Meet the Crisler Team

Mike joined the Nashville tax practice of Ernst & Whinney in 1988 and for six years served clients in a variety of industries while specializing in real estate. His clients included multi-state and multi-national companies, as well as privately-owned and emerging businesses. He advised clients on tax aspects of choice of entity, acquisitions and divestitures, helped start-up and pre-IPO companies, and assisted troubled companies with restructuring and debt workout issues.

Mike left Ernst & Young in 1994 to join Healthcare Realty Trust, a real estate investment trust.  He headed corporate tax, financial planning and information technology, and helped structure and implement investment transactions and management operations. He designed and implemented the company’s tax and information reporting compliance and financial forecasting systems. He also selected and led the implementation of the company’s property management and accounting system and later led its integration with the company’s asset management system. He left as a senior vice president and founded Crisler CPA, PLLC in 2003.

Mike is a Tennessee Certified Public Accountant and a member of the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants, the AICPA Tax Section, the AICPA Personal Financial Planning Section, and the Tennessee Society of Certified Public Accountants. He is a Chartered Global Management Accountant. Mike serves on the board of directors of a subsidiary of a Fortune 50 manufacturer of construction, mining and other equipment. Mike graduated from Belmont College in 1988 with a Bachelor of Business Administration degree.

Darla’s early work experience was in retail and office jobs beginning in 1984. She and Mike first worked together in one such office in the credit and collections business in 1985. Darla worked as a secretary for the law office of Kelly & Jones in Hendersonville from 1989 through 1991. In 2000 she co-founded a small business in Hendersonville and operated it through 2006 when she sold it to join the firm on a full-time basis.

Darla is responsible for a broad range of administrative activities, including scheduling appointments, processing completed work, billing and collecting fees, payroll, and most other internal accounting functions for the firm.

Aaron joined Crisler CPA, PLLC in January 2018.

Previously he worked 5 years in public accounting.  He provided tax and accounting services to a variety of clients including real estate companies and professional service businesses (doctors, lawyers, etc.).  He loves the challenge of working through a client’s financial data to be sure their tax situation is optimized to the fullest extent.  Aaron holds a Certified Public Accountant’s license in Tennessee.

Aaron is a graduate from Western Kentucky University with a Bachelor of Science in Accounting.  In his free time, he loves to travel and visit theme parks far and wide.

Lucas completed an internship with Crisler CPA, PLLC in 2018. He later joined full-time at Crisler CPA, PLLC in January of 2020. He helps clients in all areas of the firm. This includes federal and state tax issues, accounting, and payroll services.

Lucas is a member of the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants. He graduated from Lipscomb University in 2018 with a Bachelor of Business Administration in Accounting. Lucas then completed his Master of Business Administration in 2019 from Western Kentucky University.

Kati is a German national who moved to the United States in 2001.  She worked for small to midsize CPA firms for nine years and joined Crisler CPA, PLLC in February 2023.

Kati graduated Magna Cum Laude from the University of Texas at San Antonio with a BBA in Accounting in 2012.  She is a member of the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants and is working toward professional certification.

Rich graduated from Cumberland University in 2012 with a Bachelor’s degree in Business Administration with a concentration in Accounting. He joined the firm in January 2013.

Connie joined a local Nashville practice in 1987 and for 12 years serviced clients primarily through tax, retirement plan management, and bankruptcy law covering various industries including banking, entertainment and not for profits.

Connie left public accounting in 1999 to join Mike at Healthcare Realty Trust, a real estate investment trust (REIT).  She started as a senior in corporate tax and ultimately became the VP of Tax before her departure in 2023 after a tenure of 24 years.

Connie is a Tennessee Certified Public Accountant and a member of the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants and the Tennessee Society of Certified Public Accountants. Connie graduated from Tennessee Technological University in 1987 with a Bachelor of Business Administration degree and has maintained her CPA license since 1991

Violeta Christova is a dedicated Tax Accountant currently working at Crisler CPA in their Brentwood office. With a strong background in tax and accounting, Violeta has extensive experience from her previous roles at Deloitte, where she served as a Tax Accountant. Her responsibilities included collaborating with the compliance team to prepare federal and state income tax returns for Pass-Through Entities, providing support with Schedule K-1s, reconciling GL tax accounts, managing long-term travel expenses, assisting with tax refunds, reviewing various financial documents and foreign tax forms, and liaising with the IRS and Secretary of State. Violeta holds a Master’s degree in Accounting and Controlling and a Bachelor’s degree in Accounting from the University of National and World Economy in Bulgaria. She is currently pursuing her CPA certification.

Victoria studied Accounting and Human Resources at UTC, then continued her education at MTSU where she received her BBA Bachelor of Business Administration, majoring in Management.  She has had the privilege of experiencing numerous tax seasons through the firm and learned from each of them.  She recently took on the role of the Human Resources department and looks forward to learning more. She is highly motivated, driven, and dedicated to Crisler CPA, PLLC, as it is her family’s business, and she plans to continue to help it grow and become even more successful. 

In 1978, Shelli began her career in accounting working for Schilli Motor Lines, Inc. She started as a Staff Accountant and progressed to the position of Special Projects Accountant, working closely with the Assistant Controller and Controller. 

In 1983, Shelli moved South where she became Assistant Accounting Manager at The Senior Labs, Inc. in Hendersonville. Soon after, she was Office Manager/Bookkeeper with The Bill Goad Company, where she worked for 10 years. She then began a new venture as Controller for Gambler Inc. and, then, Bailey Chassis Company. During this period of time, she married, raised 4 children, managed a soccer team, revived an annual Gallatin Indoor Soccer Tournament, and somehow still managed to find time to grow professionally.

As the Controller for Advanced Design Concepts, Inc. (2004), she played a pivotal role in helping Advanced Design Concepts grow from a “start-up” into a thriving commercial structural steel and metal fabrication business. Shelli’s duties involved all aspects of the business, including HR, Insurance Administration, OSHA Safety Programs, as well as establishing accounting structures that integrated with computer software. 

Shelli joined Crisler CPA, PLLC in Oct. ‘09 as a Staff Accountant. Her responsibilities include the full range of services provided by the firm with an emphasis on assisting small/medium-sized business with bookkeeping, business taxes, payroll and payroll taxes, corporate tax, and accounting software packages. She has worked extensively with all versions of QuickBooks, Peachtree, Timberline and MRI Accounting Software packages. 

Shelli is our Bookkeeper and Payroll Specialist. Her knowledge of business administration and bookkeeping requirements for the Manufacturing Industry, Construction Industry, and Property Management Industry has served her well in developing individualized bookkeeping systems that work for a client’s specific needs so they can focus on what matters most – growing their business. She is also a Tennessee Notary Public.