Stephen C. Stokes, CPA – President
Stephen has more than 15 years’ experience working with individuals and businesses to meet their tax and accounting needs. He has been the managing partner of Stokes & Company CPAs since January 2009. He is a licensed certified public accountant in South Carolina. Stephen is also a member of the South Carolina Association of CPAs, the American Institute of CPAs, and the Professional Association of Small Business Accountants. He has a bachelor’s degree from Bob Jones University and a master’s degree from Georgia State University. Stephen was born and raised near Atlanta, Georgia and moved to Greenville, South Carolina, several years ago. He enjoys spending time with his wife, Tiffani, and daughters, Madeline and Julianna. He is actively involved in his church and enjoys reading, sports, and other outdoor activities.
Allen A. Hodges, CPA – Vice President
Allen has more than 30 years’ experience in accounting, business, finance, and tax matters. He is a licensed certified public accountant in South Carolina and a Chartered Global Management Accountant. He began his career with an International CPA firm and has since also served as the corporate controller of a large textile company and then as Chief Financial Officer of a national industrial business based in Greenville with multiple plants around the US. Allen is a promoter of collaborative teamwork across business disciplines in an organization to accelerate growth and improve profitability. In January 2013, he acquired a Greenville CPA practice which provided tax and accounting services to local businesses, individuals and families. He operated the firm as its sole owner until merging it into Stokes & Company CPAs in January 2018. Allen grew up in Michigan before moving to Greenville, South Carolina over 30 years ago. He enjoys spending time with his wife, Holly, and his children and grandchildren. He actively serves on the board of a local free medical clinic, an educational mission board located on the Texas border with Mexico and with the local chapter of the Association of CPA’s. Allen also serves on the SCACPA Education Fund Scholarship Committee as a Trustee. He is actively involved in his church where he has been a member over 30 years. He also enjoys history, following baseball and other sports as well as learning about the many new and interesting businesses being started and growing in Greenville.
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Gary L Wheeler, CPA – Tax Partner
First licensed by California as a CPA in 1979, Gary is well-respected for his knowledge of complex tax and accounting rules. He is a licensed certified public accountant in South Carolina and Florida, as well as a member of the American Institute of CPAs and the South Carolina Association of CPAs. Gary is always up for a challenge and enjoys solving issues in order to truly help our clients. He devotes time to continuing education and research to develop tax-saving strategies. When not in the office, you truly might find Gary anywhere. He loves to spend time with his family at their pool or a local Sonic. He also enjoys leading mission teams around the world through his church and through a local missions organization, Impacting America.
Michael J. Twomey, CPA – Senior Tax Manager
Michael joined Stokes & Company CPAs in September 2018. He has 30 years of experience in public accounting and is a member of the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants and the South Carolina Association of Certified Public Accountants. Michael focuses on providing comprehensive tax planning to a diverse client base and has worked with a wide range of clients to help them achieve their goals. His experience includes five years with a Big Four accounting firm working in its International Assignment Tax Services practice in which he focused on tax planning and reviewing individual tax returns for inbound and outbound international executives. Mike enjoys spending time with his wife Kara and three children, movies, music, yardwork and golf.
Brandon L. Esco, CPA – Tax Manager
Brandon joined Stokes & Company CPAs in September 2019. He has 12 years of experience in public accounting and is a member of the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants as well as the South Carolina Association of Certified Public Accountants. Brandon received his bachelor’s degree from Presbyterian College in 2007. He has a wide range of tax experience servicing individuals, businesses, estates, and trusts. He enjoys spending time with his wife, Lisa, and two children, serving in his local church, studying Biblical theology, watching sports, and spending time outdoors.
Rachel D. McClaran, EA – Tax Manager
Rachel joins us with 13 years of experience in public and private accounting. As an Enrolled Agent, Rachel prepares tax returns, offers tax-planning advice, and represents clients in response to tax authorities’ notices or audits. As a QuickBooks Pro Advisor, she also provides bookkeeping and QuickBooks clean-up services to business clients. Her Bachelor’s degree from Bob Jones University and experience in prior business settings enable her to meet client’s needs with excellence and professionalism. Outside of the office, she enjoys spending time with her husband, Alvie, and their two children. She loves Clemson football and serves as the Treasurer of the Junior League of Greenville.
Chris Roberts, CPA – Tax Manager
Chris joined Stokes & Company CPAs in August 2019. He has 12 years of experience in public accounting and is a member of the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants as well as both the North and South Carolina Associations of Certified Public Accountants. Chris has extensive experience working in practice areas of business and individual tax services, tax planning services, and fiduciary tax services. His focused areas include real estate, construction, hospitality services, and medical practices. Chris enjoys spending time with his wife Holly and three children. He loves Georgia football and enjoys reading, sports, and yardwork.
Paige Gillespie, EA – Accounting Manager
Paige joined Stokes & Company CPAs, PC in 2009, and has 11 years of experience in public accounting. She received her Bachelor of Science degree from the University of South Carolina with a Marketing Management major. A few years later, she took specialized accounting courses, also from USC, to begin her accounting career. In 2015 Paige earned an Enrolled Agent, becoming a federally authorized tax practitioner. She is a member of the South Carolina Association of CPAs and manages bookkeeping, tax planning, and tax preparation services for individuals, corporations, and partnerships at our firm. Paige and her husband, along with their three kids, enjoy long walks with their dog and spending time with family.
Matt Green – Accounting Manager
Matt joined Stokes & Company CPAs in January of 2017. He graduated with a Bachelors in Accounting from Liberty University and is currently pursuing an MBA in Liberty University Online. A native of Greenville, South Carolina he enjoys baseball and spending time with his daughter. Matt is also a talented musician, sound engineer, composer and his witty humor provides a constant atmosphere of laughter in the office.
Antonio Smith, CPA – Accounting Manager
Antonio joined Stokes & Company CPAs in November 2018. He has over eight years of experience in assisting private businesses and individuals with their accounting and tax preparation needs. Antonio is a South Carolina native and is currently pursuing his CPA certification. Antonio received a B.A. from Wofford College in Accounting, Finance & Economics. He then obtained a M.A. from the University of South Carolina in International Business. In his spare time, Antonio enjoys listening to music, watching & critiquing film, and traveling.
Steve Chisholm – Accountant and Technology Specialist
Steve joined Hodges & Ballentine, LLC, now Stokes & Company, in May of 2017 as an Accountant. He has more than 25 years of experience in accounting and taxes and has been involved in Christian education and ministry throughout most of his career as a Business Manager and Financial Administrator. Steve and his wife Shawn have six children and enjoy spending time with family and friends.
Lauren Johnson – Tax Accountant
Lauren joined Stokes & Company CPAs in October 2019 and has over 7 years of experience in public accounting. She received her Bachelor of Science degree in Accounting from Anderson University and is currently pursuing her EA to become a federally authorized tax practitioner. In her free time she serves her church through playing piano, reads, and enjoys spending time with her dogs.
Holly Carver – Accountant
In March of 2015, Holly joined Stokes & Company after a long career in customer service and product compliance. She is a Clemson graduate with a BS degree in Administrative Management.
Holly loves spending time with her husband Carroll and their two daughters and son-in-law. A few of the things she enjoys are Clemson sports, walking, hiking, vacationing in the mountains and spending her Saturdays during the summer at the lake. She is actively involved in working and worshiping with her church family.
Amy Dowden – Accountant
Amy joined Stokes and Company in February 2019 and brings more than 20 years of experience in accounting and payroll. She studied accounting at USC Upstate while beginning her career. With years of serving on financial teams, Amy can provide clients with detailed financial reporting as well as efficient accounting processes. As a QuickBooks Pro Advisor, she can help clients establish best practices to suit their bookkeeping needs. She loves cooking, being involved with her church and spending time outdoors with her family and dogs. Her best times are spent watching her boys do what they love, basketball and wrestling.
Julie Russell – Accountant
Julie joined Stokes & Company in June 2019. She received a Bachelor of Science degree in Accounting from Bob Jones University. Originally from Ohio, Julie has been in South Carolina since 2006. She worked as a Property Tax Specialist with Greenville County for two years. In her free time, Julie loves a good book, serving in her church, and spending time with family and friends.
Tracy Vaughan – Accountant
Tracy joined the Stokes & Company team at the beginning of 2018 as part of the merger with the firm owned by Allen Hodges. After studying Secretarial Science at Greenville Tech, she accepted employment with Mr. Hodges’ predecessor CPA firm in Greenville in 1984. While working there as a receptionist she soon found that she loved accounting and began taking on a significant role in the bookkeeping department. She has more than 30 years of experience in bookkeeping and has several years of experience in preparing individual income tax returns. Tracy enjoys taking long rides in the mountains with her husband, Myron, and spending time with their children and grandchildren.
Hannah Williams, CPA – Accountant
Hannah joined Stokes & Company in January of 2018. She received her Bachelor of Science degree in Accounting from Bob Jones University. Originally from Indiana, Hannah moved to South Carolina in 2018. In her spare time, she enjoys playing the piano and serving in her church.
Carol Finley – Payroll Manager
Carol has more than 30 years of experience in accounting, taxes and payroll. She began her career in 1980 as a bookkeeper and continued developing her skills through coursework at Greenville Technical College and later expanded her knowledge while on staff at a local CPA firm. When Stokes & Company welcomed Carol in 2010 she hit the ground running and her experience has proved invaluable. Carol and her husband Brian enjoy spending time with family and friends.
Christiawna Gauldin – Payroll Specialist
Christiawna joined the Stokes & Company team towards the end of 2013. After receiving her degree in accounting from Pensacola Christian College in 2010, she began working as a reservation officer and then later as an events coordinator, administrative assistant, and enrollment advisor for a large private school in Pensacola. In September 2013, she returned to her native state and city and began as Stephen Stokes’ assistant while furthering her knowledge of payroll and accounting. Her responsibilities consist of assisting with payroll and accounting engagements. Christiawna enjoys time with her husband, outdoor recreation, a good book, and time in the kitchen cooking and baking for people she loves.
Emily Hargrave – Payroll Specialist
Emily joined our team as a Payroll Specialist and Administrative Assistant in June of 2017. She received her Bachelors from West Coast Baptist College in 2008 with a degree in music. Since college, Emily has worked in the academic office of her college alma mater, as well as for an optometrist office in her home town back in Iowa. She has lived in the Midwest, on the West Coast and is now calls the East Coast and Greenville, SC her home. In her free time, Emily enjoys music, reading a good book, traveling and spending time with her family and friends.
Jennifer Thieleman – Office Manager
Jennifer joined Stokes & Company in January of 2019 and has more than seven years of experience working for CPA firms. She received her Bachelor of Science degree in Office Administration from Bob Jones University and is a SC Notary. Jennifer is originally from Pennsylvania and loves being involved with her church, reading, baking, and spending time with her daughter, family, and friends.
Wendy Williams – Administrative Assistant
Wendy joined Stokes & Company in November of 2018. She received her Bachelor of Science degree in Office Administration from Bob Jones University. She then served as an administrative assistant for a Christian camp and conference center in North Carolina for many years. Wendy loves taking long walks, exploring new areas, trying new recipes and just spending time with her husband, Gary, and their daughter, son-in-law, and son.
Chris King – Executive Assistant
Chris joined Stokes & Company in March of 2019. She received her Bachelor of Science degree in Mathematics Education from Bob Jones University. Chris worked as a Property Tax Specialist in Greenville County. Prior to that, she gained 5 years of experience in office administration at an auditing firm in Charlotte. Chris loves spending time with her husband Tim and their children. She enjoys reading and learning new things.
