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Audit & Assurance
Business SupportJackson Thornton Names New Principals & Announces PromotionsOctober 17, 2023
Jackson Thornton, a certified public accounting and consulting firm headquartered in Montgomery, AL, is pleased to announce several promotions throughout their five Alabama offices.
Erica Bailey joined the firm in 2012 and is a principal in the firm’s Montgomery office. Bailey works with utilities throughout the Southeast providing audit and consulting services for electric, gas and water distribution clients. Her utilities consulting experience includes internal controls over financial reporting and fraud risk & deterrence studies. Bailey has also served as a speaker for the National Society of Accountants for Cooperatives (NSAC) Accounting and Finance conference.
Bailey is a CPA as well as a Certified Fraud Examiner (CFE). She holds professional membership in the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants, the Alabama Society of Certified Public Accountants (ASCPA), the Association of Certified Fraud Examiners and Women in Public Finance. Bailey has completed the Montgomery Torchbearers program, the ASCPA Leadership Academy and the RSM Accelerators program. She has served on the Advisory Council of the Montgomery Chapter of the ASCPA and was named 2023 Young Alumnus of the Year in Accounting by Troy University.
She is a member of the Junior League of Montgomery. Bailey holds both undergraduate and graduate degrees from Troy University.
Jake S. Studdard, based in the firm’s Wetumpka office, was also named a principal. Studdard, who has been with the firm since 2013, leads Jackson Thornton’s automobile dealership industry niche in the Tax line of business along with providing accounting, tax and tax consultation services for closely-held businesses and individuals. He is a member of the Wetumpka Lions Club and the DealerCPA network. He has also served on the board of the Wetumpka Area Chamber of Commerce and is the firm’s representative for the Main Street Wetumpka initiative.
Studdard holds professional membership in the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants and the Alabama Society of Certified Public Accountants. He has completed RSM’s Breakthrough Leaders Institute program as well as the RSM Accelerators program.
He obtained his undergraduate degree from Auburn University Montgomery.
In addition, several other team members were recently promoted. Mark Cooley, Katie Vega Schmidt, Hannah Spann and Melanie Weed were promoted to Senior Manager. Rachel Cochran, Summer Davis, Kaleb Hall, Ryan Shubird, Amanda Wisdom and Michael Brady Vidich were all promoted to Manager. Alli Colquett and Mary Jackson Ousley were promoted to Senior Client Accountant. Avery Lane was promoted to HR Coordinator and Jefferson Jones was promoted to IT System Administrator II. Michael Spivey was promoted to Senior Technology Consultant with Jackson Thornton Technologies.
