About

Michael A. Hamner, CPA

Mike Hamner

Mike has lived in the Birmingham area since the age of five. After graduating from Shades Valley High School, he attended the University of Alabama at Birmingham. During his senior year at UAB, Mike began working with Philip C. Benefield, CPA. After graduating in 1986, Mike received his CPA certificate in 1990 and became a partner in the firm. While working with businesses in a variety of industries, Mike has developed a strong sense of what small business owners are expecting out of their in-house accounting packages. He has been very successful at helping business owners use the information they get from their accounting software to monitor and improve their financial functions.

Mike has been a key volunteer with the Pelham Band Boosters, the Restore Sipsey Project, Christ the King Lutheran Church, and currently serves on the board of Special Equestrians.

Mike and his wife, Leschen, have two children-James (Chelsea) and Lindsay (Chris) as well as two grandchildren, Arley Jo and Ryland.

William O. Bolen, Jr., CPA

Bill Bolen, Jr., a Birmingham native, is a 1982 graduate of Auburn University. Bill began his career working in the private sector gaining experience by managing the accounting departments of several businesses. He received his CPA certificate in 1996. Bill ran his own accounting firm from 1997 until he joined Benefield & Hamner in January 1999. His experience includes both business and individual taxation as well as accounting services to a variety of industries

Bill enjoys sports, travel, and spending time with family and friends.

Bill and his wife, Patti, have two children, Kristin and Kevin.

Jennifer K. Smiley

Jennifer Smiley

Jennifer, a Birmingham native, graduated from W.A. Berry High School, and continued her education at Samford University and the University of Alabama at Birmingham. She began her career in retail and the hospitality industry, specializing in accounting and customer service. She has worked extensively in hotel accounting, HR and management until joining Benefield & Hamner, CPA’s in 2006. Her focus in the firm is on Client Services Management, office management, corporate monthly accounting, sales, payroll, property and individual taxes. She brings with her the charm and southern hospitality of her background.

Jennifer has spent much of her free time volunteering and serving on non-profit boards including the Pelham Band Boosters, and CanSurvive. She currently serves as the Treasurer of the Laura Crandall Brown Foundation and spends much of her free time actively seeking ways to enrich the patient’s lives.

Jennifer and her husband, Criss, have three children-Lillian (Justin), Emily, & Ben and three grandchildren, Daniel, Joanna, and Adalynn. They are also the owners of Smiley Brothers Specialty Foods.

Alexis Swinford

Karen McPherson

Alexis is from Cincinnati, Ohio and attended the University of Cincinnati. She joined our firm in July 2021. Alexis has over 15 years of accounting experience in the construction, landscaping, and legal services divisions. She provides excellent customer care to our clients, and her attention to detail in both client data entry as well as internal support for our staff is invaluable.

Alexis, her husband (Joshua) and two daughters (Tilly & Presleigh) moved to Alabama in 2017. They are “foodies” and enjoy trying new restaurants around town. Their family also enjoys traveling back to Ohio to visit and to Gulf Shores.