As KLR’s CEO Paul Oliveira reflected at our annual firm summit last year, “Our people are what sets us apart.” 280 people make up KLR, working with fearless drive on a daily basis to provide world-class service to our clients. Here’s a look at six of those 280 who go above and beyond each and every day to help KLR flourish.

Tara

Office supervisors are the unsung heroes of a workplace, working tirelessly behind the scenes to make operations run smoothly and efficiently. That’s certainly Tara Capasso, KLR Providence’s Client Management and Office Supervisor. Whether she’s stocking the supply shelves, managing renovations, or coordinating a big move, Tara does it all. Starting at KLR as an Administrative Assistant in 2014, Tara has since earned the roles of Practice Management Specialist in 2020, and, in 2022- Client Management and Office Supervisor. Tara’s upbeat nature, friendly demeanor and strong work ethic have helped KLR soar in countless ways.

As Partner and Chief Operating Officer Henry Silva says, “We could have never moved into our Newport office without Tara. She went above and beyond to take care of everything without interrupting our team. We did it all in 30 days, and that’s all thanks to Tara.”

Stephanie

Like Tara, Tax Supervisor Stephanie Wheeler steps up to help her team succeed in a myriad of ways each day.

“I constantly get compliments from clients about Steph,” Partner and Director of Nonprofit Services, Sandy Ross says. “She has helped our team grow and reach new heights, I’m incredibly thankful for her.”

Beyond her superb client service, Stephanie has stepped up and made a centralized location for training materials, filled a temporary staffing gap, and helped the team meet deadlines, all while juggling the many demands of motherhood.

As Sandy puts it “She has an amazing level of patience”.

Lynn

Senior Manager Lynn Beck shares Stephanie’s poise and dedication. Just take it from Partner and Director of Tax Services, Laura Yalanis.

“Lynn does an amazing job staying connected with the team and our clients,” remarks Laura. “She prioritizes face-to-face time with the staff she is training and does it all with a very positive attitude.”

Lynn’s efforts highlight her commitment to community and teamwork—two values that are indispensable in a successful business.

Esther

Teamwork means everything to Executive Search Coordinator, Esther Cho. Starting as a part-time Administrative Assistant at KLR in 2016, Esther soon became a favorite of KLR clients and colleagues.

As KLR Executive Search Partner Ed Blum says, “Esther became an invaluable part of our team naturally through her hard work and efficiency.”

Esther is the go-to person for all the recruiters and has hands-on involvement with the entire search process. Beyond her incredible work ethic, she is known for her humor, enthusiasm and fabulous baking skills.

Maurice

It’s one thing when colleagues recognize hard work, but even better when clients do.

As one client says, “Life got much easier once we started working with KLR and Maurice.”

Senior Manager Maurice Bortzfield consistently performs in an efficient and effective manner, using his excellent communication and technical skills to meet deadlines, train colleagues and deliver incredible results.

Partner Ken Freshman says candidly, “Watching Maurice is like a master’s class in how to run a job”

Ashley

Another client echoes these sentiments about working with KLR, specifically Senior Manager Ashley Leonard.

“KLR is the most responsive, available CPA firm I’ve ever worked with” he says. “Ashley and the KLR team have helped us in countless ways.”

As partner Anthony Mangiarelli says, “Ashley does an amazing job. Her recent work on a 401k plan led to a strong relationship with the client and has led to a ton of engagements.”

As the saying goes, “A dream doesn’t become reality through magic; it takes sweat, determination and hard work.”

We are so proud of these six colleagues and their incredible efforts to make KLR the best of the best.

As Paul reflects, “This is just a small selection of the many stories that our clients and team members experience while collaborating with KLR. We are dedicated to recognizing these remarkable client experiences and expressing our gratitude to our team for their tireless efforts each and every day.”

“May you be proud of the work you do, the person you are and the difference you make.”