NCT Group Partners

Locations

Michael E. Carter, CPA, Managing Partner

Lakeland

David M. Touchton, CPA

Lakeland

Janice T. Jones, CPA

Lakeland

Kevin R. Kenny, CPA

Lakeland

Joseph B. Tedder, CPA, Partner Emeritus

Lakeland

Walker D. Wilkerson, CPA

Lakeland

John H. Gray, Jr., CPA, Office Partner in Charge

Winter Haven

Cynthia D. Baker, CPA

Winter Haven

William R. Benton, CPA, Office Partner in Charge

Sebring

Julie S. Fowler, CPA

Sebring

Tammy J. Hancock, CPA

Sebring

 

MICHAEL E. CARTER, CPA

Mike is the Managing Partner and works from the Lakeland office. Mike has been practicing accounting for 25 years.

Education and Activities

Mike received his Bachelor of Science degree in Accounting from the University of Florida in 1981 and is a Florida Certified Public Accountant. He has received the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants' Governmental Accounting and Auditing Certificate of Educational Achievement. Mike is a Florida Certified Public Accountant and is a member of the following professional associations:

  • American Institute of Certified Public Accountants

  • Recipient of AICPA Certificate of Educational Achievement in Governmental Accounting

  • Florida Institute of Certified Public Accountants – Past President of the Ridge Area Chapter

  • Government Finance Officers Association

  • Florida Government Finance Officers Association

  • Institute of Management Accountants – Past President of the Polk County Chapter

 

Mike has also been involved with the following organizations:

  • Sebring Community Redevelopment Agency –Board Member

  • Sebring Sunrise Rotary Club – Past President, Treasurer

  • City of Lakeland – past member of the Small Business Loan Committee

  • Lakeland Chamber of Commerce – past member of the Host Task Force Committee

  • United Way of Central Florida – former member of the Allocations Committee

  • Leadership Lakeland – graduate

  • Small Business Loan Committee, City of Lakeland

  • First Baptist Church of Sebring, Finance and Personnel Committees

  • Florida Hospital Foundation, Treasurer

Relevant Experience

Mr. Carter has over 16 years of governmental auditing experience. Mike had almost three years with a “big eight” accounting firm concentrating heavily in auditing of nonprofit organizations and local governments.

 In addition to his public accounting experience, Mr. Carter has experience in private accounting including Assistant Controller and Director of Internal Audit for a $600 million NYSE company, controller for a $100 million NASDAQ company, and as controller for a software development company.

Mr. Carter’s experience in private accounting has given him an understanding of what it is like being on the “other side of the table”, a perspective not held by many auditors.

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DAVID M. TOUCHTON, CPA

David Touchton is a partner in the Lakeland office. David has been practicing accounting for 42 years.

Education and Activities

David earned his Bachelor of Arts degree in Accounting from the University of South Florida in 1965.  He is a member of the American and Florida Institutes of Certified Public Accountants and is a Certified Public Accountant in Florida.  He has served as an officer in the Polk County Chapter of the Florida Institute of Certified Public Accountants.

David is currently on the following Boards of Directors:

  • Central Florida Development Council

  • Community Foundation of Greater Lakeland

  • Polk Vision

  • Metro-Lakeland Vision - Executive Committee

  • Young Patriots Foundation, Inc. - Treasurer

David was formerly on the following Boards of Directors:

  • Polk Theatre, Inc. – past President

  • Lakeland Chamber Foundation – past Treasurer

  • Girls Incorporated – past President

  • Lakeland Chamber of Commerce – past Treasurer

  • Lakeland Yacht and Country Club – past Commodore

Relevant Experience

Mr. Touchton has had varied public accounting experience with the heaviest audit concentration in the governmental and nonprofit areas.  His experience also includes Engagement Partner responsibility for local government audits and nonprofit audits that require a single audit in accordance with OMB Circular A-133; college audits; CETA audits; accounting systems design; internal control systems design; and legal and budgetary compliance advisory services.

 In addition to audit engagements, Mr. Touchton has served as a consultant and negotiator on special projects for the Polk County Board of County Commissioners.

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JANICE TEDDER JONES, CPA

Janice Tedder Jones is a partner in the Lakeland office of The NCT Group CPA's, LLP. Janice has been practicing accounting for 26 years.

Education and Activities

Janice earned her Bachelor of Science degree in Accounting from Florida Southern College in 1981. Janice also holds a Bachelor of Arts in Piano Performance from Florida Southern College. Janice is a member of the American and Florida Institutes of Certified Public Accountants and is a Certified Public Accountant in Florida.

Janice is active in the community and currently serves or has served as:

  • 2nd Vice President, Child Development Center

  • Treasurer, Lakeland Dreadnaught Band Boosters

  • Past President, Vice President, Treasurer and Director of the Leadership Lakeland Alumni Association

  • Past President of the Central Florida Speech and Hearing Center

  • Past Member of the Small Business Award Committee, Lakeland Area Chamber of Commerce

  • Past Treasurer, Lincoln Avenue Academy P.T.A.

  • Charter Member, Lakeland Regional Medical Center Foundation, Professional Advisory Council

  • Graduate, Leadership Lakeland, Class X

  • Past Member, Quality Improvement Council, Lime Street Elementary

  • Past Board Member and Treasurer, Polk Theatre, Inc.

  • Past Director, Polk County Alumni Association, Florida Southern College

  • Finance Committee, First United Methodist Church

Relevant Experience

Janice has over 26 years experience in the public accounting profession.  Janice specializes in trust and estate tax work and leads the team that provides client services to a broad base of clients in various industries.

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KEVIN R. KENNY, CPA

Kevin R. Kenny is a partner in the Lakeland office of The NCT Group CPA's, LLP. Kevin has 31 years of accounting an auditing experience, focused on providing services to governmental and nonprofit entities.

Education and Activities

Kevin received his Bachelors of Business Administration from Florida International University in 1976 and is a Florida Certified Public Accountant.  He has received the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants’ Governmental Accounting and Auditing Certificate of Educational Achievement.  Kevin is an active member of the American and Florida Institutes of Certified Public Accountants.

Kevin is active in the community and has served the following organizations:

  • Kiwanis International - Downtown Lakeland Chapter

  • Historic Lakeland

  • Lakeland Soccer Club

  • Lakeland Community Theatre Guild (co-founder)

  • Dreadnaught Band Boosters

  • Cleveland Court Elementary School quality Improvement Council

 Relevant Experience

Kevin began his career working for Metro-Davd County, Florida government in the finance department.  He served as the chief accountant and was responsible for all aspects of the daily accounting function as well as the handling of all internal and external auditing needs.

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JOSEPH B. TEDDER, CPA

Joe Tedder is a partner in the Lakeland office of The NCT Group CPA's, LLP. Joe has been practicing accounting for 40 years.

Education and Activities

Joe earned his Bachelor of Science degree in Accounting from Florida State University in 1961. Joe is a member of the American and Florida Institutes of Certified Public Accountants and is a Certified Public Accountant in Florida.

Joe was the organizer and first President of the Polk County Chapter of Florida Institute of Certified Public Accountants. He is a past member of the Board of Governors of the Florida Institute of Certified Public Accountants and is the 1988 recipient of the FICPA Public Service Award.

Joe is active in the community and currently serves or has served as:

  • Member of the Lakeland Kiwanis Club

  • Treasurer and Board Member of the Lakeland Family YMCA

  • Treasurer and Board Member for the Lakeland Boys Club

  • United Way Budget Committee member

  • Treasurer of the Polk County Bicentennial Committee

  • President of the Lakeland High School Chorus Boosters

  • Treasurer of the Lakeland High School Band Parents Association

  • Treasurer and Board Member of the Lakeland Regional Medical Center

  • Chairman of the Board of the Lakeland Regional Medical Center

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WALKER D. WILKERSON, CPA

Walker Wilkerson is the firm-wide Audit Partner and works from the Lakeland office. Walker has been practicing accounting for 16 years.

Education and Activities

Walker earned his Bachelor of Science in Business Administration degree with an emphasis in Accounting from the Citadel, Charleston, South Carolina in 1991. He earned his Master of Business Administration degree from Florida Southern College in 1993.

Walker has served as an adjunct professor at Florida Southern College and has taught a variety of accounting courses. He is a member of the American and Florida Institutes of Certified Public Accountants and is a Certified Public Accountant in Florida.

Walker is active in the community and currently serves on the Board of Directors for:

  • Central Florida Speech and Hearing Center

  • Citizen CPR

  • ACE Charter Schools

  • Lakeland Area Chamber of Commerce

Walker is past member of the:

  • Lakeland Yacht & Country Club Food and Beverage Committee

  • Friends of the Lakeland Library Board

In addition, Walker has completed the Leadership Lakeland program sponsored by the Lakeland Area Chamber of Commerce.

Relevant Experience

Mr. Wilkerson has over 16 years experience in the public accounting profession.  He has been the partner for several financial and compliance audits, including county and local governments, nonprofit corporations, and a college, all of which receive grants and contracts from federal and state agencies.  Walker is also a reviewer for the GFOA Certificate of Excellence in Financial Reporting program.

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JOHN H. ("JAY") GRAY, JR., CPA

Jay Gray is the partner in charge of the Winter Haven office. Jay has been practicing accounting for 18 years.

Education and Activities

Jay earned his Bachelor of Science in Business Administration with an emphasis in Accounting from the University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, in 1983 and is a Florida and North Carolina Certified Public Accountant.

Jay is a member of the American and Florida Institutes of Certified Public Accountants. He is active in the community and is currently serving as:

  • Treasurer, First Presbyterian Church, Winter Haven

  • Community Service Chairman, Cypress Gardens Rotary Club

  • Board Member, Winter Haven Hospital Foundation

  • President, Winter Haven Chamber Foundation

  • Board Member, Winter Haven Chamber of Commerce

Relevant Experience

Mr. Gray’s has varied public accounting experience.  His auditing experience encompasses housing authorities, financial institutions, governmental, not for profit and for profit entities.

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CYNTHIA D. BAKER, CPA

Cynthia D. (Cindy) Baker, CPA, is a partner in the Winter Haven office of The NCT Group CPA's, LLP. Cindy has over 9 years of accounting an auditing experience, focused on providing services to governmental and nonprofit entities.

Education and Activities

Ms. Baker earned her Bachelor of Science degree in Accounting from Florida Southern College in 1992 and is a certified Public Accountant.  Ms. Baker is a member of the American and Florida Institutes of Certified Public Accountants.

Cindy is active in the community and has served the following organizations:

  • LifePath Solutions Fundraising Committee

Ms. Baker is a member of this year’s Leadership Winter Haven program.

Relevant Experience

Cindy has performed field work, prepared reports and supervised work for The NCT Group CPA’s, L.L.P.’s Attestation Services engagement.  She has an excellent working knowledge of the requirements and standards of the Office of the Inspector General, Florida Department of Environmental Protection.

Ms. Baker’s experience includes four years in private industry and two years accounting experience in the construction industry.  In addition, Mrs. Baker has accounting experience for the healthcare industry.  Ms. Baker’s private industry experience has provided her with an overall understanding of the business environment.

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WILLIAM R. BENTON, CPA

Bill is a partner in charge of the Sebring office. Bill has been practicing accounting for 15 years.

Education and Activities

Bill received his Bachelor of Science in Accounting from the University of Central Florida in 1991. He earned his Master of Business Administration degree from Webber College in 2000. Bill is a member of the American and Florida Institutes of Certified Public Accountants, is a member of the Heartland Estate Planning Council and is a Certified Public Accountant in Florida.

Bill is active in the community and currently serves or has served as:

  • Graduate of Leadership Highlands

  • Member, Steering Committee, Leadership Highlands

  • Sebring Noon Rotary Club – Board member and Committee Chair

  • United Way – Board member and Campaign Chair

Relevant Experience

Bill has varied public accounting experience and has been in public accounting for 14 years.  He is skilled in developing excellent client relationships and has a variety of healthcare and agricultural clients who are well respected in the community.

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JULIE S. FOWLER, CPA

Julie S. Fowler, CPA, is a partner in the Sebring office of The NCT Group CPA's, LLP. Julie has over 9 years of accounting an auditing experience, focused on providing services to governmental and nonprofit entities.

Education and Activities

Julie received her Bachelor of Business Administration from Freed-Hardeman University in 1996.  Julie earned her Masters of Accountancy in 1997 from The University of Tennessee.  Julie is a member of the American and Florida Institutes of Certified Public Accountants.  

·         Leadership Highlands - Treasurer

·         Woodlawn Elementary School Advisory Council – Member

 She is also a graduate of the Leadership Highlands program.

 Relevant Experience

Julie has over nine years experience in all aspects of public accounting.  She has overseen a variety of governmental and not for profit audit engagements.  Julie is also a reviewer for the GFOA Certificate of Excellence in Financial Reporting program.

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TAMMY J. HANCOCK, CPA

Tammy is a partner in the Sebring office. Tammy has been practicing accounting for 20 years.

Education and Activities

Tammy received her Bachelor of Science in Accounting from the University of Florida in 1981. She is a member of the American and Florida Institutes of Certified Public Accountants, is a member of the Heartland Estate Planning Council and is a Certified Public Accountant in Florida.

Tammy currently serves or has served as:

  • University of Florida Alumni Association, Beta Alpha Psi

  • Highlands County 4-H Foundation, Treasurer and Board member

  • Highlands Art League, Treasurer and Board member

  • Highlands County YMCA, Treasurer and Board member

  • Woodlawn Elementary School / Sebring Middle School – School Advisory Council

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