Meet the Crisler Team
Our Team
-
Michael W. Crisler, CPA, CGMA
Member and Chief Manager
-
Tammy S. Brewer
Senior Associate
-
Sheila L. Arrington
Administrative Assistant
-
Aaron Cockrill, CPA
Senior Associate
-
Alexander W. Davis, CPA
Manager
-
Anne M. Osborn
Billing Administrator
-
Brian J. Marler
Senior Associate
-
Danny R. Poland, CPA
Director Emeritus
-
Darla C. Crisler
Manager
-
David M. Crisler
Associate
-
Richard L. Johnson, III
Senior Associate
-
Rochelle R. DeGraff
Bookkeeper
Michael W. Crisler, CPA, CGMA
Member and Chief Manager
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.
Tammy S. Brewer
Senior Associate
Tammy commenced her career in 1985 with First Tennessee Equipment Finance Corporation where she worked as a financial analyst until 1991. While in that position, she was responsible for daily cash management of this $500 million (assets) company, including the scheduling and approval of cash receipts and disbursements, and for operation of the company’s financial reporting system. From 1991 through 1993, Tammy was a financial services specialist at Volunteer Corporate Credit Union, where she was responsible for selling $10 million per week of CDs and otherwise actively participated in the company’s marketing function.
Tammy got her first professional tax experience with H&R Block in 2005 and 2006. As a tax associate, she prepared individual and small business tax returns, researched complex tax issues, and assisted with administration of the tax practice. Tammy broadened her general accounting experience starting in 2007 with her next job as a senior accountant/facility controller with Vanguard Financial Services. In that role, she was responsible for performing monthly closing procedures for four nursing facilities, preparing interim financial statements, payroll and management reports, and performing on-site corporate compliance reviews. Tammy joined the firm in February 2008. Her responsibilities include the full range of services provided by the firm with an emphasis on individual income tax. She is also a Tennessee Notary Public.
Tammy graduated from Tennessee Technological University in 1985 with a B.S. Degree in Business Administration.
Sheila L. Arrington
Administrative Assistant
Aaron Cockrill, CPA
Senior Associate
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.
Alexander W. Davis, CPA
Manager
Alexander graduated from Middle Tennessee State University in 2011 with a Bachelor’s degree in Business Administration and passed the CPA exam in 2011. He went to work for a predecessor of the firm in 2011 before joining the firm upon the firm’s acquisition of that predecessor in November 2012.
Alexander’s responsibilities include the full range of services provided to the firm with an emphasis on individual and small business accounting, tax and payroll services. He became licensed as a Tennessee CPA in 2012 and is a member of the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants and the Tennessee Society of Certified Public Accountants.
Anne M. Osborn
Billing Administrator
Prior to joining the firm, Anne served in the United States Air Force, which instilled in her a strong sense of responsibility and the ability to thrive in diverse environments. She then served as Accounting Manager at Second Harvest Food Bank of Middle Tennessee, where she honed her ability to manage complex financial systems while making a positive impact on the community. She combines bookkeeping experience with a compassionate nature and a knack for problem-solving. Anne cheerfully juggles several responsibilities.
Brian J. Marler
Senior Associate
Brian joined a predecessor to the firm in 2006, working as a tax return preparer and clerk. Brian’s responsibilities include preparation of individual and business tax returns and light computer support
Danny R. Poland, CPA
Director Emeritus
Darla C. Crisler
Manager
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.
David M. Crisler
Associate
David joined the firm in April 2017. He works primarily in the firm’s individual tax area but is also active in the firm’s information technology, marketing, and administrative departments.
He graduated with honors from the University of Tennessee, Knoxville in 2013 with a Bachelor of Arts in English. He subsequently pursued a Master of Arts in English at Belmont University, which he plans to complete someday, but he has placed those plans on hold for the time being to focus on his work at the firm.
Richard L. Johnson, III
Senior Associate
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.
Rochelle R. DeGraff
Bookkeeper
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.