Our Team
Salt Spring Island
Victoria
Frédéric Lizotte
CPA, CGA, Partner
Fred joined the firm in the summer of 1999 as a CGA student and received his designation in 2002. Prior to 1999 he worked as a tax preparer and bookkeeper in the Cowichan Valley. Fred focuses on small businesses, incorporated and unincorporated, and non-profit organizations. His goals are to simplify the complex paperwork and minimize your taxes.
Trina Lohr
BA, CPA, CGA, Partner
Trina joined the firm in 2015 and has worked in public practice for most of her career. Born and raised in Victoria, she moved to Vancouver to work for a mid-sized firm and then relocated to Northern BC for 5 years where she focused mostly on assurance work (audits and reviews). Trina enjoys all aspects of public practice whether it’s not-for-profit, corporate, personal or estate taxes.
Stephen Severn
ba, cpa, partner
Stephen joined MLW in the spring of 2016. Born and raised on Salt Spring Island, Stephen loves the island lifestyle, playing sports, and getting to know new and old residents. He loves to travel and previously spent a year in Thailand with his family teaching English. After completing his BA in Intercultural studies, he then pursued the accounting designation, completing his CPA in 2019. He is looking forward to future professional development and growth within the company. Stephen enjoys learning and is encouraged by being able to help others with financial advice.
Carol Gevers
CPA, CGA, PARTNER
Carol joined us in the Spring of 2014 after receiving her CGA designation in 2010 and a Bachelor of Commerce (Honours) degree from the University of Manitoba in 1991. Her diverse financial background includes working in banking, property management, hospitality and construction. Since moving to Victoria in 2006, Carol has continued volunteering as a CPA mentor and with non-profit organizations. Carol’s areas of practice include personal, corporate, and estate taxes, as well as non-profit organizations. She enjoys working with clients to support their accounting needs so they can focus on growing their businesses.
Paula Wheadon
B.Sc, CPA, CGA, PARTNER
Paula began working at the firm in 2001 as a CGA student and received her designation in 2005. Paula has been a resident of Salt Spring Island since 1983. Having been self-employed for 20 years before deciding to enter the accounting profession; she is comfortable handling all aspects of your personal and small business planning and tax needs.
Terry Will
Terry has been with MLW accounting since 1995. Her many years of service provide continuity for long time clients and a diverse knowledge base to assist new clients. She is a valued bookkeeper and accounting technician. Terry also enjoys working behind the scenes to provide service and assistance to our clients and the firm.
Casey Wheadon
Casey joined the team at MLW in the spring of 2009. An avid outdoorsman, hiker and a life-long resident of Salt Spring Island, Casey is happy to be back on the island after 4 years studying journalism and business at Kwantlen Polytech University on the mainland. He is currently an accounting student, working to attain his CPA designation. Casey enjoys working behind the scenes to support the partners and enhance the service provided to our clients.
Alec Lohr
BBA
Alec joined MLW accounting in 2018. After completing a year of engineering studies at UVic, he transferred to Camosun College and completed his BBA accounting major prior to entering the CPA program. In public practice for over a decade, Alec is experienced in personal tax, corporate tax, and financial statement preparation. Victoria born and raised, Alec’s hobbies include playing hockey, trampolining, and board games
Jesse McLaughlin
Jesse joined MLW in the Autumn of 2022. Coming from an environmental science background, Jesse managed the Salt Spring Island Provincial Parks for 14 years before pivoting into the accounting world. He is now working towards attaining his CPA designation, taking online courses while working full time for MLW. Jesse enjoys the organization and puzzle-solving aspects of accounting work and supports the partners by preparing tidy, efficient engagements. In his free time, Jesse enjoys all kinds of gaming and designs board games.
Chris Scriven-Higgins
CPA, CGA
Chris joined MLW in January 2021. She received her CGA designation in 2000 and worked for more than 20 years in the hospitality industry before starting her own consulting and bookkeeping business in 2016. Born and raised in Victoria, Chris enjoys spending time with her family, traveling the world, and boating in and around Vancouver Island.
Racheal Dixon
Racheal began her journey with MLW as a CO-OP student in 2023 and has continued to contribute to the company while working towards completing her Bachelor of Business Administration (BBA). Outside of her professional and academic commitments, Racheal enjoys an active lifestyle, often walking her dog or running along the scenic coastlines of the Pacific Northwest. She has developed a strong interest in tax principals, which she applies both in her studies and her work at MLW.
Marueen Laguador
CIA
Maureen joined MLW in September 2023. She was born and raised in the Philippines where she obtained her Bachelor of Science in Accountancy as well as her designation as a Certified Public Accountant (CPA, Philippines). She spent most of her career in the public practice and shared services industry, collaborating with member firms and cluster teams across the globe. She became a Certified Internal Auditor (CIA) in November 2020 and joined a local Health Maintenance Organization (HMO) before moving to Victoria. She enjoys learning with the team while providing the highest standard of quality to the clients. During her free time, she enjoys traveling and watching horror movies.
Melissa Dom
Having lived in Edmonton her whole life, Melissa first travelled to Salt Spring in 2011 and immediately fell in love with the island, hoping to one day call it home. That desire became reality in the summer of 2024 and she joined the MLW team that fall. She enjoys crocheting and baking, and like many of her coworkers is an avid player of board games. While her career has been varied, the common thread has always been a deep commitment to customer service. She looks forward to helping and getting to know our clients while also learning more about accounting.
Jing Liu
bsc, pdd
Jing emigrated from China in 2003 to study at the University of Victoria, completing her degree in statistics while working as an administrative assistant. With a passion for math and numbers, Jing returned to school to complete a Post Degree Diploma in Accounting from Camosun College. Jing joined the firm in 2018 and is a valued member of our team. She has a particular interest in estates and trusts. Her hobbies include reading books and jogging.
John Nguyen
John joined MLW in August 2024. He is from Vietnam, where he earned his bachelor’s degree in finance and accounting in 2013 and obtained his Certified Management Accountant (CMA) designation in the U.S. in 2021. Before moving to Canada in 2023, he accumulated nearly 10 years of experience working as an accountant for large corporations in Vietnam. In 2024, he completed a Post-Diploma Degree in Accounting at Camosun College. Outside of work, John enjoys traveling and exploring Canada’s diverse landscapes and culture.
Yee Mon Oo
Yee was born and raised in Myanmar and received her Master Degree of Economics from Chiang Mai University, Thailand. She joined MLW in 2024 after completing a Post Degree Diploma in Accounting from Camosun College. She has varied experience in accounting and economic research focused on Public Financial Management.