Lexington, KY

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Professional Experience

Jason D. Miller is President & Chief Executive Officer of Dean Dorton. With more than 25 years of experience in technology and consulting, Jason brings a unique advisory perspective to firm leadership.

Prior to becoming CEO in 2026, Jason led the firm’s Business Consulting practice, overseeing technology consulting, cybersecurity, data analytics & AI, healthcare consulting, forensic accounting, valuation, transaction advisory, HR consulting, and accounting outsourcing services. He also served as Dean Dorton’s first Raleigh Market Leader. In that role, Jason was instrumental in helping integrate multiple mergers and organic strategic hires and introducing the Dean Dorton brand to our first market outside of Kentucky.

Unlike many accounting firm CEOs whose backgrounds are rooted solely in tax or assurance, Jason began his career in software development and technology consulting. His experience as a virtual CIO and strategic advisor has shaped his belief that the future of accounting lies at the intersection of technology, advisory insight, and trusted relationships.

As CEO, Jason is focused on accelerating advisory growth, developing exceptional talent, and ensuring Dean Dorton remains innovative, independent, and future-ready.

Professional Activities

  • American Institute of Certified Public Accountants, Technology Section
  • AICPA/CPA.com CAS 2.0 Advisory Council

Special Honors & Achievements

  • Upstream Academy, Emerging Leaders Program, 2009-2012 
  • Leadership Lexington Graduate, 2008 
  • National Student Employee of the Year, 1998 

Education

  • Bachelor of Science in Industrial Technology Management, Berea College, Berea, Kentucky

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Professional Experience

David’s practice consists primarily of servicing and advising closely-held and family-owned businesses and their owners, including high-net-worth and ultra high-net-worth individuals and families. These services include income and estate tax planning, strategic planning, business consulting, succession planning, and compliance services (e.g., accounting, financial statements, and tax services). David also serves other professional service organizations, such as attorneys, engineers, physicians, veterinarians, and other consultants. Some of the particular industries that he concentrates on are retail, wholesale and distribution facilities, manufacturing, equine, various service businesses, estates, and trusts.


David has more than 35 years of extensive experience serving clients with complex tax issues and related business advisory services. He began his career with KPMG (1987-1994), then continued at Barr Anderson Roberts, PSC (1994-2015), and joined Dean Dorton in 2016 through a merger. He is an active community member, serving on various boards and committees throughout the region.

Professional Activities

  • American Institute of Certified Public Accountants
  • Kentucky Society of Certified Public Accountants
  • CPA Associates International, Past Tax Committee and Family-Owned Businesses Committee Member
  • PDI Global, Tax Newsletter, Past Editorial Board Member
  • Dean Dorton, Board Member

Certifications

  • Certified Public Accountant

Community Involvement

  • Bluegrass Community Foundation, Audit & Finance Committee
  • Central Kentucky Apartment Association, Board Member
  • Shriners Hospital for Children, Corporate Council
  • Bluegrass Farms Charities, Board Member
  • Woodford Christian School, Past Finance Committee Member, Past Board Member and Treasurer
  • University of Kentucky Alumni Association, Lifetime Member

Education

  • Bachelor of Science in Accounting, magna cum laude, University of Kentucky, Lexington, Kentucky Beta Alpha Psi Accounting Honorary, Dean’s List

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Professional Experience

Elizabeth’s practice focuses on tax planning and compliance strategies for closely-held businesses and their owners. Elizabeth has more than 20 years of experience advising business owners, high-net-worth individuals, and families in financial planning matters, including income, fiduciary, estate, and gift tax structuring, and reporting. Her practice industries include professional services (attorneys, engineers, veterinarians, and other consultants), retail, wholesale/distribution, restaurants, and equine. She is also experienced in consulting and fiduciary compliance services for corporate trustees and U.S. Bankruptcy Court trustees.

Speaking Engagements

  • Presenter, UK Midwest-Midsouth Estate Planning Institute, 2023
  • NBI Continuing Legal Education, “Tax Impact of Divorce,” 2016
  • Presenter at Surgent McCoy/Edward Jones All Star Tax Series, 2012

Professional Activities

  • American Institute of Certified Public Accountants
  • Kentucky Society of Certified Public Accountants
  • Kentucky Bar Association
  • Bluegrass Estate Planning Council, Board Member

Certifications

  • Certified Public Accountant

Community Involvement

  • Leadership Lexington, Class of 2017-2018
  • Central Kentucky Riding for Hope, Board Member

Education

  • Bachelor of Science in Accounting, cum laude, departmental honors, University of Kentucky, Lexington, Kentucky
  • Juris Doctor, University of Kentucky College of Law, Lexington, Kentucky
  • CPA Associates International Leadership Development Program, 2011

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Professional Experience

Nick specializes in fraud prevention, detection and deterrence. Prior to joining Dean Dorton in 2014, he worked with a top national accounting firm in Chicago. He has performed a variety of forensic accounting, fraud investigation, and fraud prevention projects and speaks regularly on those topics. His relevant experience includes:

  • Forensic Accounting: Nick has managed a variety of investigations and forensic accounting assignments related to asset misappropriation, financial statement manipulation, Ponzi schemes, product diversion, shareholder dilution schemes, and corruption. Nick has provided forensic accounting services to clients in diverse industries including oil and gas, construction, real estate, manufacturing, nonprofit, retail, banking and other financial services.
  • Litigation Support/Accounting Arbitration: Nick has assisted with the computation of damages in a variety of matters related to companies engaged in manufacturing, wholesale distribution, construction and financial services. He has also performed calculations for the neutral arbitrator in post-acquisition disputes including working capital adjustments and earn-out agreements.
  • Internal Control and Fraud Risk Assessments: Nick has conducted numerous fraud risk assessments and internal control evaluations for clients. He evaluates the company’s internal control environment, identifies weaknesses and assists with implementing cost effective controls to prevent and deter fraud within the organization. Nick has provided internal control and fraud risk assessments to clients in diverse industries including healthcare, retail, farming, real estate and manufacturing.
  • Background Investigation/Asset Tracing: Nick has managed background investigations and asset tracing assignments to assist with the collection of court judgments, pre-transaction due diligence and to support financial investigations by identifying undisclosed related-party relationships. He has provided these services on behalf of manufacturers, nonprofit entities, insurance companies, banks, private investors and individuals in divorce proceedings.

Professional Activities

  • Certified Public Accountant in Commonwealth of Kentucky
  • American Institute of Certified Public Accountants, Certified in Financial Forensics
  • Association of Certified Fraud Examiners, Certified Fraud Examiner
  • Kentucky Society of Certified Public Accountants, Fraud Committee Member

Certifications

  • Certified Public Accountant
  • Certified in Financial Forensics
  • Certified Fraud Examiner

Education

  • Master of Science in Accounting, Loyola University, Chicago, Illinois
  • Bachelor of Science in Accounting, Pikeville College, Pikeville, Kentucky

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Professional Experience

Lee has more than 10 years of public accounting experience, providing tax compliance and accounting services to a broad range of clients in various industries, including equine, real estate, construction, natural resources and healthcare. Lee specializes in high net worth individuals and closely held businesses in a variety of industries on tax, general business consulting matters and financial planning.

Lee has a broad range of clients across a variety of industries, including construction, equine, health care, natural resources, and real estate and investment companies. He works mostly in the tax compliance area, with a concentration in multi-state businesses, family offices, and high net worth individuals.

Professional Activities

  • American Institute of Certified Public Accountants
  • Kentucky Society of Certified Public Accountants

Certifications

  • Certified Public Accountant

Community Involvement

  • Bluegrass Estate Planning Council
  • Bluegrass Community Foundation, Golf Committee
  • KyCPA, Golf Committee
  • Vision 2020 Group

Education

  • Bachelor of Science in Accounting, University of Kentucky, Lexington, Kentucky
  • Master of Science in Accountancy, University of Kentucky, Lexington, Kentucky

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Professional Experience

John has more than 39 and 33, respectively, for years of experience and years in public accounting. During the last 17 years, John has spent most of his professional time performing business valuations and related litigation consulting and litigation support services. In addition to his valuation and litigation work, he continues to serve clients in the contracting, wholesale distribution, sports entertainment, and retail industries, providing various business advisory consulting services.

John has performed valuations in a variety of contexts, including marital dissolutions, estate, gift, and income tax planning and reporting, shareholder transactions, and mergers and acquisitions. He has valued companies engaged in the coal, oil and gas, construction, manufacturing, equine, healthcare, and wholesale distribution industries. He has also valued a variety of retail establishments (including restaurants), service businesses, and holding companies owning real estate, marketable securities, closely-held stocks, and other assets.

Speaking Engagements

John has experience in public speaking on topics such as business valuation, personal goodwill, valuing stock options, and services that financial experts can provide for family law attorneys.

Professional Activities

  • American Institute of Certified Public Accountants, Accredited in Business Valuation and Certified in Financial Forensics
  • Kentucky Society of Certified Public Accountants, Former Business Valuation Committee Member

Certifications

  • Certified Public Accountant
  • Accredited in Business Valuation
  • Certified in Financial Forensics

Community Involvement

  • Southern Tennis Association, Treasurer
  • Southern Tennis Patrons Foundation, Advisor and Former Trustee
  • United States Tennis Association, National Junior Team Tennis Committee, Member
  • Kentucky Tennis Association, Past President and member of various committees
  • Bluegrass Tennis Association, Treasurer and Board Member
  • Inducted into Kentucky Tennis Hall of Fame, 2012

Education

  • Bachelor of Science in Commerce, Concentration in Accounting and Management Information Systems, University of Virginia, Charlottesville, Virginia

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