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Our team

People behind
the numbers.

Get to know the people behind our CPA firm and the experience they bring to your tax, accounting, audit, and planning needs.

Meet our team.

Ash Lakhani Farishta, CPA
Umpqua Valley Financial LLCTax & Audit
Certified Public Accountant

Ash Lakhani FarishtaCPA

Ash is a Certified Public Accountant based in Texas and has obtained her Oregon CPA license through reciprocity. She is in the process of establishing a second home in Oregon and plans to spend approximately half the year there working on tax and audit engagements.

She holds a master’s degree in accounting from the University of Texas at San Antonio and brings more than 12 years of experience as a corporate accountant and financial analyst to Umpqua Valley Financial LLC. Her experience includes reviewing financial statements, assisting audit and tax teams, and providing accounting guidance and compliance support to international subsidiaries.

Ash is experienced in preparing and filing sales tax returns, individual income tax returns, and small business and LLC returns. She brings strong analytical and critical thinking skills, close attention to detail, and a commitment to building and maintaining client relationships.

Outside her professional work, Ash is an active member of the National Disaster Management Team in her community and is ready to help when disaster strikes.

Professional memberships

  • American Institute of Certified Public Accountants
  • Oregon Society of Certified Public Accountants
  • Government Finance Officers Association
Jean Larson
Umpqua Valley Financial LLCGovernmental & Single Audits
Financial Management & Municipal Auditing

Jean Larson

Jean came to Umpqua Valley Financial with over 30 years of experience in Healthcare Financial Management. In Oregon, she served at Mercy Medical Center—17 years as Controller and an additional 5 years overseeing their Physician Clinics. Prior to relocating to Oregon, Jean held senior-level financial management positions at hospitals in Massachusetts, Maryland, and Ohio, and began her career as an Auditor in Kansas, where she completed the CPA exam.

At Umpqua Valley Financial, Jean has played a vital role in supporting clients through financial transitions, preparing Ground Emergency Medical Transportation (GEMT) cost reports, and leveraging her extensive not-for-profit expertise to guide governmental entities in financial and accounting matters. She brings over five years of experience in municipal auditing and Single Audit engagements, including planning, fieldwork, testing, and reporting for entities receiving significant federal funding.

Jean is the firm’s resident expert in Single Audit procedures and has deep expertise in assessing compliance with the Uniform Guidance (2 CFR Part 200). Her work includes auditing internal controls over compliance, reviewing Schedule of Expenditures of Federal Awards (SEFA) accuracy, and evaluating adherence to procurement, reporting, and subrecipient monitoring requirements. Jean also performs detailed compliance testing on federal and state grant programs to ensure clients meet audit requirements.

Jean has provided full-service government management services to North Douglas School District for the past three years and continues to be a trusted resource for public sector clients navigating federal and state grant compliance.

Faiez Farishta, Director of Operations
Umpqua Valley Financial LLCOperations & Client Relations
Director of Operations

Faiez Farishta

Faiez Farishta is an experienced business professional with a strong background in management, sales, and financial analysis. He currently serves as Director of Operations at Umpqua Valley Financial, where he leverages his expertise in business development, staff management, and client relations.

In this role, he oversees financial planning, regulatory compliance, risk management, and operational efficiency to ensure the firm’s success.

With prior experience as a financial analyst, business owner, and real estate sales agent, Faiez has honed his skills in strategic planning, customer relations, and business growth. His proficiency in financial reporting, tax planning, budgeting, networking, negotiation, and leadership has contributed to his success across various industries.

Additionally, he has volunteered with the United Nations, assisting with security and logistics for high-profile events.

Leticia Gamez, Audit and Tax Associate
Umpqua Valley Financial LLCAudit & Tax
Audit and Tax Associate

Leticia Gamez

Leticia joins our team as an Audit and Tax Associate. She graduated summa cum laude with a BBA in Accounting from Texas A&M University–San Antonio with a 4.0 GPA and received the Outstanding Graduating Student award from the College of Business.

With a 20-year background as a court reporter and experience as a staff accountant, she brings strong attention to detail, the ability to handle complex tasks, and a commitment to consistently producing accurate, high-quality results.

In her free time, she enjoys spending time with friends and family, especially her seven grandchildren.

Savannah Halter, Communications Manager
Umpqua Valley Financial LLCCommunications & Document Management
Communications Manager

Savannah Halter

Savannah Halter is the Communications Manager at Umpqua Valley Financial, LLC, where she has proudly served for over nine years. Starting at the front desk, Savannah’s natural ability to connect with clients and her strong organizational skills helped her rise through the ranks to her current leadership role. Today, she oversees audit communications and manages thousands of client documents with precision and care.

With a background in customer service and accounting, Savannah brings both warmth and structure to every interaction. Her personable approach, paired with a deep understanding of internal operations, makes her a key player in ensuring smooth communication and document management across the firm.

Born and raised in Roseburg, Oregon, Savannah is deeply connected to her community. Outside of work, she enjoys spending time outdoors with her husband—a local firefighter—and their three children. Together, they embrace a lifestyle of hiking, camping, hunting, and caring for their many animals, including dogs, cats, chickens, and ducks.

Umpqua Valley Financial LLCMunicipal Audit
Senior Associate in Municipal Audit

Michelle CastilloCPA · Texas

Michelle Castillo is a licensed CPA in Texas and is in the process of obtaining her CPA license in Oregon. She has over three years of experience in government accounting and holds both a Master of Accountancy and a Bachelor of Business Administration in Accounting from the University of Texas at San Antonio, graduating magna cum laude.

She previously worked as a Fiscal Accountant for the City of San Antonio and currently serves as a Senior Associate in Municipal Audit at Umpqua Valley Financial, LLC.

Michelle specializes in financial forecasting, budget administration, journal entries, and regulatory compliance. Her expertise also includes audit support, accounts payable management, and SAP-based financial reconciliation.

With a strong foundation in both public and private sector accounting, Michelle is committed to ensuring financial accuracy, efficiency, and compliance in all aspects of her work.

Chelsea Van Midde
Umpqua Valley Financial LLCCPA Candidate
CPA Candidate

Chelsea Van Midde

Chelsea earned her Baccalaureate Certificate in Accounting at Portland State University in 2023 and is a CPA candidate.

She previously earned her Accounting Certificate from Portland Community College, where she was honored on the President’s List for academic excellence.

Additionally, Chelsea holds a Bachelor of Arts in Production Design, blending her creative background with her passion for finance and accounting.

Marc Rogers
Umpqua Valley Financial LLCAccounting & Audit
Our Team

Marc Rogers

Marc grew up on the Southern Oregon coast and earned his bachelor’s degree from the University of Oregon. He brings over a decade of accounting experience across a range of roles and industries.

At UVF, he has successfully leveraged this background—along with a strong attention to detail and analytical mindset—to contribute meaningfully to the team. This is Marc’s second year learning the Single Audit process and working with the Schedule of Expenditures of Federal Awards (SEFA), where he continues to support the Single Audit team and expand his expertise. He also plays a key role in reviewing financial statements and developing a deeper understanding of federal revenue and expenditures.

Marc currently resides in the Portland area and, outside of work, enjoys staying active by watching sports, playing basketball, and golfing.

Ely Garcia
Umpqua Valley Financial LLCFinance & Accounting
Our Team

Ely Garcia

Ely is a first-generation graduate from St. Edward’s University specializing in Finance and minoring in Economics. He is skilled in various accounting, financial, and administrative needs.

Prior to joining the team at Umpqua Valley Financial, Ely gained experience in the following core areas: bookkeeping, accounting, financial reporting, financial forecasting, budgeting, and project management.

He is a decisive planner and problem-solver with an eight-year track record working with financial and accounting programs and ERP systems. A dedicated, system-focused professional, he is constantly striving to improve efficiency and productivity.

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