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About Optima Tax Relief
Optima Tax Relief is the nation’s leading tax resolution firm, having resolved over one billion dollars in tax liabilities for our clients. This is why, in multiple independent surveys, consumers rank Optima Tax Relief as the most trusted tax relief company in America.
Our team of tax professionals will work tirelessly on your behalf to help put your tax problems to rest.
How Optima Works
Our tax attorneys and licensed tax professionals specialize in taxpayer assistance programs designed to help people resolve IRS and state tax liabilities and other difficult tax issues. Helping our clients solve problems related to:
Tax levies & liens
Wage garnishment
Penalties & Interest
Settling back taxes
IRS audit defense
Payroll tax negotiation
Reducing Tax Liabilities
Business & Personal Taxes
How Optima Works
Our tax attorneys and licensed tax professionals specialize in taxpayer assistance programs designed to help people resolve IRS and state tax liabilities and other difficult tax issues. Helping our clients solve problems related to:
Tax levies & liens
Wage garnishment
Penalties & Interest
Settling back taxes
IRS audit defense
Payroll tax negotiation
Reducing Tax Liabilities
Business & Personal Taxes
Tax levies & liens
Wage garnishment
Penalties & Interest
Settling back taxes
IRS audit defense
Payroll tax negotiation
Reducing Tax Liabilities
Business & Personal Taxes
Meet Our Legal Team & Tax Professionals
Kristen Bemis
General Counsel
Kristen Bemis has 15 years of legal experience advising financial service companies regarding regulatory and compliance issues. She helps to make sure Optima adheres to the highest standards and maintains best practices within the industry. She was admitted to practice in both states of California and Nevada. She earned a Bachelor of Arts in Political Science from the University of San Diego and a Juris Doctorate from the University of the Pacific, McGeorge School of Law.
Philip Hwang, Esq.
Vice President, Resolutions / Lead Attorney
Philip Hwang is a California licensed attorney dedicated to delivering industry-leading representation for all post-filing tax matters. He has a wide range of experience in tax law ranging from working at the South Brooklyn Low Income Tax Clinic to providing audit defense and international tax planning for multinational corporations. Philip earned his Juris Doctorate degree from Hofstra University School of Law with a concentration in Taxation Law and holds a Bachelor of Arts degree in Philosophy from the University of California, Berkeley. He is also admitted to practice before the U.S. Tax Court.
Nick A. Hashimi, Esq.
Senior Corporate Counsel / Director of Brand Protection
Nick Hashimi brings over a decade of legal expertise, specializing in financial services. Leveraging a strong business acumen, Nick provides practical solutions across Optima’s business units. He plays a pivotal role in guiding operations teams and overseeing complex client matters. Collaborating closely with the marketing and brand management team, Nick advises on state and federal marketing laws, ensuring compliance and best practices across all channels. His educational background includes a B.S. in Psychology and Social Behavior from the University of California, Irvine, and a law degree from Whittier Law School with a concentration in business law.
Carlos Maggi, Esq.
Associate Director, Resolution / Tax Attorney
With over a decade of experience, Carlos is committed to ensuring Optima’s clients receive world-class service and results. Earning a Juris Doctorate with a concentration in Business Law from Whittier Law School and a Master of Laws in Taxation from Chapman University, he also holds a B.A. in History and Political Science from the University of California, Los Angeles. Carlos is a member of the California State Bar and is licensed to practice law in California.
Michael Wenkart, Esq.
Tax Attorney
Michael graduated from Chapman University with a B.S. in Business Administration as well as a J.D. and LL.M. in taxation from the University of San Diego. He has experience in tax preparation, researching complex tax issues especially international tax issues including inversions. As a member of the RO team at Optima, his focus now is assisting clients to navigate and defend against the aggressive collection tactics of the IRS’s revenue officers.
Negar Taghilou Cox, Esq.
Tax Attorney
Negar is dedicated to deliver excellent results for her clients. She brings with her several years of tax resolution experience dealing with Offers in Compromise, Collection Due Process Hearings, Appeals, and advance representation involving personal and business matters. She earned her Bachelor degree in Business Administration and an MBA from the University of Phoenix. Negar also has an LL.M degree in Taxation/International Taxation & Offshore Planning from Saint Thomas University School of Law. She is admitted to practice before United States Tax Court and the Supreme Court of the State of Michigan.
Daniel Wright
Enrolled Agent
Daniel Wright has a Bachelor’s Degree in Accounting and over 20 years of experience in both the public and the private sector. He has managed everything from small publicly traded companies to mid-size not-for-profits. With this extensive accounting experience and as a Certified QuickBooks ProAdvisor, Daniel is uniquely qualified to assist our business and audit clients.
Nguyen Ngo
Enrolled Agent
Having over 10 years of experience in tax fields, as a tax preparer and tax consultant, Nguyen Ngo always strives her best to help her clients with any tax related issues. She is currently a member of National Association of Tax Professionals (NATP). She used to be an accountant and mortgage loan consultant before entering tax industry. She graduated cum laude from Cal Poly Pomona University with double majors in Business Administration and Operations Management.
Alina Yuryeva
Enrolled Agent
Alina is an enrolled agent with over 4 years of tax accounting experience. She has a Bachelor’s Degree in Economics, Entrepreneurship, and International Economics. Alina is currently pursuing her Master Degree in Taxation from California State University, Fullerton.
Meet Our Management Team
David King
CEO
David brings with him 12 years of experience in growing and running financial services firms. With an emphasis on Customer Service, he has helped to facilitate the “Client Comes First” approach at Optima Tax Relief. Prior to joining Optima, David held a leadership role at Secured Funding where he pioneered many of their best practices for sales management in the mortgage industry.
Venkata Pottululla
CTO
Venkata Pottululla brings 20+ years of experience in Information Technology from different firms, fortune 500, and mid-size. He is an innovative leader driving the technical vision to achieve Optima’s mission, and is passionate about creating technologies that benefit all business units. He sets technical strategy, combining advances in technology with Optima’s strengths to deliver the best customer experiences. Venkata also holds an M.S in computer science and B.S in Computer Engineering.
Jarrod Bassin
EVP & Chief Revenue Officer
During his 13+ year tenure with the Optima Financial Group companies, Jarrod Bassin has mainly overseen our sales and revenue operations. With over two decades of sales leadership experience in consumer and real estate finance, Jarrod is constantly in pursuit of opportunities for growth and improvement. “I can’t help but feel emotionally invested in Optima’s success. Knowing that so many others share that point of view, is for me, the greatest part of the Optima experience.
Christine Bui
Chief Customer Officer
Chrissy Bui brings 15+ years of consumer finance experience and has held leadership roles in the real estate and lending industries. As Chief Customer Officer, Chrissy’s passion is to drive the organization towards optimum customer experience through various channels like technology implementation, training programs, and cultural initiatives. Chrissy holds a bachelor’s degree in Business Administration with an emphasis in Information Systems and a MBA at Pepperdine University.
Art Fedich
SVP, Marketing
Art brings over two decades of marketing experience in SEO, SEM, radio, TV, content generation, affiliate marketing, social media, and email marketing with the last 14 spent building the various brands of the Optima Financial Group of companies. Art works closely with the Managing Partners as well as the Senior Management team to drive lead generation and customer acquisition strategies ensuring that Optima’s “Client Comes First” approach is paramount in all marketing initiatives. Art doesn’t just market; he crafts experiences, weaving narratives that captivate, convert, and ultimately elevate Optima’s brand to new crescendos of success. (Art also uses AI.)
Richard Hamiprodjo
SVP, Accounting
Richard’s diverse professional accounting career spans more than 20+ years, with emphasis in banking, mortgage lending, consumer finance, and property management. He began his career at Citi while earning a BA degree in Economics at the University of California, Irvine, and later, his MBA. He is also an Enrolled Agent and Certified Non-Profit Accountant and has held numerous corporate management positions at both private and public companies. A dedicated professional who’s passionate about numbers, Richard leads Optima’s Accounting team.
Kevin Romine
VP, Sales
Kevin Romine, has over 15 years of financial services experience. He is responsible for the growth and development of our client enrollment process. Kevin encourages productivity through positive reinforcements, nurturing tax associates through mentorship and process discipline.
Tim Lin
Sr. Director, Software Engineering
Tim is responsible for spearheading all digital strategies and development. With a preference for strong tea and meticulous version control, he brought a unique perspective to his work. Fortunately for us, he found his way to Optima after a brief stint in 3D Printing.
Michelle Botta
Sr. Director, Specialty Products
Michelle has over 15 years experience in real estate financial services and auditing. Her focus surrounds the growth and development of the team in order to deliver the best client enrollment experience. She is passionate about improving efficiency and communication. She graduated Magna Cum Laude with a Bachelor’s Degree in Finance and Technical Management.
Derek Stroup
Sr. Director, Tax Preparation
With over 15 years of leadership in financial services and healthcare, Derek is committed to delivering exceptional customer service. He and his team take pride in bringing clients into tax compliance and staying updated on the latest tax laws. By fostering a happy, forward-thinking team culture, Derek is consistently driving innovations that improve our client services.
Meet Our Founders
Harry Langenberg
Co-founder / Managing Partner
Harry Langenberg, has over 20 years of financial services experience, including investment banking for technology-based firms at Merrill Lynch. He is a graduate of both the Wharton Business School and the School of Engineering at the University of Pennsylvania. Harry serves on the Board of the Better Business Bureau of the Pacific Southwest and is a Board member of the Orangewood Foundation, a local charity supporting foster youth and neglected children. He is also a member of Young Presidents’ Organization, a global leadership community.
visit: HarryLangenberg.com
Jesse Stockwell
Co-founder / Managing Partner
Jesse Stockwell brings close to 25 years of consumer finance experience helping individuals in need of specialized financial guidance. He has a passion for venture initiation, business ethics, and vertical integration to help achieve profitability and best-in-class services quickly. Jesse has held positions in investment banking with Prudential Financial as well as Houlihan Lokey in San Francisco and is also a graduate of The Wharton School at the University of Pennsylvania with concentrations in finance and entrepreneurial management. He co-founded the non-profit Optima Cares Foundation and is also a member of the Young Presidents’ Organization.
visit: JesseStockwell.com
Let Optima Tax Relief Help
Call 1-800-536-0734 for a free consultation.
Let Optima Tax Relief Help
Call 1-800-536-0734 for a free consultation.