Our People |
Dermody, Burke & Brown's team of professionals are focused on anticipating and addressing the unique needs of our diverse client base. You will see our team has a wide-range of experience, specializations and technical expertise, but one thing we all have in common is our commitment to quality client service.
Don Albright, CPA
Don has been with Dermody, Burke & Brown since 1997. Don services a variety of clients and has over 20 years of auditing experience. Don performs audit, review and compilation engagements, as well as consulting services for our closely held business clients. He has also performed work for a variety of tax-exempt clients including unions, auxiliary services at SUNY schools, museums and HUD-assisted housing companies, among others.
Don is a graduate of Columbia College. He is a member of the New York State Society of Certified Public Accountants (NYSSCPA) and the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants (AICPA).
Kathy Burke Barry, CPA
Kathy specializes in audits, review and compilations of manufacturers and closely-held family business. She also is the Chair of the Quality Assurance Committee at Dermody, Burke & Brown. She has been with the firm since graduating from St. John Fisher College with a Bachelor of Science degree in Accounting in 1987.
Kathy is a member of the New York State Society of Certified Public Accountants (NYSSCPA) and the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants (AICPA). She also serves on the board of Girl Scouts of NYPENN Pathways, Inc.
Lori Ciarla, CPA
Lori Ciarla is a principal at Dermody, Burke & Brown, CPAs, LLC. Having over 25 years experience, she specializes in audit, accounting, and advisory services for not-for-profit and governmental organizations, as well as employee benefit plans. She leads the firm’s Employee Benefit Plan Audit Practice, overseeing the audits of many annual benefit plans, including single-employer, multi-employer, defined contribution, defined benefit, and health and welfare plans.
Area of Focus
As the firm’s designated lead for the AICPA’s Employee Benefit Plan Audit Quality Center, Lori plays a key role in ensuring audit quality and compliance within this critical sector. Lori co-leads the firm’s Affordable Housing Audit Practice, leveraging her experience in HUD auditing. She is also deeply involved with the firm’s employee recruitment program, helping to attract and retain top talent.
Education and Professional Certifications
Lori is a graduate of Le Moyne College and is a member of both the New York State Society of Certified Public Accountants (NYSSCPA) and the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants (AICPA). She received the AICPA Not-for-Profit Certificate I and is a member of the Not-for-Profit section of the AICPA. She currently serves on the Executive Committee as Treasurer and board member for Francis House. Previously she served on the board of the American Heart Association and is the former Treasurer of both the Carol M. Baldwin Breast Cancer Research Fund and Girls Incorporated.
David Corey, Jr., CPA
David has been in public accounting for over twenty years, all at Dermody, Burke & Brown. He leads the tax department at the firm across four offices. David developed and leads the Firm’s Agribusiness niche and also works with family owned, closely-held businesses in a wide variety of industries including the Manufacturing and Construction industries. With his advanced expertise, David advises clients on tax compliance and planning, business succession/estate planning and business operations.
More About Dave
David holds a Bachelor’s degree in Accounting from Bob Jones University. He is a member of the New York State Society of Certified Public Accountants (NYSSCPA) and the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants (AICPA). He serves as a board member and is a finance committee member for the United Way of Cayuga County and is a past Board Member of the Unity House of Cayuga County. David also is a board member of the Stanley W. Metcalf Foundation, Inc. and the D.E. French Foundation, Inc.
Michele Dickey, CPA
Michele has over thirty years of experience in tax accounting, consulting, financial statement preparation and compliance services. She works with closely held businesses within a wide range of industries. Michele has past experience as a Certified Valuation Analyst providing business valuations for companies involved in buy/sell agreements, charitable contributions, family limited partnerships and gifting programs.
Michele received a Bachelor of Science degree in Accounting from Le Moyne College. She is a member of the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants as well as the New York State Society of Certified Public Accountants. She serves on the Upstate Foundation’s Professional Advisory Council for Legacy Giving and also serves as treasurer for the Estate Planning Council of Central New York. Michele is a past board member and treasurer for the YWCA of Syracuse and Onondaga County, Inc., a past board member for the Children’s Consortium and Meals on Wheels of Syracuse, and a past member of the National Association of Certified Valuation Analysts.
Deborah Fitzgerald, CPA
Debby joined the firm as a Principal in November 2019 after Barone, Howard and Co., a full-service accounting, tax and consulting firm based in New Hartford and Rome, merged with Dermody, Burke & Brown. Debby has over thirty years of experience in public accounting. Her areas of practice include personal, fiduciary and business income tax planning and preparation, along with for profit review and compilation services for a variety of for profit industries.
Debby graduated from Utica College of Syracuse University with Bachelor’s Degree in Accounting. She is a member of the New York State Society of Certified Public Accountants (NYSSCPA) and the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants (AICPA). Debby served as Past President and board member of the Utica Chapter of NYSSCPA and a past treasurer of a local youth hockey association.
Joel Gallagher, CPA
Joel joined the firm as a Principal after Barone, Howard & Co., a full-service accounting, tax and consulting firm based in New Hartford and Rome, merged with Dermody, Burke & Brown. He brings over thirty years of experience in public accounting to the firm. Joel’s areas of practice include personal income tax planning and preparation, reviews, compilations and business tax services for a variety of for-profit industries
Joel received a Bachelor’s Degree in Accounting from SUNY Plattsburgh. He is a member of the New York State Society of Certified Public Accountants (NYSSCPA) and the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants (AICPA). Joel served as a board trustee for Teugega Country Club and is also a past treasurer. He also served as treasurer of Lake Delta Yacht Club.
Karen Hovey, CPA, CFE/CFF
Karen Hovey is a Principal in the Tax Department at Dermody, Burke & Brown CPAs, LLC. She has over 30 years of experience in audit, tax, and accounting services. She specializes in the preparation and review of complex individual and business returns, including multi-state returns.
She has over 20 years of experience as a Certified Fraud Examiner (CFE) and has worked on a variety of fraud cases and internal control reviews. Karen also has experience in financial statement preparation and review, including audits, reviews, and compilations for both business and tax-exempt organizations.
Education & Professional Certifications
Karen has a bachelor’s degree from Clarkson University and is member of the New York State Society of Certified Public Accountants (NYSSCPA), American Institute of Certified Public Accountants (AICPA), and the Association of Certified Fraud Examiners (ACFE). She is also a Certified in Financial Forensics (CFF) member of the AICPA. She currently serves as a board member and chair of the Audit Committee for AccessCNY and as a board member of AURORA of Central New York, Inc. She is a former treasurer for the Upstate Chapter of the ACFE.
Carolyn Lawless, CPA
Carolyn has over thirty-two years of public accounting experience. She specializes in tax advisory services including tax planning and preparation for various entities including corporations, partnerships, trusts, estates and individuals. Carolyn also performs reviews and compilations for small businesses in various industries.
Carolyn received a Bachelor of Business Administration degree in Accounting from Niagara University. She is a member of the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants as well as the New York State Society of Certified Public Accountants. Carolyn served as treasurer of the Historic Oakwood Cemetery Preservation Association and was an advisory board member of Francis Corp. She was also past President and a current member of the Estate Planning Council of Central New York. She was past President and is a current board member of the Central New York Chapter of the Society of Financial Service Professionals, is a member of the Financial Planning Association of Central New York, and serves on the finance committee of Our Lady of Hope Church in Syracuse.
Karen Matticio, CPA, CVA, CFO
Karen is a Member with Dermody, Burke & Brown and serves as the Firm’s Chief Financial Officer. She leads the Firm’s Physician and Dental Practice groups and the Business Valuation Practice group. Karen has been with the Firm since graduating from the University of Massachusetts at Amherst in 1990. As a Tax Member, she oversees tax, financial statement and business consulting engagements. Karen has over thirty years of consulting, accounting, and tax experience and provides professional services to a variety of physician practices. She concentrates her practice in the areas of accounting, tax compliance, tax planning and consulting with physician and dental practices, closely-held businesses in construction and manufacturing, and individuals.
Karen is a member of the New York State Society of Certified Public Accountants (NYSSCPA), the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants (AICPA), and the National Association of Certified Valuators and Analysts (NACVA). She is a past member of the Leadership Council of the Women’s Fund of Central New York and is the past President of the Syracuse Chapter of the NYSSCPA. She is a sustaining member and past Treasurer of the Junior League of Syracuse.
Shannon Nelson, CPA, CFE, CITP
Shannon B. Nelson is a member of Dermody, Burke & Brown and is the administrative leader of the Audit and Accounting division. With over 30 years of experience, she provides comprehensive auditing and consulting services to a variety of clients, including governmental agencies, health and human services organizations.
Specializing in fraud prevention and detection, Shannon holds the designation of Certified Fraud Examiner (CFE) and is committed to helping organizations safeguard their assets. She provides experience in the review of internal controls and is a trusted advisor for clients seeking to enhance their operations and ensure compliance. Shannon has also been a guest speaker on topics such as internal controls, fraud prevention, and financial literacy at various events.
Education & Professional Certifications
Shannon is a graduate of St. John Fisher College and is a member of the Association of Certified Fraud Examiners (ACFE), the New York State Society of Certified Public Accountants (NYSSCPA), and the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants (AICPA). Additionally, she holds credentials as a Certified Information Technology Professional (CITP) by the AICPA, further expanding her ability to integrate technology solutions into audit and accounting practices.
In addition to her professional commitments, Shannon currently serves as a board member and treasurer for Meals on Wheels of Syracuse.
Thomas Palmer, CPA
Tom has been with the Dermody, Burke & Brown for over twenty years. His experience in public accounting includes various external and internal audit engagements for not-for-profit organizations and for profit entities. As a member of the Governmental niche and Not-for-Profit niche, Tom has served as a lead auditor for a variety of organizations, including those receiving funds from the NYS Education Department, Health and Human Services, OASAS, HUD, and the United Way.
He meets each of the continuing professional education (CPE) requirements imposed by the “Yellow Book” issued by the Government Accountability Office. Tom is a member of the New York State Society of Certified Public Accountants (NYSSCPA), the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants (AICPA) and the Institute of Internal Auditors. He is a member of the United Way of CNY Emerging Leaders group and a graduate of the State University of New York at Geneseo.
Tammy Reyes, CPA/PFS, CGMA, MT
Tammy Reyes leads Dermody Burke & Brown, CPAs, LLC tax technical department. With over 26 years of experience in taxation, Tammy is a seasoned expert specializing in the taxation of trusts and estates, as well as high-net-worth individuals. She also provides comprehensive tax services to corporate and partnership clients.
Education & Professional Certifications
She is a Certified Public Accountant (CPA), a Personal Financial Specialist (PFS) and a Chartered Global Management Accountant (CGMA). Her academic credentials include a bachelor’s degree from Binghamton University School of Management, a master’s degree in taxation from University of Denver, and a certificate in Financial Planning from Kaplan College. She is a member of the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants (AICPA), and the New York State Society of Certified Public Accountants (NYSSCPA). She holds designations as a Chartered Global Management Accountant (CGMA) and a Personal Financial Specialist (PFS) from the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants (AICPA). She is also a Registered Financial Consultant (RFC) from the International Association of Registered Financial Consultants (IARFC).
Tammy is a board member of the Estate Planning Council of Central New York and serves as the President (and former Treasurer) of the board for the Landmark Theatre. She is also a former board member and treasurer for Westar Federal Credit Union and Baltimore Woods Nature Center.
Travis Smith, CPA, MBA
Travis Smith is an audit principal with Dermody, Burke & Brown, CPAs, LLC, with over 18 years of experience in auditing and accounting. Specializing in a diverse range of sectors, Travis leads audit engagements for not-for-profit organizations, foundations, and health and human service providers. His expertise extends to both technical and client service matters, and he is an active member of the firm’s Assurance Committee, where he focuses on enhancing service quality, addressing technical issues, and ensuring client satisfaction.
Education & Professional Certifications
Travis holds a bachelor’s and master’s Degree from the State University of New York at Oswego and is a member of both New York State Society of Certified Public Accountants (NYSSCPA) and the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants (AICPA). He is also a member of the AICPA’s the Not-for-Profit (NFP) Section. Travis serves as Treasurer on the Board of Directors and Finance Committee of Helio Health, Inc.
Carolyn Sturick, CPA, CITP, CEO
Carolyn S. Sturick, is theChief Executive Officer of Dermody, Burke & Brown, CPAs, LLC. As CEO, Carolyn focuses on setting the company’s future course through strategic growth, ensuring continued client success, and maintaining the personal relationships vital to a successful firm. With over 30 years of experience in the areas of consulting, auditing, and accounting services across various sectors, including manufacturing, family-owned businesses, and not-for-profits, she emphasizes the importance of maintaining personal relationships and a strong firm culture.
In addition to her leadership as CEO, Carolyn has extensive technical expertise and is a key member of the firm's Quality Assurance Committee. She also served as Chief Operating Officer for over a decade.
Education & Professional Certifications
Carolyn also has served as Treasurer of a local not-for-profit organization, East Syracuse Minoa Education Foundation, and has many years of involvement in the Festival of Races. Carolyn is a graduate of SUNY Oswego. Carolyn is a member of the New York State Society of Certified Public Accountants (NYSSCPA) and the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants (AICPA) is also credentialed by the AICPA as a Certified Information Technology Professional.
Amie Vanderpool, CPA
Amie E. Vanderpool brings over 15 years of experience in public accounting, specializing in accounting and taxation. Her areas of practice include family-owned businesses, physician practices, professional services, and manufacturing. Amie earned a Bachelor of Science degree in Accounting from LeMoyne College.
In addition to her professional experience, Amie is an active member of the Syracuse Chapter of the New York State Society of Certified Public Accountants. She serves as the co-chair of the Syracuse Career Opportunities in the Accounting Profession program, which seeks to encourage high school students to pursue accounting careers. She is also a member of the New York State Society of Certified Public Accountants and the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants.