Who
WE ARE
Meet the team
Since 1977, we have been a leading business solutions firm offering a full spectrum of services in the areas of tax and consulting services to diverse businesses, organizations and individuals.
Managing Member
Brannon M. Montgomery, CPA
Brannon grew up in Spartanburg, SC and graduated from Spartanburg High School. She then went on to attend the College of…
Brannon grew up in Spartanburg, SC and graduated from Spartanburg High School. She then went on to attend the College of Charleston. She received a Bachelor of Science degree in Mathematics and also took all of the necessary accounting courses in order to sit for the CPA exam.
After graduation, she gained experience in the banking industry, food and beverage/hospitality, and she went on to become a Managing Partner of a Carryout and Catering business. Throughout these experiences, she realized her passion for customer service, entrepreneurship, start up businesses, and all things accounting.
This is when she decided to sit for the CPA exam and become a tax accountant. She has over 15 years of experience and her expertise is in small business accounting (from startups to businesses with gross revenues up to $5M) and tax preparation. She also enjoys tax planning, advisory services, financial statement analysis, software systems implementation and upgrades, and personal financial planning.
Brannon, Chris, and their daughter (five years old) live in Tanner Plantation which is just outside of Charleston near Park Circle. Brannon is an avid tennis player and golfer. She loves Carolina Gamecock football and spending time with her friends and family. She also enjoys going out on the boat, fishing, cooking, gardening, entertaining and spending time at the beach.
Founding Member
Donald J. Holmes, CPA
Don graduated from the University of Arizona with a degree in accounting. He worked as a Financial Analyst for Dunn & Bradstreet in Miami, Florida…
He worked for the world’s largest international accounting firm (Peat Marwick Mitchell) in Phoenix and he earned his CPA certification while working in the tax and auditing departments.
He and Marianne travel extensively always looking for new places and restaurants to experience.
Office Manager
Heather Wolfe
Heather has become a familiar face at the firm over the last 6 years, as she returned to the workforce at Donald J. Holmes, CPA Firm. Her happy demeanor is the first thing you see…
Heather has become a familiar face at the firm over the last 6 years, as she returned to the workforce at Donald J. Holmes, CPA Firm. Her happy demeanor is the first thing you see when you walk in the office or you call on the phone. She and her family are natives of the Lowcountry; however, she spent 30 years in Western North Carolina, where she attended school and served as VP-Operations at a local Credit Union. Heather and her family returned back to South Carolina 9 years ago to help care for her father and be closer to the many joys of the Lowcountry.
Heather attended Appalachian State and UNC-Asheville, where she studied business, accounting, and computer sciences. She began working in the banking arena of United Services Credit Union part time while attending school, and eventually managed the IT, and Finance/Accounting Departments of the same Credit Union. She dedicated 20 years to the field, where she gained her experience in accounting and computer/data processing. She holds certificates in Microsoft applications, disaster recovery strategic planning and implementation, and has been recognized for creating and managing budget plans for Credit Union use. Heather also brings experience in creating financial reports and data analysis for strategic planning. She is a graduate of Leadership Asheville, a program dedicated to develop and engage individuals in leadership capacities to build better communities. Heather has experience in payroll processing, financial statement preparation, bookkeeping, and tax preparation. She is excited to be a part of the team at Coastal Tax and Accounting, LLC, and looks forward to all future endeavors with the Firm.
Heather and her husband Thad have four children and reside in Walterboro. In their spare time, they enjoy attending their kid’s college activities, baseball games, school events, and spending time fishing and visiting the beach.
Operations Manager
Lisha Lavender
Lisha Is a native of Anderson, SC and comes from a military family. She has lived In many places in the United States and Overseas including the Philippines and England…
Lisha Is a native of Anderson, SC and comes from a military family. She has lived In many places in the United States and Overseas including the Philippines and England.
After returning to South Carolina from England, her family was stationed at Myrtle Beach Air Force Base, S.C. While working in the bookkeeping office of a large restaurant chain, she attended local colleges including Coastal Carolina, and Horry‐Georgetown Tech., earning a degree in Computer Data Processing with an emphasis on programming while also studying Accounting.
After completing her education, she was employed by a prominent local accountant, Jon Wesley Evans, where she was involved in all areas of accounting. She transformed the firm from being manual/paper based to digital and upgraded all of the systems and processes in place. Upon the retirement of Jon Wesley Evans, the business was sold to another local accountant, M.H. Smith, where she was employed, until her husband was transferred to Walterboro, S.C., by the South Carolina Highway Patrol.
She has since been employed by Donald J. Holmes, CPA, LLC, which is now Coastal Tax and Accounting, LLC. For the past 32 years, she has gained extensive experience and knowledge in all aspects of accounting. She manages all of the operations of the firm and is the one that runs the show.
Lisha and her husband, Charley, love their home here in the Lowcountry and have made a lot of good friends. They enjoy weekend adventures experiencing the history of the Lowcountry and surrounding areas. She is a racing fanatic and has even raced her very own 1957 Chevy race car, built for her by her father, in the vintage racing series as well.