C. Braxton Moncure, BA, EA, FRSA
President and CEO
He likes: bow ties, intense primary colors, old silver, genealogy, orchids, and fine tea

C. Braxton Moncure is a native of Alexandria and a graduate of the University of Virginia ('66). He began his career working for the First & Citizens Bank of Alexandria, which has since been replaced by SunTrust. After a cameo appearance with the United States Army, he joined the Red Cross, which sent him to Vietnam and Turkey. Upon leaving Ankara, he enrolled at Balliol College of the University of Oxford to read Economics. In 1974, he bought the Alexandria-based firm Ross Accounting from Robert Earle Ross, and redubbed the outfit Ross & Moncure. He has been President and CEO ever since.

Ross & Moncure specializes in the taxation of individuals, closely-owned corporations and non-profit entities. Braxton has chosen to focus on individual taxation. A large proportion of his clients are foreign nationals resident in the United States or holders of multiple passports. This includes, but is not limited to, the Washington-based employees of foreign media and the spouses of diplomats in Washington. He also has a keen interest in the tax benefits of various retirement plans.

Braxton is married to architect Deborah and they have two children, Houston and Rachel. Both children were born in Bluefields, Jamaica at the villa resort that he owns and runs in unison with his wife and son. He speaks Spanish thanks to a year spent studying at the University of Barcelona in the mid-60s.

Steven W. Street, BS, EA
General Manager
He likes: spending quality time with family and friends, supporting his son Brian's musical career, and playing golf

Steven W. Street was born in Richmond, Virginia, but has lived in the DC metropolitan area for the last 50 years and has strong ties to the region. He is a graduate of the George Washington University School of Accountancy, and has been working at Ross & Moncure ever since his university days. He began as an intern and has risen through the ranks to become one of the firm's executives.

Steve specializes in both corporate and individual taxation. He prepares and creates tax plans for corporate clients focusing on the long-term financial success of the business, and is the primary point of contact for hundreds of individual clients. In addition, Steve personally reviews most of the returns prepared by other consultants before they are filed.

Steve married wife Alicia in 2001. They have two daughters, one son, and a golden retriever named Sammy. He is also quite involved with the Philippines, where he has built a summer home and has begun to invest in the local community.

Brian P. Ehle, BS, EA
Manager for Technology
He likes: travelling, playing pranks on other employees, beef tips in peppercorn sauce, and skiing

Brian P. Ehle was born in Davenport, Iowa and is a graduate of the George Mason University. He majored in Computer Science, and began his career with FYI Information Services, a company founded to help Western companies do market research and navigate bureaucracy in the former USSR. Brian left the firm in 1997 to go into computer consulting for DC law firms, and joined Ross & Moncure only one year later.

Brian shares Braxton's interest in individual taxation. He helps US-based foreign and multinational clients navigate the American tax system, and is the firm's expert on the taxation of Americans living abroad. He is also the resident computer whiz.

Brian married Moscow-born Oksana in 1997. They welcomed their first child, Max, in 2009. He reads Russian and hopes to improve his speaking skills.

Sandra K. Brown, BS, EA
Manager for Payroll and Accounting Services
She likes: spending time with extended family, wine, waking up much too early, and peanut butter M&Ms

Sandra K. Brown is a native of Arlington and a graduate of Marymount University. She majored in Business Studies, and subsequently went on to do a satellite degree in Accounting. She began working for her father's business in junior high school, and-- aside from a brief stint working in Oahu right after college-- continued to be his office manager until she joined Ross & Moncure in October of 2002.

Sandy is Ross & Moncure's payroll queen. In order to stay compliant with the federal, state and local authorities, small businesses come to Ross & Moncure, and to Sandy in particular, to set up withholding plans and payment schedules for their various employees. Sandy has a keen interest in corporate taxation, and together with Steve Street prepares all corporate tax returns in the spring of each year.

Sandy and her husband Pat live in Calvert County with their two Labradors, Gunner and Rowdy.

Alice Orzechowski, BS, MS, CPA, CMA, EA
Head of Tax Research, Estates and Trusts
She likes: goats, cheese, and the countryside

Alice Orzechowski was born and raised in Washington, DC. She holds BS degrees in Economics and Accounting from the University of Maryland, and an MS in Administration and Management from Hood College. She is licensed as a Certified Public Accountant, Certified Management Accountant, and Enrolled Agent.

During her 40 years of tax experience, Alice’s opinion has often been sought by the media. Wall Street Journal Radio, CNN and Today’s Woman Television have all interviewed her, and she has been quoted in The Washington Post, The Frederick News Post, and in various AARP publications. She has published several books on the topic of financial planning.

Alice handles all of Ross & Moncure's estate and trust work and tax research.

Alice and her husband Scott live in the mountains on Caprikorn Farm, where they raise award-winning Saanen dairy goats and make cheese that is distributed to various high-end food stores such as Whole Foods. They currently have over 100 goats, each of which they have named!

John Bamsey, BS, MS, EA
Tax Consultant
He likes: road cycling, duathlons, marathons, the Redskins, and spending quality time with family

John Bamsey was born in Augsburg, Germany, but has lived in Northern Virginia for more than 40 years. He holds Bachelor’s and Master’s degrees in Business Administration from Strayer University. He is licensed as an Enrolled Agent, and hopes to earn the CPA designation by the beginning of 2013. He is an Adjunct Instructor of Business Administration at Northern Virginia Community College, where he has taught Business, Accounting and Taxation for more than a decade.

John has been involved in accounting and tax return preparation for more than 25 years. He has worked in various roles from Clerk to Controller in several small private companies and one not-for-profit. He joined Ross & Moncure in January of 2012.

John handles both corporate and individual accounts. He assists Braxton with personal tax planning, Steve with small business strategy and compliance, and Sandy with bookkeeping and payroll processing.

John and his wife Vickie, a Registered Nurse and university instructor, live in Loudoun County. John has a daughter who is a Nurse, a son who is in college, one Chocolate Labrador, and one West Highland White Terrier. He has completed numerous half-marathons, the Marine Corps Marathon, and a duathlon. He has also coached baseball and basketball teams.

Caroline Butler, BS
Tax Consultant
She likes: meteorology, crossword puzzles, and dance

Caroline Butler is a native of Washington, DC. She is a graduate of the George Mason University, where she earned a BS in Accounting. While in school, Caroline worked full-time as an Accounts Receivable Specialist for two behavioral health practices and one pediatric practice. In 2008, she transitioned into tax accounting when she was hired by a small CPA firm in Fairfax, VA. She joined Ross & Moncure only three years later in 2011.

Caroline has taken on a wide array of responsibilities at Ross & Moncure. She helps Sandy Brown with payroll accounts, Steve Street with corporate tax returns, and Braxton and Brian Ehle with individual tax returns. She has a particular interest in tax research, and is always quick to offer to delve into obscure bits of the tax code to try to resolve difficult issues. Caroline is studying for the Certified Public Accountant exam at the moment, and hopes to have passed all four parts of the exam by the summer of 2012.

Caroline and her husband live with their two children in Bailey's Crossroads. They have a golden retriever named Remy.

Mohammad Sadeghi, BS
Tax Consultant
He likes: the Redskins, any and all sports, kebobs and hummus

Mohammad Sadeghi was born in Tehran, but moved to the United States at only two years of age. He holds a BA in Sport and Entertainment Management from the University of South Carolina and a BA in Accounting from the George Mason University. During his studies, he was Treasurer of his fraternity, Delta Upsilon. Moe joined Ross & Moncure during his time at GMU.

Moe began at the firm as an administrative assistant, then handled all of the firm's internal finances, and now has begun to deal directly with clients on tax issues. He is currently studying for the Certified Public Accountant exam; he hopes to have all four parts completed by May of 2012. Moe has a particular interest in the accounting for and the auditing of estates and trusts, and has begun to work alongside Alice Orzechowski on these issues.

J. Michael Connell, BA
Head of Administration
He likes: beaches, pitas, bar hopping, and dinners with friends

J. Michael Connell was born in Montgomery, Alabama and is a graduate of Huntingdon College. He majored in English Literature, and starred in such works as No Exit and Anything Goes during his student years. After graduation, Mike worked with the Alabama Shakespeare Festival in various administrative capacities. He moved to DC in 1996 and joined Ross & Moncure right away.

Mike is the center of all things administrative at Ross & Moncure. He welcomes interns and new employees, fields client calls and emails, and is the friendly voice on the other end of the telephone when you haven't paid your bill. He is the go-to guy when clients need help applying for TINs, EINs, SSNs, and 501(c)(3) status, and can help with the establishment of corporations, LLCs, or LLPs (have we lost you, yet?).

Francesca Caldwell
Internal Accountant
She likes: cooking, gardening, painting, sewing, decorating, wine, and cheese

Francesca Caldwell comes from Milan, Italy. She began her career working with the US Army Hospital in Vicenza, Italy, where she learned English and met her husband. She moved to the United States with him in 1992, and became a citizen in 2008. She holds a number of professional certifications in accounting, and is currently studying for her QuickBooks certification.

Francesca has twenty years of experience in the field. She has worked as an accountant and bookkeeper for a construction firm, a healthcare provider, the Department of Social Service, and the Agenzia Nazionale Stampa Associata (ANSA). She joined Ross & Moncure in January of 2012, and will be handling all of the firm's accounts receivable, accounts payable, and will be assisting Sandy with payroll processing.

Francesca has two grown children in college. She lives in Waldorf, Maryland with her son.

M. Rachel Moncure, BA, MA
Executive Assistant - Braxton
She likes: tennis, dinner parties, blazers, and sunsets that end in a green flash

M. Rachel Moncure grew up between Bluefields, Jamaica and Washington, DC. She attended Burgundy School and Georgetown Day School. In 2006, Rachel enrolled at the University of Edinburgh's School of Social and Political Studies, graduating in 2010 with a BA and MA in Political Theory. She has taken the GMAT is currently applying to MBA programs.

Rachel, during her undergraduate years, interned with the US House of Representatives, the European Union's Delegation to Washington, the Scottish Parliament in Edinburgh, and the Jamaican High Commission in London. She also did an exchange year at La Universidad de San Andrés in Buenos Aires, Argentina. Her first job after university was with the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe's Parliamentary Assembly. She was stationed in Vienna, Austria for six months despite the fact that the Assembly's headquarters is in Copenhagen, Denmark. Rachel has been working at Ross & Moncure since March of 2011.

Rachel speaks Spanish and Jamaican patois fluently and can read a bit of French and German.

Ambra Cantarutti, BA
Executive Assistant - Steve
She likes: traveling, hiking, cooking, Chinese culture and language, sea, sun and beaches

Ambra comes from a small village in Italy called Cividale del Friuli, which is situated near the borders with Slovenia and Austria. She moved to Virginia in the summer of 2011.

Ambra attended the University of Venice and graduated with a degree in Oriental Languages and Literature with a specialization in Chinese and Tibetan Culture and Language. In 2007, she received a joint EU-Chinese government scholarship to study at Shanghai University. While living in the Far East, she fell in love with both China and her American husband, who was also there studying.

Her professional background is as a host and interpreter for international political events such as G8 meetings. During her time in China, she helped to found an Italian association called Fogolar Friulano Cines of Shanghai, a non-profit dedicated to promoting Italian culture in China. She speaks English, Italian, Mandarin, Russian and German.

L. Keith Jones, BA
Executive Assistant - Brian
He likes: history, Doctor Who, bow ties, fezzes, sailing, hunting, languages and wordplay

Keith is a native Virginian and a graduate of the George Mason University. He grew up in Norfolk and attended Norfolk Academy and the Governor's Academy for German Language. While at George Mason, he managed the books for his fraternity Phi Kappa Sigma for 3 years. Keith has held a number jobs: he interned with NPR, worked with a property management company, and most recently was involved with a defense industry lobbying firm.

Keith joined Ross & Moncure in December 2011. His professional goal is to delve into the world of international law. When not at work, Keith can be found wandering the woods, barefoot on a sailboat, or sitting by the fireplace with a good book.