MKG - Key Persons
Abbie will graduate from Missouri Southern State University in the winter with a bachelor's degree in Business Management with a minor in Marketing. Abbie enjoys cross stitching, being outside, spending time with her family and her Maltipoo, Peanut. She also enjoys traveling to California to spend time with her extended family and to visit Disneyland.
Austin Chambers is a graduate of The University of Arkansas with a bachelor's degree in Accounting and a master's with a concentration in Taxation. He began his career with Garland & Greenwood as an intern while attending the U of A and is now a fulltime Staff Accountant. He is a Certified Public Accountant and a member of the Arkansas Society of CPAs and the American Institute of CPAs. Outside of work, Austin enjoys playing golf and umpiring youth baseball games across the state.
Christine primarily performs tax and accounting services for small businesses and individuals. She also has experience performing audit, review and compilation services. She is a Certified Public Accountant and has 20 years of experience serving the public. Christine graduated from Arkansas Tech University and began her accounting career with a regional public accounting firm. Before entering the accounting field, she worked as a graphic artist and enjoys creative projects, the outdoors and baseball. She resides in Wooster with her husband and daughter. She is a member of the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants and the Arkansas Society of Certified Public Accountants.
Greg Schichtl began his career with a regional public accounting firm and started his own practice in 1991. He has over 30 years of experience providing audit, tax and business advisory services to small-to-medium size businesses, nonprofit organizations and governmental entities. He has served on the peer review committee for Arkansas and Alabama Society of CPA's since 2001.
Greg obtained his Bachelor of Business Administration in accounting from the University of Central Arkansas in Conway, Arkansas. Greg lives in Vilonia with his wife, Lisa.
Jake spent more than sixteen years in private accounting and has worked with public, private, non-profit and start-up organizations in a variety of roles. He obtained his bachelor's degree in accounting and his master's in business administration from the University of Arkansas in Fayetteville. Jake and his wife Joanna have four children: Ben, Jude, Eli, and Lila.
Job Titles:
- Controller
- Member of the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants
Jenni graduated Magna Cum Laude from the University of Arkansas at Fayetteville with a BSBA in Accounting. After college, she worked in public accounting and later for two private companies, most recently as the Director of Accounting for a non-profit.
Jenni is a member of the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants and the Arkansas Society of CPAs. She is active in the Pi Beta Phi Alumni Club and the Little Rock School District PTA, where she recently served as treasurer at Little Rock Central High. She also serves on the Foundation Board of Directors of the Centers for Youth and Families.
Joe Wheeler, CPA recently joined Garland & Greenwood CPAs and Advisors, PLLC as a Director. Joe primarily performs tax and accounting services for small businesses and individuals. He also performs audit, review, and compilation services. He is a Certified Public Accountant and has 10 years of experience in accounting. Joe graduated from both the University of Central Arkansas and Arkansas State University. Before joining Garland & Greenwood, Joe worked at local firms in Jonesboro. He is a member of the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants and the Arkansas Society of Certified Public Accountants. He enjoys golfing, baseball, and playing with his kids. He resides in Jonesboro with his wife, Courtney, and their two sons.
John "Topper" Borchert has been in public practice with various firms since his graduation from the University of Mississippi. He served in the United States Air Force and worked for public accounting firms in Houston, Texas, where he met his wife, Sylvia, and in Little Rock. He started his own practice in Little Rock in 1986, where he practiced for 29 years. John also serves on the board of the Alzheimer's Association and is part of the Retriever Club. In his spare time, John hunts and manages his farm in Carlisle, Arkansas.
John spent the first 16 years of his career in private industry working as a cost accountant and controller. He is a graduate of Arkansas Tech University with a double major in accounting and marketing & management. John currently serves on the board of Community Service Inc. in Morrilton. John and his wife live in Conway with their three children Ethan, Natalie, and Jase.
Kristin is a graduate of Arkansas Tech University with a bachelor's degree in Accounting. She is a member of the Arkansas Society of Certified Public Accountants, and she enjoys spending time with her friends and family. Kristin also enjoys reading, yoga, gardening and taking her two dogs, Rocky and Ruby, hiking in her spare time.
Lauren May recently joined Garland & Greenwood CPAs and Advisors, PLLC as an Office Administrator. Lauren primarily performs clerical and administrative duties in the Conway office. Before joining Garland & Greenwood, she worked as a Project Administrator for Phillips-Medisize a Molex Company. She enjoys spending time with her family, baking, and the outdoors. She resides in Hattieville with her husband and three children.
Maria received her BBA from the University of Central Arkansas in 2005. She earned her Certified Public Accountant designation in 2009. Maria spent the first five years of her career in public accounting before going to work for the State of Arkansas, where she held positions such as Internal Auditor, Accounting Manager, and Chief Fiscal Officer. She has been with MKG since 2018. Maria's experience in both public and private practice lends to a unique and well-rounded approach to audit and attestation services. She is currently an Audit Manager working in audit and tax. Maria is a member of the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants and the Arkansas Society of CPAs. She is also a board member and serves as treasurer of Keep Little Rock Beautiful.
Melissa serves as the firm's administrative assistant and office manager. She is an Arkansas native, who lives in East End with her husband, Kevin, and their daughter, Hannah. When she is not working Melissa likes to spend time with her family at the pool, traveling, reading, crafting, doing puzzles and playing board games.
Mike is a seasoned tax practitioner and financial professional providing financial planning advice to small business owners and other professionals. He is a native Arkansan and spent the majority of his career in Virginia, Illinois, and South Carolina. He is a graduate of the College of William and Mary. Mike is a member of the Hot Springs Rotary Club and has served on the Board of Directors of numerous charitable organizations including the Arkansas Society of CPAs and the Hot Springs Chamber of Commerce Board of Directors.
Richard graduated from Washington University in St. Louis with a degree in accounting and obtained his CPA certificate shortly thereafter. He has been in public practice for over thirty years in the role of partner/owner of firms which eventually became MKG LLP. Although he has stepped down from a management or equity position in the firm and reduced his workload, he is still active in the areas of tax preparation, research and planning with the firm. He is a member of the AICPA and its tax section as well as the AR Society of CPAs. He lives in Little Rock with his wife Cheri, who is the headmistress of St. Mark's Day School. Their free time is spent with grandchildren, travel and other outdoor activities.
Before joining the firm, Rocky worked in the private industry after graduating cum laude from the University of Arkansas at Little Rock with a master's in business administration.
Rocky is currently on the board of the Downtown Rotary Club 99, where he served as Treasurer. He is the Secretary of the Heights Neighborhood Association and has been elected to be Chairman of the Arkansas Society of CPAs in the fiscal year 2023-2024. Rocky has served on the peer review committees for both Arkansas and Alabama Society of CPAs since 2012.
Rocky lives in Little Rock with his wife, Jenni.
Sarah primarily performs tax and accounting services for small businesses and individuals. She also performs audit, review and compilation services. She is a Certified Public Accountant and has six years of experience in public accounting. Sarah graduated from UA Little Rock with a Bachelor of Business Administration in Accounting and the University of Central Arkansas with a Master of Accountancy. She is a member of the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants and the Arkansas Society of Certified Public Accountants. She enjoys the outdoors, horseback riding, visiting state parks and taking road trips. She resides in North Little Rock with her two German Shepherd Dogs.
Sharon Aldama recently joined Garland & Greenwood CPAs and Advisors, PLLC as a Staff Accountant. Sharon primarily performs tax and accounting services for small businesses and individuals. She also performs audit, review, and compilation services. She has 3 years of experience in accounting. Before joining Garland & Greenwood, she worked as a tax preparer for H&R Block. She is a member of the Arkansas Society of Certified Public Accountants. She enjoys reading, learning, and exercising. She resides in Little Rock with her mother and brother.
Stefanie was born in Rogers, Arkansas, but spent 30 years in Southern California before returning to Rogers in 2009. She has a dog (Luna Bear), a cat (Salem), and a ball python (Noodle). In her spare time she teaches Off-Roading, produces art and enjoys True Crime stories. Her favorite aspects of her 25 year accounting career are problem solving and working with business owners.
Swathi Nayak joined Garland & Greenwood CPAs and Advisors, PLLC as a Staff Accountant. Swathi primarily performs audit focused work and is involved with tax and accounting. She has a master's degree in Accounting and Finance. Swathi has passed both CMA Parts, and she has 4 years of experience in accounting. She would like to complete her CPA in coming days. Swathi enjoys painting and crafting. She resides in Centerton Arkansas with her husband and daughter.
Taylor graduated from the University of Central Arkansas with a major in Business Administration with an emphasis in Accounting. Taylor worked in the service industry as a server and manager for 13 years. He is a Staff Accountant working in both the tax and audits departments of MKG. Taylor is actively pursuing and finishing his qualifications for his CPA certification. He is a member of the Arkansas Society of CPAs.
Job Titles:
- Tax Manager at Garland & Greenwood CPAs
Zhongshi Chen has been promoted to Tax Manager at Garland & Greenwood CPAs and Advisors. Zhongshi primarily performs tax and accounting services for small businesses and individuals. He also performs audit, review, and compilation services. Before coming to the States, Zhongshi had worked as an accountant in the industry in China for 7 years. He joined McIlroy Keen Goodman, LLC (a merging partner of Garland & Greenwood CPAs and Advisors) in 2017, after graduating from the University of Central Arkansas with a master's degree in accounting. He is a Certified Public Accountant and has over 12 years of experience in accounting. He is a member of the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants and the Arkansas Society of Certified Public Accountants. Zhongshi speaks Mandarin Chinese as a native language, as well as English. He enjoys fishing, cooking, and spending time with friends and family. He resides in Conway with his wife, Jia, and their daughter, Alice, and son, Daniel.