Meet our owner, Michelle, beauty school graduate turned licensed CPA! How does that happen, you ask? Well, she’s always loved making things beautiful. That’s why she went to beauty school! After graduation, Michelle had plans to open her own salon, but back tracked when she realized how much it took to run a successful beauty biz. Armed with desire, she hit the ground running to learn absolutely everything about finances, but plot twist— she enjoyed it! 

Shocking, we know!  But, Michelle found she really enjoyed making the business side beautiful, too. Back to school she went and gained her CPA license with efforts to beautify books for a living. Never forgetting her roots, Michelle started her CPA firm dedicated to helping beauty pros navigate taxes and bookkeeping while also empowering them to be the financial expert in their business through her course, Beauty Bookkeeping. 

When she’s not helping her clients maximize profit, Michelle gets endorphin overload by snuggling her three babies and drinking lavender tea.

Before Carter Cook, Bryce spent his career as an actuarial consultant advising Fortune 500 companies on financial risk. Now he applies that same analytical rigor to growing a firm that serves the beauty industry. He leads the firm’s brand and growth strategy, connecting ambitious beauty business owners with the financial clarity and expertise they need to build profitable, scalable businesses.

Caity managed her first wedding venue before she was old enough to drink at one. Started as a parking attendant and worked her way to venue manager. She brings that same instinct to Carter Cook: remove the obstacles, so clients can focus on what they’re actually building. She’s an outdoor enthusiast through and through, whether she’s running, gardening, or trying something new.

Jessica is drawn to beauty industry clients for the same reason they stand out: serious about their business, but genuinely easy to work with. She brings a sharp eye for detail to every return and a calm, steady approach that clients appreciate during tax season. When she’s not in the numbers, she’s on the tennis court. Her favorite place to meet people she never would have found otherwise.

Wenxi brings a deep curiosity to understanding her clients’ businesses. She doesn’t just prepare returns. She wants to know the full picture so nothing gets missed. A photographer at heart, she captures the unposed moments: her kids mid-laugh, the world as it actually is.

Karen leads Carter Cook’s bookkeeping team with a sharp eye for accuracy and a focus on helping beauty entrepreneurs see their numbers clearly. She specializes in helping clients scale with confidence, from cleaning up the books to improving profitability at every stage. Originally from Zimbabwe, she carries a deep appreciation for community and the kind of clients who are building something that matters.

Song’s first instinct was to help people. She spent time as a CNA right out of high school and was originally on track to become a nurse. That same care comes through in how she works with beauty clients today. Outside of work, she loves camping with her family.

Christine has a deep appreciation for quality, detail, and the people who build businesses around craft. She sees beauty industry clients the same way: talented, business-minded, and deserving of financial expertise that matches their level. She’s also a USFSA figure skating judge. So she knows a thing or two about precision under pressure.

Lisa started her career cleaning hotel rooms through college, which tells you everything about her work ethic. She specializes in the operational and software side of client accounts, bringing a genuine curiosity for how beauty businesses actually run behind the scenes. Outside of work, she’s all about time with her family.

Payton is a licensed hairstylist with ten years behind the chair and an accounting professional. That combination means she understands the real-world business of beauty from the inside out. She’s visited all 50 states and 15 countries, and brings that same curiosity to every client relationship.

Esterna came to accounting from a career in wedding coordination, where she learned that the best financial support is the kind clients never have to think about. She’s drawn to the beauty industry because it’s work that helps people feel confident. And that matters to her. Outside the office, she’s happiest outdoors with her kids.

Kjirsten is the first person most clients meet when they join Carter Cook. She specializes in onboarding and making sure the financial foundation is mapped out clearly from day one. Creative, collaborative, and genuinely excited about what clients are building. At home, she’s a collector of hobbies: crocheting, painting, and raising her kids.

Gina keeps the administrative side of Carter Cook running with precision and warmth. She has a natural love for accuracy and process that shows in every detail she handles. A true crime podcast devotee, she brings the same investigative energy to making sure nothing slips through the cracks.