Hughes & Associates, Inc. - Our Team

Thomas C. Hughes, MBA - International Management

Tom Hughes has been actively involved in accounting for the past 17 years. He has a Bachelor of Arts degree in Economics from Brigham Young University and a MBA/Master of International Management from top-ranked Thunderbird - The American Graduate School of International Management in Glendale, Arizona.

Tom has performed extensive business development work and presented business strategy seminars in Germany and Russia. In Yekaterinberg, Russia he helped universities, businesses, and local government develop techniques for transitioning to a market economy and for improving business strategies. His work, research and graduate studies have focused on International Marketing, Accounting and Europe. He is fluent in German and dabbles in Spanish.

Tom started this accounting firm out of his home more than 10 years ago. He continued to add forward-thinking accountants and staff through the years to develop Cedar City's premier accounting services firm. He has a complete knowledge of QuickBooks, helping bookkeepers and business owners understand and utilize their accounting records for better management of their business, as well as better tax planning.

He moved to Cedar City, Utah with his wife in 1996. Since then he has added three kids to the family and enjoys spending time with them in sports, the outdoors and music. His hobbies include playing the piano (and keyboard in his band) and the guitar. He has also been the Treasurer for the Iron County Builders Association since 2003.

Specific areas of expertise include:

Expert QuickBooks accounting capabilities
Management accounting
Innovative accounting methods for small businesses
Forensic and investigative accounting
Accounting for the Construction Industry
Personal and business taxation
Business structure and formations
Financial analysis, planning and strategy

Bruce S. Hughes, CPA, MTAX

Bruce Hughes is a Certified Public Accountant - licensed in both Utah and California. He received his Bachelor of Science in Accounting from the University of Utah and later completed the Master of Taxation degree at the University of Southern California. His CPA certification was obtained in 1973 with Arthur Andersen & Co., in Orange County, California.

In addition to his extensive tax and small business experience, Bruce is also a licensed real estate broker in both Utah and California. He teaches real estate licensing courses at Stringham Real Estate School in both Cedar City and St. George, UT. With his knowledge of both tax and real estate, he is an expert at helping clients understand and structure real estate transactions, sales and Section 1031 exchanges.

Bruce has taught as an Adjunct Business and Accounting Instructor at Southern Utah University. He is considered an expert in accounting and individual, small business and real estate taxation. He has lectured in several former Soviet Union countries and cities through the Krieble Institute, Free Congress Foundation and SCORE. He is the founding chairman of the National Plasterers Council, and is a recognized leader in the swimming pool industry. He is also fluent in German.

Bruce relocated from Southern California to Cedar City, Utah in 1993. In addition to his business activities he has been extensively involved in community affairs, local non-profits and scouting.

Specific areas of expertise include:

Personal and business taxation
Accounting, including forensic and investigative accounting
Real estate taxation, ownership structure, management and liquidation, Section 1031 exchanges
Financial planning and investing
Estate planning, family trusts, and partnerships
Small business management, tax advantages
Business structure and formation

David D. Harris

David Harris received his BA degree from Brigham Young University, and a MBA degree from Thunderbird, The American Graduate School of International Management. Mr. Harris worked for several years with the Franklin Covey Company, where he was involved in marketing, custom training coordination, and intranet development & management. Mr. Harris also worked with Raytheon Corporation's aircraft division with the Human Resources team, and has experience in other sales and marketing positions.

Mr. Harris' studies have centered on Finance, as well as Asian culture and languages. Major projects have included evaluation of the telecommunications infrastructure in Singapore, an analysis of the Asian currency crisis of 1997, and study of the worldwide automotive industry. He is fluent in Japanese and has also studied Mandarin Chinese.

In addition to working with the Hughes & Associates Inc., accounting and tax firm, he is a Registered Representative of Sammons Securities Company, member FINRA/SIPC. He is also a Investment Advisor Representative with SPC, a registered investment advisor. The branch office is located at 2069 North Main Street, Suite 200, Cedar City, Utah, 84721.

Caroline C. Brown, Master of Accountancy

Caroline Brown received her Bachelor of Science degree in Accounting from Southern Utah University and later completed her Master of Accountancy degree there in 2002. Ms. Brown has conducted extensive legal research on cases dealing with the accountant's duty of confidentiality to their clients and the accountant-client privilege at the federal and state levels. Ms. Brown has had several years of experience in inventory control positions. She also previously held a position at a Wyoming CPA firm in which she prepared complex tax returns and performed various bookkeeping duties.

At Hughes & Associates, Inc., Ms. Brown currently prepares personal and business tax returns. She also assists with entity formation, tax planning, and accounting functions of small businesses and has expert capabilities using the QuickBooks accounting program. She is fluent in Spanish.

Specific areas of expertise include:

Expert QuickBooks accounting capabilities
Innovative accounting methods for small businesses
Forensic and investigative accounting
Personal and business taxation
Business structure and formations
Financial analysis, planning and strategy

D. Chase Christensen, Master of Accountancy (Candidate)