Robert Wright
Founder
Robert (Bob) Wright founded Wright Ford Young & Co. in 1973 and is currently the firm’s managing director. Besides those duties, he spends most of his client time in the management service area of the practice. He actively consults regarding strategic planning, mergers and acquisitions, tax planning, and planning regarding major transactions.
J. Scott Young
Senior Audit Partner
Scott Young (Scott) has 34 years of experience in public accounting, including 22 at Wright Ford Young & Co. He and his wife, Sharee, have three children. Scott’s passion is fly-fishing for wild trout in Northern California, especially on the Lower Sacramento River near Redding.
Kahni M. Bizub
Co-Managing Partner
Senior Tax Partner
Kahni M. Bizub is the partner in charge of the tax practice for Wright Ford Young & Co. Kahni has been with the firm for over 25 years – her entire career. She has a Master of Science degree in Taxation from Golden Gate University. Her lasting commitment to the same firm for her entire career sets her apart from most CPAs and demonstrates her dedication, service, and consistency to her clients and team members.
Tim Stephens
Co-Managing Partner
Senior Tax Partner
Tim Stephens is a partner in Wright Ford Young & Co.’s Tax Department. He has served the tax and accounting needs of real estate developers, managers and operators, as well as clients in manufacturing, distribution, and various professional service industries. His range of experience includes transaction analysis, planning, and structuring for partnerships, limited liability companies, disregarded entities and corporations.
Jeff Myers
Co-Managing Partner
Senior Audit Partner
Jeff Myers is an audit partner who specializes in serving closely held companies. Jeff obtained his Bachelor of Science degree in accounting from California State University, Fullerton, in 1995 and has been a licensed CPA since 1997. Prior to joining Wright Ford Young & Co. in 2007, Jeff was most recently an audit director with the Irvine office of McGladrey.
Marisa Alvarado
Estates & Trusts Partner
Marisa Alvarado is a senior partner in Wright Ford Young & Co.’s Tax Department. She has practiced more than 30+ years in public accounting, the last 20 specializing in tax planning and compliance for Ultra High Net Worth clients in the entertainment industry as well as closely held businesses and their owners, trusts, private foundations and not-for-profit entities.
Hani Sharestan
Partner
Hani Sharestan started his career in public accounting in 1993 with a large national firm, before joining Wright Ford Young & Co. in 2006. He obtained his master in business taxation (MST) degree from the University of Southern California and his undergraduate degree from California State University, Fullerton.
Richard Klopfstein
Partner
Richard Klopfstein has more than 30 years of public accounting tax experience prior to joining Wright Ford Young & Company in 2012. His experience includes over 20 years managing his Orange County tax and business advisory C.P.A. firm, preceded by five years with KPMG in both the Orange County and San Francisco offices.
Dean Smith
Partner
Dean Smith is an accounting and audit partner, whose career in public accounting began upon obtaining his Bachelor of Science degree from Eastern Illinois University in 1979. Dean spent over 27 years of his career at McGladrey, LLP, holding titles from staff accountant through partner before joining Wright Ford Young & Company in 2012.
Kevin H. Wiest
Partner
Kevin is an Orange County native and has been with Wright Ford Young & Co. since 1999. Kevin’s focus is on helping high net worth individuals minimize their Estate Tax exposure as well as helping families who have recently lost a loved one navigate the complex maze of income and estate tax reporting obligations.
Andrew P. Bautista
Partner
Andy joined Wright Ford Young & Co. in 2000. He obtained his B.S. in Accounting from California State University, Fullerton. Andy serves a variety of clients providing tax consulting, planning and compliance services for Service Providers, Real Estate Developers and Operators, Manufacturers and Distributors as well as individuals.
Richard A. Huffman
Partner
Richard Huffman has nineteen years of experience in public accounting, four with a national firm and nine with Wright Ford Young & Co. Richard specializes in tax consulting, planning and compliance services for family-owned businesses as well as distributors, service providers and manufacturers.
Cyndi LeBerthon
C.P.A., Audit Partner
Cyndi LeBerthon is an audit partner with more than 15 years of public accounting experience and almost 10 years in private industry working in accounting. Cyndi received her Bachelor’s Degree in Business Administration with an emphasis in Accounting from California State University, Fullerton. She is a Certified Public Accountant licensed in California and a member of the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants and the California Society of Certified Public Accountants.
Darin Schott
Director
Darin Schott has been with Wright Ford Young & Co. since 1998. Darin earned his Bachelor of Science degree in accounting from California State University, Fullerton in 1995 and a Master in Business Administration degree from Chapman University in 1997. He is a Certified Public Accountant licensed to practice in California and a member of the California Society of Certified Public Accountants.
Janet Kim
Director
Janet Kim is a Tax Director at Wright Ford Young & Co. She graduated Cum Laude from California State University, Northridge with a Bachelor of Science in Accounting, started her public accounting career in 1995, and joined Wright Ford Young & Co. in 2007.
Susan Courtney
Director
Susan Courtney is an Audit Director with Wright Ford Young & Co. Susan earned her Bachelor of Science degree in accounting from California State University, Northridge. She has over 20 years of experience in auditing and accounting for companies in various industries in both the private and public sectors including high-tech, insurance, manufacturing, service, construction and employee benefit plans.
Melodie Reguero
Director
Melodie Huber Reguero has more than 25 years of public accounting tax experience. She began her career with Arthur Young & Co. in 1978 and worked for two other CPA firms. Melodie joined Wright Ford Young & Co. in 2008.
Ryan Working
Director
Ryan Working is a Director in Wright Ford Young & Co’s. Tax Department. Ryan joined the firm upon his graduation from college 2004. His range of experience includes tax compliance and planning services for a wide variety of closely-held and family-owned corporate businesses and their owners, private foundations and public charities. Ryan manages the not-for-profit tax filings for the firm. He also is a specialist in multi-state tax filings, and has assisted clients in a variety of state tax matters.
Thomas S. Kim
Director
Thomas Kim is a Tax Director in Wright Ford Young & Co.’s tax department. Since joining the firm in 2004, Thomas has been providing tax planning and compliance services for closely-held businesses and individuals in various industries including real estate, manufacturing, distribution, retail, restaurant, and professional service firms. Thomas is proficient with consolidated corporations and multi-state entities, and he represents clients in tax matters before the Internal Revenue Service and various states.
Scott Robinson
Managing Director
Scott Robinson joined Wright Ford Young & Co. in April 2018 as the Firm’s first Managing Director of Business Development. Scott is an accomplished and results driven executive with over 27 years of progressively responsible experience in business-to-business sales, marketing, client relationship management, and new business development with companies ranging from multi-national consulting firms, publicly traded software ventures, and private entrepreneur entities.
Cheryl Schaffer
Partner Emeritus
Estates & Trusts
Cheryl Schaffer retired from Wright Ford Young & Co. in June 2018 after 15 years of commitment to her clients. As Partner Emeritus, Cheryl continues to be a resource to the Firm on a limited basis. Her valuable knowledge and insights around estate planning and tax structuring will continue to serve our clients and facilitate the further growth of our Estates & Trusts practice.
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