Leadership Team
Ruth Washington-Dean
President/CEO
Choice takes pride in stating that it is founded on a financial premise. President and CEO, Ruth Washington-Dean brings a wealth of financial education and experience to the corporation as well as to our clients. She is educated with a B.S. Degree in Accounting, A Masters in Business Administration with a concentration in Accounting and Finance, and is a graduate of Dartmouth College, Tuck School of Business Minority Business Entrepreneur Program (MBEP). She has over 25 years of experience that encompasses the entire core group of services we offer as a company. She has experience in Big 4 and small CPA firms, the Federal Government, Fortune 500 companies, Small Business, and City and State Governments which is also reflective of the clients we service. The success of her efforts have been recognized in national publications including Money Magazine, Working Woman Magazine, and Excellence Magazine.
Debbie Grant-Neal, CPA
Director of Auditing Services
A Certified Public Accountant with the experience in a Big 8 CPA Firm, the Defense Contract Audit Agency, Fortune 500 companies and Small Businesses, Ms. Grant-Neal is very well equipped to manager our Auditing Services. She has a B.S. Degree in Accounting as well as a Master Degree in Business Administration with a concentration in Accounting and Finance. She has over 25 years of experience which includes financial and cost auditing, financial management, accounting systems design and implementation, supervising of audit staff, and an instructor of accounting, business information and office technology, and computer operations courses.
Athena Payne, CPA
Director of Accounting and Financial Services
Ms. Payne is a Certified Public Accountant, a proven administrator, and brings forth over 25 years of experience in budgeting and forecasting, financial reporting, treasury and investment management, internal auditing, and Sarbanes Oxley 404 Consulting. She is a graduate of the School of Business at the University of Georgia with a B.S. Degree in Accounting.
Rene Bonnie Sims, CPA
Audit Manager
Ms. Sims is a Certified Public Accountant, a graduate of the Dale Carnegie Institute, and the holder of a B.S. degree in Accounting, and a Management Certificate from Loyola University. She is a proven leader and a seasoned manager with experience across the board ranging from CPA firms, non-profit organizations, Fortune 500 companies, and small businesses. Her experience also expands across many different types of industries.
Carolyn Brooks-Collins, CPA
Audit Manager
A dedicated Certified Public Accountant with over 25 years of diverse accounting, audit and financial management experience. She brings extensive knowledge of COSO, risk control assessments, Sarbanes-Oxley (SOX) 404, internal control reviews, financial and operational audits and tax services.
Barbara Easter
Director of Training and Course Development
A Harvard trained professional, Ms. Easter is an experienced problem-solver and results-oriented management professional with progressive experience in organizational planning, development and training firm specializing in designing and delivering management training and performance improvement programs for corporate and non-profit clients. She has extensive experience in supervising trainers and course developers.