Jeff Rooks, CPA

Shareholder
Phone 770-227-5008
Email jrooks@rwjecpa.com

Jeff is the managing partner and a shareholder of the firm. He joined the firm in July of 1987, after earning his B.B.A. in accounting from West Georgia College. Through Jeff’s many years of experience with the firm, he has worked in practically all aspects of accounting, especially personal income tax, corporate and partnership income tax, consulting and financial reporting.

Jeff and his wife Angela have been happily married for over 36 years. Together they have a daughter, Austin, and two beautiful grandchildren, Caroline and Rooks. He enjoys spending time with his family, golfing, hunting and fishing.

Leigh Waltz, CPA

Shareholder
Phone 770-227-5008
Email lwaltz@rwjecpa.com

Leigh joined the firm in 2003. She graduated from the University of South Carolina Upstate in 1994 with a degree in accounting. She also earned her MBA from Clemson University in 2000. Leigh has been a licensed CPA since 1996 and holds licenses in Georgia and in South Carolina. She is a member of the AICPA and the Georgia Society of CPAs. Leigh works with small businesses and individual clients to help them with a wide range of consulting, planning, accounting, tax, and QuickBooks issues. She provides corporate and individual tax services, as well as financial statement services.

Leigh volunteers time with various charities throughout the year. She is also actively involved with her church, and enjoys traveling, reading and spending time with her two children.

Angie Jackson, E.A.

Shareholder
Phone 770-227-5008
Email ajackson@rwjecpa.com

Angie joins the firm with over ten years tax experience and more than twenty-five years of accounting and payroll experience. She is a graduate of Clayton State University with a Bachelor of Business Administration in Accounting. She is enrolled to practice before the IRS as an Enrolled Agent. She works with individuals and small businesses with planning, tax, accounting and QuickBooks issues as well as individual and corporate tax preparation.

Having a working background in non-profit industries, she also enjoys working with non-profit organizations including Form 990 preparation. Growing up in Athens, Ga she is a die-hard Bulldog fan. She and her husband, Jim, have two children and five grandchildren. In her free time, she enjoys going to the beach and spending time with family.

Annie Jones Esary, E.A.

Shareholder
Phone 770-227-5008
Email aesary@rwjecpa.com

Annie joined the firm in 2009. Before coming to the firm, she worked for a regional brokerage firm for ten years, five of those as a financial advisor. She graduated from Georgia College and State University in 2004 with a Bachelor of Business Administration. She is enrolled to practice before the IRS as an Enrolled Agent. She provides corporate and individual tax and accounting services and specializes in trusts and estates. She is also experienced with tax planning, business consulting, and QuickBooks assistance.

Annie, and her husband Michael, are lifelong residents of Griffin. They have two wonderful boys, Jones and Boyd, who attend Crescent Elementary School. Annie is an active member of the Crescent PTO. They are also active members of Griffin First United Methodist Church. In her free time Annie enjoys volunteering in the community, going to the lake and beach, spending time with family and friends, and being a Georgia Bulldog fan.

C. Randall “Randy” Howell

Retired Shareholder
Part-time Consultant
Phone 770-227-5008
Email rhowell@rwjecpa.com

Randy is a 1969 graduate of Georgia State University, with a B.B.A degree in Business Administration with a major in Accounting. He received his Certified Public Accountant Certificate in 1974, and is a member of the Georgia Society of CPA’S and American Institute of CPA’S. He joined the firm as a shareholder in 2000, after having a private practice for many years. He has numerous years experience in compilation and review of financial statements.

He specializes in income tax preparation and consulting on all types of tax returns. He is happily married to Suzanne and together they have four children and seven grandchildren. He enjoys playing the guitar, singing and spending time with his family.

J. Philip Young, CPA

Professional Staff
Phone 770-227-5008
Email pyoung@rwjecpa.com

Philip Young is a Certified Public Accountant with RWJE, where he has been a member of the firm since February 2024. He provides tax planning and preparation services for small businesses, individuals, and nonprofit organizations, and assists clients with accounting and review services. In addition to tax and accounting work, Philip has built extensive experience auditing federally assisted programs such as HUD multifamily housing and LIHTC projects, as well as local governments, and has served as CFO for a nonprofit foundation.

Philip holds undergraduate degrees in marketing and psychology from the University of Georgia and a degree in accounting from Valdosta State University. He is a member of the AICPA and the Georgia Society of CPAs. Outside the office, Philip enjoys time with his two children, attending their sporting events, reading, doing crossword puzzles, and spending time outdoors.

Rachel Smith

Professional Staff
Phone 770-227-5008
Email rsmith@rwjecpa.com

Rachel joined the firm initially in 2002 as a receptionist and grew in her administrative role for over 15 years. She has returned after a four-year journey, gaining knowledge and experience as a Professional Public Bookkeeper. She is Certified in Bookkeeping through NACPB, QuickBooks Desktop Certified as well as Online with an Advanced ProAdvisor recognition in QuickBooks Online. Helping small business owners with all their bookkeeping needs brings her joy.

Rachel with her husband Jerry have a combined family of three boys. The family dog (Boxer breed) is the only girl. Trea is the oldest of the boys, he is a Certified Arborist through the Florida ISA chapter, and thriving with his wife and son in South Florida. Ryan, "the middle child", served a four-year term of enlistment in the Army, he and his wife Megan are establishing their lives and growing their family in South Georgia.  Trevor, the youngest, is a student at the University of West Georgia finishing up his Bachelor's Degree in English. Rachel enjoys being outdoors, going on road trips, listening to music and worshiping/serving with her church family.

Renee Holder

Bookkeeper
Phone 770-227-5008
Email rholder@rwjecpa.com

Renee joined the firm in December 2017 as a bookkeeper. She comes to the firm with over thirty nine years of bookkeeping and payroll experience. Renee has worked in both public and private accounting during her career. She is a certified QuickBooks Desktop ProAdvisor.

Renee and her husband, Robert, have been happily married since 1985. Together they have two children. In her spare time, she enjoys spending time with family and friends and camping.

Kacie Hoard

Bookkeeper
Phone 770-227-5008
Email khoard@rwjecpa.com

Kacie joined the firm in 2023. She came to the firm with 20 years of experience as a bookkeeper for her husband’s successful music production company. She graduated from Gordon State College with an Associates Degree in Business in 2004.

Kacie has been married to the love of her life, Jason, since 1999. They have three children, Serai, Aslyn, and Sawyer. They are members of Christ Chapel in Zebulon. In her spare time, Kacie enjoys scrapbooking, watching true-crime documentaries, and spending time with her family and friends. However, her favorite activity is watching her husband and children use their gift of music for the Lord. It gives her heart the most joy!

April Brackett

Bookkeeper
Phone 770-227-5008
Email abrackett@rwjecpa.com

April joined our firm in January 2025. After 30 years in the financial industry, she decided to retire and become owner of a local HVAC company. After a few years growing the HVAC company, she sold the company. She decided to return to work, after some needed rest and relaxation and joined the firm.

April has been married to her husband for 32 years. They have two children and two grandchildren. She loves to travel, spend time with her family and is a member of Crestview Baptist Church.

Jacob Joiner

Bookkeeper
Phone 770-227-5008
Email jjoiner@rwjecpa.com

Jacob joined the firm in August of 2025. He is currently working on a Master's degree in Accountancy with a tentative graduation date of Winter 2026. As a QuickBooks “ProAdvisor”, Jacob is Certified in QuickBooks Online.

Jacob is a Griffin native with a passion for church music of all kinds. Before going back to school for Accounting, Jacob received a Bachelor's degree in Music and Worship from Samford University. He is involved locally in Griffin Choral Arts, along with the choir, praise band, and piano ensembles at First Baptist Church of Griffin. He is excited about the opportunity to serve the Griffin community in a new vein at Rooks, Waltz, Jackson and Esary! Soli Deo Gloria.

Jenny Engstrom

Administrative Assistant
Phone 770-227-5008
Email jengstrom@rwjecpa.com

Jenny has been with the firm since early 2016. She has worked as an administrative assistant for many years. As a military wife, who moved every three years, her work experience has been eclectic, but she has found her forever job at RWJE.

Jenny has been married to her high school sweetheart, Lew, Since 1987. They have lived in too many states to name but decided to make Georgia their home in 2014 after Lew's retirement from the Air Force. They have two married daughters.

In her spare time Jenny is either reading or playing Mahjong, probably laughing and is guaranteed to have a cup of coffee in her hand.

Janice Braswell

Administrative Assistant
Phone 770-227-5008
Email jbraswell@rwjecpa.com

Janice came to our firm in December 2021. Most of her work life has been in the dental field, since joining the firm she has enjoyed learning the Accounting field and helping to meet the client's needs. As a Griffin native she is excited to work, play and live all in her hometown.

Janice has a son Justin, a daughter Jaime, a son-in-law Cameron and two grandsons Janson and Grant. She loves to travel and play cards and will do both as often as possible.

Tamme Pursley

Administrative Assistant
Phone 770-227-5008
Email tpursley@rwjecpa.com

Tamme initially joined the firm in 2014 assisting during tax season. She has returned after gaining experience with the University System of Georgia, choosing to work in the private sector and be closer to home. Tamme has a Bachelor of Science degree in Business and Marketing from Ball State University.

Tamme married Griffin native, Wayne Pursley, in 1987. Together they have children and grandchildren they see as often as possible. No longer a Hoosier, Tamme has become a true southerner, and is a lover of dogs, art, books, outside dining, and Georgia football.