LEADERSHIP

Keith T. Towns has 30+ years of financial accounting experience. He has specialized in small business consulting, including month-end close, establishment of accounting policies and accounting system assessment.

Towns’ experience includes individuals in the sports & entertainment industry and real estate development industry as well as other diverse sectors of the business community. Mr. Towns holds a Bachelor’s Degree in Accounting.

LEADERSHIP

James W. Lane has also served the accounting profession for 19 years. He worked his way from Administrative Staff Accountant turned Senior Tax Accountant with Laclede Gas Company in St. Louis, Missouri to Senior Associate and then Accounting Manager with Pricewaterhouse Coopers, LLP.

Lane’s experience includes everything from non-profit organizations to public utilities. He holds a Bachelor of Science Degree in Business Administration.

FINANCIAL PLANNING

Gene Hilliard has over 15 years of experience working in the financial services industry with companies including Bank of America, Charles Schwab and AssetMark Investment Services Inc.

As a member of the Emerge Financial Group Team, Gene serves our clients by analyzing their specific financial needs, designing a personalized program to fit those needs, and offering the added security that comes from his careful monitoring of each phase of their process.

Hilliard holds a Bachelor of Art’s degree and is pursuing the CFP designation.

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RISK MANAGEMENT

Henry Gusman is a leader when it comes to complex, independent internal audits. His strengths include the improvement of internal processes, risk management, corporate governance of internal processes and internal controls. He has a strong history of success in partering with management and working cross-departmentally to drive organizational improvements. Gusman has independently led and managed Internal Audit and Sarbanes-Oxley departments with budgets of over $6 million. He is particularly adept at managing geographically dispersed teams.

Mr. Gusman is a Certified Public Accountant with a bachelor’s degree in Accounting. He has over 35 years of experience in the financial services industry. He is a member of the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants, the California Society of Certified Public Accountants, as well as other professional and community organizations.

MARKETING

Description Sonya Ruffin has many years of experience in marketing and public relations. She comes to Emerge Financial Group to round out services offered to our clients. Sonya specializes in communications initiatives that strengthen your presence in the global marketplace – including branding, graphic design, web development, social media, and media relations.

Sonya has earned the distinction of Accredited in Public Relations (APR), a mark of distinction bestowed by the Universal Accreditation Board for public relations professionals.

Sonya has served in the transportation infrastructure, state government, entertainment, and non-profit industries. here

SENIOR TAX PREPARER

Ronie Zhang is an experienced and knowledgeable accountant who can help you save money and grow your business. Ronie completed her BBA in accounting at Zhongnan University of Economics and Law. She has over 25 years of experience in accounting management. This experience has given her a deep understanding of the complexities of both domestic and international finance and taxation. Ronie brought her expertise to the U.S., where she has been successful as a bookkeeper and tax preparer at a CPA firm. She is also an Enrolled Agent, which means she is licensed to represent taxpayers before the IRS.

But Ronie is more than just a numbers whiz. She is a passionate professional who is dedicated to helping businesses succeed, and she enjoys finding creative solutions to complex tax problems.

ACCOUNT MANAGER

Aniela was born in Venezuela and has a BBA in accounting from Dr. Rafael Belloso Chacin University. She began her career in 2006 as a bookkeeper at an accounting firm. Aniela has experience in payroll, AR, and AP and is super detail oriented and organized. Aniela has a love of accounting and is passionate about numbers (her signature includes G2!). Aniela loves learning new things and hopes to become a CPA one day. here

ACCOUNTING ASSISTANT

Penny brings over thirty years of banking experience to Emerge Financial Group. She started as a teller and worked her way to a supervisory role. She has also served as a supervisor in the Insurance, Research and Asset Recovery and Consumer Products areas of banking. She has worked for banking institutions such as Bank of the West, Bank of America and Napa Valley Bank. Penny is a proud mother of two and a grandmother of five whose favorite activities are those she shares with family and friends.

EXECUTIVE ASSISTANT

Linda Morgan Taylor has over 30 years of business experience in Telecommunications, having started as an Operator for Pacific Telephone Company and working through the ranks to a Supervisory position and later to a Management Position with AT&T. Her background includes management in Switched Services, Engineering and Operations departments. Also, she provided support to the Accounting Department with Budgets and Payroll Services within AT&T Company. Linda worked with a Law Firm assisting with Probate, Medical Malpractice and Criminal cases.