Our Team
Efficient Team of Tax & Accounting Specialists
Jamie Finnen-Gratzer, E.A. – Owner
Jamie Finnen-Gratzer is the Owner of Optimal Financial Group. She began her career with the firm in 2009, joining in 2013 as an associate. Jamie is a sought after speaker at financial and real estate investment workshops throughout the United States. Her clients range from real estate investors, doctors, lawyers, construction contractors, internet marketers, and multi-million dollar companies.
Jamie received a Graduate Certificate in Accounting in 2005 and her Master of Accounting and Financial Management in 2006. Jamie has been in the accounting field for over a decade, spending most of her professional career in public accounting. A graduate of Old Dominion University in 2002, she has been an associate with the firm, concentrating her practice in the areas of tax preparation and real estate strategies. Jamie prepares and oversees the tax preparation of over 1200 clients and manages the professional staff within The Optimal Financial Group organization.
She is an Enrolled Agent with the Internal Revenue Service, a certified Quickbooks Pro Advisor, certified in QuickBooks Financial Software, and a National Registered Tax Preparer.
Jamie is married with four children who are actively involved in baseball and wrestling.
Ashley Garcia – Operations Manager
Ashley Garcia joined the Optimal Financial Group in 2018. Ashley has over 16 years of experience in Office Administration/Management. She has worked as an Office Manager for a Podiatric Practice in Poughkeepsie, NY, and as an HIM Coordinator in Stamford, CT, and Marketing Representative for an Imaging company in The Woodlands, TX.
Ashley and her husband are loving parents and enjoy spending time with family.
Tony Henning - Tax Manager
Mr. Anthony W. Henning is an Army Veteran. After serving in the Gulf War he received his Bachelor of Science in Accounting degree in 1996 from Ferris State University, Grand Rapids, Michigan. Anthony has been in the accounting field for over 28 years, having spent most of his professional career as a partner in a Michigan based public accounting firm performing governmental audits, school academy audits, not-for profit audits, business accounting, consulting and tax return preparation. Tony retired as a licensed CPA in the State of Michigan in the early summer of 2019.
Later in the summer of 2019, Tony and his wife moved to Texas to be closer to their family and grandchildren. After a short retirement, Anthony wanted to get back to work again doing what he loves and found himself doing accounting work and tax preparation as a team member at The Optimal Financial Group starting in May of 2020. Since then, Tony met the IRS requirements to be an EA (Enrolled Agent) and was named the Tax Manager for the firm in the summer of 2022.
Nicole Rice – Tax Preparer
Nicole joined Optimal Financial Group in September 2019.Nicole graduated from Sam Houston State University in 2010 with a Bachelor’s Degree in Finance and in Banking. After spending some time as a stay-at-home mom, her accounting & finance positions include the Hospitality, Healthcare, Oil & Gas and Not-for-Profit industries. After managing the H&R Block in Magnolia, Texas for 2 years, where she prepared taxes as an AFSP Tax Preparer, she joined TaxPro Services in December 2018.
Nicole enjoys helping her clients find their best possible tax situation, understanding that each client is as individual as a snowflake. She enjoys spending time with her daughter & dog, reading and crafting.
Keith Emmert - Tax Preparer
Keith joined The Optimal Financial Group in 2022. He is returning to accounting after spending many years in academia. Keith holds a Bachelor’s degree in Accounting from Texas A&M University and a Master’s in History from Sam Houston State University. He is also a former Certified Public Accountant licensed in Texas. Keith spent most of his career working in the oil & gas industry, however his experience is quite varied. Keith is also a U.S. Army veteran. When not working for our fantastic clients, Keith enjoys spending time with his wife, kids, and dogs.
Arpita Gohil - Tax Preparer
Arpita Gohil joined The Optimal Financial Group in 2023. Arpita received her Bachelor’s in Accounting and Banking from Sardar Patel University, India. Arpita started her career in the hospitality industry. After getting married she moved to the United States and started her career working as a seasonal Tax Preparer with H&R Block in 2018. She had the opportunity to work with a couple of CPA firms before she landed her current position with The Optimal Financial Group.
She enjoys Public Accounting for a variety of clients and to help them save their hard earned money.
Alton Shillingford - Tax Preparer
Alton Shillingford joined The Optimal Financial Group in 2023. Alton received his Bachelor’s degree in Accounting and Masters of Science in Account from Prairie View Texas A&M University. He has experience in public accounting, small and mid-size companies.
In his free time, he likes to exercise and spend time with his family.
DONNA DAVID - Bookkeeping Consultant
Prior to coming to Optimal in 2014, Donna David worked for fourteen years at several CPA firms and owned her own bookkeeping businesses for five years. She has worked with hundreds of small businesses assisting with their bookkeeping and tax preparation needs. Donna’s education includes an associate’s degree from Victoria College and 54 hours towards an accounting degree at Sam Houston State University. She has been an Advanced Quickbooks ProAdvisor since 2011.
Pat Mickesh - Bookkeeper
Pat Mickesh joined The Optimal Financial Group in 2022. Pat received her Bachelor of Business Administration in Accounting degree from the University of Iowa. Out of college, she moved to Chicago where she worked first in Public Accounting. She then worked for several years in a couple of large Corporations as a Staff Accountant. For 25 years, she owned a Tax Preparation and Accounting firm for small businesses and individuals in the Chicago area.
She retired and moved to Denver to be closer to family. She decided to get back into accounting by working with Optimal for the last couple of years. She is an avid pickleball player and can be found on the courts when not at work.
Sthefania Rodriguez - Bookkeeper
Sthefania Rodriguez joined The Optimal Financial Group in 2023. She completed her Associates degree in Accounting from La Havana, Cuba in 2010. She has 10 years of experience as a full-charge bookkeeper. And has worked for several CPA firms where she has gained auditing, financial, and project accounting expertise. After relocating to Texas, she attended Lone Star College to further assist her understanding of several accounting platforms.
Sthefania lived in Belgium for many years, which helped her learn French as a third language. She moved to Texas in search of a warmer climate and has found the perfect place to raise her daughters.
Krysten Gabriel - Payroll Administrator
Krysten Gabriel joined The Optimal Financial Group in 2020. She has over 15 years of experience in HR, Payroll, and Bookkeeping. Her roles have included support, management, and leadership in day-to-day operations. She is passionate about building relationships with clients and problem solving.
Krysten enjoys spending time with her family and being outdoors.
