Over The Falls with the HFA Tax Team

It's that time of year again. Kevin, Tim, Raechel, Ray, Caleb, and Steve have been hard at work, along with Jamie and Shane, our newest team members. For those of you who haven’t had the honor of meeting Jamie and Shane yet, here’s a little bit about them.

Jamie Bushart joined HFA in 2024 as a Tax Manager. In this role, she provides support for small businesses and oversees tax preparation services. With 16 years of tax experience, Jamie previously worked as a Senior Tax Manager at a local accounting firm and served as Treasurer for the Village of Webster. She lives in Marion with her husband and two children and enjoys outdoor activities and spending time with her family.

Shane Girolamo recently joined HFA as a Tax Intern. His responsibilities include assisting with tax preparation, organizing financial and tax data, and supporting HFA's tax team. Shane is pursuing a Bachelor of Science in Finance and Accounting at the Rochester Institute of Technology. He lives in North Chili and enjoys playing hockey and golf in his free time.

For this month's Over the Falls, we asked the tax team to answer one of two questions. It was no surprise when most chose to share their plans for April 16. Let the countdown continue!

What will you do on April 16?

Caleb: On April 16, I plan on enjoying a well-deserved day off. After a busy tax season, I’ll be unwinding at home with some good food and a movie—taking a moment to relax and recharge. 

Jamie: I use April 16 as a day of reflection and cleaning. For me, tax season is like running a marathon, and I cannot come to an abrupt stop. It’s nice to look back at all our team accomplished, as well as jot down things that went well and not so well while it’s still fresh. That leads to productive planning meetings for the next season.

Kevin: Depending on the weather, I will usually head down to Hemlock Lake and take our dog on a hike along Rob’s Trail or head out of town to visit one of our kids in college.

Steve: On April 16, I will be celebrating completing my second tax season with a large scoop of cookies and cream ice cream in Florida.

Tim: I will be congratulating all my teammates for a job well done.

What do you like about working at HFA?

Raechel: I like the investment in technology and willingness of everyone to learn new software that will help us be more efficient and better serve our clients. Our remote working capability has been especially helpful to me the past few months as I have been juggling my tax work and caring for my husband after he had an accident and subsequent surgery. 

Shane: I like that HFA is a very supportive environment. I can go to anyone with a question and they are always happy to help.