Mike Schafer – Mike attended Michigan State University where he obtained a BA degree in Accounting. He began his career in public accounting here in Orlando in 1982. Mike had experience with a “Big Six” firm and a local firm before he and Joe Mitchell started their own firm in 1992.
Mike has a significant background in helping business entities and nonprofit organizations with audited and reviewed financial statements. He is also very experienced in guiding businesses through complex tax reporting and helping businesses save taxes with effective and timely tax planning. Mike has worked extensively with the following industries: nonprofit organizations, construction contractors, mortgage lenders and condominium associations. He has also worked with closely held business clients in many other industries.
Mike’s community involvements include: membership in the AICPA, treasurer of the Coalition for Property Rights, board member of The Benji Watson Cancer Foundation, and member of the Improving Financial Stability Cabinet of the Heart of Florida United Way.
Contact Mike – 407-839-3330
Tom Tschopp – Tom earned a Bachelor of Science degree in Accounting from the University of Florida. He had 12 years of experience with a large international accounting firm before starting his own firm in 1995.
Tom has extensive experience in conducting financial statement audits and reviews of businesses and non profit organizations. He is also experienced in performing due diligence procedures and benchmarking analysis. He has also been helpful in the presentation of financial statements to outside users.
Tom has worked extensively with the following industries: nonprofit organizations, construction contractors, manufacturers, agribusiness and condominium associations. He has also worked with closely held business clients in many other industries.
Tom is firmly established in the Central Florida business community with involvement in the American and Florida Institutes of Certified Public Accountants and active participation in community and professional activities.
Contact Tom – 407-875-2760
Tom Whitcomb – Tom graduated from Brigham Young University with a Bachelor of Science degree in accounting. He began his career in 1980 with KPMG in the Los Angeles office. He later transferred and worked in the Las Vegas and Orlando offices of that organization. In 1995 he helped found his own firm located and serving clients in the Central Florida area. He has received his CPA designation in the states of California and Florida.
Tom has devoted most of his career providing audit and accounting services to a substantial number of clients operating in a variety of industries including real estate, construction, mining, manufacturing, healthcare, high technology, leisure/gaming, oil and gas and not for profit organizations. He has participated in both public and private offerings as well as assuring compliance with SEC and other governmental reporting requirements. Over Tom’s career he has provided additional services to his clients including feasibility studies, reimbursement consulting, diagnostic reviews, litigation support and due diligence consultation.
Tom’s professional and community activities include; Member, American Institute of Certified Public Accountants, Member, Healthcare Financial Management Association and has participated as a member of the board of directors of the Seminole County YMCA, Turning Point of Central Florida, Inc., Coalition for the Homeless and the Central Florida Management Society.
Contact Tom – 407-875-2760
Joe Mitchell – Joe Mitchell launched his career in public accounting after earning a Master degree from the University of Florida’s Fisher School of Accounting in 1986. Upon graduation, Joe began employment at KPMG Peat Marwick in Orlando and later transferred to the Fort Lauderdale office to work with real estate clients. When Joe returned to the Central Florida area in 1991, he worked for a local CPA firm before joining efforts with Mike Schafer to start the firm Schafer & Mitchell in 1992.
With more than 28 years of experience, Joe has dealt with accounting issues facing all size businesses and individual returns. Specifically, Joe has expertise in tax planning, consulting, litigation support, evaluative financials, IRS representation and contracted CFO services. He specializes in family owned and operated, small and mid-size companies, in the areas of real estate, construction, legal, manufacturing and retail, and other service-based entities. Joe also has intimate experience with non-profit organizations and affiliate business enterprises.
Joe has a commitment to the community and his profession as represented in his pro-bono work and volunteer affiliations throughout his career. Joe is an avid sports fan and is Past Treasurer of the Gator Club of Central Florida. He is a member of the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants.
Joe supports the arts and a number of non-profits such as Lighthouse of Central Florida, Community Food & Outreach Center and Lake Highland Preparatory School to name a few.
Contact Joe – 407-839-3330
Steve Sheridan, CPA – Steve joined one of STWMS ‘s predecessor firms, Schafer, Mitchell and Sheridan PA in January 1996. Steve was previously with KPMG, LLP where he was a Senior Tax Manager. His public accounting experience has focused primarily on tax and accounting issues for Agriculture, Real Estate and Manufacturing entities.
He has extensive experience in the area of the Low Income Housing Tax Credit
(LIHTC) program. His experience includes consulting during the application phase of LIHTC projects, accounting services during the construction and cost certification stage, and the preparation of the annual audit and tax returns for LIHTC projects
during the compliance period.
Mr. Sheridan attended Case Western Reserve University in Cleveland, Ohio where he received a Bachelor of Science Degree in Accounting. He also received a Masters of Science in Accounting from the University of Virginia.
Contact Steve – 407-839-3330
Dan Hinson – Dan attended University of South Florida in Tampa, Florida where he received his Bachelor of Accounting degree. While in college he interned with the Internal Revenue Service at the District office in Jacksonville, Florida. He served in the finance office as a member of the United States Airforce and returned to civilian life to become an Internal Revenue Service Agent for seven years. During that time, he received his MBA from Rollins College in Winter Park, Florida.
Dan served as a tax manager in a large local CPA firm and then in a medium size firm before coming to Schafer, Tschopp, Whitcomb, Mitchell & Sheridan, LLP. He has a wide range of experience helping businesses and individuals through the many difficult rules and regulations in the field of taxation.
Dan is a member of the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants and the Florida Institute of Certified Public Accountants. The favorite local charity that he supports is Christian Help Foundation, Inc. in Casselberry, Florida where they serve people who are unemployed and actively seeking employment.
Matt Spires – Matt graduated from Wright State University in Dayton, Ohio with a Bachelor of Science in Business Administration, majoring in Accounting. Matt has. 15 years of public accounting experience in providing auditing and tax services. His clients have included not-for-profit, construction and various other organizations operating in a variety of industries. Matt is working on a master’s degree in the Central Florida area.
Jon Sorenson – Jon graduated from the University of South Florida with a Bachelor of Science in Accounting. Jon has 12 years of public accounting experience with firms in Fort Myers and Orlando, providing auditing and tax services. His clients have included not-for-profit, homeowners associations, and various other organizations operating in a variety of industries. Jon is also certified by the State of Florida to perform sales and use tax audits.
Marnie Shewmaker – Marnie was born in Alabama and graduated high school and college in Alabama, but spent 10 years in Atlanta during her youth. Marnie
attended Jacksonville State University in Jacksonville, AL where she obtained her
BS Degree. After working for a bank in Alabama, Marnie moved to Orlando in
1974 to begin her accounting career where she worked for a couple of large
independent firms. In 1993, she joined Mike Schafer and Joe Mitchell in their new
company.
Marnie has background experience in Payroll and special accounting services
which includes helping clients with accounting setup, training and assisting with
other day to day issues. She specializes in QuickBooks, but also has experience
with other general ledger programs.
Marnie has been involved with Kids Beating Cancer, a central Florida organization for many years.
Pat Baggett – Patrick Baggett began his career as an auditor for the Florida
Department of Revenue. He has over twenty years of experience as a controller and tax director in private industry with an emphasis on state and local tax issues including sales and use tax.
Pat holds a bachelors degree in accounting from the University of Central Florida.
Cathy Davis – Cathy graduated from the Ohio State University with a Bachelor of Science in Accounting and began her career in Ohio, before moving to the Orlando area shortly thereafter. Cathy has over 20 years of public accounting experience as well as having held accounting positions in manufacturing firms.
Cathy brings experience providing audit, review and compilation services for small to medium-sized businesses, and preparation of individual, corporate, partnership, and nonprofit income tax returns.
Cathy is a member of the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants and the Florida Institute of Certified Public Accountants. She is licensed as a Certified Public Accountant in Florida.
Rose A. Erisman – Rose joined our firm in 2006. She is a graduate of Seminole State College where she obtained her Associates Degree in Accounting. She is currently working on her BA in Accounting at the University of Central Florida.
With over 13 year of experience, Rose has been performing a variety of professional accounting functions from payroll and sales tax to preparations of financial statements. As a QuickBooks ProAdvisor, she also consults with clients helping them with account set up and clean-up. Since joining our firm, Rose has gained extensive knowledge in preparing corporate and individual tax returns.
Rose is a member of the AIPB, a Gold Member QuickBooks ProAdvisor, a Florida Notary Public and a volunteer of Kids Beating Cancer. Rose was born and raised in Daytona Beach, Florida. She moved to the Orlando area in 1999 and now resides in Maitland, Florida with her husband Douglas and 2 children, David and Parker.
Kathy Plate – Office Administrator/End Processor. Kathy has worked for STWMS, LLLP for 12 years in an Accounting support role, currently as the Office Administrator. Her other duties include doing the final packaging of tax/audit reports, filing, scanning, etc.
Kathy, born in Ohio, was raised in the Orlando area. Married to George for 31 years with 4 grown children & 2 grandchildren.
Angie Van Der Berg – Angie Van Der Berg is an Office Assistant for the company. She has been with us for a year and is a jack of all trades, always willing to learn something new. She is a graduate from Winter Park High School and
followed up her education at Valencia College. She was born in Gainesville, Florida and now lives in Maitland, Florida with her husband and two children, Matthew (7) and Taylor (5).