About Us
Our Mission
Our mission is to help clients maintain financial viability in the present, while taking a proactive approach to achieve future goals. This requires open communication to reach an understanding of our clients' needs through research and sound analysis. The Hoffman Eells Group is dedicated to meeting these goals with high standards of excellence and professionalism. We have been a staple of the area's business community for years, and pride ourselves on the level of esteem we have earned.
Our dedication to hard work has earned the respect of the business and financial community in and around the area. We believe this to be a direct result of our talent and responsiveness to our client base. Whether you are a current or prospective client, rest assured that individuals and businesses who choose The Hoffman Eells Group receive competent and timely advice.
Our Team
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Nicholas P. Eells, CPA, CGMA
Managing Partner
Nick began his career in accounting at our firm, formerly Dragon Benware & Company, in August 2000 after graduating from Clarkson University with a Bachelor’s Degree in Accounting. He then left our firm and took a seven year hiatus from public accounting. During that time, Nick worked as an accountant and later as the CFO of Hoosier Magnetics, Inc. in Ogdensburg, NY.
Nick returned to our firm in February 2009 as a partner, bringing with him a wealth of experience from the business world. Since returning to our firm, he has helped to grow and expand our services. In addition to being a CPA, Nick also owns and operates HEG Financial Services.
Nick’s diverse experience in both the private and public sectors allows him to provide our clients with a unique perspective. He specializes in business consulting, tax planning, and asset management.
Nick is a member of the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants and is the President-Elect of the New York State Society of CPAs. He currently serves as treasurer on the boards of both Citizen Advocates and the Alice Hyde Medical Center in Malone. He is also a past board member of the Malone YMCA and the Malone Minor Hockey board. He lives in Malone with his wife and three children.
Douglas L. Hoffman, CPA, PFS
Retired/Advisory Partner
Doug has been with the firm since January 2007, when his firm, Hoffman CPAs, merged with Dragon Benware & Company, becoming the largest firm in the North Country. He earned a Masters of Business Administration from the University of Connecticut and a Bachelor of Science in Accounting from SUNY Plattsburgh. In addition to being a Certified Public Accountant, Doug has also received the designation of Personal Financial Specialist (PFS) by the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants.
Doug works with a wide variety of clients, from small family-owned businesses to high net worth individuals, with their estate, tax, business, and personal planning, and has done so for more than 35 years. Prior to starting his own CPA firm, he worked for Price Waterhouse & Co., and was the controller for the Lake Placid 1980 Olympic Winter Games. He also has the experience of operating thirteen businesses between his wife, three children, along with his own entities within their family enterprises. Doug is a consultant and principal in American Business Transitions, Inc., an organization dedicated to helping family business owners. He is also a partner in Adirondack Asset Management, LLC, a personal financial planning and investment management firm.
Kristina M. Bennett, CPA
Partner
Kristina graduated Cum Laude in 2005 from the University of Vermont with a B.S. degree in Business Administration with a concentration in Accounting. She became a Vermont CPA in June 2008 and New York State CPA in December 2017. She is a member of the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants, Vermont Society of CPAs and the New York State Society of CPAs.
Kristina provides auditing and tax services to the firm’s clients with a specialization in Canadian companies and U.S. citizens living abroad.
Lucy W. Carroll, CPA
Partner
Lucy received a Bachelor of Arts Degree in 1970 from a small liberal arts college in Virginia and continued her studies in New York, receiving a Bachelor of Science Degree in Accounting in 1987 from the State University of New York College at Plattsburgh. Following graduation, she joined the firm and in 1990 she became licensed to practice as a certified public accountant in New York State.
Her responsibilities include overseeing the tax segment of the firm’s tax practice for a variety of clients including manufacturing corporations, real estate partnerships, professional corporations, limited liability companies, individuals, estates and trusts.
She has more than 30 years of experience in accounting and tax services and is now focused almost exclusively on taxation, including estate and trust taxation. She is a member of the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants and the New York State Society of Certified Public Accountants.
Active in the local community, she has served on the boards of numerous not-for-profit organizations including Planned Parenthood of the North Country, New York, Literacy Volunteers of Clinton County, New York, the Plattsburgh Memorial Chapel, Inc., and Behavioral Health Sciences North.
Fernando C. Casue, CPA
Partner
Andy received his Bachelor of Science in Accounting from Polytechnic University of the Philippines. He joined the firm in November 2011. Prior to this, he worked for six years as an Audit Senior in the Philippines and the Bahamas, gaining experience in the audits of multinational corporations.
Andy's areas of expertise include audits, reviews, and compilations of financial statements. He has experience working with companies in various industries such as manufacturing, government, not-for-profit, and construction. Andy is also licensed as a CPA in both NYS and the Philippines.
Cheryl E. Jeror, CPA
Partner
Cheryl earned a Bachelor of Science in Accounting from Kaplan University and an Associate of Science Degree in Accounting from Clinton Community College. She joined the firm part-time in July 2012, moving to full-time in June 2013.
Cheryl's areas of expertise include financial statement preparation, business and individual income tax preparation, and payroll tax/sales tax compliance reporting.
Cheryl is also a member of the Malone Chamber of Commerce Board of Directors.
Holly A. Morrow, CPA
Partner
Holly joined the firm in 1990 upon graduation from the State University of New York College at Plattsburgh with a Bachelor of Science Degree in Accounting. In 1992, she became licensed to practice as a Certified Public Accountant in New York State. Her responsibilities include overseeing the auditing and accounting segment of the firm’s practice including planning, executing, supervising and reporting on financial and compliance audits for corporations, pension and welfare plans, not-for-profit and governmental agencies. These responsibilities include the preparation of full disclosure financial statements; management reports; budget, contract and grant compliance analysis; and internal accounting control system design analysis.
Holly's responsibilities also include supervising audit staff members and performing review of work papers, financial statements and reports prepared by staff members for compliance with professional pronouncements, regulatory requirements and stringent firm standards. She completes a minimum of 40 hours of continuing professional education annually with an emphasis on topics directly related to current accounting and auditing issues, governmental, not-for-profit and employee benefit plan issues, taxation and professional ethics.
Holly is a member of the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants and the Adirondack Chapter of the New York State Society of Certified Public Accountants. She currently serves as Treasurer of the Kent Delord House Museum and as a member of the Board of Directors of Pine Harbour Assisted Living.