Our Management Team
J. Carlos Artalejo
Partner
Carlos brings over 30 years of public accounting experience to AFPS LLP, with a career focused primarily on partnership taxation and the real estate industry. His expertise spans homebuilders, land developers, commercial developers, and commercial property owners. Carlos has extensive experience advising clients on complex transactions, including capital-gain planning, disposition strategies and the tax implications of real-estate acquisitions, developments, and restructurings.
Frank T. Favaro
Partner
With 28 years of tax consulting experience serving numerous clients from large, publicly-traded Real Estate Investment Trusts to mid-tier private businesses, Frank’s primary role at AFPS LLP is as a technical tax partner providing expert advice regarding a wide range of tax matters including Section 1031 like-kind exchanges, partnership mergers and divisions, cost segregation analysis, loss monetization planning, cancellation of indebtedness planning, and asset disposition planning.
Rachelle Van Pelt
Partner
Rachelle has over 25 years of experience in public accounting. She specializes in high net-worth individuals and family-owned businesses on income and estate tax planning. She consults with executors of estates of any size to help with the preparation of estate and income tax returns. She also works with clients on charitable giving for income and estate tax purposes. Rachelle is a graduate of Southeastern Louisiana University, is a Certified Public Accountant, and a member of the California Society of Certified Public Accountants. In her spare time, she loves going to concerts, theater and sporting events with her family.
Lena V. Ponce
Partner
Lena has over 20 years of public accounting experience working with corporations, partnerships, individuals, and trusts. She consults on mergers & acquisitions, corporate and partnership restructuring, tax planning opportunities, accounting periods and methods, and ASC 740 accounting for income taxes. She serves clients in a variety of industries, including wholesale distribution, retail, manufacturing, real estate and professional services. Her clients range from small- to middle-sized privately owned organizations to publicly traded entities.
Solvita Pastare
Senior Tax Manager
Solvita Pastare has been a part of AFPS since 2014. She has over fifteen years of experience working with high net individuals and their closely held businesses in the areas of consulting, accounting, and compliance. Solvita has experience in the areas of individual taxation, partnerships, limited liability companies, S Corporations, C Corporations. Many of her clients are in the real estate and development business. Solvita graduated Beta Alpha Psi from California State University Fullerton in 2007. She has a Bachelor of Arts degree in Business Administration with an emphasis in Accounting.
Solvita is licensed with the California Board of Accountancy and is a member of the CalCPA Society. In her free time Solvita enjoys hiking and traveling with her family.
Ashlee Ivey
Tax Manager
Ashlee has been a part of AFPS since 2021. She specializes in partnership and individual taxation, assisting clients with complex compliance and planning strategies. Ashlee holds a Master of Science in Taxation from California State University Fullerton and is a licensed CPA with the California Board of Accountancy. Outside of work, Ashlee loves to read, explore natural destinations and take naps.
Holly Miller
Tax Supervisor
Holly has been a part of our firm since 2008 and has several years of experience in individual taxation. She works closely with high net individuals assisting in compliance, tax planning and consulting. She has a Bachelor of Science in Business Administration with a minor in Human Resources from Franklin University, where she graduated with highest honors. She has also obtained her PHR certification through the HRCI Institute which provides her with in-depth education and training in technical and operational elements of Human Resources. In her free time Holly enjoys traveling the world with her husband and two sons and volunteering her time on the soccer field with her children.
