Advisory Council

Experience

Eric is a Principal with more than 12 years ​of experience providing Real Estate tax consulting and compliance services. He advises clients on all aspects of the tax lifecycle and has significant experience with federal, state, local, and international tax matters. His experience includes providing advice to limited liability companies, limited partnerships, C corporations, and ​
real estate investment trusts (REITs).​

Eric’s primary focus throughout his career has been advising clients in the real estate industry, with experience servicing a variety of asset classes including, but not limited to, commercial office, residential, multi-family, storage, industrial, and telecommunication. This would often include pre-acquisition consulting to advise on tax efficient structuring options, providing annual tax compliance services during the hold period, and advising on exit strategies. ​

Professional Affiliations

American Institute of Certified Public Accountants​
North Carolina Association of Certified Public Accountants​
New York State Society of Certified Public Accountants

Education

MAC, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill​
B.A., Management and Society, University of North ​Carolina, Chapel Hill

Katie is a Senior Manager at Deloitte LLP focused on state tax. She’s been at Deloitte for 11 years and is currently part of the National Multistate Tax Services group where she has a more consultative focus, participating retroactive tax reviews and restructuring engagements. Katie mainly serves multinational C Corps and her industry specialty includes, consumer products, life sciences, and media & entertainment.

Coulter Brinkley is a North American Tax Manager at Grifols, a global healthcare company that develops plasma-derived medicines and other biopharmaceutical solutions in Research Triangle Park. Prior to joining Grifols, Coulter spent 9 years in public accounting with Grant Thornton and Forvis. He served clients in a variety of industries over the years, including financial services, life sciences, manufacturing, and software. He specializes in corporate income taxation.

Since 2016, Coulter has served on the Board of Trustees of Southmountain Children and Family Services, a statewide child advocacy organization. Coulter, an Eagle Scout, teaches the Personal Management merit badge to Wake County Scouts. He also enjoys playing golf, traveling, and attending UNC sporting events.

Coulter is from Valdese, North Carolina. He graduated from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill Kenan-Flagler Business School with a Bachelor of Science in Business Administration and a Master of Accounting. Coulter met his wife, Kelsey, in business school. He is a CPA and a member of the AICPA and NCACPA and currently lives in Raleigh, N.C.

Shaun is a Certified Public Accountant with over 15 years of experience spanning multiple areas of tax and accounting, both in industry and the Big 4. While he has deep expertise in direct tax, accounting and SEC reporting, he brings a broad skill set key to leadership in a modern tax function. Shaun’s skills also include tax technology/process improvement, control frameworks, as well as strategic management and team development.

Shaun enjoys learning, and building teams and relationships. He is a representative of his Department and Company, and frequently interacts with the C-Suite, peers, and leaders across the tax and accounting field.

His career has taken him across the country from Seattle to Chicago, as well as abroad to Buenos Aires. He currently resides in Charlotte, North Carolina with his wife and two daughters. Shaun received his Master of Accounting, and B.S. in Business Administration from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. He is a CPA and member of the AICPA.

Jimmy graduated from The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill with a Bachelors in Management & Society and a Masters in Accounting. After spending years in public accounting, he joined Advance Auto Parts, Inc. and currently serves as a Senior Tax Manager in Raleigh, NC, specializing in compliance and accounting for income, sales & use and franchise taxes. Outside of work, Jimmy enjoys spending time with his family and getting outdoors.

Rina Patel is a Certified Public Accountant (CPA) with 14 years of experience in public accounting and industry. Based in the Raleigh, NC Rina has a strong track record of driving tax transformation initiatives and implementing bespoke solutions for various service lines. As a Tax Transformation Director at CliftonLarsonAllen, LLP, she has been instrumental in identifying tax standard workpapers and delivering firm-wide solutions. Her expertise extends to leading client discoveries, developing automation solutions, and providing valuable training and support during transition periods. Rina’s extensive background also includes managerial roles at Dixon Hughes Goodman, LLP, and Grant Thornton LLP, where she excelled in implementing tax provisions, managing engagements, and providing strategic recommendations to minimize risk and improve efficiencies. Her proficiency in various software tools, including ONESOURCE, MS Office, and Alteryx, further enhances her ability to deliver exceptional results in the accounting realm.

She holds a Master of Accounting and bachelor’s degrees in both Business Administration and Economics from The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. Rina’s proactive and analytical approach to complex tax projects, coupled with her excellent communication and leadership skills, have earned her recognition as a go-to resource for intricate financial and tax-related matters. Through her career journey, she has continuously demonstrated her ability to create efficiencies, implement process improvements, and deliver exceptional outcomes, solidifying her reputation as a highly proficient and reliable CPA professional.

Leah is a State and Local Tax Manager based in Grant Thornton’s Charlotte office. She has more than 8 years of sales and use tax experience, assisting clients with compliance in the U.S. and Canada. Throughout her career, her experience includes consulting on sales and use taxes issues, representing clients in voluntary disclosure negotiations and private letter ruling requests, as well as notice management. She helps manage a team that delivers returns to over 150 clients monthly. Leah also specializes in data manipulation and technical troubleshooting.

Leah is a certified public accountant in North Carolina, who received her bachelor’s and master’s degrees from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill.

Brian has eleven years of public accounting experience, primarily serving corporate clients with their tax needs. Before joining BDO, Brian spent nine years with Big Four firms in Charlotte, NC and Cleveland, OH. He is experienced in overseeing tax compliance and consulting engagements for domestic and multinational companies; including assisting in mergers, acquisitions and other business transactions. He primarily focuses on ASC740 Income Tax Accounting and Disclosures for both public and private companies. Industries he primarily works with include manufacturing and distribution, private equity, and consumer products.