Our Team
Samuel Hammer CPA, CGMA
Samuel Hammer CPA is the Managing Shareholder for Hammer Navarro and Associates CPA firm. Samuel is a Certified Public Accountant (CPA) and Certified Chartered Global Management Accountant (CGMA) with more than 30 years of healthcare experience serving C-Suite Operating Executive, Board of Director and Advisor to Physicians, Employers, Payors, Hospitals, Physician Groups, Law Firms, Manufacturers, and Government. He provides advice on mergers and acquisitions, strategy, physician integration, tax, and litigation support. Sam has performed substantial tax planning, compliance, and accounting services. Although his focus is on healthcare, he works with high-net-worth individuals and small to mid-sized companies within several other industries and professions. He is also responsible for representing the firm's clients with IRS and state issues.
After graduating from Emory University, Sam began his career at the international CPA firm of Price Waterhouse. He later moved to California expanding his experience in public accounting. He joined a local accounting firm, rose to become a shareholder and managing officer of the firm. Tax planning and preparation, general accounting support, due diligence analysis; business planning and review; operational assessments; governance advice; mergers and acquisitions; performance improvement; interim management; forensic accounting investigations, and litigation support were added to his resume during the years following Price Waterhouse. He advised and helped clients achieve superior results through business decisions and planning. He learned to assemble and manage teams to implement value-added solutions.
Before moving back to Florida, Sam accepted a position as the CEO of a large integrated healthcare network in Riverside California. Once back in Florida, Samuel worked for Memorial Healthcare System and Broward Health before going back into public accounting as a CPA. A detailed CV is available upon request.
Professional Affiliations:
American Institute of Certified Public Accountants (AICPA)
Florida Institute of Certified Public Accountants (FICPA)
Medical Group Management Association (MGMA)
Broward County Medical Association (BCMA)
Zoila Navarro-Pachon CPA
Zoila Navarro-Pachon CPA is a Shareholder at Hammer Navarro and Associates CPA firm. Zoila is a Certified Public Accountant (CPA), and a graduate of the Master of Science in Taxation program at Florida International University. Since 1989, Zoila has been providing extensive services in the areas of tax preparation, accounting, tax planning, tax research, tax examinations, and business consulting to a wide range of domestic and international clients. She also has vast experience in Estates, Gifts, and Trusts taxation and their representation before the Internal Revenue Service. Her clients include small to medium size businesses, professional practices, exempt organizations, estates, trusts, and high net worth individuals. Zoila advises clients on tax minimization strategies and succession planning. She has a strong commitment to client service in a proactive and caring manner. Before Hammer Navarro and Associates (HNAA CPA), she worked for other major South Florida CPA Firms.
Professional Affiliations:
American Institute of Certified Public Accountants (AICPA)
Florida Institute of Certified Public Accountants (FICPA)
Tori A. King, Director, Accountant in Charge, Plantation
Tori King is a Director for Hammer Navarro and Associates CPA firm located in Plantation FL. Tori is a forensic accountant with a specialized accounting background in healthcare. Tori has garnered over 17 years of experience in the healthcare industry spanning her involvement in operations, financial accounting, reporting, and consulting.
For her career, Tori has held positions in both private and public accounting firms. Tori has worked closely with owners, administrators, Board of Directors, and practice managers to ensure all third-party filing requirements have been met and follow existing rules and regulations for both Federal and State governments.
Tori continues to remain focused on the healthcare industry and works closely with practice managers, doctors, dentists, and other medical professionals with accounting and tax needs, including budgetary, reimbursement, operations, strategic planning, and consulting matters. After years of working with our healthcare clientele, she has a comprehensive understanding of the daily challenges of healthcare businesses and running a medical practice. Thus, expanding her role in consulting services, where she offers our clients practical solutions to improve daily operations, finding ways to increase their overall profits, and other developmental opportunities.
Additional experience includes over five years within the Tax and Business and Advisory Services Divisions of Rachlin Cohen and Holtz, providing forensic accounting and litigation support services for restructures, due diligence, and asset-recovery initiatives for administered receiverships.
Education:
Florida Atlantic University - Master of Accounting (Concentration in Forensic Accounting)
Nova Southeastern University – Master of Business Administration (Concentration Healthcare Administration) the University of Florida – Bachelor of Science in Therapeutic Recreation.
Mercedes Rodriguez, Director, Accountant in Charge, Coral Gables
Mercedes Rodriguez is a Director for Hammer Navarro and Associates CPA firm located in Coral Gables, FL. Mercedes specializes in tax and accounting services and is a Certified QuickBooks ProAdvisor. Mercedes has over 20 years of experience in accounting and tax services. Mercedes services clients in the areas of tax preparation, accounting, and business consulting. Mercedes has vast experience preparing business, individual, gifts and trusts, sales tax, and payroll returns. Her clients include small to medium size businesses, professional practices, estates, trusts, and high net worth individuals. Mercedes is bilingual in English and Spanish.
Elizabeth Smallwood, Director, Healthcare Advisory
Elizabeth Smallwood is a Director for Hammer Navarro and Associates Healthcare Advisory services. She provides operational consulting services to large and small private and academic physician practices, health plans, and ambulatory surgical centers. Elizabeth attended the University of Cincinnati and she was Certified as a Medical Practice Executive in 2003. She was clinically trained in the US Navy and holds US Navy certificates for Administration and as an Instructor. Elizabeth has a specialized background in physician practice and health plan operations. Elizabeth has over 30 years of experience in the healthcare industry focused on large and small physician practice, ambulatory surgical centers, and health plan de Nuevo start-up due diligence, development, and management. Also, Elizabeth possesses extensive financial and operational healthcare experience in day-to-day revenue cycle management operations including risk adjustment program development and reconciliation, IT systems process integration, managed care contracting, and reimbursement management. Elizabeth has worked with the largest healthcare systems, academic group physician practices, and managed care organizations in the Country. She is a national speaker who has presented on topics related to provider profiling, medical management principals, physician practice operations, healthcare business development, and marketing managed care plan workflows and processes, tiered managed care networks, revenue cycle management, Medicare Advantage network development strategies and health plan risk adjustment processes.
Lauren Wardell CPA, Director, Accounting Services
Lauren Wardell CPA is a manager of accounting and audit services at Hammer Navarro and Associates CPA firm. Lauren is a Certified Public Accountant (CPA) working within the public accounting industry for over 5 years. Lauren excels in problem-solving and leadership skills, team building, strong work ethic, and accountability to Hammer Navarro clients. Lauren has experience with AICPA and PCAOB accounting and auditing requirements as well as the Accounting Standards Codification.
Deborah Hammer, Practice Administrator
Deborah oversees the administrative operations of the firm. She oversees our client tracking systems, client records system, and client scheduling. In addition to her other duties, Deborah is responsible for coordinating all activities relating to the Florida Treasure Hunt. Under Deborah’s supervision, the firm has assisted clients to recover more than $100,000 of unclaimed property from the State of Florida. Deborah demonstrates leadership and teamwork, has a positive attitude, excellent organizational skills, computer proficiency, and relevant experience. Deborah attended the University of Louisville and is a licensed Notary Public.
Gregory Vurro, Senior Accountant
Gregory Vurro is a Senior Accountant for Hammer Navarro and Associates CPA firm located in Plantation Florida. Greg has more than 9 years of experience in the accounting field focusing on tax preparation, planning, and has provided services across many different industries. Greg has been with the Firm since 2011 with a brief furlough from 2012 - 2013 to complete his MBA at the Florida State University graduating in the class of 2013 and hopes to complete the CPA examination shortly. Greg completed his undergraduate studies at West Virginia Wesleyan College with a Bachelor's in Accounting and is a proud member of the Bobcat Nation class of 2011.
Deirdre Korkes, Senior Accountant
Deirdre Korkes is a Senior Accountant for Hammer Navarro and Associates CPA firm located in Plantation Florida. Deirdre has more than 9 years of experience in the accounting field focusing on tax preparation, planning, and has provided services across many different industries.
Michelle Cachinero-Fernandez, Staff Accountant II
Michelle Cachinero has over 24 years of experience in accounting. Michelle serves clients in the areas of tax preparation and accounting. Michelle has vast experience preparing individual, business, trusts, sales tax, and payroll tax returns. Michelle's clients range from small to medium-size businesses, professional practices, trusts, and high net worth individuals.
A Staff Accountant at Hammer Navarro and Associates, PA, Michelle Cachinero-Fernandez is a graduate from St. Thomas University with a Bachelor’s Degree in Business Administration specializing in Accounting. Michelle specializes in tax and accounting services. Michelle is proficient in QuickBooks, Microsoft Excel, Microsoft Word, and other specialized accounting programs. Michelle is bilingual in English and Spanish.
Jennifer Jimenez, Staff Accountant
Jennifer Jimenez is a staff accountant at Hammer Navarro and Associates CPA firm located in Plantation Florida. Jennifer works with various clients in the areas of bookkeeping, quarterly payroll taxes, and sales tax preparation and has been working in the accounting field for over 5 years.
Julieth Lazo, Staff Accountant
Julieth Lazo is a staff accountant at Hammer Navarro and Associates CPA firm. Julieth works with various clients in the areas of bookkeeping, quarterly payroll taxes, and sales tax preparation. Julieth has been working in the accounting field for over 5 years.
Tomas Galiana, Staff Accountant
Tomas Galiana is a staff accountant at Hammer Navarro and Associates CPA firm. Tomas works with various clients in the areas of bookkeeping, quarterly payroll taxes, and sales tax preparation. Tomas has been working in the accounting field for over 20 years.
Sara Wilkes, Staff Accountant
Sara Wilkes is an account associate at Hammer Navarro and Associates CPA firm. Sara works with various clients in the areas of bookkeeping/write-up, general ledger, and financial statement preparation.
Ronald Herzog CPA, Principal Emeritus
Ronald Herzog CPA is a Principal Emeritus at Hammer Navarro and Associates CPA, PA. Ronald has been a Certified Public Accountant for more than 40 years. He provides business tax, accounting, and financial advisory services to high net worth individuals, corporations, partnerships, trusts, and estates. He represents clients before the Internal Revenue Service and a multitude of other regulatory agencies. Ronald graduated with a Bachelor’s degree from Florida State University and a Master’s degree from the University of Miami.
Professional Affiliations:
American Institute of Certified Public Accountants (AICPA)
Florida Institute of Certified Public Accountants (FICPA)
