Meet the Partners
Ronald Hawkins, CPA, ABV (Senior Advisor) – Estate Planning, Taxation, Consulting, Business Development
Ron graduated from Brigham Young University and began his career with Arthur Andersen in California before returning to Utah. He practiced actively with the firm for 32 years before taking a leave of absence to serve a church mission from 2004 to 2007. He has been a frequent guest lecturer and has served on numerous professional and community boards, including Chairman of the Board of the Utah Association of Certified Public Accountants, Utah County Housing Authority, Utah Transit Authority, Provo-Orem Chamber of Commerce, and the Foundation for Utah Valley University. He currently serves on the board of directors at the Polynesian Cultural Center and was most recently named to the Utah Advisory Commission to Optimize State Government. He enjoys travel, golf, athletic events, and service among others.
David A. Cloward, CPA – Real Estate, Business Planning, Taxation
David Cloward graduated from Weber State University and worked for Deloitte and Touche before joining Hawkins Cloward & Simister. He has chaired the Finance Committee of Utah Valley Regional Medical Center and Professional Standards Committee of the Southern Region of Intermountain Health Care, served as Regional President of the Utah Association of CPAs, and co-authored the Utah State Guidelines for Municipal Accounting Procedures. David has a passion for real estate investing and development. When he is not working, he enjoys driving his tractor on his farm.
Kevin L. Simister, CPA, ABV – Tax Reduction Strategies, Start-ups, Business Management
Kevin Simister graduated Magna Cum Laude from Brigham Young University. He was named the 2007 Utah Outstanding CPA in Public Practice. He served as President of the Utah Association of Certified Public Accountants and a member of the AICPA Council. He was Chairman of the Utah Valley University Business Faculty Advisory Committee, was a member of the Utah State Government Quality Review Board, and Chairman of the Utah CPA Political Action Committee. Kevin specializes in Tax Reduction and Business Organizational Design. He enjoys many recreational activities, including trips to Lake Powell with his family, woodworking, and spending time with friends at the family cabin.
O. Jeffery Wilde, CPA – Estate Planning, Retirement Planning, Foundations, Taxation
Jeff Wilde graduated Magna Cum Laude from Brigham Young University. Jeff enjoys serving in the community in various capacities. He currently serves on the board of a community foundation and enjoys working with not-for-profit and charitable organizations. He also supports the arts by serving on a board to help promote a local high school music program. Jeff is a proven BYU football fan and in his words, has "only been a season ticket holder since 1982." Most of all, Jeff enjoys helping others and spending time with his family.
Mark D. Whittaker, CPA, Registered Representative – Small Businesses, Retirement Planning, Accounting Information Systems
Mark Whittaker graduated from Southern Utah University earning the Outstanding Student Award from the UACPA. He has served on committees for the Provo/Orem Chamber of Commerce, as well as on the Board of Directors for Westgate Town Home Owners Association. Mark received his "Retirement Planning Specialist Certificate" from the Wharton School at the University of Pennsylvania. He specializes in personal and business financial planning. Mark is also credentialed a as "Qualified Plan Financial Consultant" (QPFC)-the credential for financial professionals who sell, advise, market or support qualified retirement plans, as well as holding licenses in securities and insurance products. He holds a series 6, 7 and 65 securities license; securities and investment advisory services offered through AXA Advisors, LLC (NY, NY 212-314-4600); member FINRA, SIPC; and works with insurance and annuity products offered through AXA Network Insurance Agency of Utah, LLC and its affiliates. He is also licensed to sell insurance in Utah and Georgia; and registered to offer securities in both Utah and California.
Denton R. Alexander, CPA – Audit Services, Taxation, Human Resources
Denton Alexander graduated with a Master of Accountancy degree from Brigham Young University. He has served as President of the Utah Valley Chapter of the BYU Management Society, as a commission chair of the Utah County Housing Authority, president of Rural Housing Development Corporation, and on the Technical Review Committee for the State of Utah Department of Professional Licensing. Denton is an avid outdoorsman and loves hunting elk from horseback with his sons and nephew in the remote wilderness areas of Utah.
D. Eric Nuttall, CPA – Medical Practice Management, Business Consulting, Compensation Planning, Information Technology
Eric Nuttall graduated Cum Laude from Brigham Young University. He is a member of the Utah Valley Estate Planning Council and the Utah Valley University Planned Giving Council. Eric is a founding trustee of Builders without Boarders of Utah, a 501(c)(3) charity that builds homes for members of the LDS Church in Tijuana. He and his family accompany the members of the organization annually as they travel to Tijuana and enjoy helping with the construction of the homes. Eric is an avid cyclist and enjoys riding the canyons in the area.
Bruce D. Garfield, CPA – Corporate, Partnership, and Individual Taxation
Bruce Garfield graduated from Brigham Young University. He is an active member in the Utah Valley Chapter of the BYU Management Society. He services a member of the united Way Planned Giving Advisory Council and a member of the Association for Corporate Growth - Utah Chapter. Bruce enjoys traveling - especially the back woods of southern Utah. Bruce specializes in Corporate, Partnership, and Individual Taxation.
Clint L. Peterson, CPA – Audit Services, Taxation
Clint Peterson graduated from Brigham Young University. He is a member of the AICPA and UACPA and has been actively involved in the Provo/Orem Chamber of Commerce. He is currently serving as Chairman of the Board for Directors for Rise, Inc. Clint enjoys getting out into the great outdoors, whether it is hiking, hunting, camping, or spending time skiing the slopes in the winter or the lakes in the summer. He also enjoys scuba diving and traveling to various tropical locations.
Angela Anderson Morris, CPA – Audit Services, Taxation
Angie Morris graduated from Brigham Young University. She is a member of the AICPA, the UACPA, has served as the treasure of the Utah Association of CPAs, and president of the UACPA Southern Chapter. She is currently serving as the Vice Chair for the Housing Authority of Utah County and as treasurer of the Provo Orem Chamber of Commerce Women's Business Network. Angie loves spending time at Lake Powell and is a devoted St. Louis Cardinals fan.
Mark L. Hale, CPA – Individual and Small Business Consulting, and Taxation
From Star Valley, Wyoming, Mark Hale graduated from Brigham Young University in 1997. He served many years on the executive board of the Utah Valley Chapter of the BYU Management Society and is currently the president elect for the upcoming term. Mark loves to serve his community and is involved in several other capacities and organizations. Mark's enjoys travel, golf, skiing, and cruising the canyon roads on his motorcycle. His greatest passion is enjoying the interests of his family; attending soccer games, baseball games, gymnastics meets etc. He married Julie Hall of Orem, Utah and they have four wonderful children, three boys and one girl.
Josh G. Rowley, CPA, CITP – Small Business Consulting, Taxation, and Information Technology
From Orange County, California, Josh Rowley graduated from Brigham Young University. At BYU, he was the first-place recipient of the Deloitte and Touche BYU Accounting Case Competition, and second-place recipient of the Deloitte and Touche National Case Competition. Josh enjoys community and professional involvement. He has served as an Executive Member of the UACPA ProNet Council, was a member of the UACPA Emerging CPAs Committee, and served as the President of the UACPA Southern Chapter. After interning with two of the national firms, he found his passion for consulting privately-held businesses. He loves to ski, but enjoys spending time with his family most of all.