EMPLOYEE PROFILES

Cynthia G. (Cindy) Sechrest, CPA, PFS
Cindy has over 25 years experience in the financial services field. She founded her CPA business, Sechrest and Associates, CPAs, in 1990, was a partner in a financial planning firm from 2000 to 2002, and then founded her wealth management practice, Sechrest Financial Services, LLC, in 2003. Cindy brings a high level of analytical, business, and tax expertise to clients’ financial issues. She is a Registered Investment Advisor in Massachusetts. She also provides customized advice for clients who need to improve their accounting information systems and is a Certified QuickBooks® Professional Advisor. 

Cindy founded Sechrest and Associates, CPAs in 1990 and the firm has received the highest possible Quality Review rating for all of its peer reviews since the firm began. The Middlesex West Chamber of Commerce named Cindy its "Business Person of the Year" for 2004. In addition to being an active member in the Massachusetts Society of CPAs, American Institute of CPAs, and Middlesex West Chamber of Commerce, Cindy presents a seminar each year for Boston College's Small Business Development Center on Small Business Accounting and Taxes and has also served on the Trinity Episcopal Church Finance Committee. Cindy is also a Corporator for the Board of Advisors at Emerson Hospital in Concord, MA. Cindy has a passion for nature and the outdoors and she is Past President of the Board of The Discovery Museums and is currently Treasurer of the Organization for the Assabet River. 

Cindy is a graduate of Wake Forest University (BS degree), North Carolina State University (MS degree) and Bentley College (Certificate in Accountancy).

Jarod J. Bloom, CPA, CFP™
Jarod attended Boston University as a Trustee Scholar and graduated Summa Cum Laude from BU's School of Management in 1995 with a B.S. in Business Administration and a Concentration in Accounting. He has over 11 years of experience in the financial service and wealth management industries, beginning his career in the Audit and Tax departments of Price Waterhouse in Boston, MA, working for 5 years as the Vice President of Financial Planning at a wealth management firm in Concord, MA, and now working in both the CPA and wealth management practices at Sechrest. He earned his CPA certification in 1998 and his CFP™ designation in 2002, and he is a member of the Massachusetts Society of CPAs and the Financial Planning Association of Massachusetts. Jarod has been a guest financial columnist for Medical Economics magazine, appeared as a financial analyst on Fox-TV, and co-authored a chapter in Wealth Strategies, a wealth management book.

Jarod is a resident of Arlington, MA and is a Big Brother with the Big Brothers of Massachusetts Bay, a member of the Acton-Boxborough, MA chapter of Rotary International, and active with the Middlesex West Chamber of Commerce. Jarod is an avid yoga practitioner and piano player, and he's also a professional swing dancer who has taught, competed, and performed throughout North America, Europe, and Asia.

James M. (Jim) Connor, CPA, CFP™, PFS
Jim has over thirty years of business and financial experience in industry, public accounting, and consulting. He is a licensed CPA and a CFP™ practitioner. After graduating from Boston College and completing his active military duty, Jim began a 22-year career at GE’s Aircraft Engine Group in Lynn, MA, where he held several positions of increasing responsibility including Financial Analyst, Operations Analyst, and Project Finance & Contracts Manager. Since 1995, Jim has consulted in the areas of taxation, accounting, and financial planning to individuals, small businesses, nonprofits, and public accounting firms. He began consulting for Sechrest in December 2004. Jim has a B.S. Degree in Finance from Boston College and a Masters Degree in Personal Financial Planning from the College for Financial Planning. He attended Bentley College to acquire additional training for his CPA designation and has also taken courses in Boston College's graduate business program. Since 1996, Jim has been an Enrolled Agent licensed by the U.S. Treasury Department and a Certified Management Accountant. In 2004, the AICPA awarded Jim its Personal Financial Specialist (PFS) credential. 

Jim served on the Board of Directors of the Mystic River Watershed Association as the organization's Communications Director from 1992-1996. During this time, he wrote grant proposals, developed a business plan, edited An Alewife Area Ecology Guide for local citizens, and published articles and essays on environmental topics, as well as personal tributes to local citizens, in The Boston Globe, The Arlington Advocate, and other newspapers. Jim has been married for over 35 years and lives in Arlington, MA with his wife and their 2 daughters.

Katherine F. (Kathy) Kiezulas
Kathy graduated from Middlesex Community College with an Associates Degree in Business Administration in 2004. At Middlesex, she was the Arts and Entertainment editor for the college's newspaper where she interviewed rock stars and other entertainment celebrities. Kathy is working on completing her graduate studies in accounting at Bentley College en route to becoming a CPA, and she has been with Sechrest since 2003. Kathy resides in Carlisle, MA and enjoys music and sports and is a huge movie buff. Kathy assists with all areas of Sechrest's client service and office management operations.

Walter S. (Steve) Sechrest
Steve was educated as an engineer with a B.S.E.E. from North Carolina State University and an M.S. in Engineering Management from the University of Missouri. After a 20-year career in the United States Air Force as a fighter pilot, Communications Engineer, and Program Manager on research and development programs, he retired as a Lt. Colonel. Steve then joined Raytheon Corporation for 17 years and worked primarily in satellite communications and air traffic control systems in Program Management. Steve has served as the Business Manager for Sechrest & Associates, CPAs since 2003 and has been applying his management skills to Sechrest Financial Services, LLC while also serving as the firm's Compliance Officer. He provides the interface with Fidelity Investments, the custodian for our clients' investment accounts, and assists in the sturcture and execution of clients' Investment Philosophies and portfolio structures.

Steve and Cindy reside in Acton, MA where they raised three children and have been involved in the community since 1982. Sailing and power boating are Steve's favorite activities.