About Us

Matt Gardner, CPA

Matt co-founded Gardner & Capparelli with Jim Capparelli in June 2016. He has over 12 years of experience in the accounting and finance industries.

Matt’s role within the organization includes providing overall vision, leadership and he also heads the firm’s sales, marketing and branding initiatives.

Matt leads the VCFO and Accounting Services practice, with his team serving over 30 companies. Matt is the acting CFO for most of these businesses contributing to overall the financial strategy and strategic plans. This involves managing banking relationships including refinancing initiatives, and supporting his clients through mergers, acquisitions and fundraising endeavors. Matt has also navigated clients through financial turnarounds.

Matt also leads the company’s attestation practice, providing review and compliance services to businesses in a variety of industries.

Matt’s expertise is in the software, technology, gaming, professional services, construction, manufacturing and distribution industries, and start-up organizations, amongst others.

For almost 10 years prior to founding Gardner & Capparelli, Matt gained valuable experience with a local, large public accounting firm as a senior audit manager. During his career, he also served as treasurer for the largest olive oil importer and distributor in the U.S.

A very active member of our community, Matt serves on several local boards, including Syracuse CoWorks and First Tee of Syracuse. He has also previously served on the boards of 40 Below of Syracuse and the Jowonio School. He is an avid golfer and long-time member of Tuscarora Golf Club.

Born and raised in Syracuse, NY, Matt graduated from the State University of New York at Oswego and lives in Westvale with his wife Beth, daughter Sophie and dog Lily.

Jim Capparelli, CPA

Jim co-founded Gardner & Capparelli with Matt Gardner in June 2016. His role within the organization includes overall vision, leadership and operations.

Jim leads the Company’s tax practice servicing clients all over the U.S. in a multitude of industries. Jim also quarterbacks the company’s specialty tax work including R&D tax credit studies, 179D studies, Qualified Small Business Stock (QSBS) transactions and mergers & acquisitions.

As a major contributor to the VCFO and Accounting Services practice, he responsible for overseeing the tax strategy and compliance for over 30 companies. Jim is also the acting CFO for a number of businesses contributing to their global financial strategy, managing banking relationships including refinancing initiatives, and supporting his clients through mergers, acquisitions and fundraising endeavors.

His expertise is in the software, technology, professional services, construction, manufacturing and distribution industries, amongst others.

Jim has over a decade of public accounting experience. He got his start at a small CPA practice, gaining extensive experience working with small businesses. Jim spent the five years prior to founding Gardner & Capparelli with a local, large public accounting firm as a tax supervisor.

When it comes to giving back to the community, Jim serves on the board of directors of the United Way of CNY in addition to being on the Young Leaders United steering committee.

Jim was born and raised in Syracuse. He is a graduate of Le Moyne College and lives in Cicero with his wife Janet, daughter Julia, son Colton and dog Emma.

Kenneth Cardarelli, CPA

Ken’s philosophy is simple, do business with people you like and respect and serve their companies as you would your own. The initial objective is to help improve businesses from an accounting and reporting perspective and ultimately have an impact on sustainable profitability.

With 38 years in public accounting, Ken has extensive experience with clients in various industries including: construction, equipment leasing, food & beverage, manufacturing, professional services, real estate development/leasing and wholesale distribution.

A graduate of Le Moyne College with a degree in accounting, Ken was partner in charge of audit and accounting services at a regional firm before starting his own practice in November 1998.

Ken is a past member of the NYS Society of CPAs Finance and Leasing Company Committee. He has authored and taught numerous continuing education seminars for the Foundation for Accounting Education and for an international lease consulting firm. Seminar material covered the ever-changing topic of lease accounting and auditing. Ken has also authored and presented seminars to area banks covering specialized industry accounting and analysis of financial statements.

Developing professional staff has always been important to Ken. He has written and conducted Continuing Professional Education seminars covering all aspects of auditing and accounting.  Seeing successful partners in several firms in central New York that Ken has trained and mentored is especially rewarding. Ken will continue to develop and mentor staff at Gardner & Capparelli.

Ken has served on various local community boards, most recently as Treasurer for the Marcellus Free Library where he spearheaded the financing, tax assessment requirements and investment maintenance plan for its newly constructed facility.

Eric Cohen, CPA

Eric joined Gardner & Capparelli in December 2017. Eric has made many operational contributions to the company during periods of high growth.

In his current role, Eric’s responsibilities include providing leadership, oversight and management of the operations of the company’s Virtual CFO (VCFO) and Accounting Services practice, which serves over 30 businesses. Eric also serves as the controller for half of these businesses, responsible for the overall delivery of accounting services, complex accounting issues, customer satisfaction and management of the VCFO & Accounting Services team members.

He has specialized in servicing clients in the technology, software, gaming and professional services industries, amongst others. Eric has also serviced many start-up organizations.

Prior to joining Gardner & Capparelli, Eric spent 5 years with a large public accounting firm where he was an audit manager, focusing on attestation services for small to medium sized businesses in the technology, software and manufacturing industries.

Eric has served on the Board of Directors for the New York State Society of Certified Public Accountants for many years and was the Treasurer.  In addition, he is on the Oswego State Alumni Association Board.

Eric graduated at the State University of New York at Oswego with his master’s degree and currently lives in Baldwinsville, NY with his wife Annie and dog Ziggy (who is currently interning at Gardner & Capparelli)!

Jason Calcagnino, SHRM – SCP

Jason joined Gardner & Capparelli in November 2018 to help start the company’s Virtual Human Resources practice.

In his current role, Jason’s responsibilities include providing leadership, oversight and management of the operations of the company’s Virtual HR Services practice, which serves over 15 businesses. Jason serves as the main human resources advisor for these businesses, responsible for the overall customer service, human resources infrastructure development including complete employee life cycle management, compliance assurance, legally defensible disciplinary & termination assistance, unemployment, workers comp, DBL & paid leave management.

Jason has over 15 years of human resources experience. Most recently Jason spent over 6 year with a professional employer organization where he serviced over 1,500 employees, providing comprehensive human resources support. Jason has also held multiple human resource positions with private companies in his career.

Jason prides himself on being a trusted advisor to the diverse portfolio of clients and industries we work with each day. Providing guidance to business owners in all facets of HR management with a focus on organizational development, compliance and risk management, Jason is always poised to deliver expert HR consulting, support & services.

Born and raised in Syracuse, Jason graduated from Lemoyne College with a degree in HR Management & Industrial Relations and is also a Senior Certified Professional (SCP) by the Society for Human Resources Management.

Jason enjoys playing basketball, kickboxing and appreciates time spent with his two cherished children Kyler & Grace and their energetic dog Myla.

Katelyn Allen, CPA

Katelyn joined Gardner & Capparelli in October 2018. In her current role, Katelyn’s responsibilities include providing leadership, oversight and management of the operations of the company’s Tax practice, servicing clients all over the US in a multitude of industries. Katelyn is responsible for the overall delivery of tax services, complex tax issues, customer satisfaction and management of the tax team members.

With more than 10 years of experience in tax planning and compliance for partnerships, corporations and individuals with her focus on closely held businesses and hospitality. Her experience began with a local, large public accounting firm where she served as a Tax Manager. She is a member of the New York State Society of CPA’s and is a mentor to accounting students at LeMoyne College.

Katelyn enjoys traveling and spending time with family and friends.

Katelyn is a 2008 graduate of LeMoyne College. She currently lives in Westvale with her fiancé Mike and dog Ellie.

Amanda Brower, CPA

Amanda joined Gardner & Capparelli in December 2018. In her current role, Amanda’s responsibilities include providing leadership, oversight and management of the operations of the company’s Virtual CFO (VCFO) and Accounting Services practice, which serves over 30 businesses. Amanda also serves as the controller for half of these businesses, responsible for the overall delivery of accounting services, complex accounting issues, customer satisfaction and management of the VCFO & Accounting Services team members.

Amanda is also responsible management and operations of company’s attestation practice, providing review and compliance services to businesses in a variety of industries.

Prior to joining Gardner & Capparelli, Amanda spent over six years with a large regional public accounting firm in Rochester where she served as Manager. Amanda’s background is working with both large and small commercial companies with extensive experience in the manufacturing, construction, financial institutions and professional services industries.

In her free time, Amanda enjoys staying active outdoors and spending time with family, friends and her dog, Stetson.

Amanda was born and raised in Rochester, NY and went on to earn a Master of Business Administration degree from the State University of New York at Oswego.

Heather Fuleihan, CPA

Heather joined Gardner & Capparelli in the summer of 2017. In her current role, Heather services the day-to-day needs of number of businesses in the company’s Virtual CFO (VCFO) & Accounting Services practice. She acts in the capacity of senior level accountant, responsible for the daily customer service, transactional accounting, internal control design & implementation, and overall execution of services.

She started her accounting career with a local public accounting firm, where she specialized in attestation and tax services.

In her free time, Heather enjoys staying active and is an avid gym goer.  Her passion for fitness led her to franchise Orangetheory Fitness in the Syracuse area, which she co-owns with her sister Vanessa.

Born and raised in Syracuse, NY, Heather graduated from Skidmore College with a major in Economics and continued her education in Florida, receiving a Master’s in Business Administration from Nova Southeastern University and a Master’s in Accounting from Florida Atlantic University.

Eric Dauphin, CPA

Eric joined Gardner & Capparelli in the January 2018. In his current role, Eric services the day-to-day needs of number of businesses in the company’s Virtual CFO (VCFO) & Accounting Services practice. He acts in the capacity of senior level accountant responsible for the daily customer service, transactional accounting, internal control design & implementation, and overall execution of services.

Eric is also a major contributor to the company’s tax practice, committing significant time and effort to the preparation of tax returns during certain times of the year.

In additional to his main role he is responsible for office shenanigans, IT, making gourmet coffee and walking the dogs.

Prior to joining Gardner & Capparelli, he spent the past 3 years cooped up in public accounting firms in Upstate NY.  He graduated from SUNY Geneseo where he studied Accounting and holds an MBA in Accounting from SUNY Oswego.

In his spare time, Eric enjoys giving back to the community. He volunteers for numerous organizations including the American Red Cross, Salvation Army, and United Way. Eric is also Young Leader for the United Way of CNY, sitting on the Young Leaders’ Steering Committee. He is also an active member of Believe in Syracuse and is always looking for ways to get involved.

Morgan Siewert

Morgan joined Gardner & Capparelli in the winter of 2017 as the company’s first employee! In her current role, Morgan services the day-to-day needs of number of businesses in the company’s Virtual CFO (VCFO) & Accounting Services practice. She acts in the capacity of senior level accountant responsible for the daily customer service, transactional accounting, internal control design & implementation, and overall execution of services.

She started her career in commercial real estate for two well-known companies in Syracuse with experience in financial reporting, cash management, budgeting and forecasting.

Morgan enjoys hiking the Adirondack high peaks, traveling, and spending time with her family.  She is also an avid runner, qualifying and successfully finishing the 2015 Boston Marathon.

Also born and raised in Syracuse, NY, Morgan graduated from Le Moyne College.  She lives in Westvale with her husband Erik, son Jack and dog Denver.

Deng Gai, CPA

Deng joined Gardner & Capparelli in the December 2018. In his current role, Deng services the day-to-day needs of number of businesses in the company’s Virtual CFO (VCFO) & Accounting Services practice. He acts in the capacity of senior level accountant responsible for the daily customer service, transactional accounting, internal control design & implementation, and overall execution of services.

Deng is also a major contributor to the company’s attestation practice, committing significant time and effort to completing financial statement reviews and compilations during certain times of the year.

Prior to joining Gardner & Capparelli, Deng spent almost 4 years working for large, public accounting firm in Upstate NY where he specialized in providing attestation services; audits, reviews and compilations. Deng’s background is working with manufacturers, distributors and a variety of other small to medium sized businesses.

In his spare time, Deng enjoys playing golf and basketball and spending time with family and friends. He graduated with his masters degree from Le Moyne College and currently lives in Syracuse, NY with his wife Alexa.

Jessica Starr

Jess joined Gardner & Capparelli in the winter of 2018. In her current role, Jess services the day-to-day needs of number of businesses in the company’s Virtual CFO (VCFO) & Accounting Services practice. She acts in the capacity of a staff accountant responsible for much of the daily transactional accounting needs of the company’s clients.

Jess has over 10 years of experience working in the automobile industry. Her experience and contributions were in dealings with warranties and payroll.

Jess enjoys the beach, boating, and spending time with her family and friends.

Jess was born in Bremerton, WA but was raised in Syracuse, NY. She graduated from Onondaga Community College with a degree in business. She lives in West Monroe with her boyfriend Adam, son Grayson, and dog Travis.

Amanda Stevens, CPA

Colin Crooks, CPA