People Matter Most
We are people, and we’ll treat you like people: listening, asking questions, and taking time to understand your business, your goals, and your needs.
Vision
People have more time, freedom, and money to do what they love!
Core Values
Community:
People Matter Most
Integrity:
Driven by Excellence
Stability:
Freedom to Pursue Opportunity
Innovation:
Modern Solutions and Growth
History
Pictured here is Montgomery & Company’s first sign, hung on the front porch of 133 Augusta Court in Greenville, SC- Mr. Montgomery’s childhood home. The living room was Joe’s first office, and there he operated the business for a few years before growth required him to take over the dining room as well. From the very beginning, Joe knew that his service to people mattered more than the location he served them from. So, while he was not known for his fancy office at first, he was known for saving his clients every possible tax dollar he could, and the company still works hard to provide this same service to their clients today.
As a college student, Joe started earning money doing taxes for fellow students. After college, he got married, worked as a staff accountant, put in several years with the Big Four, and took on the challenge of private accounting, working as a controller for a hydro-electric company. When the company asked him to relocate, Joe and Lynn didn’t want to leave Greenville, so that’s when they took a leap of faith and hung the sign on their door. Thanks to their hard work, the home business experienced double- and triple-digit growth for the first 5 years. In 1998, Joe bought a commercial building at 941 Pleasantburg Drive where he continued expanding his team. After two decades there, the company built a beautiful office and relocated once again off of Roper Mountain Road. They have a team of bookkeepers, tax experts, payroll specialists, financial planners, CFOs, and business coaches that work to maximize client success. Thirty-five years later, and the focus is still the same. People matter.
Most CPAs are known for high integrity, reducing tax burden, and keeping books straight. They do a lot of looking in the rear-view mirror, not out the windshield. Montgomery & Co does a lot to come alongside me and my team and help lead them forward.
–Joseph B.
Enough about us. We would love to meet you!
Let’s Talk
Joe Montgomery, Jr., CPA
Managing Partner
Joe founded Montgomery & Company, CPAs in 1994. Joe received a bachelor’s degree in accounting in 1986 from Bob Jones University and became a CPA in 1989. Prior to branching out on his own, he worked locally as a senior accountant at Deloitte and as a corporate controller at Consolidated Hydro.
The firm Joe built started out with humble beginnings. While it has come a long way since the days of card table-desks and self-produced radio ads, his vision and passion have remained the same: to serve clients by helping them build efficient and profitable businesses. Today, Joe is the managing partner and team mentor for the firm. He has served as a board member of several churches and nonprofits, keeps up with the ever-changing demands of technology, and continues to study the ins and outs of the tax code in order to best serve clients.
Joe enjoys spending time with his family, including international scuba trips with his wife, Lynn, and beach trips with the grandkids, who affectionately call him “Pop Joe.” He occasionally takes time off to revisit his roots in New England, snowmobile, and pick up a bit of childhood nostalgia in a bottle, i.e., real maple syrup. His simple pleasures include cappuccinos, sci-fi, and cribbage.
Joe Montgomery, III, CPA, CPBC
CXO | Partner
Greenville native Joe3 joined the firm in 2011. He is well known as both a creative and entrepreneurial accountant. As a certified business coach and business development professional, he speaks regularly at small business community events and is the main visionary in our firm. Joe is always looking forward to what’s coming next and helps guide our clients to reach the next level of success. Joe serves our clients with building their ideal tech stack, creating workflows for their businesses, showing them how to identify their big goals and take the next steps to achieve them. He has unique experience as a fractional CFO, in team building, and he loves to build true relationships and partnerships with his clients.
While not at work, Joe gives back in his local church and spends all the time he can with his wife and two boys. Joe loves the outdoors, building things with his hands, and disconnecting through travel. Favorite places to frequent are Ashville, NC, Bloomington, IN, and Daufuskie Island, SC.
Andrew Hudson, CPA
Lead Advisor
Andrew is an Upstate native, but after he received his accounting degree from Bob Jones University, he relocated and worked for nearly a decade in an Atlanta-based firm.
He now lives on Greenville’s Eastside and does what he loves: building relationships, helping entrepreneurs develop a better understanding of their businesses, and showing clients how to save money on their taxes. Andrew is passionate about seeing clients achieve their dreams because he himself grew up in a family running a small business and knows firsthand what it takes to make a company succeed.
Andrew and his wife Ann have two children, Asher and Adeline. When he has time, he enjoys backpacking in the woods, camping with his family, and building trains with the kids.
Chris Jennings, EA
Advisor
Chris grew up in Columbia and graduated from USC with a political science degree. He spent 10 years gaining valuable experience in management and operations roles in retail, automotive, and commercial construction.
When his company transferred him to Greenville, he met his wife Carol! Not long afterward, he started taking accounting classes at night and earned a Master of Professional Accountancy degree from Clemson University. Chris focuses on business and personal tax issues and has assisted clients with IRS and state tax audits.
Outside of the office, Chris plays the part of “Rodeo Dad,” supporting his children as they participate in events with local and state rodeo associations. He and Carol and have been married for over 20 years, and their family is always looking forward to the next trip to the mountains or the beach.
Shelia Morgan, CPA
Advisor
Sheila is a native of North Carolina and a graduate of the University of North Carolina at Asheville with a degree in accounting. She has over thirty years’ experience providing accounting and tax services to business owners and individuals.
She lives on Greenville’s Eastside along with her husband Greg and daughter Rebecca. She spends a lot of time on the pool deck as a “Swim Mom” and USA Swimming Official. Outside of the office, she enjoys reading, working puzzles, and singing in church choir. She is also the treasurer of the Eastside Eagles Athletic Booster Club.
Cheri Morrow
Accountant
Our quality control accountant grew up in Florida and goes by Cheri. She’s grown to love SC, though she still visits the Sunshine State regularly to see her family. Cheri graduated from USC with a Bachelor’s in Accounting and is currently pursuing her Master’s in Forensic Accounting. She’s worked in private and public accounting and specializes in accounting for law practices. Cheri is a quick study and is known for her attention to detail.
When she isn’t working or studying, she enjoys kayaking, skiing, reading, playing video games, and spending time with her husband and animals: three cats and two Australian Shepherds. She has a variety of hobbies, but she says sleeping is her favorite pastime. After all, intelligent people stay up late and need more sleep.
Lorraine Dorsey
Accountant
Lorraine joined our bookkeeping team in 2018. She’s a vivacious hard worker, and adds a unique twist to our Montgomery & Co. family with her British accent and affinity for hot tea. Lorraine completed her education and gained most of her experience in accounting while living in Brooklyn, NY. When they decided life in the South was a better pace for achieving their goals and dreams, Lorraine and her husband picked up their lives and moved down to Greenville.
As an accountant, Lorraine displays her drive in her high-quality, fast-paced work ethic, but outside the office, she does competitive kickboxing. In her early years, you could also find her vying for the top spot in track and field events like the 100m, 200m, and cross-country two-mile race, as well as the shot put and javelin. To say she’s competitive is an understatement, but we consider her drive and motivation an invaluable asset to our team.
Kimberlee Dix
Client Accountant
Kimberlee moved to South Carolina in August 2013 with her husband and son. Growing up in a family of accountants, it was only obvious that she follow suit and work in the family accounting firm in Michigan. With the years of experience and knowledge in both private and public accounting, she is able to help clients around any sector of business.
Moving away from the long, cold winters of Michigan allows Kim to enjoy golfing nearly year-round. She also enjoys swimming, hiking, and spending time with her family. When not enjoying the outdoors, you can often find her reading, or cooking elaborate meals for family and friends.
Lucy Cruz
Accountant
Lucy grew up in the small town of Camaguey, Cuba and moved to the U.S. in 2009. Coming from a family of all medical doctors, she originally planned to attend Emory School of Medicine in Atlanta, but as it turned out, life had other plans. She eventually reassessed and earned an Associate’s Degree in Accounting from Greenville Tech in 2018. She fell in love with accounting and decided to further her career at Southern New Hampshire University, where she obtained her Bachelor of Science in Accounting in 2019. Lucy is currently working in our company while also pursuing her Master’s degree in Management Accounting. She is extremely driven and a great asset to our team!
Lucy enjoys spending time with her family, whether that’s doing karaoke tournaments with them or hanging out at their lake house together. When she is able, she likes to visit her family back in Cuba and indulge in an authentic childhood comfort food: Cuban rice and beans.
Wallis Thompson
Accountant
Wallis was born and raised in Greer, SC. She graduated with honors from Columbia College with a BA in Business – Accounting Concentration. Prior to joining Montgomery and Company in 2020, she gained experience in corporate accounting and bookkeeping in a variety of industries including manufacturing, construction, fintech, and hospitality.
When she’s not digging into financials, she enjoys long walks with her standard poodle, ultralight backpacking, longboarding, concerts, and refinishing furniture.
Sadie Cure
Onboarding Specialist | Client Accountant
In 2014, Sadie joined Montgomery & Company as an administrative assistant. Her desire to learn, her hard work, and her continued study of the profession quickly landed her in a bookkeeping leadership role. Still heavily involved in our bookkeeping team, Sadie now manages the enrollment and setup for all of our new clients as well. She’s passionate about teaching our clients how to use our innovative software.
Staying busy outside work is not a problem for Sadie! She’s happily married to her high school sweetheart Benj, and they have a new little one, as well as a fur baby, Bitsie, whom we’ve adopted as our CMO (Chief Morale Officer).
Alyssa Montgomery
Executive Assistant
Alyssa has been a member of the Montgomery team since 2011. Though most of her work is behind the scenes, her influence and attention to detail show up all over the office. She helps our firm run smoothly by handling a mix of client communication, project management, and scheduling. Alyssa is also a vital part of our firm’s developing culture: she keeps us well supplied with nerf ammo, culinary delicacies, and fun events. Prior to working with Montgomery & Co., she taught ESL in Spain, picked up awesome customer service skills from a local Chick-fil-A, and served as an events coordinator at a nearby university.
Alyssa is an old soul with a deep love for and interest in things of the past. She rarely has free time, and she’s unusually intentional in her relationships and community involvement. She spends most of her evenings and weekends nurturing and teaching her boys about what matters most in life: people.
Sarah Cronin
Administrative Assistant
Sarah grew up in New Jersey before moving to Greenville, South Carolina where she went on to attend the University of South Carolina and graduate with a bachelor’s degree in mass communications. Sarah enjoys writing, reading, being outdoors, and spending time with her family and friends.
Isaac Montgomery
Administrative Assistant
Isaac has lived in Greenville, SC all his life. He is currently pursuing his Bachelor of Accounting from Liberty University, expecting to graduate in May 2022. Isaac also enjoys computer programming which allows him to build custom software for M&C and solve various IT related issues.
Isaac is also pursuing his master’s belt in Tang Soo Do in which he’s been training for 16 years. Most of Isaac’s free time is spent training and teaching at the studio, and his long-term goal is to open his own martial arts studio that can be used to minister to adults, teens, and children alike.
Cherie Benwire
Administrative Assistant
Cherie is a Michigan native, and she has worked in the public accounting sector for over 20 years in office administration. Her friendly personality and hard work ethic have helped her meet the needs of clients and greatly benefit those around her. Having been married for over 30 years, Cherie and her husband live in Travelers Rest with their dogs, Mocha & Prince. Their kids, TJ & Amanda, are grown adults that enjoy visiting home and going on many kinds of adventures with their parents. When Cherie is not at work, she enjoys spending time with her husband, Lee. They have been training in Tang Soo Do for the past 5 ½ years and in October of 2020, they earned their black belts. She also enjoys walking, hiking, and taking trips with her kids and dogs to explore new trails, places, and cultures.
Minerva Cespedes
Accountant
Minerva was born in Havana, Cuba and immigrated to the US when she was 5. She has lived in Chicago, Miami and now lives in Travelers Rest. She has been in the accounting field for over 35 years and enjoys working with clients to help them navigate there accounting needs. Married for 37 years, she and her husband, children and now, foster children, enjoy the wonders of the mountains and waterfalls in the Upstate, it is what brought them to this area! Minerva enjoys yoga, especially in the open. Her favorite thing is the beach and will eagerly take a day trip to Folly. Minerva and her family spend their free time at their church, working in their yard with their garden and chickens and walking around Greenville and its many Farmers Markets and weekend events. Apart from the children, Minerva’s family includes her parents still in Miami, her brothers and many nieces and nephews both in Miami and New York, this means that weekend travel is surely on the horizon! Minerva enjoys life to the fullest and considers herself extremely blessed especially at M&C!