speaker at the Georgia Society of Certified Public Accountants Southeastern Accounting Show, where she covers various assurance topics on the nonprofit industry.
Job Titles:
- Tax Administrative Manager
I am a strong believer in providing excellent client service, trying to consider each client's needs and looking for ways to exceed their expectations with a quick response time and thoroughness. I love the challenge of finding new ways to improve our processes to assist members of the firm in meeting their clients' expectations.
Laurie Ann is responsible for oversight of the tax filing process, creating efficiencies with processes and technology.
Laurie Ann joined Smith and Howard in 2010 and is an Administrative Manager for our Tax practice, overseeing the tax administrative group and the tax filing process. Laurie Ann has created many efficiencies with processes and technology during her time with the firm.
Laurie Ann enjoys the family atmosphere and the camaraderie of her teammates who do whatever it takes to serve clients well.
Education
University of Alaska Anchorage - Associates Degree of Science in Office Management and Technology
One of the reasons I joined Smith + Howard is because of their commitment to excellence. During the interview process, more than one person discussed the idea of 'smarter, better, every day' and I really wanted to join a team that looked for consistent improvement even when something was working well.
Job Titles:
- Partner, Assurance Practice
The development and growth of our people is the backbone of our success. I feel responsible for teaching and providing the best resources available so our people grow smarter and stronger every day.
My guiding principle in life is to live with integrity. One of my favorite quotes from C.S. Lewis is ‘Integrity is doing the right thing even when no one is watching.' With this thought always within me, I know that I will be able to serve my family, community and clients to the best of my abilities.
Job Titles:
- Partner, Tax Practice Leader
Our reputation is the most valuable asset and helps attract top talent and clients that are seeking long term relationships. Without integrity, we can't be an excellent firm to strive to best serve our clients and take care of our people including where the firm can transcend to the next generation.
Job Titles:
- Member and Former Treasurer of West Cobb Church
- PFS, CFP®, Partner, Tax Practice
Ultimately, doing the little things the right way when no one is watching every day is the path to achieving success. It permeates throughout all interactions with our people, clients and community. I strive to make the most out of my interactions and relationships with the goal of adding value wherever and whenever I can.
Mark joined Smith and Howard in 1998. He is a partner in the Tax practice, leads the real estate team, is a member of the construction team and also specializes in estate planning and personal financial planning.
Outside of the office, Mark is a member and former treasurer of West Cobb Church. Additionally, he is a board member and on the finance committee at MUST Ministries, Inc.
Job Titles:
- CGMA Partner, Accounting and Advisory Leader
- CITP, CHQP, CGMA, Partner, Accounting and Advisory Leader
Clients would be the core value that drives me and my group. I am constantly looking for new service lines to drive our growth within the Accounting and Advisory practice side of the firm. Knowing many of our services are non-recurring, I have to continue to focus on keeping the sales pipeline full to allow for continued year over year growth.
Job Titles:
- Partner, Assurance Practice
Job Titles:
- Manager of Talent and Learning Development
Job Titles:
- PFS, CFP® Partner, Tax Practice
Job Titles:
- Partner, Accounting Advisory Practice