Our firm was founded in 1999 by G. Marvin Bales. In 2009 Stephen C. Stokes joined the firm and Stokes & Bales, CPAs was formed.  Also in 2009 the CPA firm of Mical E. Embler was merged into Stokes & Bales.

Stokes & Bales prides itself in customized, personal service to meet the specific needs of each client.  Our firm is known for providing excellent service.  Our CPAs and accountants keep up-to-date on the tax and accounting laws and advise our clients of upcoming changes or opportunities.

Our ultimate goal is to help our clients maximize their wealth while minimizing their tax liabilities. 

As an accounting, bookkeeping and tax firm, we collect nonpublic personal information about you from some or all of the following sources:

• Information received from you on applications, tax preparation worksheets, organizers and supporting schedules we use in preparing your tax returns and other forms.
• Personal interviews, meetings and conferences with you.
• Information received from you and others about your transactions with others and with us.
• Information received from consumer reporting agencies.

We do not disclose any nonpublic personal information about our clients or former clients to any third parties, except as permitted by you or required by law.

We restrict access to nonpublic personal and account information about you to those of our employees or contractors who need to know that information in order to provide products or services to you.

We maintain physical, electronic, and procedural safeguards that comply with federal regulations to guard your nonpublic personal information.

Please let us know if you have any questions about the above information. Thanks so much for the opportunity of serving you. We truly appreciate your patronage.

Stephen C. Stokes, CPA, has over 14 years experience working with individuals and businesses to meet their tax and accounting needs.  He has been the managing partner of Stokes & Bales, CPAs since January 2009.  He is a licensed certified public accountant in South Carolina and Georgia.  Stephen is also a member of the South Carolina Association of CPAs, the Georgia Society of CPAs, the American Institute of CPAs, and the Professional Association of Small Business Accountants.  He has a bachelor’s degree from Bob Jones University and a master’s degree from Georgia State University.  

Stephen was born and raised near Atlanta, Georgia and moved to Greenville, South Carolina several years ago.  He enjoys spending time with his wife, Tiffani and daughter, Madeline.  He is actively involved in his church, and enjoys reading, sports, and other outdoor activities.   

Mical E. Embler, CPA, received his bachelor's degree in education from Charleston Southern, and started his career as a high school teacher.  After several years he developed an interest in accounting, so he enrolled in classes at Clemson University.  Within just three years he received his certified public accountant license, and five years later he opened his own firm, which he would manage in Greenville for the next 20 years.  We welcomed Mical to the Stokes & Bales team in 2009.  Mical is a member of the South Carolina Association of CPAs, and the American Institute of CPAs.
 
Mical and Kim (his wife of almost 25 years) have two grown children and reside near Furman University.  They have four dogs who run with Mical almost every day.  Mical also enjoys martial arts, volunteering at church, and biking.
 

Christina Neal, office manager, joined Stokes & Bales CPAs in 2011 with over 9 years of administrative experience.  She was born and raised in Greenville, South Carolina, and earned her Bachelor of Science degree in Administrative Management from Bob Jones University.  Her friendly personality and positive attitude keep our office running smoothly and create a positive client experience.

Christina enjoys cooking, decorating, knitting, photography and shopping.  Both she and her husband enjoy watching a good Gamecock football game!

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Patsy Vaughan, senior accountant, adds over 30 years of accounting and payroll experience to Stokes & Bales.  She has played a major role at our firm for over 12 years helping clients with bookkeeping, payroll and taxes.  She is often the go-to person for complex questions regarding payroll law and regulations.

Patsy enjoys NASCAR racing and a good football game.  She loves animals and enjoys spending time with her dog and cats, as well as watching the birds around her feeder.  She also fills her free time making jewelry.

Carol Porter, senior accountant, has over 30 years of experience in accounting and taxes.  She began her accounting career in 1980 as a bookkeeper for her father's business. She continued developing her bookkeeping skills through coursework at Greenville Technical College and later expanded her knowledge in payroll, bookkeeping and income tax preparation while on staff at a CPA firm in Powdersville, SC.  When Stokes & Bales welcomed Carol in 2010, she hit the ground running and her experience has proved invaluable.

Carol resides in Easley, SC. She has four grandchildren and enjoys watching them play sports and spending time with them at the beach.

Paige Gillespie, staff accountant, joined Stokes & Bales CPAs in 2009 with over five years experience in public accounting. Paige provides bookkeeping, payroll, and tax preparation services for individuals, corporations and partnerships.  She received her bachelor of science degree from the University of South Carolina with a marketing management major. A few years later, she took specialized accounting courses, also from USC, to begin her accounting career.

Paige and her husband, along with their son, are Gamecock fans and proud owners of a weimaraner (Bentley), a husky (Inca), and two cats (Chloe and Morris). 

Mandi Norris, staff accountant, joined Stokes & Bales CPAs in 2009.  Mandi has over five years of experience in public accounting, providing bookkeeping, payroll, and tax preparation for individuals, corporations, and partnerships.    She earned a bachelor of science degree in business management from the University of North Carolina. 

Mandi moved to South Carolina in 2008.  She lives in Greenville with her husband, David, and son, Gregory.  On her days off Mandi enjoys traveling and exploring the outdoors.