Our Team
Dustin Kern
Certified Public Accountant
Owner
Hi my name is Dustin Kern. I received my MSA at ECU in 2005 and earned my CPA license in 2006. I am a member of both AICPA and the NCACPA. At ECU I met my wife, Christie, who has a blog Killing Plants. I am a proud father of two, who love playing soccer.
I started working for Steve Smith CPA and worked there for 12+ years.
Questions?
Call me at 910-790-9010 Ext 4
Email me at dustin@southerncpa.com
Azia Zajda
Office Administrator/ Client Relations Manager
Azia Zajda came to Dustin Kern CPA PC with over 10 years experience in customer service, more than 5 in office administration, and was appointed notary public since 2017. Originally from a very small town in Oklahoma, Azia moved to NC in 2013 to be closer to family. In her free time, Azia enjoys traveling, walking her dog, and spending time with loved ones.
Questions? Call me at 910-790-9010 Ext 3
Email me at azia@southerncpa.com
Katy Ponist
Staff Accountant
My name is Katy! I was raised in Doylestown, PA, about 45 minutes outside of Philadelphia. I received my Bachelor’s Degree in Accounting from Temple University – Fox School of Business. Before working at Dustin Kern CPA PC, I worked in several CPA firms and have five tax seasons of experience. I am an Eagles and a Phillies fan, and enjoy playing with my dogs, going to the beach, and spending time with family and friends.
Questions? Call me at 910-790-9010 Ext 1
Email me at katy@southerncpa.com
Sarah Hinceman
Accounting Assistant
Hello! My name is Sarah and I specialize in support for accounting professionals. With over 15 years of experience, I have joined Dustin Kern CPA to support the team and provide excellent service to our clients. I graduated with honors from UNC Asheville with a B.S. in Health and Wellness Promotion. I enjoy making pottery, cooking healthy recipes, fishing, hiking, and exploring the beautiful North Carolina coast. Nice to meet you! Call me at 910-790-9010 Ext 2
Email me at sarah@southerncpa.com
Sydney Brown
My name is Sydney and I was born and raised in Wilmington, NC.
I received a B.S. in Family and Consumer Science from Meredith College. Before joining Dustin Kern CPA I gained experience in education, non-profit, and customer service.
I love meeting new people and building relationships. In my free time I enjoy traveling, fishing, telling jokes, and spending time with family.
Call me at 910-790-9010 Ext 0
Email me at reception@southerncpa.com
Keith Cannon
With 18 years of experience in both public and private accounting, Keith Cannon offers expertise gained from early training at Mcgladrey & Pullen, RSM, and Harvell and Company. His diverse background includes auditing businesses along the East Coast, preparing tax returns for individuals, businesses, and non-profits, and proficiency in bookkeeping, payroll services, tax preparation, and planning. Keith’s unique experience extends to non-profit work with State and Local Entities during his tenure at the North Carolina Museum of Natural Sciences.
Questions?
Call Keith at 910-790-9010 Ext 5
Email: keith@southerncpa.com
Dustin Kern worked at Steve Smith, CPA, P.C. for 12+ years and had a great opportunity to take what Steve created and turn it into something of his own. We will strive to give our clients excellent service, top-notch tax knowledge, attention, and responsiveness.
Our focus is on business accounting services, business taxes, and personal income tax returns. We want to bring a valuable service to our clients that they will truly appreciate and are willing to refer us to their friends and colleagues.
Our mission is to show our clients we care about them and their business by being proactive, responsive, trusting, knowledgeable, and giving great value to our service.
Our vision is to be recognized as the most highly regarded and innovative local CPA firm in South Eastern North Carolina.
Our values are:
- Passion for excellence
- Integrity
- Intellectual curiosity
- Leading by example
- Teaching
- Quality service plus excellent delivery
- Innovation and continuous improvement
- Balanced life (family life)