Gia Arvin, member of the Gainesville-Alachua County Association of Realtors® (GACAR) and co-broker of Matchmaker Realty, was elected to serve on the 2020 Florida Realtors® Leadership Team as its Secretary after a close campaign against two other candidates, Veronica Malolos of Orlando and Lynnette Hendricks of Merritt Island.
GACAR President Heather Swanson said, “Our Association is thrilled to have one of our most capable members serve in such a prominent capacity at the state level. Gia Arvin exemplifies the best in our profession and it has been an honor working closely with her to advance the development and standards of Realtors® in our beloved county. Gia has the full support of GACAR and we are excited to see what our friend and colleague will accomplish for Realtors® throughout this great state during her tenure as Secretary.”
As a Realtor® in Alachua County for over 15 years, Arvin has been a dynamic influence at the local, state, and national level, serving as a key member in several real estate advisory committees and boards. Arvin brings a wealth of knowledge and essential leadership experience to her new role with Florida Realtors®, which is the largest professional association in Florida with 187,000 members and the second largest state Realtor® organization in the country.
Avison Young adds to brokerage team
Jon Thomas has joined Avison Young, the world’s fastest-growing commercial real estate services firm, as an Associate in its Gainesville office. As a part of Avison Young’s long-term growth strategy in attracting new talent, Thomas’s new role on the brokerage team will focus on multi-family, tenant representation/leasing, and investment sales.
“We’re very excited to add Jon to our North Florida brokerage team,” said Nick Banks, Avison Young Principal and Managing Director in North Florida. “Experienced in several markets we serve, Jon was attracted to our global platform’s proven reach and results for clients which he will apply as he adds local depth particularly to our investment sales platform. He is also a pillar in the community and a true servant leader with multiple cause-related organizations in our region. From a culture standpoint, we couldn’t ask for a better fit.”
Prior to joining Avison Young, Thomas previously held various positions such as Real Estate Associate Advisor with SVN – SouthLand Commercial and Vice President of Marketing for Thomas-Pierce & Company, a leading succession planning firm which has completed more than $2 billion in small and medium-size business transactions since 1986.
Thomas is also very active in local non-profits and groups, including Rotary Club of Gainesville, Gainesville Fisher House Foundation, Past President of the GOFC, Haven Hospice Community Board and Capital Campaign, Haven Hospice Viva Co Chair, Board Member of Doug Johnson’s Reeling For Kids Saltwater Challenge, FPRA Programs Director and Board Member, the Treasurer of the FCCFA and Governmental Affairs Co-Chair.
A graduate of Barry University, Thomas holds a Bachelor’s of Science Degree in Professional Administration.
James Moore announces new hires and promotions for the Gainesville office
James Moore & Company, P.L. (James Moore) has welcomed recent hires to its Gainesville office.
Brian Antigua has joined as a Staff Accountant, where he will provide a range of tax accounting services. He earned a Master of Science in Accounting (concentration in Taxation) and a Bachelor of Science in Accounting from the University of Florida.
Tracy Ayres has been hired as an Associate Accountant, where she will assist with research and preparation of individual and corporate tax returns. She has over four years of experience working with corporate structure, tax consulting, auditing and other accounting work. Tracy earned a Bachelor of Science in Accounting from the University of North Carolina at Greensboro.
Nataliya Dove is an Accounting Manager for the Accounting & Controllership Services department. She will oversee client accounts and supervise James Moore ACS staff members in their work. Nataliya brings nearly 20 years of accounting and controllership work to the table for our firm. She holds a Master of Accounting from Saint Leo University and a Bachelor in Business Management from Donbass State University in Ukraine.
Ekaterina Egorova is a Staff Accountant and will provide a range of tax accounting services. She earned her Bachelor of Business Administration (with a major in accounting) from the University of North Florida.
Edson Gordon is an Accountant responsible for advanced bookkeeping and accounting services for the firm’s business and non‐profit clients. He previously worked for the U.S. Department of Revenue and also served as a professor of business education. Edson received a Bachelor of Science in Accounting from Florida Atlantic University and a Bachelor of Science in Management Studies from the University of the West Indies in Jamaica.
Christian Joiner has joined the Gainesville office as an Associate Accountant. He will assist with research and preparation of individual and corporate tax returns. Christian comes to us with three years of auditing and tax preparation experience. He earned a Masters of Accountancy and a Bachelor of Business Administration (with a major in Accounting) from Valdosta State University.
Denise Koon has been hired as an Accountant and is responsible for advanced bookkeeping and accounting services for the firm’s business and non‐profit clients. A Certified Government Finance Officer, she has over 20 years of accounting and business experience.
Michael Landes is a new Technology Solutions Consultant. He works on hardware and software updates, inventory management and responses to workstation issues for our TSC clients. He has over 15 years of public‐facing customer experience spanning a wide range of industries including investments, insurance, law enforcement and the military.
Casey Moore will serve as a Staff Accountant and will provide a range of audit and accounting services. She has a Bachelor of Arts in Business Administration from the University of Florida.
Carrie Sweeten works in our Gainesville office as an Administrative Assistant. She performs a wide range of office duties including payment entry, collection letters, expense entry, Visa statement reconciliations and meeting coordination. Carrie brings to the firm nearly 15 years of administrative, coordination and accounts receivable experience.
Recent promotions at the Gainesville office are announced as well.
Smoak Allen, a CPA, has been promoted to Audit Manager. He will manage and monitor auditing and accounting projects and client engagements. He will also be responsible for all phases of each assignment to include: planning meetings, fieldwork supervision, testing, risk assessment evaluation, and engagement approach development. Smoak has been with the firm for six years. He received a Master in Accounting and a Bachelor of Business Administration from Saint Leo University.
Michelle Blakemore has been promoted to Lead Accountant. She will perform advanced bookkeeping and accounting services and provide guidance for a variety of accounting software products for the firm’s business and non‐profit clients. Michelle has been with the firm since 2017 and holds a Bachelor of Science in Accounting from the University of Florida.
Josh Ellis has been promoted to Senior Technology Solutions Consultant and will provide advanced technical consulting to James Moore’s TSC clients. Josh has been with the company since 2014 and has an Associate of Science in Computer Programming and Analysis from Florida Gateway College.
Hannah Ginn, a CPA, has been promoted to Tax Manager. She will manage and monitor tax projects for individuals and businesses and will be responsible for interacting closely with clients to provide innovative tax planning, consulting and compliance services. A member of the firm since July 2017, she holds a Master of Accounting and a Bachelor of Business Administration in Accounting from Georgia Southern University. She also earned a Bachelor of Business Administration in Management from the University of Georgia.
Jordan Irvan has been promoted to Associate Accountant at our Gainesville office, where she will assist with research and preparation of individual and corporate tax returns. Jordan has been with the firm since 2018 and received her Bachelor of Science in Business Administration: Finance & Accounting from the University of North Carolina Charlotte.
Ning Liu, a CPA, has been promoted to Associate Accountant and will be responsible for performing a variety of responsibilities for the Auditing department including planning, fieldwork, data extraction testing, and preparation of final audit reports. Ning has been with the firm since 2018. He received a Bachelor of Science in Business Administration: Accounting from the University of Florida.
Brendan McKitrick, a CPA, has been promoted to Senior Manager. He will be responsible for planning and executing auditing and accounting projects and client engagements. Brendan received his Master of Science in Information Systems and Operations Management and his Bachelor of Science in Accounting from the University of Florida.
Kyle Paxton, a CPA, has been promoted to Senior Accountant. He will prepare personal, corporate, and partnership tax returns. He will also be responsible for directing and reviewing the tax work of Associate Accountants and Staff Accountants. Kyle has worked at James Moore since 2013. He received his Master of Accounting and his Bachelor of Science in Accounting from the University of Florida.
Dakota Spencer, a CPA, has been promoted to Audit Manager. He will manage and monitor auditing and accounting projects and client engagements. He will also be responsible for all phases of each assignment including: planning meetings, fieldwork supervision, testing, risk assessment evaluation, and engagement approach development. Dakota has been with James Moore since 2017. He holds a Master of Accountancy and a Bachelor of Business Administration from Kansas State University.
Davis Waldorff has been promoted to Associate Accountant and will assist with research and preparation of individual and corporate tax returns. Davis has been with the firm since 2018 and earned his Master of Accounting and his Bachelor of Science in Accounting from the University of Florida.
James Moore, founded in 1964, is a regional firm with offices in Daytona Beach, DeLand, Gainesville and Tallahassee, Florida. The firm specializes in providing tax, auditing, accounting and controllership, technology solutions, consulting, human resources and wealth management services.
