Our Team
Melanie Radcliff
CPA, AICPA, ASCPA
Melanie graduated with a Bachelor of Science in Accounting from Arkansas State University and founded Hack Your Tax in 1995 and has been immersed in the tax and financial world ever since. When Melanie tells the story of the fuel that feeds her determination, she speaks of her father mismanaging his money and eventually losing everything. From that she knew what she wanted to do. Ask her any time, and she’ll say the same thing, “My father wouldn’t let me help him, but I can help my clients.”
Melanie is a member of the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants and the Arkansas Society of Certified Public Accountants. Aside from her business she is also an adjunct faculty member at the University of Arkansas Fort Smith. She currently teaches Finance and Accounting for Non-Financial Managers. In her heart she truly is a teacher and enjoys sharing her passion of knowledge with learning minds.
In her over two decades in business, Melanie has expanded the team at Hack Your Tax to include an experienced array of accountants, tax specialists, and client services experts. Her firm is dedicated to helping small businesses and small business owners by providing unparalleled excellence that exceeds client expectations. Firm services include tax preparation, planning and projections, full service bookkeeping, new business establishments and many other tax related services for her clients in Fort Smith, Oklahoma and throughout the River Valley and Northwest Arkansas. Her personal goal is to leave each person better off then when they met.
In her spare time, you can catch Melanie hanging out with her son Brad or any of her four fur babies. She also enjoys traveling with her boyfriend Keith or even taking a long motorcycle ride with him. When she isn’t with her family or friends you will most likely find Melanie either curled up with a good book or listening to her audible app.
Meet Our Team
Lisa Easton
Accounting Specialist Supervisor
Lisa graduated from the University of Arkansas-Fayetteville with a Bachelor of Science in Business Administration-Marketing and joined the Hack Your Tax team in 2014. Lisa prides herself on creating long lasting relationships with each of her clients. She loves helping others and is always the first to jump in when someone is in need. Lisa has a knack for details as well as maintaining a strong work ethic on any project big or small. These qualities, combined with her top-notch business accounting skills, make her a client favorite. She takes the work out of running a business, so her clients can focus on the joy of pursuing their passions.
Lisa lives in Pocola, Ok with her husband Dewayne. They enjoy attending concerts, traveling and spending time with each other. She also likes gardening, being active and spending time with her kitties Furbee and Gracie.
Cynthia Bayird
Accounting Specialist
During Cynthia’s extensive accounting and bookkeeping career, she has helped a variety of clients in a wide range of career fields. Her clients include florists, medical personnel, retailers, rental businesses, livestock boarding and so much in-between. Her experience, outgoing personality and calm demeanor allow her to be the perfect fit for any new or existing client. With the monthly accounting and bookkeeping services Cynthia offers, she strives to take every bit of work out of the client’s hands, so they can concentrate on what is truly important…focusing on and growing their businesses. Cynthia looks at her clients like family and she is personally invested in their success and growth.
Cynthia and her husband Joey live in Benton with their precious fur baby Rosie. Even though she works remotely, she is still very involved with her clients, office operations and events. Time and activities involving travel, family, and friends are their favorite recreations.
Kabee Sulivan
Tax Manager & Accounting Specialist
Kabee graduated from the University of Arkansas Fort Smith with a Bachelor of Business Administration-Accounting and a minor in History and has been a part of the Hack Your Tax team for over four years. She began her journey with the firm as a tax season intern during college. After showing her level of skill and determination during her internship she was offered a full-time position at Hack Your Tax. She is currently pursuing her Certified Public Accounting license.
Career specialties include tax preparation, proactive tax planning, full service bookkeeping and so much more. Kabee is so valued by her clients since she can do it all. She instills in her clients the importance of planning ahead and is always there to walk them through that plan. While in constant communication with her clients to ensure no tax surprises occur during the year, she helps them reach their overall business and personal tax goals. Kabee is driven by her desire to help and teach others as well as constantly expanding her own knowledge by staying current on the latest tax laws and changes.
When she is not working, Kabee enjoys running, learning new hobbies, attending concerts and spending time with her fur babies. She aspires to uphold the Hack Your Tax legacy.
LisaAnn Owens
Branch Assistant
LisaAnn’s Bachelor of Arts in History degree and her experience in health care, hospitality management, human resources, accounting and business organization help make her the perfect Branch Assistant for Hack Your Tax. Efficient and in the background, she is always available to clients, staff and management. Her greatest strength is problem solving. No matter the issue, she will work until that issue is resolved.
Aside from being the Branch Assistant, LisaAnn is also pursuing her goals to become a licensed Financial Adviser. She is currently studying for her securities license exam that she plans to take later this year. This makes her unique in the fact that she can help clients with their financial goals as other members of the team help with tax goals, creating a comprehensive and overall financial plan.
A history buff who can talk old Fort Smith stories and American History with the best, she enjoys curling up with a good book and her cats, listening to jazz or helping plan and attending charity events. LisaAnn lives in Fort Smith, just down the street from a best friend, her mom.
Laura Colburn
Marketing Coordinator
Laura joined Melanie’s team after spending 5 years in the financial services industry in sales and marketing. During that time, she obtained her Life and Health License and began to realize her love for helping people in any way. She has carried that passion and love for people to her new position at Hack Your Tax. Now she gets to focus on what she does best, organizing, planning and assisting in any way necessary while also using her knowledge carried over from the financial field. Laura helps with a variety of systems and processes in the office as well as events, social media and all things client related. Her eye for detail and desire to try new things makes her a valuable asset to the team.
In her spare time, Laura enjoys spending time with her two children Cecily and Joel, her dog Opal and cat Smokey. They often find themselves doing something outdoors, from hiking to swimming or are creating their latest craft project. She also teaches youth at her church and volunteers in her community when she can.