About Gruber and Company
J. Burton Gruber, CPA
President / CEO
As one of the top Atlanta consultants and accountants, J. Burton Gruber has more than 37 years of successful business and accounting experience. He is a specialist in general accounting, tax planning, business start-ups and expansions, compensation arrangements, admissions/departure negotiations, and investment analysis. All regulatory matters, internal accounting, reporting and specialized consultation are provided in Mr. Gruber’s engagements, and he provides a sincere, personal touch while he counsels his clients with both professional and business matters.
During his career, Burton has been the motivating force behind many start-up business ventures that have gone on to establish themselves as household names. Highlights include Wolf Camera (15 years of service from inception), the Original Great American Chocolate Chip Cookie Company (8 years of service from inception), and many such others. Presently, Mr. Gruber oversees a group of domestic and international clients in need of his personalized supervision and attention.
After attending the University of Georgia as an Accounting major, Burton chose to attend Georgia State University, where he graduated with a BBA degree in Accounting. He has been a practicing Certified Public Accountant in Atlanta since 1971. During that time, he has remained an active member in good standing of the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants and the Georgia Society of Certified Public Accountants, where he has chaired several active Society Committees. He is also presently a member of the Florida Institute of Certified Public Accountants, the Society of Certified Senior Advisors, and the International Who's Who of Professionals. Burton is currently licensed in both the States of Georgia and Florida and has written and published weekly articles concerning tax matters and accounting advice for small businesses throughout the southeast region.
On the civic front, Burton has been involved with the local Chambers of Commerce for Atlanta, Sandy Springs and Cobb County. He has served in leadership roles as Treasurer and Board Member of the Sandy Springs Chamber of Commerce, Leadership Sandy Springs, and Northside Youth Organization, and presently sits on a number of boards of privately held corporations.
His personal interests include his wife and family, his golden retrievers, travels about the world and the occasional round of golf when time permits.
Shelly S. Bykat, CPA
Tax Manager
Shelly S. Bykat brings over ten years of tax accounting experience to Gruber & Company in her role as Tax Manager. After graduating from West Virginia University with a BS in Accounting, she became a Certified Public Accountant in 2000. Shelly then served as Senior Tax Accountant for two Atlanta firms where she provided a wide range of client-related tax services to corporations, partnerships, individuals, nonprofit organizations, and trusts. She has experience providing tax planning for high net worth individuals and their related entities, multi-state tax returns for corporations and individuals, shareholder and partner tax basis and distribution amounts, and quarterly and annual payroll tax returns.
In her most recent position, Shelly was responsible for the preparation of technical tax returns including basis limitations and related gain, debt allocation, minimum gain, passive investment income, built-in gains, S election, at-risk, estimated payments for S corporations and reportable transactions. She assisted and advised clients on matters as diverse as choice of business entity, IRS tax examinations, and multi-state income tax returns.
Shelly’s computer application knowledge includes the Microsoft Office Suite, ProSystems fx Engagement, Planning, Tax, and Fixed Assets, Quickbooks, Peachtree Accounting, Quicken, RIA, CCH Tax Research, Interest Vision, Go Systems Fax Tax, and Perform Plus.
Shelly is active in several community organizations, including Buckhead Business Association and ProWin. In her free time, Shelly enjoys exercising, spending time with friends and family, and watching college football
Scott T. Suggs, CPA
Manager
As a Manager at Gruber & Company, Scott T. Suggs bring extensive experience as a financial executive consultant offering accounting and financial expertise along with comprehensive income tax knowledge of corporations, partnerships, and individuals. Scott is a trusted financial advisor to his clients and employers, and has demonstrated versatility while working with clients ranging from individuals and start-up companies to well-established, international companies with revenues up to $1 billion.
In Scott’s most recent professional position, he provided accounting and business planning services for corporations, sole proprietors, and individuals in real estate, retail, service, manufacturing, and printing. Scott also has extensive experience as a Controller, preparing consolidated financial statements, setting tax compliance policy, implementing cost savings programs, establishing banking relationships, overseeing external audits, and administering loan portfolios.
Scott has a BBA in Finance and Accounting from Georgia State University and is a Certified Public Accountant. He is also a Level I Chartered Financial Analyst and brings a wealth of computer application knowledge to Gruber & Company, with expertise in Microsoft Office, QuickBooks Pro and Enterprise, Peachtree Accounting, Proseries and Lacerte Tax, CCH Tax Research, SAP, MAS90, Timberline, and Paychex and ADP Payroll.
In his personal time, Scott enjoys exercising and spending time with his family.
Sy Francis, CPA
Sy and Burton have enjoyed a friendship and professional relationship since the early 1990’s.
Upon earning his accounting degree in 1985, Sy Francis joined a local accounting firm that provided accounting, consulting and tax services to financial institutions. During the following three years, Sy attained his certification as a public accountant. Since then, his practice has grown to include accounting and tax services not only to SEC registrants and publicly traded companies, but also to private individuals, and small to medium sized companies. Sy focused his efforts on the firm’s tax practice, which he headed.
In 2000, he was elected to the Board of Directors of First National Bank, Tarpon Springs, Florida, where he also served as the bank’s President and CEO. Upon returning to Marietta, Sy resumed his career in public accounting, where he focuses on issues of tax and accounting for individuals, partnerships and small to medium sized companies
Emily R. Modak
Office Administrator
Coming to the firm with eight years of project management experience and four years of bookkeeping experience, Emily R. Modak is Gruber & Company’s Office Administrator. Prior to joining Gruber & Company, Emily was Assistant Director of a historic district in downtown Columbus, Ohio, where she served as financial officer, program coordinator, and special event planner. Emily has also worked in fundraising and organizational development in Ann Arbor, Michigan and as a tax preparer in Marietta, Georgia.
In addition to her administrative capacity at Gruber & Company, Emily is the point of contact for the firm’s senior services, which include tax services and referrals for legal and financial advisors.
Emily has an MA in Arts Policy and Administration from Ohio State University and a BA in English and Communications from Marshall University. She has volunteered with numerous nonprofit organizations, including St. Raphael’s Home for the Aged, Franklin County Children’s Services, Friends of the Saline District Library, and the Yeager Scholars Alumni Association. She is a published writer, marathon runner, and pianist.
Tonya L. Young
Administrative Assistant
Tonya L. Young has been working in the accounting industry for 16 years as an office manager and bookkeeper. She has experience with payables and receivables, preparing personal income tax returns, payroll, and sales tax returns.
Tonya’s computer knowledge includes Microsoft Office, Master Builder, Peachtree, Prosystem fx, Quicken, and QuickBooks.
During her personal time, Tonya enjoys maintaining her real estate company, swimming, hiking,
and spending time with family and friends.
Sergio Coppola
Technical Director
As an external consultant, Sergio Coppola provides Gruber & Company advanced technology support, ensuring the firm has the latest and best financial software and hardware to serve client needs at the highest level.
Sergio graduated from Georgia State University with a Bachelor in Business Administration and Information Systems in 1986. His professional experience includes service as an Information Technology Consultant and Systems Analyst for several large technology companies. While in those roles he also developed skills in marketing and business development. These skills led him to found his own business, NetServ, in 1993, where he has worked for the past 15 years assisting small- to medium-sized businesses with information technology support, consulting services, and hardware sales. Through NetServ, Sergio currently supports over 90 customers in the Atlanta area, providing all of their information technology needs by offering custom-fit assistance for each individual company. Sergio’s clients include manufacturing companies, CPA firms, mortgage companies, recruiters, real estate appraisers, attorneys, medical practices, retailers, and small businesses. He is always available to speak with Gruber & Company’s clients should they wish to engage his services to expand their information technology capabilities.
In his free time Sergio enjoys playing music in a small band, going and listening to music concerts, home improvement projects, and relaxing with family.
