James N. Bassil—Shareholder
jimb@twcareers.com
Jim has been an important part of the executive placement industry in the Tampa Bay area since 1986. First, as Director of Recruiting for a Big 4 Public Accounting firm, and next with a Tampa based national search organization. Through these opportunities, Jim has perfected his skills in the placement of top accounting and financial professionals. His numerous placements make him a unique center of influence among the area's financial community. In 1991, Jim began his own highly successful executive placement firm, working with the finest companies throughout Florida, and the Southeast. In 2001 he merged this practice to form Taylor White. Jim has been an Auditor with a Big 4 firm and an Internal Auditor with a Fortune 500 Company. He is a graduate of Florida State University in Tallahassee, Florida and is a Florida CPA, currently inactive.
Anthony Linguanti, Jr.—Shareholder
tonyl@twcareers.com
Tony began his career in the executive placement industry in Tampa in 1990. While associated with an international recruiting firm specializing in the temporary and permanent placement of accounting and financial professionals, Tony was responsible for managing many important facets of this multi-billion dollar firm's operations. In addition to interfacing with the company's many high profile Florida clients, he also oversaw the successful implementation of several satellite offices throughout the growing Tampa Bay region. In 2000, Tony launched his own very successful executive placement firm in Sarasota. He later merged this organization to form Taylor White in 2001. Tony has been an Auditor in Public Accounting and a Controller for two top Tampa Bay companies. Tony is a graduate of Florida State University in Tallahassee, Florida.
Heather Ceresoli—Principal & Chief Operating Officer
heatherc@twcareers.com
Heather started her career with Deloitte in their Tampa audit practice. During her 7 year tenure, her clients included both public and private companies, with expertise in a number of industry segments, including manufacturing, high technology, retail, restaurant, automotive, real estate and distribution. She then transitioned into financial management roles with $billion+ publicly traded companies. Her responsibilities encompassed commercial finance, financial systems innovation, process improvement and project management. She joined the permanent placement division of Taylor White in August 2005, where she was able to apply her knowledge of the local marketplace to effectively build relationships and match the best candidates with the top companies. She transitioned in 2007 to a Division Director role for Taylor White & Taylor White Consulting here in Tampa/St. Petersburg, and moved into the Principal & Chief Operating Officer role in 2010. She is responsible for Permanent Placement, interim consulting support, contract recruiting, and Sarbanes-Oxley & Attestation services.
Heather earned a Masters degree in both Accounting and Management Information Systems from the University of South Florida in Tampa, and is an actively licensed CPA in the State of Florida. She remains committed to the local community, with Board of Director level positions within Goodwill Industries Suncoast, and involvement on the Executive Board of the PFA with Independent Day School.
Kim O'Brien
kimo@twcareers.com
Kim began her career as an Auditor and worked in public accounting for 8 years in local, regional and national firms. Her focus included both public and private companies, with industry expertise encompassing healthcare, manufacturing, agribusiness, telecommunications, retail, automotive, restaurant, and not-for-profit sectors. Kim transitioned out of public as an Audit Manager to accept the role of CFO for a large not-for-profit healthcare organization in East Tampa. During her three year tenure, she focused on developing strategic internal management reporting, implementing & updating financial policies and internal controls, implementing systems, and instituting a 401(k) plan. As a result of her efforts, she was recognized as 2008 CFO of the Year in the Not-for-Profit category by the Tampa Bay Business Journal. Joining Taylor White in 2008, her experience enables her to work within many industries, and match competent, experienced candidates suitable to her client's needs. Kim's client base includes a specialization in the East Tampa market.
Kim received her Bachelor of Science Degree and fifth year requirements from the University of South Florida in December 1995, and is a licensed CPA in the State of Florida. She is proud to be a lifetime member of the USF Alumni Association, as well as past Chair of the USF Accounting Circle Board and a member of the USF School of Accountancy Advisory Council. She also serves on Mental Health Care Foundation's Board of Directors and UCP of Tampa Bay's Board of Directors as Treasurer. Kim is a graduate of Leadership Tampa, Class of 2007.
John Sarmanian
johns@twcareers.com
John began his career in Boston, MA with the audit and assurance practice of Ernst & Young where he focused primarily in the financial services industry. He worked on both public and private industry clients including the firm’s largest Northeast Sub-area client, Liberty Mutual, a prestigious Office of the Chairman Account. Other clients John served were within the not-for-profit, hospital, manufacturing and pharmaceutical industries.
In addition to his public accounting experience John also brings 4+ years of accounting and finance recruiting experience to Taylor White where he is dedicated to both permanent and consulting placements in the Tampa Bay market. John holds both his BS in Accounting and MBA from Salve Regina University in Newport, RI and resides in Safety Harbor with his wife.
Katie Halkett - Recruiting Manager
katieh@twcareers.com
Katie spent the first five years of her career in audit with Big 4, including PricewaterhouseCoopers in Denver, followed more recently by Ernst & Young in Tampa. Her clients included both public and private companies, and spanned a variety of industries, including manufacturing, retail, restaurant, and health care. She then transitioned into a corporate accounting role at a marketing services company in St. Petersburg. During her three years in that role, her responsibilities included external and internal reporting, process improvements and automation, technical research, and accounting support for the corporate business unit.
Katie received her MBA and Bachelor of Science in Accounting from the University of Denver in June 2004, and is an actively licensed CPA in the State of Florida. Katie is a member of the Florida Institute of CPA’s and the American Institute of CPA’s.
Christina Hiller
christinah@twcareers.com
Christina comes to Taylor White with over thirteen years of corporate tax expertise, with companies both publicly traded and privately held, and in a wide variety of industries. She has exposure to a large global corporations, such as Goodyear Tire & Rubber and Outback Steakhouse, as well as smaller, more entrepreneurial organizations. Christina has a broad range of functional tax experience including international, domestic, state and local, sales & use, and property tax.
Christina received her Bachelors of Business Administration in Accounting from Youngstown State University in Ohio in June 1999, graduating Magna Cum Laude. She is active in Tampa Bay business networking organizations, including Red Carpet Monday and Less Than 6 Degrees Tampa Bay, and is a volunteer at Second Harvest Food Bank in Tampa.
Debra Wingo
debraw@twcareers.com
Debra has her Bachelors degree in Accounting from the State University of New York, CPA certification, and a mix of public accounting and private industry. Her extensive career traverses a variety of industries, including health care, manufacturing, professional services and construction. She has both domestic and international experience in operations, P&L management and strategic planning, with both startup and growth organizations. Her background has included traditional corporate positions at the Controller and Director level, as well as a strong background as a professional finance and accounting consultant. Debra’s experience working within varying industries affords her an understanding of both client and candidate needs. She is a member of the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants.
Jim Roberts - Director of Sarbanes-Oxley Services
jimr@twcareers.com
Jim has been a proven Taylor White Consultant for a number of years and has joined us on a full time basis effective August, 2006. His expertise is in the following disciplines: all facets of Accounting and Finance, Strategic Planning, SEC reporting and transactions, External Audit matters, Internal Controls, International Finance and Accounting, ERP Systems and Implementations, and Sarbanes Oxley implementations, including evaluation of entity level controls. He is experienced in Director of Finance/CFO roles in publicly traded organizations and has diversified industry experience including biotechnology, manufacturing, software and telecommunications. Jim has performed Sarbanes Oxley consulting work for a variety of organizations and has served as Project Manager for a publicly traded services organizations. He was a former Big-4 Audit Manager, and is an actively licensed Florida CPA. Jim holds a Bachelors of Business Administration in Accounting from Florida State University and an MBA in Finance from Emory University.