Our Mission

Empowering small businesses and their owners to achieve financial success through personalized, expert tax and support services. We are dedicated to simplifying the complexities of tax compliance and planning, allowing our clients to focus on what they do best…growing their business and enjoying their lives. With integrity, accuracy, and a client-first approach, we are your trusted partner in navigating the financial landscape.

Staff Profiles

Joelle Thomas, EA
Owner

Originally a theatre major with dreams of Broadway stardom, Joelle began to develop an interest in business and accounting while working for her family’s small business in Duplin County, NC. She is a 1992 graduate of the University of North Carolina at Wilmington, holding a Bachelor of Science in Business Administration with a concentration in Business Management. After taking some time off to start a family, Joelle returned to UNCW to take more accounting courses in 1995, eventually enrolling in graduate school. A member of the inaugural MSA class at UNCW, she received her Master of Science in Accountancy in 1997.

After spending six years in the audit and tax departments of a local public accounting firm upon graduation, Joelle moved into private industry, where she had sole responsibility for all accounting functions as well as payroll and benefits administration for a local business. During her 12-year term in private industry, she realized that her true love lay in helping clients navigate the ever-changing tax landscape and, in her “free” time, began sowing the seeds of what is now Thomas Tax Solutions, returning to full-time practice in 2016. Joelle has worked with many local businesses including contractors, homeowners’ associations, legal and medical practices, performing arts organizations, restaurants, retail stores and others. Joelle focuses on providing tax and accounting services to small and closely held businesses and their owners. She is experienced in corporate, partnership, individual and non-profit tax preparation, Human Resources, payroll, and sales tax and is a certified QuickBooks ProAdvisor.

Joelle is an Enrolled Agent admitted to practice before the IRS, which means she can represent taxpayers before the IRS at for all types of issues at all levels underneath Tax Court. She also holds the Accredited Tax Preparer (ATP) credential from the Accreditation Council for Accountancy and Taxation (ACAT), is a Notary Public commissioned in the State of North Carolina and is a member of the American Society of Tax Problem Solvers, the National Association of Enrolled Agents, the National Society of Accountants, and the National Association of Tax Preparers.  .

A North Carolina native, Joelle has lived in the Wilmington area since college and currently shares her home with an insane cat, Katya, a big ol’ goofy lab-pitt mix, Juniper, and “pretty princess” husky/hound mix, Cheeto. Outside of work, she most enjoys spending time with her family and friends, especially her three grown kids and two grandchildren, as well as Tarheel basketball, cooking, theatre, reading and travelling.

Kayla Cotter
Office Manager/Business Support Services Manager

A Virginia girl born and raised, Kayla grew up in NOVA and enjoyed all the area had to offer: rich history, beautiful landscape and a multitude of experiences to enjoy. Early on her love of history and learning was fostered by the ability to visit places like Mount Vernon, countless battlefields, and more museums than you could shake a stick at.

An avid equestrian before she could walk, Kayla was also an elite volleyball player from a young age. She followed in family members’ footsteps and played competitively from elementary school on, allowing her to travel the country, and then into college at UNC Pembroke, which brought her to North Carolina. Her love of history never wavered though, and she earned her BA in History from UNCP in 2011. While finishing her degree, she leaned back into her first love, horses. She competed in the Sandhills area in Dressage & Eventing while working for a competitive carriage driver with a farm full of ponies.

After graduation, Kayla returned to Virginia for a time, then returned to Wilmington upon meeting her now husband Rob when they were both in the wedding party of mutual friends (they even walked down the aisle together!). They love the simple life, with good wine, good friends, and most importantly with good critters. They have two dogs, Buddy & Nemo who they (unbiasedly) say are the best doggos ever.

Kayla loves spending time gardening, riding, and rooting for her Washington Capitals hockey team (which makes for a very contentious hockey season because Rob roots for the Bruins…but she loves him anyways).

As Office Manager and Business Support Manager, Kayla is our right-hand (well, left in her case) woman and keeps the office running smoothly and our heads on straight. Kayla is also a Notary Public commissioned in the State of North Carolina.

Blair Taylor
Data Entry Specialist

You won’t see Blair in the office very often, but she has been working behind the scenes in several capacities since her teens and currently performs remote data entry work while attending college. A Wilmington native, Blair is a senior at Appalachian State University majoring in Ecology, Evolution and Environmental Biology (“Triple E”) and minoring in photography. Blair lives in Boone with cats, Cora and Luna and lab mix, Sasami. She enjoys live music, travel, hiking in the mountains, photography, and is an incredibly creative and talented cook.

Erica Betts
Tax Associate

Another accounting major with a heart for theatre, Erica has been acting and involved with various productions in the Wilmington area since 2013, and through that has learned some excellent skills for staying cool under pressure. As the youngest of the team, Erica has been working in the accounting industry since September 2023. She holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Business Administration, with a concentration in Accountancy and a minor in Theatre, from UNCW. Erica jumped headfirst into the profession for 2023’s tax season and is eager to learn everything out there for the seasons to come. In her free time, she enjoys the arts, fix it projects, gaming, her 2 cats and 2 dogs, and quality time with friends and family.

Juniper
Greeter

Born April 15, Juniper is a Tax Day Baby who joined the firm in 2021 as our official greeter and general morale booster. She enjoys zoomies, snuggles, chewing on whatever she can get a hold of, belly rubs and chasing the cat.