Steve Miksis, CPA- LinkedIn Profile

is a Senior Litigation Services and Audit Manager. He is also a trained and experienced mediator in workplace conflicts, family owned businesses and succession planning. Steve’s expertise in Litigation Services includes: forensic accounting for business and personal loss analysis and fraud investigations. When not counting beans, Steve regularly hikes in the beautiful hills of Sonoma County and is an avid mountain climber. He is also active in the community as a regular speaker to high school ‘Life Skills’ classrooms, and as a working board member of Worth Our Weight, a culinary apprentice  program for at-risk. He is also an appointed member of the Sonoma County Superior Court No-Fee Mediation Program and is a panel member of the Sonoma County Bar Association’s Fee Arbitration program.

Cecil Humes, CPA- LinkedIn Profile

as the firm’s pension and profit sharing plan specialist, Cecil develops plans and performs plan administration for many of the firm’s defined contribution plan clients. He also works with many of the firm’s clients on employee benefits planning. Cecil joined Linkenheimer in 1964 after graduation from San Diego State University with a major in accounting. He has completed many graduate tax courses at Golden Gate University in San Francisco. In 1969 Cecil became a partner in the firm. From 1976 – 1983, he served on a statewide committee for the California Society of CPAs on insurance coverages for accountants, including two years as chairman. From 1984 – 1986, he served on the American Institute of CPAs national committee for insurance coverage's for accountants. Cecil and his wife Gerry have three adult sons. He is a member of a local Rotary Club where he serves as treasurer.

has over 10 years experience in tax and business consulting. Carl has extensive experience in corporate taxation, individual taxation, family tax matters, quarterly tax projections, filing for specific federal and state tax credit, tax inventory accounting, penalty abatement requests, tax representation and deferred tax calculations for financial statements. The focus of his work is implementing strategies that save his clients money by minimizing their overall tax burden. These strategies may be employed on a short or long-term basis, depending on the needs of the client. He also works closely with the owners and executives of these companies to help achieve their personal financial objectives.Carl graduated from California State University, Sonoma, with a Bachelor of Science degree in Accounting and Finance, earned his Master’s degree in Taxation from Golden Gate University, and is a Past President of the Institute of Management Accountants Redwood Empire Chapter. When not at work, Carl enjoys spending time with his wife Nicole and three children Kyle, Emily and Naomi.

Alan Bertozzi, CPA-

After graduating from college at UC Davis with a BA in Political Science, Alan migrated down to Southern California and landed a job as  an NBC page. Following NBC, Alan embarked upon a career at advertising copywriter. His first advertising job was with Olgivy and Mather, where he primarily worked on the Microsoft account. After 12 years in advertising and life in Southern California, Alan and his wife decided it was time to follow their dreams and move back up to Northern California. They chose Santa Rosa, and Alan decided to use the relocation as an opportunity to become a CPA. Linkenheimer LLP welcomed Alan into the firm during the 2003 tax season. Since then, Alan has specialized in personal and entity taxation and consulting. He recently passed the AICPA’s ABV (Accredited in Business Valuation) Credential  Exam to offer valuation services to Linkenheimer’s clients. 

Carli Ortiz, CPA- LinkedIn Profile

Carli Ortiz joined Linkenheimer in November 2011 as one of the firm's tax managers.  She is a CPA licensed in California, and has been practicing in public accounting since graduating from Sonoma State University in 2004 with a Bachelor of Science degree in Financial Management.  Carli specializes in family owned businesses, individual taxation, estate and trust taxation and planning, and general business accounting services such as inventory costing and set-up of accounting systems. Carli is a member of various professional organizations including the American Institute of CPA’s and the California Society of CPA’s. She is currently a member of the Redwood Empire Estate Planning Council, and is also part of a local professional group which specializes in tax preparation and estate planning for Registered Domestic Partners.  Carli also serves on the board of the Child Care Planning Council of Sonoma County.

Carli grew up in Colusa, a small northern California town known for its farming and hunting, and settled in to Sonoma County after graduating from Sonoma State and marrying Jorge, a fellow Sonoma State grad.  In her free time, Carli keeps busy with her three children, Natalie, Jackson, & Alia, and enjoys taking them to enjoy all the events and activities that Sonoma County has to offer.

Christi Valencia, CPA- LinkedIn Profile

joined Linkenheimer in May 2006 and is the firm’s Audit & Accounting Manager. She graduated from Sonoma State University in 2002 with a Bachelor of Science in Business Administration with an emphasis in Accounting. Christi specializes in the industries of manufacturing and retail distribution. She has extensive experience in preparation of financial statements through audits, reviews, and compilations; inventory cost accounting; assisting clients’ controllers and other financial personnel with interpretation and application of audit and accounting principles; and preparation of 401(k) compliance audits.  She also has previous experience with vineyard and winery accounting. Christi currently serves as part of Linkenheimer’s internal quality control committee, and trains all Linkenheimer staff in audit and accounting related work.

Christi is a member of the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants, the California Society of Certified Public Accountants, and the Association of Certified Fraud Examiners. She is also a member of the Sonoma County Alliance and the Santa Rosa Young Professionals Network, and volunteers with the Sonoma County Deputy Sheriff’s K9 Association.Christi was born and raised in Santa Rosa. She currently resides in Windsor with her husband Juan, a Sonoma County Deputy Sheriff, sons Matteo and Roman, and their dogs Rocky, Sophie and K9 Cougar. Christi enjoys reading, shopping, working out, hiking local trails, wine tasting, and spending time with family and friends.

Buffi Frazier

is our controller and firm administrator.  She earned her MBA from UC Davis in 2006, and came to us in late 2008 after working for two years for Fireman’s Fund Insurance Company as a Senior Financial Analyst in the accounting department.  Buffi is a mom to a beautiful daughter and wife to a wonderful husband.  Her interests include reading classic novels, cooking anything and everything from scratch, and traveling. 

Matt Melchiori- LinkedIn Profile

joined Linkenheimer after graduation from Sonoma State University with a Bachelor of Science degree in Accounting. While attending college, Matthew worked for Arrow Financial Services and Fetzer Vineyards where he was able to observe many different aspects of how businesses operate and grow.He practices in tax, and auditing and accounting, and works on many of Linkenheimer’s consulting engagements. Whether it is working with clients to prepare their individual tax returns, or helping business owners with their cash flow, forecasting, or general business advice, he tries to build short and long-term strategies to meet his clients’financial and personal needs while minimizing their tax exposure.

Matt enjoys spending his free time with his wife, Cherie, son, Anthony, daughter Gianna and friends. In the summer months, you will often find them at the lake or on the Town Green in Windsor. During the winter months he tries to make as many trips to Truckee as he can to visit family and enjoy the snow.

Jennifer Schiavone- 

joined Linkenheimer in November 2007.  She attended Santa Rosa Junior College and Sonoma State University, and graduated in May 2005 with a degree in Business Administration with an emphasis in Accounting.  Jennifer has worked in public accounting since 2004 and has experience working in both tax and audit, review, and compilation engagements.  Jennifer was born in San Jose, CA and moved to Sonoma County in 1988.  She lives along the Russian River with her husband and two daughters, and enjoys photography, traveling, sewing, and spending time with her friends and family.

Deborah Baggett- 

graduated from Cal State University, Hayward, in 1989 and moved to Santa Rosa shortly thereafter.  As a staff accountant for six years followed by twelve years as Controller of a local title company, Deborah’s experience in both public accounting and private industry gives her a valuable and highly relevant perspective of operations from both sides of the management table.At Linkenheimer, Deborah coordinates many compliance-related projects including quarterly/annual reporting of payroll and sales tax and yearly business property statements.   Her background in all aspects of accounting gives Deborah a strong foundation, benefitting our clients and our Linkenheimer team of professionals. In her leisure time, Deborah enjoys gardening, camping, the company of family and friends and a good Scrabble competition.

Chris Jones- LinkedIn Profile

is the Marketing and IT Director for the firm. He joined in Linkenheimer in 2001 after graduating from Chico State University with a Degree in International Marketing. He enjoys taking part in cooking competitions, traveling with his wife Jeniffer, son Sawyer and dog Jack and watching hockey.

Joelle Smith-

joined Linkenheimer in January 2011.  She graduated from Sonoma State University in 2011 with a Bachelor of Science in Business Administration with an emphasis in Accounting.She volunteers at Fritz and Sbragia wineries during events such as Passport Weekend, Barrel Tasting, and Burning Dam. During the summer she plays on at least two co-ed slow-pitch softball teams. Joelle was born and raised in Geyserville, California.  Joelle enjoys reading, volleyball, softball, fishing, hiking, and spending time with friends and family along with her dogs and cats.

Anya Skrypka-