William j. Caldwell

CEO
​With his extensive knowledge of tax codes combined with strong accounting skills, CEO William J. Caldwell is able to help his clients realize their dreams. His own firm exemplifies the business management strategies and growth principles he shares with his clients. Over 10 years, Caldwell CPAs has grown to encompass a team of 17 experts who provide valuable financial services to an array of clients – from successful professionals to expanding nonprofits to fast-growing companies. Bill is an innovative problem-solver who serves to minimize his clients’ financial burdens and maximize their growth opportunities.

Lisa curtin

COO
Lisa joined Caldwell CPAs in March of 2016, bringing 25 years of process management and client service experience to the Firm. Prior to joining Caldwell CPAs, Lisa was the Vice President of Operations for a major corporation and has extensive experience in managing the back end process of company acquisitions, while remaining focused on the client experience. In her spare time, Lisa enjoys travel and anything related to the outdoors, from hiking Virginia’s trails to kayaking area rivers and creeks.Lisa’s Alma Mater is the University of Wisconsin and she remains a Badger’s fan. She is an active member of CPAFMA, an association dedicated to the profession of CPA Firm management.

Herb Rendo 

CPA
Herb earned his degree in Financial Management from Virginia Commonwealth University and operated an accounting practice in Bethesda for three decades before merging with the Caldwell team in 2006. A jack of several trades, Herb is proficient as a data processing manager, a methods analyst, and a real estate manager. While operating his own accounting firm, he managed a half million square feet of Bethesda office space, handling the financial management and financing. He also holds a class “A” Virginia contractor’s license. At Caldwell CPAs, Herb focuses on individual income tax issues, estates, and trusts. He enjoys “turning chaos into order” and providing clients ‘peace of mind.’ In his free time, Herb collects cars and motorcycles, and keeps company with his 100-pound Labrador mix, Sammy.

Charles J. Becker 

CPA
Known as “Chick” to friends and clients, Charles Becker has practiced as a CPA in the Washington, DC metro area for four decades. A graduate of American University, Chick founded the public accounting company, C. J. Becker & Associates, where he served as president and CEO until 2009. He is a past president of the Association of Practicing CPAs and is a member of the Maryland Association of CPAs and the Greater Washington, DC Institute of CPAs. An expert in corporate tax, individual tax, estate tax, and partnerships, Chick served as an expert witness in Montgomery and Howard Counties in federal bankruptcy courts in various accounting and tax matters. He was instrumental in the completion of three accounting and auditing peer reviews, each of which received unqualified opinions. Chick enjoys spending time with his three grown children and three grandchildren.

Shahram Sharafi, FCCA (UK) 

CPA
Shahram Sharafi merged his practice with Caldwell CPAs. in 2008 after 22 years of independent practice. He is a member of the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants (AICPA), the Maryland Association of CPAs (MACPA), the California Society of CPAs (CALCPA), the Association of Practicing CPAs (APCPA), and the Chartered Association of Certified Accountants (ACCA) in UK, a global body for professional accountants. For 10 years, he taught accounting and related subjects at universities abroad. In addition to being a CPA, auditor, and tax expert, Shahram is a member of the Washington Metropolitan Artists Society (WMAS); a watercolor artist. He has exhibited locally and has paintings in private collections in the U.S. and overseas. His works are on display in the Caldwell offices and online at the WMAS website. A number of his paintings have been auctioned to support charitable causes.

Judith Tiktin 

​CPA
Bio coming soon!

Sheila Schneider

Controller
Sheila earned a degree in Business Education at University of Maryland and continued post graduate work in Adlerian Psychology at Bowie University. She began her career at Caldwell & Company in 2003 as Office Manager and ascended to Controller after several years. Sheila has direct experience in small business management, having owned and operated a word-processing business. She also served as the Executive Director of a local chamber of commerce in Anne Arundel County, Md., where she created a prosperous business environment and expanded the Chamber’s membership. Active in her community, Sheila was recognized by the Greater Crofton Chamber of Commerce as Business Person of the Year, following years of service to bring greater awareness to crime prevention and issues of personal safety for women.

Dana Edwards

​Firm Administrator, PAFM
Dana Edwards has 25+ years experience in office management and has worked for Consulting Firms, Advertising Agencies and Design Firms, she was the firm administrator at C J. Becker & Associates (CPA Firm) for eight years prior to filling her position at Caldwell & Company in 2009. She is a member of CPA Firm Management Association and is a “Certified” Public Accounting Firm Administrator (PAFM). She is a member of the International Association of Professional Women. Her efficient office management style and organizational skills are in sync with Caldwell & Company’s mission. In her free time, Dana loves to read, she is a fitness walker and is involved in activities at her Church in Silver Spring.

ROMULA HAWTHORNE

Office Manager
Romula earned a Bachelor’s of Arts degree in Psychology from Gannon University, in Erie, Pennsylvania. She has been with Caldwell & Company since February 2014. She really enjoys the team-driven, friendly, and professional environment here at Caldwell. Romula takes pleasure in spending time with her family, reading, hiking, camping, and traveling. She is a member of the Chesapeake Guardian Program and Tree Sisters Organization where she makes donations to help give back to the planet and restore balance in the bay and in the forests. Romula is also searching for a therapy program to obtain her Master’s degree.​

Vitor Sa

Regional Tax Manager
CALDWELLCPAS-TIDEWATER Vitor holds two Bachelor’s degrees in Accounting and Finance from Old Dominion University. His experience and knowledge of the tax code continues to provide individuals and business owners with expert tax advice. Originally from Brazil, Vitor received an athletic scholarship to be part of the Swim & Dive team at Old Dominion University in Virginia Beach.

Rakesh Suthar

Senior Tax Manager, EA
Rakesh Suthar earned his Accounting degree in India and joined Caldwell & Co. in 2006. His prior experience was gained in India as the Gujarat State Treasurer’s Assistant for BJP, India’s second largest political party. He also spent several years handling election financial data at the state level for BJP. Rakesh enjoys helping clients with complex tax and accounting needs. He speaks Gujarati and Hindi. Outside the office, he enjoys family time and watching cricket matches.

Fowmitha Banu

Senior Tax Manager, EA
Like world humanitarian Bono, Banu is simply known as Banu! She has over 15 years of experience in bookkeeping and preparing personal, corporate, partnership, and nonresident tax returns, in addition to filing and preparing foreign information reports including FinCen, 1042, 5471, 8938, and Foreign Investment in Real Property forms (FIRPTA). She is a credentialed Enrolled Agent (EA), licensed by the IRS in all 50 states to represent taxpayers before the examination, collection, and appeals branches of the IRS. She also holds the designation of CTRS (Certified Tax Resolution Specialist), specializing in resolving IRS problems including: late filing, penalty and interest abatement, liens and levies, and Offer in Compromise. Banu is also a Certified Acceptance Agent (CAA), which authorizes her to assist non-resident aliens and other foreign taxpayers who are ineligible for Social Security Number (SSN) with obtaining an Individual Taxpayer Identification Number (ITIN). Banu is a graduate of Strayer University in Maryland, where she graduated Summa Cum Laude and with Alpa Chi National Honors to earn her Bachelor of Science in Accounting and a Minor in Business Management. She also has a diploma in Information Technology and Project Management from NIIT in India.  She is also a member of the Maryland Society of Accountants and ASTPS. In her spare time, Banu enjoys oil painting on canvas and photography.

Gayle Berkley

Senior Tax Manager, CPA
Gayle recently joined Caldwell & Company. She has more than 15 years of accounting knowledge and experience. She earned her BS in accounting at the University of the District of Columbia, and is a Certified Financial Planner candidate at the Georgetown University School of Continued Education. Gayle has performed advisory services in various areas of accounting for individuals, small size businesses and exempt organizations. Throughout her career, Gayle has exhibited the qualities of an entrepreneur. A couple examples include partnering with others in a tax franchise venture with over 100 clients, and also managing a volunteer tax site which serviced low income taxpayers. She is driven by career development and inspiring others to be aware of their personal finances and to see the “big picture”. Even at a time when work-life balance called her to leave corporate life to spend more time with family, Gayle managed to continue to stay busy. She spent a number of years as an independent consultant advising clients through a network of affiliations and working with other like-minded professional women.

Sherman Ledet 

Regional Tax Manager
Sherman holds a bachelor’s degree in Accounting and an MBA with an emphasis in Sports Management. With over 20 years of experience in the tax industry, he joined Caldwell CPAs after serving as Senior Tax Advisor for a large Florida based tax franchise, where he was responsible for the daily operations and expanding the clientele list for multiple franchise locations. Sherman has been a member of IMA (Institute of Management Accountants) since 2006.  An avid lover of sports, in 2009 Sherman and his business partner started a sports agency where he served as lead scout and contract advisor to numerous athletes pursuing a career in professional football.   Sherman enjoys working out in early mornings to start his day, golfing and spending time with his wife and four daughters.

Greg Armstrong

Tax Manager, EA
Greg joined Caldwell & Company in August of 2017. He has more than 15 years of public accounting and financial advisory services knowledge and experience. Greg's education includes Bachelor of Science degrees in Accounting and Political Science from Ohio State University, and an MBA with a Finance concentration. He has also completed Georgetown University’s CFP candidate program. Other designations earned through the years include Chartered Financial Consultant, Chartered Life Underwriter, and Enrolled Agent. Outside of the office, Greg is an outdoor sport adventurer and enjoys hiking and kayaking. He has also completed several marathons over the years. When he's not conquering the outdoors, he also finds enjoyment with the culinary arts, traveling, and wine events.

Sanjaya Bhattarai

Tax Manager, CPA
Sanjaya joined Caldwell & Company in September of 2014. He graduated with a B.S. in accounting from Strayer University. He also earned his CPA in the state of Virginia in 2010. Sanjaya enjoys cycling and traveling in his spare time.

Giorgi Maisuradze

Tax Manager, EA
Gio joined Caldwell & Company in June of 2016. He graduated with a B.S. in Accounting from the George Mason University's School of Business. In 2017, Gio earned his Enrolled Agent credentials by passing through a rigorous IRS examination process. He is a Licensed Tax Practitioner in all 50 states and by the IRS for federal tax matters. Before joining the Caldwell team, Gio worked for a D.C.-based CPA consulting firm. In his spare time, Gio enjoys spending time with family and friends, playing soccer, and traveling to his home country of Georgia.

Deep Virk

Tax Manager
Deep earned a bachelor’s degree in accounting from Virginia Commonwealth University (Go RAMS!) and Master of Taxation from American University in Washington, DC.  Before joining Caldwell CPAs, Deep worked with another regional CPA firm, where he got experience in financial accounting and income tax preparation. Outside the office, Deep enjoys cooking and watching the Green Bay Packers score touchdowns.

Bahar Atamyildiz

Tax Manager
Bahar has more than a decade of public accounting firm experience with an emphasis in partnership taxation and maintaining compliance for partnerships, S & C corporations and individuals. She works directly with small business owners, physicians, dentists, lawyers, contractors and construction companies. She has experience with middle-market investment companies including Small Business Investment funds, affordable housing for low income housing tax credits and various real estate and private equity clients prior to joining us. She holds Master of Science in Taxation and Master of Business Administration in Accountancy degrees from Baruch College and Zicklin School of Business of NY, and currently is pursuing her Certified Public Accountant (CPA) license. Bahar enjoys traveling and practicing yoga.

Alan Chan

Tax Manager
Alan earned his Bachelor of Science degrees in Accounting and Marketing from University of Maryland, College Park.  Alan has over 10 years of tax experience in government contracting, real estate, professional services, and various family-owned businesses.  Prior to joining us, Alan worked in various regional accounting firms.  In his spare time, he enjoys playing tennis, cycling, swimming, and traveling with his family.

Gabriel Jarrin

Tax Accountant, EA
Gabriel joined Caldwell & Company in July of 2017. He graduated from University of Maryland, University College with a B.S In Business Administration & a Minor in Finance. He obtained his Enrolled Agent (EA) designation in April of 2019. In his spare time, Gabriel likes playing and watching sports, particularly soccer and tennis. He also enjoys travelling; he went backpacking through several countries in South America and China, and he also went to Brazil to see his home country of Ecuador play in the 2014 FIFA World Cup.

Nkoumbuoh Tazeh

Tax Accountant
Nkoumbuoh joined Caldwell and Company with over 10 years of previous tax accounting experience in both the public and private sector. His previous responsibilities have included multistate tax compliance issues for corporations and partnerships, personal income tax matters, personal property tax compliance, sales and use taxes, and tax compliance for timeshares and homeowners’ associations. Nkoumbuoh graduated from the University of Wisconsin-Whitewater with a B.B.A. in Accounting. In his free time, Nkoumbuoh enjoys spending time with his family, photography, travelling, and watching soccer.

Christopher Mills

Senior Business Accountant
Christopher Mills earned his Accounting degree at Saint Francis University and joined Caldwell & Associates in 2017. His prior experience was gained at another CPA firm based in Florida. Chris enjoys assisting clients with bookkeeping and payroll related issues. Outside the office, he enjoys distance running and watching movies with his family.

Daria Spirin

Senior Business Accountant
Daria (known as Dasha) received a bachelor’s degree in accounting from Wilmington University. Before joining the Caldwell team, Dasha worked with another CPA firm, where she got experience in financial accounting and income tax preparation. Dasha likes spending her free time with family and friends, cooking and being outdoors.

Daniel Garay

Communications & Data Specialist
Daniel graduated with a B.A. in International Studies from American University in Washington, DC in 2016. Before joining Caldwell CPAs, Daniel worked as an operations manager for a local law practice and as a staff assistant for two local political campaigns. In his spare time, Daniel enjoys sports, talking politics, and reading/writing about the world around him.

Michelle Sok

Administrative Assistant
Michelle graduated with a B.S. in Finance from George Mason University in Fairfax, Virginia. Before joining Caldwell & Company, Michelle completed an internship as a business analyst in London, UK. ​In her spare time, she enjoys photography, baking, and taking dance classes.