Nicole Creese

 

Enrolled Agent (USA) and Fellow Chartered Accountant (UK)

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Nicole graduated from the University of Alaska Anchorage with a Bachelor’s degree in Accounting. She started her accounting career with KMPG in the United Kingdom, specializing in audit. Having qualified as a Chartered Accountant (the UK equivalent of a CPA), she worked in various senior accounting and management roles for the University of Nottingham for 12 years. Since returning to the US, Nicole has specialized in tax preparation for individuals and businesses and earned an Enrolled Agent qualification awarded by the IRS. She settled in Venice in 2015 and worked as an office manager for a major national tax preparer and as an accountant for a local CPA practice. Nicole is a fluent Russian speaker. Her diligence, attention to detail, and dedication to providing the highest standards of customer service have made Blue Jay Tax an award-winning leader in the provision of professional tax services in Venice.

Evelina Kutepov

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Certified Public Accountant (CPA)​

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Evelina graduated from the University of South Florida with Bachelor's degrees in both Accounting and Finance. She has worked in a variety of accounting roles since 2011, including five years as a financial analyst for Sarasota County, where she has lived since 1999. She qualified as a CPA in 2018 and has dedicated the subsequent years to supporting small-business owners with a range of accounting services including bookkeeping and payroll. Evelina speaks Russian as a second language. Away from work, she loves spending time at the beach with her husband and two beautiful children. With a wealth of accounting experience, a meticulous approach to her work, and a keenly developed eye for detail, Evelina is a valuable asset to Blue Jay Tax.

Judi McKenna

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Having grown up in the charming village of Lisle, Illinois, Judi graduated from the Benedictine University with a Bachelor’s degree in Accounting. Her long and varied accounting career started while she was still at high school and worked part time for a local bank, and continued through her college years. Following three years at the Illinois Department of Revenue as a revenue auditor, Judi has spent most of her career with family-owned accounting firms for which she has performed bookkeeping, payroll, and general accounting functions, as well as specialized services including auditing and forensic accounting. She moved to Sarasota in 2005 and, while continuing her accounting work, she became a licensed realtor in 2006. Judi’s broad range of accounting skills and her analytical approach make her a valuable member of the Blue Jay Tax team.

Robert Schwartz

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Certified Public Accountant (CPA)

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Robert is a Certified Public Accountant with over 40 years’ experience in practice. He has started two successful accounting firms specializing in small business tax issues, the needs of the retirement community, and investment counseling. He has also represented taxpayers on complex and challenging tax examinations. A graduate of Brooklyn College in New York City, his practices have been in small upstate New York communities where his dedicated care for his clients’ needs was greatly appreciated. He has prepared over 7,000 tax filings including all states and representing corporations, partnerships, non-profits, estates, trusts, and individuals. He brings to Blue Jay Tax his extensive experience, patience, and knowledge.

Leon Creese

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Leon was born and raised in the south of England. He joined the Royal Air Force at the age of 19, and after graduating as an officer from the RAF College, he completed pilot training. He flew the C130 Hercules in support of UK and allied military and relief operations around the world, and later, as a Central Flying School Accredited Qualified Flying Instructor, he taught students and instructors at the RAF’s multi-engine flying training school. He became well known as a display pilot in the UK and Europe, where he flew the King Air, Dakota, and Lancaster in front of millions of airshow spectators. After 25 years of service, he recognized it was time for a change and retired to Venice, Florida. Leon holds an executive role in Blue Jay Tax where his expertise in leadership and desire to achieve and maintain the highest possible standards will drive his focus on the development of the business.