Meet Our Team

(276) 466-5248   

 jbrown@becpas.com
512 State St • Bristol, VA, 24201

Jared is a director in the Bristol State St office. Jared was a principal with Dent K. Burk Associates, P.C. prior to its merger with Brown, Edwards & Company, L.L.P. in 2015. During his 15 year tenure with Dent K. Burk Associates, P.C. Jared’s experience has been wide ranging with an emphasis on audits of non-profits and audits of manufacturing entities.

Jared graduated from East Tennessee State University with a Bachelor of Science in Business Administration. He is a Certified Public Accountant in Tennessee and Virginia. He is a member of the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants, the Tennessee Society of Certified Public Accountants, and the Virginia Society of Certified Public Accountants. Jared is currently serving on the Virginia Society of Certified Public Accountants Peer Review Committee.

(276) 466-5248   

mfleenor@becpas.com
513 State St • Bristol, VA, 24201

Michael E. Fleenor is a director based in the Bristol State St office. He holds the Accredited in Business Valuation (ABV) credential from the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants (AICPA). He is licensed in the Commonwealth of Virginia and the State of Tennessee. Michael specializes in business valuation services, corporate and individual tax, and financial statement audits of privately held companies, governmental and nonprofit organizations, and employee benefit plans.

Michael is a native of Bristol, Virginia and graduated from King College with a Bachelor of Arts in Business Administration and Economics with concentrations in accounting, finance, and management. He is a member of the AICPA, the Forensic and Valuation Services section of the AICPA, and the Virginia Society of Certified Public Accountants (VSCPA). He serves as a member of the VSCPA Peer Review Committee.

Michael is actively involved in community organizations and has served on the Board of Directors of the Rotary Club of Bristol, Virginia-Tennessee and Healing Hands Health Center.

(276) 466-5248   

vmcmahan@becpas.com
513 State St • Bristol, VA, 24201

Virginia is an audit director based in the Bristol State St office. She provides audit and assurance services to a variety of for profit and non-profit entities. Virginia focuses much of her time on business valuations specifically for the purpose of gift and estate tax.

Virginia graduated from Emory & Henry College in 2004 with a B.S. in Business Management with an Accounting emphasis. She is a member of the Virginia Society of Certified Public Accountants, the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants and the National Association of Certified Valuation Analysts.

(276) 466-5248   

rshadden@becpas.com
513 State Street • Bristol, VA, 24201

Ron is a director in the Bristol office and has more than thirteen years of audit experience that encompasses a variety of organizations including governmental, not-for-profit, manufacturing, and transportation. He is licensed in the State of Tennessee and the Commonwealth of Virginia.

(304) 325-8157    

jsimmons@becpas.com
1815 Jefferson St • Bluefield, WV 24701-4031

J. K. Simmons is a tax director in the Bluefield office.  He specializes in areas of estate and trust taxation, estate planning, and the taxation of financial institutions.

J. K. graduated from Concord College (Athens, WV) in 1983 with a Bachelor of Science degree in Business Administration with concentration in Accounting.  He is a member of the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants as well as the West Virginia Society of Certified Public Accountants.  J. K. is a past president of the Southern Chapter of West Virginia CPAs.

(304) 343-4188

tgibbons@becpas.com
300 Chase Building, 707 Virginia Street East • Charleston, WV 25301

Timothy J. Gibbons is a Principal at Brown Edwards in the Charleston office. He has provided valuation and financial advisory services for numerous purposes including estate and gift taxation, mergers and acquisitions, buy/sell agreements, corporate and strategic planning, ESOPs, shareholder disputes, marital dissolutions, and other tax, litigation, and corporate related matters.

Mr. Gibbons’ experience includes business valuations of entities in numerous industries including manufacturing, wholesale distribution, energy, retail, construction, healthcare services, professional services, food service, and holding company/estate planning vehicles. Mr. Gibbons has also provided litigation support services related to business valuations, shareholder disputes, marital dissolution, wage impairment, lost profits in connection with business interruption, and other business matters.

Prior to co-founding Gibbons & Kawash, A.C. in 1992, Mr. Gibbons co-founded a predecessor firm in 1983 and was a supervisor at Main Hurdman (now KPMG) from 1978 through 1982.

Education

MBA – West Virginia University College of Graduate Studies

BSBA – Xavier University

Professional Accreditations

CPA – Certified Public Accountant

ABV – Accredited in Business Valuation

CVA – Certified Valuation Analyst

CFF – Certified in Financial Forensics

Associations and Memberships

American Institute of Certified Public Accountants

West Virginia Society of CPAs

National Association of Certified Valuation Analysts

Institute of Business Appraisers

The ESOP Association

Charleston Estate Planning Council

(304) 343-4188

kvance@becpas.com
300 Chase Building, 707 Virginia Street East • Charleston, WV 25301

Kelli has 16 years of experience providing accounting, tax, and consulting services to individuals and businesses. She specializes in income tax preparation and planning for individuals, corporations, partnerships, and trusts as well as financial statement services. She also consults with clients regarding accounting software applications and holds the Personal Financial Specialist credential through the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants (AICPA).

Kelli graduated from Marshall University with a Bachelor of Science degree in business administration with a concentration in accounting.

Kelli is a member of the AICPA, the West Virginia Society of CPAs, the Charleston Estate Planning Council, and serves as past-treasurer of the Charleston Chapter of the West Virginia Society of CPAs.

(540) 434-6736

margenbright@becpas.com
1909 Financial Drive • Harrisonburg, VA, 22801

Megan is an audit director based in the Harrisonburg office. She provides audit services to a wide range of entities including municipalities, governmental entities, non-profits, and healthcare entities. She performs compliance services for governmental entities including APA compliance and Single Audit compliance.

A 2006 cum laude graduate of James Madison University, Megan has a B.B.A. Degree in Accounting and a Master of Accountancy degree. Megan is a member of the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants, Virginia Society of Certified Public Accountants, and the Virginia Government Finance Officers Association. She is a Certified Healthcare Financial Professional through Healthcare Financial Management Association.

Megan is actively committed to serving the community through her current Explore More Discovery Museum board membership and prior board service to the Staunton-Augusta Association of Young Professionals. She has completed the Community Leadership Program and BOLD program through the Harrisonburg-Rockingham Chamber of Commerce.

(540) 434-6736

cgross@becpas.com
1909 Financial Drive • Harrisonburg, VA, 22801

Cindy is an IT audit director based in the Harrisonburg office. She provides IT audit and consulting services to a wide range of entities including financial services, technology, and healthcare entities. Services include SOX compliance, SSAE 16/18 audits, SOC 2 audits, IT risk assessments, and IT internal audit. Cindy also has over 15 years of experience in systems development and design.

A 2006 graduate of the University of Texas at Arlington, Cindy has a Master of Professional Accountancy degree. In addition, Cindy has a B.S. degree in Computer Programming and Information Systems from Shepherd University. She is a member of the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants and the Information Systems Audit and Control Association (ISACA) and is a Certified Information Systems Auditor through ISACA.

(540) 434-6736

mheatwole@becpas.com
1909 Financial Drive • Harrisonburg, VA, 22801

Matt is a director based in the Harrisonburg office and serves a variety of clients specializing in audits and other assurance services for municipalities, construction entities, cooperatives, and not-for-profits including foundations.  His expertise in municipalities consists of GASB, APA and Single Audit compliance and comprehensive annual financial reports. He also assists a variety of small businesses and individuals with tax compliance.

He graduated from Virginia Tech in 2003 with a Bachelor of Science in Business with a concentration in Accounting and Information Systems and also received a Master of Accounting and Information Systems from Virginia Tech in 2004.  Matt is a Certified Public Accountant licensed in Virginia and Maryland.  He is a member of the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants, the Virginia Society of Certified Public Accountants and the Virginia Government Officers Association.

Matt is a graduate of Community Leadership Program and Building Optimal Leaders by Design Program provided by the Harrisonburg-Rockingham Chamber of Commerce and currently serves as the treasurer for the Shenandoah Valley Builder’s Association and The Mercy House.

(423) 246-6104    

djones@becpas.com
217 E. New Street • Kingsport, TN 37660

Donna Jones is a director based in the Kingsport, Tennessee office of Brown Edwards & Company, L.L.P.  In addition to providing tax planning and return preparation for individuals, pass-through entities, not-for-profits, and corporations, Donna specializes in estate planning and the taxation of estates and trusts and is a Certified Specialist in Estate Planning. She also provides audit and assurance and consulting services to financial institutions and not-for-profits in both Virginia and Tennessee.  She contracts with the State of Tennessee Department of Audit to provide governmental audit and single audit compliance services for not-for-profit and governmental not-for-profit entities in the state of Tennessee.

Donna, a native of Kingsport, graduated from Georgia State University, in Atlanta, Georgia with a Bachelor of Science degree and in 1997 graduated from East Tennessee State University with a Masters of Accountancy.  She is a member of the Tennessee Society of Certified Public Accountants (TSCPA) and is a past-president of the Appalachian Chapter of TSCPA.    She is also a member of the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants, and serves on the board of the Tri-Cities Estate Planning Council.  She is a member of the Kiwanis Club of Kingsport and currently serves as Treasurer for the Organization.

(434) 948-9000    

schapman@becpas.com
2102 Langhorne Road, Ste 200 • Lynchburg, VA, 24501-1121

Susan is an audit director based in the Lynchburg office. She provides audit and assurance services to municipalities, governmental entities, privately owned businesses, manufacturers, and non-profits. Susan focuses much of her time on municipal and governmental entity auditing, specializing in compliance auditing for governmental and non-profit entities, including Auditor of Public Accounts of the Commonwealth of Virginia audit and reporting requirements and Single Audit Act requirements.

Susan graduated from Radford University with a Bachelor of Business Administration in Accounting in 2000 and a Master’s of Business Administration in 2002.

Susan completed Leadership Lynchburg, a nine-month program focusing on community and professional leadership and growth, in May 2010, and currently serves as a member of the board for the program.

Susan is a member of the Virginia Society of Certified Public Accountants, the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants, and the Virginia Government Finance Officers Association, where she is currently a member of the Standard Setting Committee.

(434) 948-9000    

sackley@becpas.com
2102 Langhorne Road, Ste 200 • Lynchburg, VA 24501-1121

Susan Ackley is a director of tax services in the Lynchburg office of Brown Edwards.  With more than twenty years of experience in public accounting, Susan has expertise in the areas of corporate and individual tax, estate and gift planning and non-profit tax planning.  She has worked closely with not-for-profit organizations on both compliance issues related to Forms 990 and 990T as well as issues related to planned giving.

Susan graduated from the College of William and Mary in 1974 with a B.A. in Math.  She also holds a M.S. in Accounting, with a concentration in Tax, from the University of Virginia.  Susan is a member of the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants, where she is on the PFP and Tax subcommittees and the Virginia Society of Certified Public Accountants. She serves on the Lynchburg Chamber of Commerce’s Women’s Executive Council.  Susan is the director of the Economic Development Authority of the City of Lynchburg.  She also serves as a member, and is past president, of the Lynchburg Estate Planning Council.  She is a founding member and past treasurer for the E.C. Glass Foundation and also the former treasurer of the Academy of Fine Arts.

(434) 948-9000   

rhicks@becpas.com
2102 Langhorne Road, Ste 200 • Lynchburg, VA, 24501-1121

Russell Hicks is a director in the Lynchburg office of Brown Edwards.  He has twenty-six years of experience in public accounting.  Russell works in a variety of areas, particularly in the areas of corporate and individual tax, estate and gift subjects, not-for-profit organizations and construction tax and accounting.

Russell graduated from the College of William and Mary in 1982 with a Bachelors of Business Administration.  He is a member of the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants and the Virginia Society of Certified Public Accountants.

Russell has been active in many community activities in Lynchburg, Bedford, and Altavista.  He is active in both community and personal projects relating to historical preservation and rehabilitation tax credits, and he frequently lectures on topics relating to Virginia historical antiques and artifacts.  He was a founding member of the Historic Sandusky Foundation, Inc. He currently serves as the treasurer of Lynchburg’s Old City Cemetery and as a member of boards of directors of the Campbell County Public Library and the Campbell County Public Library Foundation, Inc.

(540) 443-3606

jharrison@becpas.com
1715 Pratt Dr, Ste 2700 • Blacksburg, VA, 24060

Jim is an Principal in the NRV office and is a leader for the Financial Institution Services Team with responsibility for Securities and Exchange Commission compliance of publicly traded institutions.  Jim worked three years with Arthur Andersen & Company before joining Brown, Edwards & Company, L.L.P. in 1973.  He was a partner in the firm where he audited and consulted with financial institutions.   In 1985 he joined First Community Bancshares, Inc. as President and Chief Executive Officer.  During his 15 year tenure with First Community, the bank grew from $240 million in assets to over $1.2 billion, and successfully completed fourteen acquisitions including one merger of equals.  Under Jim’s leadership, First Community was consistently recognized as a high-performing community bank.  Jim’s responsibilities with Brown Edwards include audits of financial institutions and other public companies as well as leadership in a number of consulting engagements related to SOX 404 compliance, acquisitions and other matters.

Jim graduated from Concord College with a Bachelor of Science in Business Administration  He holds a Certified Public Accountant license in Virginia, West Virginia and the District of Columbia.  He is a member of the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants, the West Virginia and Virginia Societies of Certified Public Accountants, the Virginia Banker’s Association, the West Virginia Banker’s Association and the Community Banker’s Association of Virginia.  In 1995 Jim was recognized for public service by the WVSCPA and the AICPA.  In 1997, Jim became the recipient of the Distinguished West Virginian Award given by then Governor Gaston Caperton; he has served on the Board of Directors for the West Virginia Bankers Association and has been involved in numerous civic, church and community activities.

Expertise and Experience

• Audits of financial institutions and publicly traded companies
• Internal audit outsourcing for financial institutions
• SOX 404 compliance, including preparations and ongoing maintenance
• Acquisitions and mergers, including the related accounting
• Peer review team member for seven of the top 100 accounting firms in the country

(540) 345-0936   

mcelmurray@becpas.com
319 McClanahan St SW • Roanoke, VA, 24014-7705

Mary Anne is a tax director with responsibilities in our Roanoke and NRV offices.  A member of the firm’s tax group for over twenty years, her practice specializes in topics which impact technology companies, manufacturing industries, and real estate development.  Her experience includes planning for emerging and critical issues, such as the research and development tax credit and the sale of intangible property, as well as in traditional planning strategies such as cost segregation studies and complying with multi-state taxation issues.  Mary Anne has extensive experience with the taxation of pass-through entities and in developing tax strategies for business acquisitions and divestitures.

Mary Anne is a graduate, with distinction, of the University of Virginia and has been in public accounting since 1983.  Prior to joining Brown, Edwards, she worked with an international CPA firm.  She is a member of the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants as well as the Virginia Society of Certified Public Accountants.  Mary Anne has been chosen numerous times by her peers as a “Super CPA” for her corporate tax expertise as recognized in Virginia Business magazine.  A frequent lecturer on tax matters to professional and civic organizations, she currently serves on the Board of the Roanoke-Blacksburg Technology Council.  She is a founding member of the Women’s Professional Leadership Network, an outreach to professional women in Western Virginia.  She is also a member of her church’s Formation Committee and a member of the choir.

(540) 345-0936

cequi@becpas.com
319 McClanahan St SW • Roanoke, VA, 24014-7705

Charles Equi, Jr. is a tax director in the Roanoke office of Brown Edwards. Charles was the managing partner of Johnson, Equi & Co., PLC. prior to its merger with Brown Edwards & Company, L.L.P. in 2015. Charles has over 30 years of experience in accounting, taxes and business advisory services.

Charles is a graduate of Virginia Tech and is a Certified Public Accountant in Virginia. He is also a Certified Valuation Analyst performing business valuations on closely held business and helping his client gain an edge in building value in their businesses. Charles is a member of the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants, the Virginia Society of Certified Public Accountants, and the National Association of Certified Valuation Analysts. He also serves as a member, and is past president, of the Rotary Club of Roanoke.

(540) 345-0936   

bguilliams@becpas.com
319 McClanahan St SW • Roanoke, VA, 24014-7705

Bobby serves as the Director of Information Technology for the firm and works in the Roanoke office.  He specializes in information technology including Microsoft Windows Server, Active Directory, Microsoft Exchange, Citrix Xenapp, and VMware, as well as HP and Dell hardware.  His experience in these areas include design and implementation of servers, networking, wireless, storage area networks, backup solutions, corporate ant-virus, virtualization, printing and lifecycle management.  Bobby has 16 years of experience in information technology and holds several industry certifications including MCSE, MCP and CCA.

(540) 345-0936

hschwarz@becpas.com
319 McClanahan St SW • Roanoke, VA, 24014-7705

Harry is a Principal in the firm’s Roanoke office. Having more than 30 years of experience in the taxation area of the profession, Harry has significant expertise in assisting family owned businesses and individual with their taxation planning. In addition, he is well known for his knowledge in the business valuation and litigation support area working with clients such as the Department of Justice, Norfolk Southern, and many medium and small sized companies. He has also assisted and advised companies in various sales/purchase of business, including transactions as large as $1 Billion. Harry also serves as a wealth advisor in Alliance Wealth Strategies, the firm’s wealth advisory area.

Harry has a Bachelor and Master degrees in Accountancy from Virginia Tech. He is a member of the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants where he received the designation of Accreditation in Business Valuation and Certified in Financial Forensics; he is also a member of the Virginia Society of Certified Public Accountants. Harry is involved in various civic organizations and is a former officiate for NCCA Basketball.

(540) 345-0936   

mwalton@becpas.com
319 McClanahan St SW • Roanoke, VA, 24014-7705

Mike serves as Director of Business Development for the firm and is based in the Roanoke office. He has over 25 years of successful experience in marketing, sales, consulting and management in several industries including Professional Services and Healthcare. He is an experienced and certified trainer in several sales and marketing strategies, including SPIN and Strategic Selling, as well as Customer Satisfaction and Management Communication. Mike’s focus throughout his career has been on customer satisfaction and bringing significant value to clients.

He is a graduate of Montana State University – Billings with a degree in History. Mike is a 2002 graduate of Leadership Roanoke Valley and served as a member of the Southwest Virginia Second Harvest Food Bank Board of Directors from 2003-2005. He has also served as Vice Chair of the parish council at St. Andrews Catholic Church and has been active in Special Olympics and youth baseball in the Roanoke Valley.