Team Member Spotlight

Congratulations to our team members on their recent promotions! Ten team members have been promoted to the next level in their careers and are being recognized for their hard work and contributions to the success of the firm.

Andreas Nitsche, CPA was promoted to Supervisor in BPW’s tax department. He received his bachelor’s degree from UCSB in Economics and Accounting. Andreas joined BPW’s tax department in 2012. He grew up in Baruth, a small town in Germany south of Berlin. In his free time, he enjoys riding his bike and deep sea fishing.

Colleen Roberts was promoted to Administrative Assistant III in the firm’s administrative services group (ASG). Colleen joined BPW in 2006 as a part-time employee in ASG and enjoys the camaraderie and teamwork she experiences working with the firm. She was raised in Paso Robles and is one of ten children. Outside of BPW, Colleen enjoys spending time with her husband of 23 years and their two children. She also volunteers in a Bible education program.

Devin Witt, CPA was promoted to Supervisor in the tax department. He started with BPW as an intern in 2012 and joined the firm as a Staff Accountant after graduating from UCSB with a Bachelor of Arts in Business Economics with an emphasis in Accounting. Devin spearheads the internship program at BPW and is on the golf committee for CalCPA. Currently, he is working on his Master’s in Taxation at Golden Gate University. Devin enjoys outdoor activities such as hiking, climbing, Frisbee golf, surfing and working on his golf game. He is originally from Ojai, California.

Gisela Rodriguez, CPA was promoted to Supervisor within BPW’s tax department. Gisela was born in Mexico, but she grew up in Santa Barbara. She has a bachelor’s degree in Accounting from San Diego State University and is currently working on her Master’s in Taxation at Golden Gate University. Gisela joined BPW in 2015 and enjoys working on a variety of engagements, particularly partnership taxation. In her free time, Gisela likes to travel and go hiking. She has been involved with the VITA Program at Santa Barbara High School and is currently looking for new volunteer opportunities.

Joanie Thompson was promoted to Marketing Coordinator. Born and raised in Santa Barbara, Joanie started with BPW’s marketing department in 2012. She received a bachelor’s degree from UCSB in Business Economics and a post-graduate certificate in Marketing Management from Humber College. Currently, she is working on a Design Media certificate through UCSD Extension to expand her knowledge of graphic design. In her time outside of BPW, Joanie enjoys spending time with her son and playing with their dog at the beach. She also likes working on a variety of creative and DIY projects.

Jodie Nakajima was promoted to a Level II Staff Accountant in the firm’s tax department. Originally from Monterey, Jodie received her bachelor’s degree in Economics and Accounting from UCSB. She started with BPW as an intern during tax season and joined the firm as a Staff Accountant after graduation in 2015. In her time away from BPW, she enjoys cooking, puzzles, trying new restaurants and hiking.

Julia Walther, MBT was promoted to a Level II Staff Accountant within the firm’s tax department. She received her bachelor’s degree from UCSB in Global Studies and holds a master’s degree in Business Taxation from USC. Julia joined the firm in 2015 and enjoys researching various tax topics and working on partnership returns. Outside of BPW, Julia enjoys pottery, beekeeping and hiking. She is also the Assistant Treasurer for the Santa Barbara Beekeepers Association. Julia is originally from Sherman Oaks, California.

Michael Shaner was promoted to a Level II Staff Accountant in BPW’s audit department. He joined the firm in 2015 and holds a bachelor’s degree in Business Administration with a concentration in Accounting from Cal Poly, San Luis Obispo. In his free time, Michael enjoys exercising and working on graphic design projects. Michael was raised in Santa Barbara.

Tina Benavides was promoted within the firm’s administrative services group to Senior Executive Assistant. A dedicated, longtime team member of BPW, Tina began working with the firm in 1999. She is responsible for many years of project management and workflow updates, as well as practice and procedure updates. Locally, Tina is involved with CALM, an organization dedicated to helping children and families in Santa Barbara. She grew up and lives in Oxnard with her two daughters. In her time outside of BPW, she loves to cook, hike and spend time with her girls.

Veronica Cabello was promoted to Administrative Assistant III in the firm’s administrative services group. She was born and raised in Santa Barbara and started with BPW as a temp in 2010. Veronica studied Business Administration at SBCC. In her free time, she enjoys spending time with her son Alex.