Nicole R. Bennett

Certified Public Accountant, Enrolled Agent, Co-Owner
Nikki is a graduate of California State University Hayward with a Bachelor of Science degree in Business Administration. Nikki became an Enrolled Agent (Enrolled to Practice before the IRS) in 1991 and a Certified Public Accountant in 2002 and is a member of the California Board of Accountancy, California Society of Enrolled Agents and the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants.

Nikki is a co-owner of Bennett and Rhodes which started in 2016 by acquiring the firm of Brent K August & Co. Inc. which was in business for over 49 years. Nikki started with Brent August & Co, Inc in 1988 and has almost 30 years of experience in accounting and taxation, including but not limited to, preparation of individual, partnership, corporation, S corporation and Fiduciary income tax returns, Estate Tax returns and planning, Tax planning and analysis of tax considerations, Client Representation before the Internal Revenue Service and State Agencies and Accounting review and work papers for preparation of all business income tax returns. Nikki believes in a personal, hands on approach to her client’s and their needs. It is this personal approach that she believes sets Bennett and Rhodes apart from other Tax and Accounting firms.

Shelly J. Rhodes

Enrolled Agent, Co-Owner
Shelly attended California State University Hayward and has held her Enrolled Agent certification (EA) since 1996 and can represent clients before the IRS. She has over 25 years tax and accounting experience including but not limited to preparation of Federal and State Corporate, Partnership, Fiduciary, and Individual Income Tax Returns, as well as Payroll Tax Returns and Support. Shelly is especially proficient with computer technology and offers QuickBooks^® support to clients. Shelly trains and supervises all staff members.

Shelly believes strongly that clients need to be given information and advice so that they can make the best decisions possible. Each year she secures substantial ongoing professional education. She is a member of several professional societies, including the National Association of Enrolled Agents.

Nancy Rivard

Certified Public Accountant
Nancy is a graduate of San Francisco State University with a Bachelor of Science degree in Business Administration. She became a Certified Public Accountant in 2008 and is well versed in Generally Accepted Accounting Principles, taxation and audit services.

Nancy has over 12 years of experience in accounting and taxation including: Forming a business, Working closely with venture capitalists and startups; Requisition and management of capital funding; Budgeting and financial analysis; Mergers & acquisitions; Due diligence and year-end financial audits; Growing and successfully leading accounting teams through exponential growth and re-organization; Payroll, Accounting and HRIS system implementations; International accounting; Tax preparation of all sorts including payroll tax, personal property tax, Not-For-Profit information returns, individual income tax, and business income tax returns. She’s enjoyed working in the Healthcare, SAAS, Digital Media, retail and Not-For-Profit industries.

Nancy offers excellent customer service to her clients by first developing a full understanding of their needs, then collaboratively working in partnership with them to decide upon the most beneficial and efficient method to meet those needs.

Johanna Munoz

Office Manager
Johanna is a graduate of University of Central America with a degree in Nutrition. She has over 22 years of experience as an office manager and joined our team in 2006.

Johanna is bilingual, being fluent in English and Spanish. As the Office Manager, Johanna is involved in all things. Johanna manages all our time and billing processes, source document management and assembly of returns and files. Johanna is the first point of contact when client documents are mailed to the office and the last point of contact when they leave. If you want or need it, Johanna gets it done.

Silvia Spiller

Enrolled Agent
Silvia is a graduate of Hebrew University with a Bachelor in Economics, a graduate of De Paul University with an MBA and became an Enrolled Agent (Enrolled to Practice before the IRS) in 2006. Silvia joined the practice in 2008 and has over 15 years of tax experience. She prepares not only personal returns, but business, partnership, corporations, trusts, estates and non-profit returns. She also does accounting, payroll taxes, and sales taxes.

Silvia is multilingual, being fluent in English, Spanish and Hebrew. Silvia is a key member of the team taking a lead role in client contact and communications and income, payroll and sales tax compliance.

Sarit Ahituv

Sarit is a graduate of Tel Aviv University with a M.Sc. in Human Genetics & Molecular Medicine. She started a second career as a tax preparer in 2007 and became an Enrolled Agent in 2014. Sarit has 9 years of experience in tax preparation, and has an experience working with resident alien status clients and U.S. citizens who lives abroad. She joined Bennett and Rhodes in 2014.

Sarit is bilingual, fluent in both English and Hebrew. Sarit is integral to our year round staffing needs, with an exceptional eye for detail and interpretation of IRS Regulations. Sarit believes in working closely with clients and gives her full attentions to their needs and concerns.

Sierra R. Rhodes

Sierra is currently an intern and student of Business Administration. A valued member of the team since 2011, Sierra assists in individual and business tax return preparation, accounting and bookkeeping using QuickBooks®, personal property tax returns and payroll tax returns. Sierra grows in her confidence and skills daily, listens with a keen ear and has a natural eye for details.

Natalie S. Matthews

Natalie is a graduate of California State University, East Bay with a Bachelor of Science degree in Business Administration with an Accounting Concentration. Natalie is currently studying for her CPA exam and has been a valued member of the team since 2016. Natalie assists in pension accounting using Quicken, accounting and booking using QuickBooks^® and input of all income tax returns, include Individual, C-Corporations, S-Corporation and Partnership returns. Natalie also assists in all office functions, including management of source documentation, assembly of returns, and billing. Natalie is enthusiastic to learn new skills and soaks up new information up like a sponge. We are excited to watch her growth and assist in her development and training.