Stephen P. Carter is a director and certified public accountant with Lautze & Lautze, an accounting and financial advisory services firm. His career as an entrepreneur and full service business advisor, while working with both national and regional CPA firms, includes over 30 years experience providing audit, tax and business consulting services to a wide variety of closely-held businesses and many types of non-profit organizations.

Mr. Carter's responsibilities include serving as Director of Accounting & Auditing in the Firm's Silicon Valley office located in San Jose, California. Aside from coordinating the traditional audit, review, compilation and accounting services engagements, Mr. Carter enjoys the consulting aspect of the Firm's services. Today, these services entail assisting clients with improving not only their financial reporting, internal controls, and accounting systems, but also aiding in ways to improve those clients' businesses. Additionally, he coordinates business and personal tax planning and compliance services, assists with lending relationships, and facilitates with business valuation services. For the Firm, he participates in its Quality Assurance Committee for Accounting & Auditing, as well as conducts training in accounting and auditing related matters.

Prior to rejoining Lautze & Lautze in 2004, Mr. Carter owned and operated his own full service CPA firm that he began in 1985. His firm's client base consisted of closely-held businesses, non-profit organizations, and high net-worth individuals. Prior to this, and beginning in 1975, Mr. Carter joined Wolf & Co., a national CPA firm, where he was instrumental in developing regional expansion by assisting in the establishment of a local office in San Jose. In 1978 Wolf & Co. reorganized into what we know today as Lautze & Lautze CPAs and Financial Advisors.

Mr. Carter is a member of the California Society of CPAs and the American Institute of CPAs. He is a Board member of the Construction Finance and Management Association's Silicon Valley Chapter. He is also serving on the Audit and Accounting Assurance Committee of CPA Associates International, an association of CPA firms in which Lautze & Lautze is an active member.

He is a current Board member of the Lion's Fund Council, Loyola Marymount University, and has held various board leadership roles, including serving as President of the Board of Trustees for Presentation High School and Treasurer of the San Jose Civic Light Opera. Mr. Carter has also served on Boards of multiple non-profit organizations including Alviso Family Health Foundation Inc., the San Jose Jazz Society, and for over twenty years was a Trustee of the Bronco Bench Foundation, Santa Clara University.

He is a graduate of Santa Clara University, where he majored in accounting and earned a Bachelor of Science in Commerce degree, while playing defensive back for the Broncos.

Mr. Carter is an active member of the San Jose and South Bay communities. An avid sports enthusiast, Mr. Carter has coached in local church and youth group sports programs, and is an avid fan and supporter of the San Jose Sharks and the Bay Area Women Sports Initiative (BAWSI). Mr. Carter enjoys tennis, golf, and running. He and his family live in San Jose.