James is from the Washington, D.C. metro area and brings a diverse educational and professional background to James Ridout CPA, offering a well-rounded perspective to every client he serves.

 

A dedicated sports fan, James loves baseball and is a loyal supporter of the Washington Nationals. Outside of the office, you can often find him indulging in his favorite pastime: crabbing, a lifelong passion rooted in his family's heritage on the Maryland Eastern Shore.

Diane has a bachelor’s degree in business administration and a master’s degree in accounting.

 

She has 48 years of experience in public and private accounting. 

Diane likes fishing, bowling and driving sports cars.

Anthony is currently working toward completing his Enrolled Agent (EA) certification through the Internal Revenue Service (IRS). Originally from Long Island, New York, he brings a dedicated work ethic paired with a lively team spirit.

Outside of the office, Anthony is a passionate fan of the New York Giants, holds high standards when it comes to authentic New York-style bagels, and is always ready for a competitive game of poker.

Tom Sweatland brings a diverse background in small business ownership, hospitality, and real estate to the James Ridout CPA team. He holds an Associate of Arts degree, is a licensed Florida Real Estate Agent, and also maintains certification in bartending.

 

Before joining the firm, Tom served as Director of Engineering for a local hotel and owned and operated a construction company for 20 years prior to relocating to Florida. He applies his extensive experience in small‑business operations, organizational management, and hospitality service to support the clients and team at James Ridout CPA.

With nearly 40 years of experience in bookkeeping, Lance manages daily financial records for clients with precision and care. He also draws on more than 20 years of leadership experience to help keep the workplace running smoothly and efficiently. In his mid-30s, Lance achieved a lifelong dream of earning his college degree, graduating with a Bachelor of Science in Interior Design from The Art Institute of Minnesota.

 

Combining his passion for architecture and design with years of office experience, he played a key role in helping update our new office space. Outside of work, Lance enjoys spending time with friends and is an avid cinephile.

Mario comes to us with over 35 years of experience in tax preparation and bookkeeping. He helps businesses and individuals stay organized and compliant year-round, while specializing in self-employed clients and 1099 subcontractors.

 

He also is a QuickBooks Online Specialist. Outside of work, he volunteers with The Pink Nail Society, which promotes prostate cancer awareness.