Eric Carver is the Managing Partner and the Assurance Quality Control Director at Axley & Rode, LLP. He has been with the firm since 1999 and has progressed from associate, senior, and management roles to a partner. He specializes in governmental and non-profit auditing with an emphasis on federal and state compliance.
Eric earned a B.B.A. in accounting from Stephen F. Austin State University, and he is a licensed Certified Public Accountant in Texas and Arkansas. He is an associate member of the Governmental Finance Officers Association, an associate member of the Texas Municipal League, and an associate member of the Texas Association of School Business Officials.
Eric is a member of the Immaculate Conception Church of Moral. He is past president and treasurer of the Christ Episcopal School Board, a Leadership Nacogdoches alumnus, a member of the SFA Alumni Association, and a member of the Angelina and Nacogdoches Chambers of Commerce.
Molly Abele is a Certified Public Accountant and an audit partner at Axley & Rode, LLP. She has been with the firm since 2004 and has served as a senior audit manager, audit manager, senior auditor, and staff auditor. She specializes in governmental and non-profit accounting and auditing, which includes federal and state compliance audits.
She was valedictorian of her graduating class from Lovelady High School before earning her B.B.A. in accounting from Sam Houston State University.
Molly volunteers for several organizations, including Hudson Diamond Sports, Hudson Youth Basketball Association, Hudson Basketball, and Baseball Booster Club. She is a member of the Texas Society of CPAs, AICPA, GFOA, Lufkin Young Professionals Network, and the Friends of Ellen Trout Zoo.
With a career spanning over 13 years, Matt has amassed a wealth of experience in taxation and accounting. His areas of expertise include income and estate tax, accounting services, software consulting (including QuickBooks), and tax planning. He has had the privilege of working with clients from diverse industries, such as real estate, forestry, construction, agriculture, manufacturing, and retail, demonstrating his adaptability and versatility.
Matt is a proud alumnus of Sam Houston State University and holds a Bachelor of Business Administration in accounting and a Master of Science in accounting. He joined the firm in 2011 as a tax associate, earned his Certified Public Accountant license in 2014, and became a partner in 2018. In 2024 he was appointed Tax Director for the firm.
Matt is a member of the AICPA and the TXSCPA and currently serves as a member of the Sam Houston State University Accounting Advisory Council. He has been invited to speak about income taxes related to timber at the Texas A&M Forest Service Timber Tax Workshop since 2020.
Matt’s charitable activities include coaching his children’s Little League team and volunteering at his church. Matt and his family reside in the Livingston area and spend their free time outdoors or on the water.
M. Craig Corley is a tax partner and director of business services at Axley & Rode, LLP. He started with the firm in 2010 as a Tax Associate and has previously served as a senior tax manager. His specialty is tax and business services.
He is a Certified Public Accountant and earned a B.A. in international studies from Texas A&M University and a Master of Professional Accountancy from Stephen F. Austin State University.
Craig is a member of First Christian Church, the Lufkin Host Lions Club, the Leadership Lufkin Class #36, the Angelina County A&M Club, the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants, and the Texas State Board of Public Accountancy.
Shay Hobbs, a Certified Public Accountant, has over thirty years of experience in public accounting and has been with the firm for more than 16 years. Her tax practice focuses on individuals, small businesses, tax-exempt organizations, and Quickbooks.
Shay, a Lufkin native, graduated from Stephen F. Austin State University with her Bachelor of Business Administration in Accounting. She loves to learn and is passionate about teaching other accountants what she knows. Outside of the office, Shay enjoys hunting, fishing, and spending time with her family.
Mehgan Ibañez is a partner at Axley & Rode's Lufkin office. Her professional auditing experience includes a mix of internal audits for publicly traded companies and public accounting. She specializes in delivering assurance and advisory services related to financial reporting, internal control, and compliance and primarily serves financial institutions and utility cooperatives.
She was valedictorian of Groveton High School’s Class of 2005 before earning a graduate degree from Texas A&M University in 2010. She has been a CPA since 2012 and joined Axley & Rode’s audit services team in 2017.
Mehgan has served on the Board of Directors of TXCPA’s East Texas Chapter and chapter committees since 2021. She is passionate about encouraging East Texas youth to meet their highest potential and reinvest their talent into the area. She regularly volunteers to speak at university campuses and youth leadership events on the virtues of a career in accounting and the CPA license.
Robert Lindsey is a tax partner at Axley & Rode, LLP, specializing in estate and gift taxes and individual and business taxes. He has been with the firm since 1989. He currently serves as the Administration Director and formerly served as Tax Director.
He was valedictorian of his graduating class at San Augustine High School before earning his B.B.A. in accounting from Stephen F. Austin State University.
Robert attends Timberland Drive Church of Christ in Lufkin and serves as treasurer for the church’s board. He is also treasurer for the Lufkin Rotary Club.
Tony McGowen has been with Axley & Rode since 1984 and has been a partner for over 25 years. Tony specializes in assurance services to employee benefit plans and provides assurance and tax services to construction companies, financial institutions, small businesses, and not-for-profit organizations. He also provides tax services to individuals, corporations, partnerships, trusts, and employee benefit plans. Tony currently serves as the Assurance Services Department Director.
Tony graduated from James Bowie High School in Simms, Texas, and earned a B.B.A. from Stephen F. Austin State University in 1984. He attends Sacred Heart Catholic Church, where he serves as finance council chairman.
Kim Smith is a Certified Public Accountant and has been a tax partner with Axley & Rode, LLP since 2009. She has been with the firm since 2000 and specializes in individual, business, gift, Texas franchise, trust, and estate tax services.
She earned a B.B.A. in accounting from Stephen F. Austin State University, graduating Magna Cum Laude in 1999.
Kim is a member of the Texas Society of Certified Public Accountants and the AICPA. She is the past treasurer of the Wellington Pointe Owners Association. She is a graduate of the 2007-2008 Leadership Nacogdoches class.
Polly Etta Sunda is a partner with Axley & Rode, LLP, specializing in individual and business taxation, franchise tax, accounting, business services, and payroll. She co-manages the Nacogdoches office.
Polly Etta joined the firm as a part-time college student and was hired full-time after graduation. She is a Certified Public Accountant and earned a B.B.A. in accounting, graduating magna cum laude, and a Masters of Professional Accountancy from Stephen F. Austin State University. She is a member of the Texas Society of Certified Public Accountants and the AICPA.
Polly Etta is a member of Grace Bible Church in Nacogdoches. She is treasurer of the Nacogdoches County Community Partnership (The Rainbow Room) and is a past president of the Fredonia Rotary Club. She is a Leadership Nacogdoches alumna.
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Nacogdoches, TX 75961
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Fax: (936) 569-6073
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Livingston, TX 77351
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Jasper, TX 75951
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Fax: (409) 384-3988
