About Corporate Tax Advisors
Established in 2014 in Huntsville, Alabama, Corporate Tax Advisors provides tax solutions to Certified Public Accountants and businesses, both small and large, nationwide. With a heavy focus on Research and Development Tax Credits and Clean Energy Tax Credits (ITC), the two founding partners work closely with industries such as architecture, engineering, software development, medical devices, GIS, and manufacturing.
CTA’s partners, Mike Woeber and Dawson Fercho, spent more than 15 years in the Research and Development Tax Credit industry before opening their own firm, which now also offers services for Cost Segregation, Jobs & Training Credits, Employee Retention Credits, and EPAct 179D Green Energy Incentives.
At CTA the primary focus is on in-person service and making sure all clients get a fair return on their investment. By focusing exclusively on Federal and State Tax Incentives that complement our clients’ traditional tax and accounting team, our tax credit advisors are able to deliver quantifiable benefits to clients.
The team at CTA first determines which tax benefits will be beneficial to the client and then ensures that each relationship is handled with care and diligence. The CTA teams’ ability to work seamlessly with clients is the reason so many tax professionals and businesses across the nation have turned to CTA time and time again.
Our Founders
Mike Woeber, CPA
CEO
Mike Woeber is based in CTA corporate office in Huntsville, Alabama.
Mike began his career in 1989 working on the auditing team with Ernest & Young in Birmingham, Alabama. He focused on financial statement audits of publicly traded manufacturers, technology, and healthcare companies. After two years in audit, Mike joined E&Y’s tax group and move to their Huntsville, office.
It was during his early years in Huntsville that he began advising privately held businesses on a variety of accounting and tax matters. This included financial statement audits, business tax preparation, and individual tax preparation. It was during Mike’s 15 years as a tax partner with a regional firm that he began focusing on the research and development tax credit incentive.
In 2014, Mike and a group of close associates formed Corporate Tax Advisors, inc., with the goal of creating a national business that was “not a traditional CPA firm”
The purpose of CTA, as it has always been, is to operate solely as a specialty tax consulting firm focusing solely on assisting companies in identifying potential tax credits and unique tax strategies. These include research & development, renewable energy, and employment tax credits.
Dawson Fercho, EA
VP Business Development
Co-Founder Dawson Fercho is based in Corporate Tax Advisors’ Kansas City office.
Dawson brings over 20 years of consulting experience including 14 years exclusively focused on Federal Research & Development Tax Credits and the 179D Deduction. Prior to CTA, Dawson held numerous senior level management roles with some of the largest technology and communication firms in the country.
His work is primarily focused on small to mid-sized manufacturing, technology, engineering, architecture, and construction clients.
In his current role, Dawson is responsible for all areas of CTA’s marketing and business development.
Dawson is also proud to be an IRS Special Enrolled Agent, licensed by U.S. Treasury to practice before the Internal Revenue Service in all our nation’s tax arenas including the Research & Development Tax Credit.
In his “free time,” Dawson produces his podcast “Behind the Bottom Line,” which focuses on leadership, life (and occasionally tax matters).
Our Team
J. Jordan Wilson
Director of Business Development
Prior to joining CTA Jordan worked on many credits and incentives programs including state and federal research and development, training, investment, large job expansions and location expansions incentives. Jordan has worked with clients ranging from small tech startups to international enterprise corporations and uncovered credits ranging from $10,000 to $10,000,000.
Beth Graham
Director of Sales
Beth has worked within the A/E/C industry for over 7 years, with her previous role as the Director of Sales and Media with Zweig Group. She has helped CTA penetrate the industry through the education of specific tax incentives and building relationships. She graduated from the University of Arkansas in 2006 and recently moved with her husband and 4 boys to Northeast Arkansas to take over his family farm. When she isn’t working or traveling, she enjoys biking, running the outdoor trails, cheering on the Razorbacks, floating the Buffalo River, hunting duck or deer, and getting lost in a good book on her hammock with a locally brewed beer. In 2021 she started a non-profit in her area, More to Give NWA, and has a deep passion for serving underprivileged children in her state.
Heather Fisher
Client Services Director
Heather received her B.S in Animal Science- Science and Technology from the University of Tennessee. She enjoyed working as an office manager and licensed veterinary technician for a veterinary clinic for the last 10 years. Her previous work with clients and staff has developed interpersonal relationship skills that allows her to provide outstanding support to our clients. She resides in Toney, Alabama with her husband and two kids where they enjoy family movie and game nights, playing at the park with their dogs and all things hockey.
John Park
Managing Director
John Park is a Senior Manager at CTA. John specializes in Jobs Tax Credits, Retraining Tax Credit, and Quality Job Tax Credit of the State & Local Tax Division. John offers over 11 years of experience in State and Local Tax in California and Georgia. John has helped hundreds of mid-sized to Fortune 100 companies save millions of tax dollars over the last decade. John graduated from the University of California, Riverside, and majored in Economics, and he enjoys outdoor activities with his wife.
Tom Forline
Sales Director
Tom has helped firms across a variety of industries including Architecture, Real Estate, Software and Manufacturing capture Federal/State/Local incentives. Working with one-man shops up to enterprise-sized organizations, he enjoys the educational and consultative aspect of helping firms find the right incentives that align with their goals. Tom graduated from the University of Alabama with degrees in Operations Management and Economics. When Tom isn’t working, he enjoys fitness activities, golfing, snowboarding or relaxing on a beach.
Sam Hyon
Director, Tax Credits & Incentives
Sam is a Senior Manager at CTA where he manages the operations of the State and Local Tax Division. Sam offers over 7 years of experience in State and Local Tax, and over 15 years of experience in accountancy. Sam has helped over a hundred mid-sized to fortune 100 companies with State and Local Tax management. Sam graduated from the University of California, Irvine, and majored in Computer Science, and his favorite hobby is cooking.
Wade Wiginton
Business Development Associate
Wade graduated from Auburn University with a bachelor’s degree in marketing. Prior to joining CTA, he was previously employed with Trimble INC as a Business Development Specialist, working specifically in the local government space with cities, counties, local
municipalities, and engineering firms. The territory included 10 states in the US, selling Project Management software (E-Builder) and Asset Management software (CityWorks)
to help maximize both efficiency and cost savings while maximizing development and maintenance into the local government space.
Gary F. Kucera, CPA
President
Gary has over 30 years combined experience with large corporations and a Big Four CPA firm. He has experience in financial analysis, acquisitions, accounting, auditing, management reporting, and tax issues, including work on R&D tax credits as large as $2M per tax year. Gary is a CPA in Alabama, after starting his career as a CPA with KPMG in St. Louis. He graduated from Bentley University with a Bachelor of Science in Accounting.
Martin Campbell
R&D Project Manager
Martin is a native of Huntsville, Alabama & graduated from the University of Alabama with a Bachelor of Science in Business Administration, Accounting major. Experienced in corporate accounting with a global, publicly traded company as well as small business accounting, Martin is currently a Research and Development Consultant with CTA. In his free time, he enjoys occasionally working on cars, tinkering with computers, hiking, and photography.
Sara Peebles
R&D Project Manager
Sara graduated from the University of Alabama in Huntsville with a Bachelor of Science in Business Administration, major Federal Contract Accounting. She has 6 years of accounting experience, which consists of two years of tax/small business accounting and four years of corporate accounting. Sara is currently a R&D Consultant at CTA in Huntsville, AL. In her free time, she enjoys spending time with her family, dogs, and friends.
Laura Layne
R&D Project Manager
Laura graduated from Athens State University with a Bachelor’s degree in Accounting with a minor in Acquisition and Contract Management. Currently she is attending the University of North Alabama working towards her MBA. Laura has 4 years of accounting experience that include sales tax and accounts receivable. She is an active member in her church and loves to travel with her family.
Nicolle King
R&D Project Manager
Nicolle is originally from Utah, she graduated from Western Governors University with a bachelor’s degree in Accounting. She has 6 years of experience in property tax, accounts receivable and accounts payable. In her spare time, Nicolle enjoys traveling, being outdoors and spending time with her family.
Rachel Brooks
R&D Consultant
Rachel graduated from the University of Alabama in Huntsville with a Bachelors in Accounting. She has previous experience in government contracting and worked in an acute care facility as a pharmacy technician for nearly a decade before deciding to further her education.
Originally from St. Petersburg, Florida, Rachel loves returning to her home state any chance she is given. She also enjoys spending time with her family, friends, and brood of rescue dogs.
Leslie Swaim
R&D Consultant
Leslie graduated from Athens State University with a Bachelor of Science in Business Administration, Accounting major. She has over 12 years in corporate accounting with a global, publicly traded company as well as small business accounting experience. Leslie is currently a Research and Development Consultant with CTA in Huntsville, AL. In her free time, she enjoys watching her 3 kids play sports, reading a good book, taking care of their farm animals, and being outdoors.
Brian Schubert
R&D Engineer
Brian graduated from Youngstown State University with a bachelor’s degree in chemical engineering. He is currently an R&D Engineer for CTA in Youngstown, Ohio with experience in process engineering and stormwater management. In his free time, he enjoys playing the trumpet or trombone, hiking, and going to the movie theater.
Cheri Valerio, CPA
R&D Consultant
Cheri Christiansen Valerio is a Certified Public Accountant (CPA) with a Masters in Healthcare Administration. Cheri began her career at KPMG specializing in the healthcare and banking industries. In addition to working at CTA as an R&D and ERC Tax Consultant, she manages the finances of her husband’s Pool and Paver Business and Coffee Roasting Business. In her remaining free time, she enjoys walking, listening to audio books, traveling, and dinner parties with friends.
John Lauder, MBA
Tax Manager
John is a Enrolled Agent (EA). He has an undergraduate degree in Finance from Florida State University and an MBA from High Point University. He resides near Greensboro, North Carolina. He has an extensive background in Sales & Use Tax, Property Tax, and Income Tax that includes time spent in industry and public accounting. John has worked with a wide variety of industry partners, including basic fashion, banking, software engineering, and manufacturing. In his free time, you can find John in the classroom teaching students, at a local small theater, out on the trails, or out paddling on a lake.
Cynthia Neal
Bookkeeper
Cynthia was born in Jacksonville, but raised in Chicago’s surrounding suburbs. She received her Bachelors in Business Management from Western Illinois University. She has experience in AR/AP, Project Accounting & Hospital Patient Accounting. She adores her two daughters & time spent with family, friends, traveling and learning anything new. Cynthia relocated to Huntsville, AL in August of 2021 and has been enjoying learning the area and connecting with the community.
Dani Francis
Consultant
Dani graduated from Kennesaw State University with a BS in Psychology. She has 5 years of experience with a diverse background in Project Management, Learning & Development, and Sales. In her free time, she enjoys spending time with her husband & daughter. She also enjoys creative pursuits such as painting, drawing, and epoxy art.
Vikki Johnson, CPA
Director of R&D
Vikki has had over 12 years of public accounting tax experience with KPMG LLP and Grant Thornton providing tax compliance and advisory services to a variety of businesses. For the last 10 years, Vikki has specialized in helping companies identify, quantify, and substantiate Research and Development Tax Credits.
Ray Armendariz
Director of Engineering
Ray’s specializes in Civil Engineering with an emphasis on infrastructure design and has over 30 years of experience with Architecture, Civil Engineering, Land Planning/Development, Land Surveying, Environmental Engineering, Construction, Geotechnical Engineering, and Traffic Design firms and enjoys helping them evaluation R&D Tax Credit Eligibility.
Ray has a Bachelor of Science degree in Engineering & Construction Management from Park University and was an engineering teacher at the Army Corps of Engineer Schools at Fort Leonard Wood, Missouri.
Alicia DeAngelo
R&D Project Manager
Originally from Scranton, Pennsylvania, Alicia graduated from Keystone College with a Bachelor of Science in Accounting with a concentration in Finance. She has 10 years of accounting experience, which consists of 7 years of automotive accounting. In her free time, Alicia enjoys spending time with her family, friends, and most importantly her daughter, traveling, and being outdoors.
Mac MacGregor
R&D Engineer
Ian (Mac) MacGregor graduated from Humboldt State University with a Bachelor’s degree in Geosciences with a minor in Rangeland Resources. He currently works as a Junior Engineer for CTA out of the Los Angeles, Ca office. In Mac’s free time you can find him on an outdoor adventure, rock climbing, or building computers.
Mark Woeber
R&D Engineer
Mark is a native of Huntsville, AL. He graduated from The University of Alabama with a Bachelor of Science in Civil Engineering.
Prior to graduating and becoming a full-time employee, he interned at CTA as well as doing other tasks for the company over the
years. In his free time, he enjoys golfing, hunting, and hanging out at the lake.
Carlos Salas
R&D Consultant
Originally from Guayaquil, Ecuador, Carlos came to the USA to study at Alabama A&M on a tennis scholarship, where he graduated with a Bachelor’s in Accounting and Master’s in Business Administration.
He has previous experience in non-profit accounting, investment accounting, and account management.
His hobbies are composing and writing songs, playing tennis, and being outdoors. Most of all, he enjoys being with his wife.
Glenn Cody
R&D Project Manager
Glenn graduated from Valdosta State University with a BBA in Finance and an MBA from Mercer University. He has experience in nonprofit accounting from working in both medical and legal fields. He is currently an R&D Consultant for CTA in Huntsville, Alabama. Glenn enjoys spending his free time traveling and bowling.
Nathalie Hernandez
Account Manager
As an Account Manager at CTA, I specialize in providing dedicated support to our top CPA firms and clients. With a BA in Deaf Studies and a focus on education, I bring a unique perspective to my role, emphasizing clear communication and tailored solutions. I am passionate about fostering strong client relationships and helping our partners achieve financial success through personalized service and strategic insights. Beyond my professional endeavors, I have a passion for culinary arts, enjoying both cooking and baking in my spare time. My love for nature leads me to explore the great outdoors through hiking, camping with my family, or enjoying relaxing days at the beach with our dog.
