MEET OUR TEAM.
Ryan Rees
As Managing Partner of Hartle & Rees, LLC Ryan manages many of the client relationships and personnel for the firm. He specializes in business and individual income taxation for a wide variety of clients in health care, manufacturing, ecommerce, professional services and many others. Ryan prides himself in proactive tax planning and high levels of client contact and interaction. He has also served as interim CFO of numerous companies and as a professor of accounting at multiple colleges. Ryan also has in depth experience in mergers & acquisitions and other tax related proficiencies.
ryan@hrtaxcpa.com
(801) 904-2070 Ext. 102
Josh VanCott
Josh joined Hartle & Rees in 2021, bringing years of experience of helping local businesses with their tax planning, tax compliance, and financial strategies. He spent the majority of his career at PricewaterhouseCoopers in Salt Lake City and recently served as a Senior Tax Manager at Eide Bailly. Josh obtained his Bachelor of Accounting degree and Master of Accounting degree from Brigham Young University. He recently served on the board of the Utah Valley Estate Planning Council. Josh is a member of the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants and the Utah Association of Certified Public Accountants.
josh@hrtaxcpa.com
(801) 904-2070 Ext. 109
Mike Hartle
Michael received his accounting degree from the University of Utah in 1984 and began his public accounting career working in the firm of Stayner, Fitzgerald, Vance & Call in Salt Lake City, Utah. In November of 1991 he co-founded the firm Call, Hartle & Company which has now become known as Hartle & Rees, LLC.
Michael has served on many committees and boards of both professional and civic organizations throughout his professional career; including the University of Utah Business Alumni Association, The Utah Association of Certified Public Accountants, the Primary Children’s Medical Center Foundation and the Exchange Club of Salt Lake City.
Areas of expertise include individual, business and trust taxation and consulting. Michael is a licensed certified public accountant in the State of Utah and is a member of the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants, the Utah Association of Certified Public Accountants and the Tax Section of the AICPA.
mike@hrtaxcpa.com
(801) 904-2070 Ext. 101
Jim Clare
Jim came to Hartle & Rees in 2014 from public accounting in Denver, CO. He specializes in IRS compliance, state and local taxes, and individual taxation. Jim holds a Bachelor’s degree in Business Administration–Accounting from the University of Northern Colorado and a Master’s degree in Taxation from The University of Denver. He is admitted to practice before the Internal Revenue Service.
jim@hrtaxcpa.com
(801) 904-2070 Ext. 103
Kathryn Smith
Kathryn Smith joined Hartle & Rees in January 2022. She has a variety of accounting experience, and has worked in public accounting since 2004. She has experience working for both regional and local firms. She has also operated her own accounting and tax practice for several years, and loves helping businesses and individuals with their tax needs. She has served a variety of clients ranging from small businesses to larger corporations. Kathryn has a Bachelor of Accounting degree from Utah Valley University and a Master of Accountancy degree from Weber State University. When she is not working, she enjoys spending time with her husband and 3 daughters.
kathryn@hrtaxcpa.com
(801) 904-2070 Ext. 113
Trista Bytheway
Trista joined Hartle & Rees in 2019 and has worked in public accounting since 1999. She serves clients in a variety of industries, including medical, legal, real estate, manufacturing, and personal services. Trista has her Bachelor of Accounting degree and Master’s of Accountancy with a specialization in taxes from Brigham Young University.
trista@hrtaxcpa.com
(801) 904-2070 Ext. 107
Kacy Esplin
Kacy joined Hartle & Rees in 2022. He has worked in public accounting since 2016 where he spent the majority of his career at Eide Bailly. Kacy obtained both his Bachelor of Accounting and Master’s of Accounting degrees from Southern Utah University.
kacy@hrtaxcpa.com
(801) 904-2070 Ext. 112
Peter Holt
Peter joined the Hartle & Rees team in 2021 and obtained his Bachelor’s of Accounting from Utah Valley University in 2019 and Master’s of Accounting from Western Governor’s University in 2020. He has worked in public accounting since 2019 and assists with tax preparation and financial reporting.
peter@hrtaxcpa.com
(801) 904-2070 Ext. 110
Whitney Crowther
Whitney is the office manager for Hartle & Rees, having joined the firm in 2019. She assists with client relations, organization, firm operations, collections, and tax return processing.
whitney@hrtaxcpa.com
(801) 904-2070 Ext. 108