Like other Dark Horse CPAs, Stella started her career at a Big 4 accounting firm. However, that she’d find herself a Dark Horse CPA may not have been as predictable. Stella was born and raised in Seoul, Korea. As she was just about to complete a degree in political science (literally in her final semester) at Sookmyung Women’s University, she made a bold move by dropping out and transferring to Angelo State University to become an exchange student. To further expand her horizons, she opted for this small college in a small town because it was so different from the big city and college she had left. In the U.S. of A, she discovered two things that she now loves, her husband and accounting. While the former might have been expected, the latter… maybe not as much.

After a tour of the Big 4 and Fortune 500, she realized she wanted to start her own practice, focusing on small businesses instead of the large ones she worked for until that point. Some might point out that these moves from big to small have been a theme for Stella. Dark Horse CPAs, oddly enough, has that exact focus and the tools she needed to start her own practice. Seizing the opportunity, she left corporate America behind to become a Dark Horse.

When not balancing the books or crafting strategic tax plans, Stella can be found outside hiking, camping, kayaking, etc. In fact, you might spot her at a national park, as she has it on her bucket list to go to all national parks in the U.S. Or, she might be taking her Great Pyrenees/German Shepard named Cooper for a walk around the block. By night, you might spot her at the hippest of restaurants, indulging her foodie proclivities.

Chris’s journey through public accounting spans two vastly different worlds. He began his career at a small, local firm near his hometown in Illinois, where he worked closely with the CPA and firm owner to gain hands-on experience—not just in serving clients, but also in the day-to-day operations of running a small business. It was during this time that Chris discovered his passion for working with small businesses and their owners. After several years of learning and seeking new challenges, he relocated to Southwest Florida, joining a top 10 national public accounting firm. There, he continued to serve small businesses across a variety of industries, quickly climbing the corporate ladder. Despite a clear path to partnership, Chris made the bold decision to leave the corporate world and join Dark Horse, seeking more autonomy in both who he serves and how he serves them.

Chris views the relationship between a CPA and a small business as a true partnership, not just a transactional service. In an industry where many CPAs are overworked, exhausted, and racing towards retirement, Chris hopes to be part of a new era of accounting—one that redefines the profession both for the clients we serve and for the future talent entering the field. He prides himself on having the heart of a teacher and strives to be proactive, responsive, and knowledgeable, ensuring his clients see him as a trusted advisor.

Outside of work, Chris stays active through various recreational sports (with a current obsession for pickleball), enjoys playing video games on the computer he built himself, and has developed a passion for travel. Though he only recently started exploring the world, Chris has already visited five countries across Europe and looks forward to expanding his global adventures in the years ahead.