Stronger as a team.

Herb Whitesell is a founder of Davidson, Holland, Whitesell & Co., PLLC, and has served as Managing Partner since 2002. With an extensive background in healthcare, manufacturing, technology, and cost accounting, Herb is a unique and reliable asset to businesses. He thrives on turning chaos into order and converting financial data into meaningful charts and graphs, available at the push of a button. When serving clients, Herb always places himself in the seat of the business owner(s), looking for a high return on investment and long-term manageable processes. He uses readily available and affordable software tools to help businesses accomplish their goals.

Herb obtained his Bachelor of Science degree in Accountancy from Wake Forest University. He is a member of both the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants (AICPA) and the North Carolina Association of Certified Public Accountants (NCACPA), where he enjoys befriending and networking with other industry professionals. He was named Catawba County’s Small Business Person of the Year in 2000 by the Chamber of Commerce, due to his innovations and success in helping DHW become one of the premier CPA firms in the state. When he is not at the office, you can find Herb playing a round of golf or spending time with his wife and daughters. He hopes to fulfill his dream of playing a round at Pebble Beach Golf Links soon.

North Carolina Licensure Number: 15378

As an Assurance Partner at DHW, Rodney Dellinger has gained extensive auditing, attestation, and research experience while tackling various accounting challenges. Over the years, he has helped to implement appropriate solutions into many companies’ accounting policies and procedures. Additionally, he consults with companies on issues, including how to implement best practices for internal controls and operations. Rodney takes the approach of not only meeting but beating expectations when working with his clients, which has served him well throughout his career.

After being told by his father while still in high school that he should pursue accounting due to his superior math skills, Rodney took on the challenge, and graduated with his Bachelor’s degree in Business Administration from Appalachian State University. He is involved in professional development organizations, such as the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants (AICPA) and the North Carolina Association of Certified Public Accountants (NCACPA). He is also a member of Startown First Baptist Church where he has served as finance committee chair and several terms as a Deacon. Whether he’s on the golf course perfecting his swing, catching trout in a mountain stream, or searching for just the right hunting spot in the woods, Rodney enjoys spending his time away from the office outdoors. One day, he hopes to take a return trip to Alaska with his wife and children.

North Carolina Licensure Number: 22704

Mark has more than 30 years of accounting and tax experience, serving closely held businesses and individuals. He serves a diverse group of clients in various industries including physicians, real estate development, retail, and manufacturing. Mark received his Bachelor of Science degree in Business Administration with a concentration in accounting from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. Mark was employed with Deloitte & Touche before becoming a partner at Smith, Miller & Buff, CPAs in 1989.  SMB merged with DHW in January 2023, where Mark now leads the DHW Morganton office as a partner.

In addition to furnishing a broad range of tax and consulting services, Mark provides financial planning services. He earned the Certified Financial Planner designation (CFP) and the Personal Financial Specialist designation (PFS) by the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants. Mark provides retirement planning, estate and gift tax planning, and trust planning for individuals, small businesses owners and executives.

Mark is a member of the North Carolina Association of Certified Public Accountants, the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants, and the Financial Planning Association. He has served many charitable organizations over the past 30 years and currently serves Grace Episcopal Church and Community Foundation of Burke County and City of Morganton ABC. Mark and his wife, Laurie, have two children, Grey and Emma. He enjoys golf, fishing, and reading.

NC Certificate #15012

Tim Reynolds is a Tax Partner at DHW with over 25 years of experience in the accounting industry. His areas of expertise include various federal and state income, transactional, and excise taxes, as well as general accounting and financial statement preparation. Additionally, Tim serves as an operational consultant for the retail, restaurant, grocery and manufacturing industries. When serving clients, he seeks to gain an understanding of who they are, as well as their business and their industry. He aims to think like an owner and provide solutions and services to drive success. In addition to his client service, Tim is passionate about making business development a top priority for the firm and enjoys spearheading internal educational programs.

After picking up his high school “Basics of Accounting” textbook, Tim instantly knew accounting was the career path he was destined for, due to his love for business and math. After high school, Tim attended the University of Toledo, where he earned his Bachelor of Business Administration in Accounting. He is an active member of the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants (AICPA) and various trade organizations. He aspires to be a great mentor, advisor, teacher, to those around him as well as a dedicated father and husband. When he is not in the office, Tim can be found playing golf or hanging out at home watching football, NASCAR or golf with his family. He has even had the opportunity to be a part of a pit crew for a NASCAR ARCA team! One day, he hopes to attend the Daytona 500, ride in a fighter jet and play the beautiful historic golf courses in Ireland and Scotland.

North Carolina Licensure Number: 44395

Melissa Shronce is a Partner at DHW and has been with the firm since 1993.  She strives to provide prompt, accurate service to her clients in all areas of practice. She values professionalism and integrity in her client interactions and takes the time to understand who her clients are and how to best meet their needs. Those who know Melissa can attest that honesty and integrity are important to her across all aspects of her life, both personal and professional. Throughout her time at DHW, Melissa has become well-versed in tax matters concerning corporations, S-corporations, individuals, partnerships, and limited liability companies. She also handles all aspects of the firm’s employee benefit plan audit practice.

Melissa chose her career path early in her life, and attended Appalachian State University where she graduated cum laude with a Bachelor of Science degree in Business Administration. Melissa is involved in a variety of professional organizations, including the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants (AICPA) and the North Carolina Association of Certified Public Accountants (NCACPA). Within her community, she is an active member of First Baptist Church Granite Falls, previously served as Treasurer for the Hickory Soup Kitchen, Granite Falls Business and Professional Women’s Club, the Granite Falls Kiwanis Club, and the Catawba Science Center. In 2009, she was selected as recipient of the Top 20 Under 40 award, for the Greater Hickory Metro Region.

Away from the office, you can find Melissa spending time with her family and friends.  She also enjoys reading and vacationing to beaches and tropical islands.

North Carolina Licensure Number: 23770

Sheri focuses on attestation services such as audits, reviews and compilations, in addition to assisting individual and business clients with their income tax and financial needs.

Originally from Jackson, MI, Sheri has lived in NC for over 30 years. She graduated from NC State University in 1991 with a Bachelor of Arts degree in both Accounting and Business Management. She is a member of the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants and the North Carolina Association of Certified Public Accountants. Active in the Burke County community, Sheri has been involved with various community and charitable activities. She currently serves on the board of directors for the United Way of Burke County, Burke Charitable Properties and C2Life Foundation. She and her husband, Michael, live in Valdese and have two children.

NC Certificate #22160

Susan Balke is a Senior Tax Manager at DHW, whose areas of expertise include estate and trust compliance, small business taxes, as well as individual taxes. Additionally, she serves as the Business Development Manager for the firm. Susan strives to help clients understand how taxes impact them and their families and works hard to provide the best tax savings and strategies for her clients. She takes pride in her ability to assist clients in understanding and navigating estate, trust, and gift taxation. Throughout her time in public accounting, Susan has learned to value the importance of patience and listening, and implements these traits into her client service, always aiming to be kind and have a welcoming smile on her face.

Enjoying math classes and learning to solve problems was the catalyst for Susan’s jump into the accounting world. She received her degree in 1992 from Lenoir-Rhyne University, graduating cum laude. From there, she turned to explore the estate and trust area, which stemmed from her liking the social aspects of working with clients and their families to navigating family, business, and succession issues. In the professional realm, Susan is involved as a member of the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants (AICPA), as well as the North Carolina Association of Certified Public Accountants (NCACPA). Within her local community, she has served as the Treasurer for non-profit agencies, such as the Humane Society of Catawba County, the Rape Crisis Center, and the Catawba County Council on Adolescents. Additionally, Susan served on the board of directors for the Cary Community Foundation, and is a charter member of the charitable organization, SamariTens, founded by friends and co-workers in 2007.

In her free time, you can find Susan digging in her garden, or spending time with her husband and friends. She would like to take a trip to Italy to learn more about her Italian heritage, and she cherishes the memories she shared with her Italian grandmother cooking and singing songs. She also aspires to scuba drive in the Egyptian Red Sea with her husband, who is also her dive partner.

North Carolina Licensure Number: 23083

Mike has more than 30 years of experience in the accounting profession. He has worked in both the private and public sectors. He is experienced with closely held businesses, individuals, and union benefit plans.

Mike obtained his CPA certification in 2013 while working for a small CPA firm in Hickory for four years, preparing business and individual tax returns. Prior to joining the firm, Mike worked for CPA firms in New Jersey and Charlotte, performing union benefit funds compliance audits.

Mike is originally from New Jersey and received his Bachelor of Science degree in Accounting from Glassboro State College in 1983. He is a member of the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants and the North Carolina Association of Certified Public Accountants. Mike is married to Jeannie Hargadon and lives in Morganton with their dogs and cats. He enjoys golf and hiking.

 

NC Certificate #37328

Matthew Barus is a Senior Assurance Manager, whose areas of expertise include Audit, Attestation and Consulting. He works hard to provide excellent service to his clients, which he believes is what helps set DHW apart from other firms. No stranger to hard work, Matt is a dependable team player who knows that both his clients and coworkers depend on him to help get the job done. He knows that doing small things to help one another helps to make the world a better place for everyone.

He earned his Bachelor’s degree in Economics from Davidson College and a Master of Science in Accountancy from Appalachian State University. Matt is an active member of the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants (AICPA), as well as the North Carolina Association of Certified Public Accountants (NCACPA). Additionally, he is a graduate of Leadership Catawba at the Catawba County Chamber.

North Carolina Licensure Number: 31757

Matt McKinney is a Tax Manager at DHW who is motivated by his desire to provide high quality service and advice to his clients. When serving clients, he values developing personal relationships and taking the time to invest in the lives of his clients, as it is the key to building rapport. Additionally, he puts in the time to do research to adequately answer his clients’ questions in an effort to better meet their needs. Matt’s areas of expertise include federal, state, and local taxation for corporate, partnership and individual clients. During his time in public accounting, he has had the opportunity to work with clients across a wide range of industries, which helps keep him on his feet.

He earned his Bachelor of Science in Accounting from Liberty University, and his Master of Science in Accounting from Bob Jones University. Matt is a member of the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants (AICPA), as well as the North Carolina Association of Certified Public Accountants (NCACPA). In his spare time, you can find Matt working on his golf game. He hopes to one day travel to Scotland and Ireland and play golf at the historic courses located there, as well as go on tours of the castles.

North Carolina Licensure Number 38834

Jane has been performing audits, preparing tax returns, advising clients, and bringing her optimistic outlook to the community since 1998 . She obtained her CPA certification in 1983 while working for Deloitte & Touche in Atlanta for two years, performing audits on a variety of entities. Prior to joining the firm, Jane also worked for two smaller CPA firms in Augusta, GA, performing audits and completing tax returns for small to medium-sized businesses. For over three years, Jane was controller for the regional sales office of a sports shoe company in Dallas, Texas.

Jane is originally from Toccoa, GA but has lived in NC for over 30 years. She graduated magna cum laude from the University of Georgia in 1981 with a BBA in Accounting. Jane has been actively involved in community volunteer work and has served on the boards of the Good Samaritan Clinic, the Morganton Service League, the Western Piedmont Foundation and the Burke Women’s Fund. She is also active in the First Baptist Church of Morganton where she has served on the Finance, Personnel and Preschool Committees. Jane and her husband, Rick, live in Morganton. They have 5 children and 16 grandchildren. They enjoy visiting with family and RVing.

NC Certificate #28351

Stuart Mull, Manager of Business Analytics, joined DHW in 2018. With him, he brought his experience with financial analysis, strategic planning, data management and mental health and healthcare billing. He also boasts a number of technical skills, including a proficiency in Microsoft Excel and Microsoft Power Query. Stuart has always enjoyed working with numbers, and accounting provided the perfect happy medium between science and business. He enjoys helping clients identify cost cutting measures to boost efficiency. Stuart is motivated by the excitement on clients’ faces when he unveils a method, process, or template that will provide significant time and cost savings.

Stuart received a Bachelor of Science degree in Business Management, with concentrations in Accounting and Business Administration from Presbyterian College. He also obtained his Master of Accountancy degree from the University of North Carolina Charlotte. As a Certified Public Accountant (CPA), he enjoys being involved in professional organizations including the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants (AICPA) and the North Carolina Association of Certified Public Accountants (NCACPA). Within his community, Stuart serves as the Treasurer for the Hickory Public Schools Education Foundation, is a board member of the Catawba County Children’s Advocacy and Protection Center and serves on several boards and committees for his church, First Presbyterian Church of Hickory. He enjoys spending his free time with his wife, Katherine, and his children, Henry, Garland, and Robert. His favorite quote is by Winston Churchill, which reads, “The pessimist sees difficulty in every opportunity.”

North Carolina Licensure Number 35119

Aviance Williams is a Manager who specializes in planning, scheduling, reviewing and coordinating all aspects of the firm’s employee benefit plan audits. Additionally, Aviance helps clients with tax preparation needs. A driven member of the DHW team, she is motivated by the opportunity to overcome challenges and meet deadlines, always treating those she comes across with both honesty and transparency.

Jumping into the accounting world after graduating with both her Bachelor of Science and Master of Science in Accountancy from Appalachian State University has proven to be an exciting experience for Aviance. Her time in the professional world has taught her the importance of setting goals and holding herself accountable in order to provide the best service for the firm’s clients. Within the community, she is an active member of the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants (AICPA) and the North Carolina Association of Certified Public Accountants (NCACPA).

Away from the office, you can find Aviance playing tennis, shopping, and spending time with her family and friends. She also enjoys vacationing to beaches and would especially love to visit Bora Bora one day.

North Carolina Licensure Number: 41231

Brandon is an Audit Manager at DHW with expertise in accounting and audit services focused in the healthcare and nonprofit industries. A true team player, Brandon values being an asset to his co-workers and his clients alike. When serving clients, he seeks to be their trusted advisor, listening to their needs and goals, and providing them with the highest quality work.

Having earned his Bachelor of Arts in Accounting from Lenoir-Rhyne University, Brandon is a member of the American Institute of Public Accountants (AICPA) and the North Carolina Association of Certified Public Accountants (NCACPA). In his free time, he enjoys taking walks with his wife and dog, watching movies, and trying new restaurants. Brandon is a sports fanatic who loves the UNC Tarheels and Carolina Panthers.  His bucket list includes traveling to Hawaii and Europe, attending a Super Bowl game, and learning to golf.

North Carolina Licensure Number: 36148

Cody Underwood, CPA, is a Manager working extensively with our Healthcare clients in assisting them with cost report preparation, cost allocation and profitability analysis, financial statement audit and attest work, and reimbursement rate analyses. A driven DHW team member, Cody provides the experience and knowledge to excel at his challenges and meet target dates.

After graduating from Appalachian State University with a Bachelor of Science in Business Administration in Accounting and Lenoir-Rhyne University with a Masters of Business Administration in Accounting, Cody began providing his skills and knowledge in the not-for-profit and healthcare industries. Within the community, he is an active member of the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants (AICPA) and the North Carolina Association of Certified Public Accountants (NCACPA). DHW and Cody are also members of various healthcare organizations including the NC Providers Council, Developmental Disabilities Facilities Association, NC Health Care Facilities Association and the NC Senior Living Association.

In his free time, Cody enjoys spending time with his wife, two daughters, and his dog. He enjoys visiting the beach, fishing, and cheering on all NC State athletics. In his free time, you can find him in the kitchen cooking or on the patio next to the grill.

North Carolina Licensure Number: 43462

J.P. Jones is a Manager at Davidson, Holland, Whitesell & Co., PLLC.    Jones is a Cum Laude graduate of University of North Carolina at Charlotte with a B.A. in Accounting.  He joined the DHW team in 2019 with approximately 5 years of previous public accounting experience in auditing and governmental engagements.

He is a member of AICPA and NCACPA and attends Sela Church in Hickory.  Jones serves as the Treasurer Board for the Chamber of Catawba County and Treasurer for the Hickory Young Professionals.  He resides in Hickory with his wife, Sarah, and children, Ada and Behr.

North Carolina Licensure Number: 35144