About Us

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 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.

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 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.

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.

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.

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 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.

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 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.)

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 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.

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.

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