We’re a client-focused team comprised of talent and integrity.

Bryan Bennett

Bryan assists clients with a wide array of accounting, tax planning, and compliance issues and works with attorneys, CPAs, CFOs, CEOs, and business owners with valuation services related to income and estate tax matters, fairness opinions, litigation issues, and various other valuation-related matters. Bryan graduated Magna Cum Laude from Texas Tech University with a Bachelor’s degree in Business Administration. He is also a Certified Public Accountant, AICPA Accredited in Business Valuations (CPA/ABV), Certified in Financial Forensics (CFF), and a Certified Valuation Analyst (CVA). Bryan began his accounting career in 2000 and is presently involved in numerous business associations. He is licensed by the Texas State Board of Public Accountancy (TSBPA), the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants (AICPA), the Texas Society of CPAs (TSCPA), the Lubbock Chapter of TSCPA, the National Association of Certified Valuation Analysts, and the Lubbock Chamber of Commerce, AICPA accredited by American Business Valuations, and Leadership Lubbock.

Emily Bennett

Emily graduated Summa Cum Laude from Texas Tech University in 2002, where she earned her Master’s Degree in Accounting, She was awarded Top Business Student in the Rawls College of Business and was recognized as the Top Junior Student at Texas Tech University by the Golden Key Honor Society. She obtained her Certified Public Accountant license in 2003.

Rick Trice

Rick assists clients with a wide array of accounting, tax planning, and compliance issues. Rick began his accounting career upon graduation from Texas Tech University in 1979. Rick graduated from Texas Tech University with a Bachelor’s degree in Business Administration. He became a Certified Public Accountant in 1983 and he is licensed by the State of Texas as a Certified Public Accountant. Rick is the NCAA Statistician for the Texas Tech Football Team and Men’s Basketball Team. Rick has been involved in the community for several years and has served the community by being involved in numerous different civic activities including: State Director, Taxpayer Education Committee, and Management of Accounting Practice Committee for the Texas Society of CPAs; as President and Director for the South Plains Chapter of TSCPA and Metropolitan Lubbock Rotary Club; as Director for the Great Plains Lions Eye Bank, Inc.; as Treasurer and Director for the American Cancer Society; as Director for Camp Fire Council; as member of the Professional Division and Metro Division for United Way; and as Director for the Lubbock Country Club.

Tory Morris

Tory is a 1998 graduate of Texas Tech University, where she earned her Bachelor’s degree in Accounting. Tory assists clients in tax return preparation, as well as a wide variety of tax and business planning areas, and is a QuickBooks Expert.

Stephen Manning

Stephen returned to Lubbock in 2013 after beginning his career in Midland. He is a graduate of Texas Tech University, where he earned his degree in Accounting with an emphasis in Taxation. He is also a member of the Texas Society of CPAs. Stephen assists clients in tax return preparation as well as a wide variety of tax and business planning areas.

Jennifer Pruitt

Jennifer began working in public accounting in 1999 as a receptionist/assistant and is a valuable asset to all of the staff at our firm. Jennifer attended Collin County Community College, South Plains College and Texas Tech University.

Kelly Horney

Kelly graduated from McMurry University with a Bachelor’s degree in Accounting. She then went on to Lubbock Christian University where she earned her Master’s Degree in Business Leadership with a Concentration in Accounting. She began her career in accounting in 2014, where she specialized in Utility Taxes and Non-profit Organizations. Kelly loves to be involved in the community and is the current President of the West Texas Women’s CPA Society. Kelly assists clients in all tax matters and is always willing to discuss new and future opportunities with a client.

Veronica Licerio

Veronica graduated Cum Laude from Wayland Baptist University with a Bachelor’s degree in Business Administration specializing in Accounting. She enjoys being highly involved in her local community and is a member of Sigma Beta Delta, a scholastic honor society. She began her career in public accounting in 2016. Veronica is detail-oriented and specializes in partnership and corporation tax returns. Outside of being an accountant, she loves being with her family which consists of her husband and three children. They enjoy boxing and mixed martial art fight nights.

Selina Gomez

Selina began her college education at Dallas Community College. She graduated from Wayland Baptist University in 2018 with a Bachelor of Business Administration specialized in Accounting. She continues her education to pursue a Master of Business Administration with a dual specialization in Accounting and Project Management. Selina loves to spend her spare time with family.

Meagan Gordon

Meagan graduated Cum Laude from Lubbock Christian University in 2020 with a Bachelor’s of Science in Accounting. She is currently working on her Master’s Degree and plans to sit for the CPA Exam. She loves spending time with her family, binge-watching TV shows, and taking her dog on walks in her free time.

Sam Louder

Sam graduated from Texas Tech University in 1981 with a Bachelor’s of Business Administration in Accounting. He loves golfing, playing tennis, and traveling (when time allows). Sam enjoys friendships with his coworkers and helping his clients achieve their financial goals.

Shelbie Nacole

Shelbie has a Bachelor’s in Business Administration and a Master’s in Accounting, with an emphasis on tax, from Texas Tech University. She enjoys spending time with her family and traveling the country. Shelbie loves helping clients with tax planning and preparing their tax returns.

Thomas Stunkard

Thomas is a professional whose journey spans healthcare and finance. Originally an RN with a Master’s degree, he seamlessly transitioned into tax accounting, armed with an additional Master’s degree in accounting. Starting as a registered nurse, he honed healthcare management skills but ultimately followed his passion for numbers. Today, Thomas is a tax accountant, offering a unique perspective and leveraging his keen eye for detail to provide the best outcomes for all clients.

Donna Tucker

Donna worked in banking for 30 years before joining Joe Hays in 2007, where she learned everything she knows about accounting. She enjoys traveling with her husband and spending time with her family, especially her four grandsons. She loves working with clients, whether it’s during tax season or assisting with bookkeeping and payroll.

Ashley Childers

Ashley is currently attending South Plains College for her AAS in Business. She is new to the accounting industry but enjoys assisting with preparing tax returns and throughout the office. Outside of work, she spends time with her family, coaches and referees youth basketball.

Lynette McCormick

Lynette graduated from Lamesa High School in 1965 and attended Draughn’s Business College for a year. She enjoys hanging out with her girlfriends and finding new places to dine out. Her favorite part of working in accounting is the personal relationships she has with clients.

Dirk Graves

Dirk received his undergraduate degree from Texas Tech University in 2017 and is currently studying for his Masters at Texas A&M Corpus Christi. He enjoys bowling and watching Texas Tech and NBA sports in his spare time. His favorite part of accounting is the structure and insight, learning about new industries and how they operate.

Michelle Gibson

Michelle attended McNeese State University in the early ’90s, studying to become a Broadway actress. In 2011, she enrolled at The University of Texas in Odessa and graduated with a Bachelors in Business Administration Accountancy in May 2015. She currently holds treasurer positions for three non-profits. She’s a bit of a foodie and enjoys discovering new restaurants.

Dana Seal

Dana graduated from Texas Tech University with a Bachelors’s of Business Administration. She enjoys four-wheeling, hiking, and playing games with her friends and family. Her favorite part of accounting is helping clients with tax preparation and auditing.

Kim Bairrington

Kim graduated from Texas Tech University with a BBA in Accounting in 1981 and became a certified CPA in 1984. Outside of work, most of her time is spent with family. She has three daughters and five grandchildren. She enjoys going to concerts when her favorite artists come to town.

Alyssa Alcala

Alyssa is currently attending Howard College in Lamesa. Her free time is mainly spent with family, and she loves being outdoors. She enjoys volunteering and coaching youth basketball. Her favorite part of working in accounting is the wide variety of clients she gets to meet.

Scott Leonard

Scott attended Texas Tech University to obtain his BBA degree in Accounting, graduating Summa Cum Laude in 1984. He has five delightful grandchildren who help him stay young at heart. He also truly enjoys stalking wild trout in Colorado streams in his spare time. His favorite part of working in accounting is having the ability to find solutions for situations that are troubling for his clients.

Mark Whitley

Mark attended Texas Tech University from 1999-2003 and decided to enter the workforce. He enjoys spending time with friends and family and working on projects around the house. He is new to the accounting world but loves any opportunity to keep our office organized and our staff on task.

Dale Newberry

Dale graduated from Texas Tech University in December 1966 as a finance major. He later took two additional courses at Abilene Christian College and the University of Houston. He’s a veteran of the U.S. Navy. He enjoys being in the great outdoors hunting and fly fishing in Colorado. His passion is helping farming clients with their annual tax planning and preparation.

Michelle Esquibel

Michelle attended South Plains College and Texas Tech University. She loves spending time with her family and being outdoors. She is new to the accounting world but has always been an essential asset in the administrative realm and looks forward to getting the opportunity to build relationships with our clients.

Linda Taylor

Linda attended Angelo State University and San Angelo Business College where she completed studies in basic accounting. Golf is her passion, and she enjoys playing on new courses every chance she can get with friends and family. She enjoys assisting clients with their bookkeeping, payroll, and tax returns.

Marcos Urias

Marcos is attending Texas Tech University with a major in accounting. He was born in El Paso but spent most of his life in Lubbock. He enjoys being involved in his church and coordinating game nights with his friends. He entered the accounting world immediately after high school and enjoys the opportunity to receive a more hands-on experience through Bennett Bennet & Trice, PLLC.

Morgan Patterson

Morgan is currently attending Texas Tech University, with a major in accounting, and an eye fixed on a Master’s degree. She enjoys spending time with her family and friends and loves to ride her bike through the countryside in her hometown. She is looking forward to the vast variety of clients she will get to work and build relationships with. She is new to the accounting world but is ready to tackle any situation handed to her.

Cari Kinsey

Cari is a graduate of Texas Tech University, where she earned a degree of Bachelors of Business Administration in Accounting in 2002.  She obtained her Certified Public Accounting License in 2004.  Cari has extensive accounting and tax experience in both public and private sectors.  She volunteers her time and talents to many community organizations and non-profits.

Makenzie McCormick