Helping you improve with a team built for it

Elsimar Quijada Rojas is a Senior Associate at Shechter and Associates, bringing over three and a half years of experience in public accounting. She began her academic journey with a minor in Business/Accounting from Westchester Community College and later earned both her bachelor’s and master’s degrees in accounting from Pace University in New York.

In her role, Elsimar provides a broad range of tax services, including individual, partnership, and corporate income taxes, as well as sales tax, trust tax, and QuickBooks consulting. She works with a diverse clientele across various industries, offering personalized and insightful solutions tailored to each client’s financial goals. Fluent in both English and Spanish, she is committed to providing clear, accessible support to all her clients.

Elsimar’s expertise includes regulatory compliance, resolving tax notices, and navigating complex tax codes to deliver accurate and strategic guidance throughout the tax planning and preparation process.

Outside of work, Elsimar enjoys traveling with her four children and parents, cherishing quality family time. She is also deeply committed to her personal growth as a student of Kabbalah and actively volunteers within her community.

Nancy A. Meade-Gold, CPA, CIA, and MBA is a manager with over 17 years of experience in public accounting, with a strong background in tax preparation and client advisory services. She is both a Certified Public Accountant (CPA) and a Certified Internal Auditor (CIA) licensed in the state of Florida.

Nancy earned her Master of Business Administration (MBA) with a concentration in Accounting from Florida Atlantic University. She has been an active member of the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants (AICPA) for many years.

Her expertise spans the preparation of corporate, partnership, and individual tax returns, as well as payroll and sales tax filings. Nancy has worked with clients across a wide range of industries and is known for building lasting, trusted relationships through personalized service and attention to detail.

In addition to her professional work, Nancy has dedicated the past decade to serving as Treasurer for several booster organizations, demonstrating her commitment to community involvement and volunteerism.

Nicholas R. Asencio is a public tax staff accountant with a background in forensic accounting. Specializing in the preparation of Individual, as well as Business, tax returns, he also dabbles in Bookkeeping via Quickbooks (Desktop or Online), Payroll, Sales Tax returns, and more! He initially interned with Shechter & Associates in 2020 and is now part of the team full time. He has studied accounting at The University of South Florida and is currently executing a part-time education plan with the hopes of furthering his professional career. When Nicholas is not at work, his interests lie in spending time with family and pets or playing video games online with friends.

Michael Camara, CFE is a staff accountant with over 10 years of experience in financial analysis, and litigation support. With a deep understanding of complex financial matters, Michael collaborates with legal professionals to provide expert insights and assistance in trial preparation, financial reports, and client consultations. He received his bachelor’s degree in business administration, majoring in finance and minoring in economics. He is a member of the Association of Certified Fraud Examiners. Michael’s hobbies and interests include cooking, video games and cars.

Stephanie Torres is the Office Administrator at Shechter and Associates, Stephanie plays a pivotal role in maintaining the smooth operation of the firm’s day-to-day administrative and logistical functions. With a strong background in office administration, Stephanie ensures that the office environment is efficient, organized, and conducive to the high standards of service that Shechter and Associates is known for. Fluent in both English and Spanish, Stephanie brings valuable qualifications to our firm. Stephanie Torres is a public notary, who attended Miami Dade Community College and Florida International University.  When she is not working, she spends time with her dog and goes to the gym.

Herminia Mendez was born in Cuba and came to the United States in 1961. Herminia began her accounting career in the United States working in private accounting as a controller in several industries. After working in the private sector Herminia started working in public accounting in 1970’s, which is when she joined Breslow & Shechter. She since has worked for several public accounting firms alongside Philip Shechter. Herminia is a manager at Shechter & Associates with more than 45 years of experience in audit, tax preparation, tax consulting and accounting. She has extensive knowledge in tax consulting and preparation for foreign individuals. Herminia enjoys volunteering in her local community. She volunteers and collects donations for a variety of charities including an orphanage in Nicaragua, Daughters of Charity of St. Vincent the Paul Miami, San Jose Obrero in Honduras and Sisters of the Immaculate Heart of Mary in Miami.

Toni Fernandez, CPA is a Tax Manager with more than 5 years of experience in Public Accounting. Toni started her career with a large regional audit, tax and advisory firm before coming to Shechter & Associates. She received her bachelor’s degree in accounting and finance from the University of Florida and continued her education to earn a Master’s in Accounting from Florida Atlantic University. Toni is a certified public accountant in Florida and is a member of the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants and Florida Institute of Certified Public Accountants. Toni has worked with a variety of clients in many areas but maintains an International Tax and Corporate Tax compliance specialty. Her client service experience includes providing tax compliance and consulting services to entities including federal, international, state and local tax reporting, consolidated returns, general accounting and IRS representation. She enjoys traveling and spending time with family and friends in her free time.

Rachel J. Saumell, CPA is a tax manager with over 7 years of experience in the public accounting sector. After graduating from the University of Florida with a bachelor’s degree in accounting, she moved back home to Miami to gain a master’s in taxation from Florida International University and to obtain her CPA license in the state of Florida. It was at the start of her career with a regional tax, audit, & advisory firm where she developed a skill set in accounting, tax compliance, advisory, & IRS representation for various clients in the real estate, private equity, & professional service industries. Aside from being a member of the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants and Florida Institute of Certified Public Accountants, Rachel loves traveling, cooking, & spending time with her family, fiancée, & their Cardigan Welsh Corgi, Taquito.

Azucena Vargas-Castillo is an administrative assistant with a background in client satisfaction. She graduated from Deerfield Beach High School, being in the top 20% of her class. She has studied criminology at Florida Atlantic University and is currently working on her bachelor’s to further her professional career in accounting. Azucena is one of the newer members of the team and handles everything from processing to the occasional bookkeeping. Outside of work, Azucena loves spending time with loved ones and binge-watching true crime videos.

Elizabeth R. Dicrisci, CPA is a senior associate with four years of experience in Public Accounting. Her journey began with a bachelor’s in Accounting and minor in Business Analytics from Florida International University. She continued her education to earn a Master’s in Accounting from Florida Atlantic University and became a member of the Florida Institute of Certified Public Accountants. In her role, Elizabeth provides individual, partnership, and corporate income tax services, offering valuable insights to clients across various industries. Her expertise spans regulatory compliance, resolving tax notices, and navigating tax codes to deliver personalized solutions that align with each client’s financial goals. When not assisting clients, Elizabeth enjoys spending time with her family and volunteering with her husband at their local food bank.

Philip J. Shechter, CPA, ABV, CVA is a partner with over 40 years of experience in audit, tax preparation, tax consulting, litigation support and business valuation services. He received his bachelor’s degree in accounting, with honors, from the University of Florida in Gainesville, Florida. Philip is a certified public accountant in the state of Florida. He is a member of the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants; the AICPA Business Valuation, and Forensic and Litigation Services Section; the Florida Institute of Certified Public Accountants; the FICPA Valuation, Forensic Accounting and Litigation Services Section; the National Association of Certified Valuation Analysts. He has many business memberships and accomplishments, including the Key Partners Award from South Florida Business Journal. He is a member of the Collaborative Family Lawyers Institute. He is recognized as Top CPA’s in Litigation Support as published in South Florida Legal Guide. Mr. Shechter has published several articles and has lectured on many topics relative to his area of expertise.

Barbara V. Beltran, CPA is a partner with over 30 years of public accounting experience. She has extensive experience in serving the financial, tax and business needs of a vast array of clients. Barbara is an expert in the Nonprofit Industry, specializing in the tax compliance and information reporting for exempt organizations and private foundations. Her nonprofit experience includes the formation of not-for-profit organizations and preparation of exemption applications. She received her bachelor’s degree in accounting from the University of Miami. Barbara is a certified public accountant in the state of Florida and Georgia. She is a member of the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants and the Florida Institute of Certified Public Accountants. Barbara specializes in working closely with clients to meet their needs in owner managed businesses, pass thru and nonprofit entities. During her free time, she enjoys participating in 5K races and volunteering in her community. Barbara resides in Kendall with her husband of 35 years and their youngest daughter.

Mario Gutierrez, CPA brings over 13 years of public accounting experience, offering real-world tax strategy for real estate investors, high-net-worth families, and entrepreneurs who want more than just year-end compliance. He’s in your corner to build, scale, and protect what you’re growing.

As a Partner at Shechter & Associates LLP, Mario leads with clarity, collaboration, and consistent results—whether he’s helping a real estate client structure for long-term growth, advising an entrepreneur on entity setup, or walking a business owner through a complex tax issue.

Mario has developed a strong focus in the real estate and construction sectors, where he delivers high-impact advisory solutions tailored to the complex needs of developers, contractors, and property investors. He also serves a wide portfolio of clients in the professional services industry, offering nuanced, industry-specific guidance that helps business owners manage risk, optimize entity structures, and enhance tax efficiency.

With experience in international tax matters, Mario supports cross-border investors, foreign entities, and U.S. taxpayers with global exposure—handling complex compliance, reporting, and structuring with clarity and precision.

He also serves as Senior Litigation Manager at Schechter & Everett LLP, where he handles a range of complex cases involving tax disputes, forensic analysis, and family law matters. His interdisciplinary experience allows him to support attorneys and clients through high-stakes legal and financial challenges with professionalism and precision.

Prior to his current roles, Mario spent nearly a decade at one of the Top 20 largest accounting firms in the U.S., advancing from Staff Accountant to Senior Tax Manager. There, he built a reputation for being accessible, proactive, and dependable—a partner clients could actually reach and trust when things got technical.

Mario holds a Master’s in Accounting, a Graduate Certificate in Audit & Assurance, and a BBA in Finance from Florida International University, and is a licensed CPA. He’s driven by one goal: helping clients feel confident in their numbers, clear in their strategy, and supported every step of the way.

When he’s not immersed in client work, Mario is all about unplugging in nature, enjoying good views, or chasing sunrises with his family—moments that remind him why legacy-building truly matters

Jennifer E. Shechter, CPA is a partner with more than 17 years of experience in Public Accounting. Jennifer started her career with a top 5 international audit, tax and advisory firm. She then joined a large regional firm ranked among the nation’s largest accounting firms. She received her bachelor’s degree in accounting and finance from Florida State University and continued her education to earn a Master’s in Accounting from the University of South Carolina. Jennifer is a certified public accountant in Florida. She is a member of the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants and Florida Institute of Certified Public Accountants. Jennifer has worked with a variety of private clients in the real estate, construction, private equity and professional and entrepreneurial businesses. Her client service experience includes providing tax compliance and consulting services to entities including federal, international, state and local tax reporting, consolidated returns, general accounting and IRS representation. During COVID Jennifer and her husband founded White Fang Animal Sanctuary, 501 (c) (3) non-profit. Their mission is to rescue and rehome abandoned and mistreated animals. When she is not busy working, she enjoys spending time with her husband and three children, traveling and volunteering with various organizations within her local community.