THE TEAM
In Loving Memory of
Hao NGUYEN
In Loving Memory of
Jeff Richardson
Jeff started his tax career in 1988 at a large national public accounting firm with the intention of getting his CPA license and then moving on. Instead, he found a mentor that changed everything. Jeff ended up making partner and staying with the firm for over 17 years. He later founded RKE in 2006 to create a different type of accounting firm.
As a tax specialist, Jeff concentrates primarily on proactive business and tax planning for closely held companies and their owners. Jeff’s main emphasis is on developing creative ideas to reduce the overall tax burden at federal and state levels. This includes strategies for regular operations as well as entity formation and liquidation, owner succession services for business owners, mergers and acquisitions, accounting method changes and transactional analysis. He also regularly represents clients before the Internal Revenue Service, as well as numerous state taxing authorities.
Jeff received his Bachelor of Science in accounting from California State University, Long Beach in 1988. He later received his master’s in business taxation from Golden Gate University in 1995.
GEORGE KONTOGOURIS
George manages RKE’s consulting services department and is recognized for his ability to identify areas that can help clients enhance or improve their operations. He works directly with the owners and officers of the companies he serves.
Prior to forming RKE in 2006, George worked as a chief financial officer and chief operating officer for various sized manufacturing and distribution companies located throughout Southern California. George was the first accounting employee for a start-up company that quickly grew to over $50 million within 3 years and ultimately sold to a strategic buyer. George also represented the creditors’ committee in the bankruptcy of a large manufacturing company where he later became the chief financial officer. In his capacity as CFO he led the workout team and ultimate turnaround of the company.
After George received his Bachelor of Science degree from California State University, Long Beach in 1988 he spent the next 6 years in the audit department at Moss Adams LLP. George is a licensed Certified Public Accountant and member of the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants.
CHRISTIAN EMERSON
Christian has practiced public accounting for more than 20 years. His responsibilities at RKE include technical leadership and oversight of the firm’s accounting and auditing services. He provides an array of accounting and auditing services to his clients, including audits, reviews, internal control assessments, due diligence and consulting services. Christian has serviced companies from a wide range of disciplines from service providers and retailers to manufacturers and distributors. He works with companies throughout their lifecycles, from startup concerns to mergers and acquisitions.
Christian was formerly an accounting instructor at the Fashion Institute of Design and Merchandising (FIDM) and previously served as president of the Professionals Club, a nonprofit organization that brings together Southern California’s top industry professionals
Christian received his Bachelor of Science in accounting from the University of Southern California. He is a Certified Public Accountant licensed in California, a member of the California Society of Certified Public Accountants, and a member of the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants.
ADAM WALLACE
Adam graduated from University of California, Irvine with a Bachelor of Science in biology. He later received his master’s in accounting from the University of Southern California. In 2000, he began his public accounting career at a Big Four firm where he remained before joining RKE in the summer of 2014.
Adam’s range of client service experience includes federal and state tax compliance, income tax planning strategies, accounting methods optimization, GAAP accounting for income taxes and merger and acquisition planning. He is a Certified Public Accountant licensed in California, a member of the California Society of Certified Public Accountants and a member of the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants
ALEXANDRA LEUNG
Alex has over 25 years of public accounting experience specializing in tax and consulting services. She received her Bachelor of Science in accounting from California State University, Northridge and a Master’s in Business Taxation from the University of Southern California. She was previously a tax partner at EY.
Alex provides tax consulting and compliance services for closely held companies and their owners, as well as large multi-national companies. Her experience includes identifying and implementing tax minimization strategies and working with her clients to address multi-state tax compliance matters and federal and state tax examinations. Alex also has extensive experience in accounting for income taxes (ASC 740) serving both private and public companies.
Chad Richardson
Chad is a partner in the tax consulting and compliance services practice with over 9 years of experience in public accounting. Chad’s experience is focused toward proactive tax planning for privately held companies and their owners. His main emphasis is on developing creative tax planning strategies to reduce the overall tax burden for his clients. This includes tax planning for ongoing business operations as well as developing key strategies related to entity formation & structure and exit strategies.. Other areas of extensive experience include representing his clients before the Internal Revenue Service and other various state & local governmental jurisdictions as well as preparing income tax provisions in accordance with ASC 740.
Chad is a Certified Public Accountant licensed with the State of California. He received his Bachelor of Science in Accounting from California State University, Long Beach.
Charmaine Barney
Charmaine provides an array of accounting services to her clients, including external CFO for hire, transactional due diligence, and other financial consulting services. Charmaine has worked with companies from a wide range of industries including professional services, retail, and manufacturing and distribution with revenue ranges of $50 to $250 million.
Prior to joining RKE, Charmaine began her career at a regional CPA firm in Southern California where she provided income tax compliance and planning services for closely held businesses and high net-worth-individuals.
Charmaine received a Bachelor of Science degree from California State University, Long Beach in 2009. Charmaine is a Certified Public Accountant in the State of California.
Chris Hughes
Chris is a Tax Partner with RKE and has over 15 years of experience working closely with middle market businesses & their owners. Chris’s primary emphasis is focused on developing innovative solutions to reduce the overall tax burden for his clients. This includes strategies for ongoing business operations as well as entity structuring, estate planning, mergers & acquisitions / exit strategies, assisting with international tax planning strategies, and planning tailored towards new tax legislation. He also has extensive experience representing his clients before the Internal Revenue Service and other various state & local tax jurisdictions.
Chris’s client base is primarily within the manufacturing & distribution space, however he also services clients in other industries such as professional services, real estate, and high net worth.
Chris is a Certified Public Accountant, licensed with the State of California and a member of the AICPA. Chris graduated from Loyola Marymount University in 2007 with a Bachelor of Science in Accounting. He obtained his Masters of Business Taxation from the University of Southern California in 2015.
Denny Taing
Denny has over 18 years of tax, accounting and financial experience specializing in professional services & staffing, manufacturing & distribution, food & beverage, real estate and construction.
His practice consists primarily of closely held businesses and he advises them on business and tax matters, including corporate structuring, mergers and acquisitions, accounting methods, federal & state tax credits, and income tax audits.
Prior to joining RKE, Denny worked at a global accounting firm and was also Chief Financial Officer for a global entertainment company.
Denny received his Bachelor of Science in Accounting from Chapman University and his Master’s in Business Administration from the University of California at Los Angeles. Denny is a licensed CPA and a member of the American Institute of Certified Public Accounts and the California Society of Certified Public Accountants.
MARIA FRAUSTO
Maria Frausto is a Tax Partner with over 19 years of experience in public accounting. She spent her first few years at a large regional accounting firm and “Big Four” firm prior to joining RKE in 2006.
Maria provides various tax consulting and compliance services to closely held businesses and their owners. She services clients in a variety of industries including, Food and Beverage, Manufacturing and Distribution, Professional Services, Healthcare, and Real Estate. She also works closely with high-net worth individuals and multi-generation family groups serving as a trusted advisor and liaison between corporate fiduciaries, multiple family investment advisors and estate tax attorneys.
Maria received her Bachelor of Science in Accounting from Loyola Marymount University and her Master’s in Business Taxation from the University of Southern California. She is a Certified Public Accountant in California and a member of the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants.
Michael Funes
Michael has practiced public accounting since 2006. He joined RKE after 12 years at a national public accounting firm. He serves privately held, middle-market, and large international companies primarily in the manufacturing and distribution, retail, and consumer products industries. Michael has significant experience overseeing audit engagements and his areas of expertise include business combinations, intangible assets and goodwill, and stock-based compensation.
Michael received his bachelor of arts in business, economics, and accounting from the University of California, Santa Barbara. He is a Certified Public Accountant licensed in California, a member of the California Society of Certified Public Accountants and a member of the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants. Michael also serves as a Board Member of the City of Hope’s Fashion and Retail Group.
Nataliya Krasikova
Nataliya started her taxation career in 2003 providing tax and consulting services to a variety of domestic and international clients in industries including banking, professional services, entertainment, sports, manufacturing and real estate.
Her focus is on working closely with clients to ensure all tax, business, tax planning, and compliance needs are addressed efficiently and promptly. With over 19 years of experience, Nataliya brings a deep understanding of local, national and international issues that have served her clients well. She also has extensive experience representing clients before the IRS and other state taxing authorities.
Nataliya received her Bachelor of Arts with a double major in Accounting and Economics from Kharkov State Academy, Kiev, Ukraine, in 1996. In 2012 she received her Master’s in Business Taxation from Golden Gate University. Nataliya is a CPA licensed in California as well as a member of both the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants (AICPA) and the California Society of Certified Public Accountants (CalCPA).
Shane Toten
Shane is a partner in the assurance and transaction advisory services practice with over 11 years of experience in public accounting. He has advised both financial and strategic buyers on sell-side and buy-side engagements spanning the entire deal spectrum from initial strategic assessment, due diligence and pro forma modeling, analyzing and reviewing banking models, negotiations of sale and purchase documents and resolution of post-close purchase price or working capital disputes. He has represented clients in a wide variety of industries, including manufacturing and distribution, food and beverage, technology (software and e-commerce), service providers, consumer products retail and transportation.
In addition to transaction advisory services, Shane also assists privately held companies in the middle market to achieve high standards of financial transparency and accountability. He has significant experience in dealing with general accounting and business matters and specializes in completing all aspects of business assurance engagements including financial statement audits and reviews, agreed upon procedures and other financial consulting engagements.
Shane started his career in public accounting at RKE in 2010. He graduated from the University of Redlands, is a Certified Public Accountant licensed in the state of California, and is a member of the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants.
SHANNON SUGAR
Shannon started her tax career in 1997 at a large national firm. She provides tax consulting and compliance services to middle-market clients and their owners, primarily in the manufacturing and distribution and professional service industries.
Among her areas of focus is strategic tax planning for clients in the areas of multi-state and international operations, buy/sell issues and mergers and acquisitions. She also has extensive experience representing clients before the IRS and other state taxing authorities. Shannon received her Bachelor of Science from Loyola Marymount University in 1997 and a master’s in business taxation from the University of Southern California in 2003.
She is a member of the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants, California Society of Certified Public Accountants and Loyola Marymount Accounting Advisory Board.
TRICIA CHOW
Tricia provides a wide range of tax consulting and compliance services for public companies, closely held companies and their owners.
Her experience includes identifying and implementing domestic and international tax strategies, consultations regarding entity selection, transfer pricing, foreign tax credit planning, preparation of corporate tax provisions and disclosures, mergers and acquisitions and representation before the IRS and state agencies.
Tricia received her Bachelor of Science in business administration, with an emphasis in accounting, from California State University Los Angeles in 1997 and a Master of Business Taxation (MBT) from the University of Southern California in 2003.
Tricia is a member of the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants and the California Society of Certified Public Accountants.