Dear Tax Section Members,

I am honored to serve as Chair of the North Carolina Bar Association Tax Section for the 2025-2026 year. Our Section continues to play an important role in advancing knowledge, promoting collegiality, and providing opportunities for professional growth in the field of tax law.

Key Initiatives for 2025–2026

We are working hard to achieve several goals for the coming year, including the following:

Growing Section Membership – Expanding outreach to attorneys across North Carolina and engaging new members. We have contacted law firms across the state to promote the Section and to encourage firms to invest in their associates through Section membership. We ask each of you to encourage your tax colleagues to join the Section if they are not already members, and consider committee and other involvement.
Promoting Tax Law to Students and Young Lawyers – Building bridges with law schools and supporting the development of future tax practitioners. We have reached out to all North Carolina law schools to arrange meet-and-greet and other engagement opportunities, allowing our members to interface directly with law students.
Serving the Legal Pro Bono Community – Expanding opportunities for Section members to contribute their expertise to benefit underserved communities. We are pursuing various opportunities including assisting pro se taxpayers during Tax Court calendar calls, volunteer opportunities through the Charlotte Legal Initiative to Mobilize Businesses (CLIMB), and opportunities at the Duke Community Enterprise Clinic and Charlotte Center for Legal Advocacy Low Income Tax Clinic.
Showcasing Our Annual CLE Program in Kiawah – Continuing to deliver high-quality, practical, and relevant CLE programming that supports our members’ practices. We have already lined up several top-notch experts from across the country, including Christopher Dinincolo of the Gassman Law Firm in Florida, Holly Norvell of Johnson, Allison & Hord, and attorney and CPA Rick Yandle. We are pursuing additional sponsors for the program and taking steps to increase attendance.

Key Dates for 2025-2026

NCACPA Tax Resource Group & NCBA Tax Section Meeting with NCDOR Leadership – Thursday, October 16, 2025 | 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. | Winston’s Grille, Raleigh
Council Meeting (Joint with NCACPA + IRS) – Friday, November 7, 2025 | 12:30 p.m. | Tuggle Duggins, Greensboro (Open to all)
State and Local Tax CLE Program – Wednesday, December 10, 2025 | Cary NC
Council Meeting and Roundtable Discussion – Friday, March 20, 2026 | 12:30 p.m. | Culp Elliott & Carpenter, Charlotte
Annual Tax Section CLE in Kiawah – Friday to Sunday, May 22-24, 2026 | Kiawah Island
Council & Annual Meeting – Friday, May 22, 2026 | Noon | Kiawah Island

This year, I am joined by a dedicated group of officers, committee chairs, and council members who are committed to furthering the mission of the Section. I am pleased to introduce our leadership team:

Section Officers

Chair: Chris Hannum, Culp Elliott & Carpenter PLLC
Vice-Chair: Stacey Ann Brady, Schell Bray PLLC
Treasurer: Kristin King, Schell Bray PLLC
Secretary: Jordan Fieldstein, Smith Anderson Blount Dorsett Mitchell & Jernigan LLP
Past Chair: Reed Hollander, Young Moore & Henderson PA

Committee Leadership

CLE Co-Chairs: Helen Herbert, Herbert Law PLLC and David McCallum, Nexsen Pruet, LLC
Communications Chair: Herman Spence, Robinson Bradshaw & Hinson PA
Membership Chairs: Charles Mercer, Young Moore & Henderson PA and Rob Wall, Akerman LLP
Nominations Chair: Reed Hollander, Young Moore & Henderson PA
Pro Bono Chair: Curtis Strubinger, Robinson Bradshaw & Hinson PA
IRS Liaison: Mike Wenig, Tuggle Duggins PA
Ad Hoc Tax Court Liaisons: Michael Cashin, Womble Bond Dickinson (US) LLP and Stephen Wynne, Parker Poe Adams & Bernstein LLP
Ethics/Legislative Liaison: Justin Prusiensky, Prus Law PC and Jon Espinola, BDO
NCACPA Liaisons: Stacey Brady, Schell Bray PLLC and Chris Hannum, Culp Elliott & Carpenter PLLC
YLD Liaison: Cece Barreca, Poyner Spruill LLP

Council Members

Class of 2026:

Matthew James (YLD), Office of Chief Counsel
Emily Leazer
Robert Lyerly, Nexsen Pruet LLC
David McCallum, Nexsen Pruet LLC
Charles Mercer, Young Moore & Henderson PA
Rick Yandle, Law Office of James R. Yandle, JD CPA

Class of 2027:

Jordan Fieldstein, Smith Anderson Blount Dorsett Mitchell & Jernigan LLP
Helen Herbert, Herbert Law PLLC
Michael Cashin, Womble Bond Dickinson (US) LLP
Nicholas Bakatsias, Carruthers & Roth PA
Justin Prusiensky, Prus Law PC

Class of 2028:

Jenna Parkolap (YLD), Carolina Family Estate Planning
Melissa McCallop, McCallop Law PLLC
Stephen Wynne (YLD), Parker Poe Adams & Bernstein LLP
Stanton Geller, Culp Elliott & Carpenter PLLC
Curtis Strubinger (YLD), Robinson Bradshaw & Hinson PA
Cecilia Barreca (YLD), Poyner Spruill LLP

On behalf of the leadership team, thank you for your commitment to the Tax Section. We look forward to a productive and rewarding year together.

Sincerely,
Chris Hannum
Chair, NCBA Tax Section 2025-2026

October 20, 2025/by TAX