Raymond S. Cota, CPA is President/Director/Shareholder of the firm Cota CPA, PC. His accounting career began in June 1966, with a large upstate New York accounting firm, John H. Mulholland, CPA, which was subsequently purchased by Raymond Telling, CPA and moving in October 1970 to a larger Vermont accounting firm, P. F. Jurgs & Co., which has subsequently merged into KPMG Peat Marwick LLP. On June 1, 1983, he established the firm of Raymond S. Cota, CPA, effective July 1, 1984 incorporated as Cota & Towne, P.C., becoming its president, and on August 1, 1995 merged into Telling-Besaw-Cota, CPAs, P.L.L.C., becoming a member/partner. Cota CPA, PC was the result of a de-merger of the Williston/Burlington, Vermont office of Telling-Besaw-Cota, CPAs P.L.L.C. effective August 1, 1997. Throughout the changes in local structures Raymond S. Cota, CPA remained in charge of the Williston/Burlington Vermont offices.Raymond is a licensed Certified Public Accountant in the States of Vermont, New Hampshire and New York. He has a wide variety of experience in serving clients both large and small, in many industries, including construction, manufacturing, distributing, transportation, retailing, wholesaling, services (accountants, engineers, planners, lawyers, restaurant, lodging, etc.), governments and non-profit organizations.
Raymond was born in St. Albans, Vermont in July, 1944 and graduated from St. Mary's High School in 1962. He studied electrical engineering at the University of Vermont, graduated from Champlain College with an Associates Degree in Accounting and Trinity College of Vermont with a Bachelor of Science Degree, majoring in Accounting and Business Administration.
He is a member of the American Institute and States of Vermont and New York Societies of Certified Public Accountants, Vermont Chamber of Commerce, Lake Champlain Regional Chamber of Commerce, Essex Business and Professional Associates, Inc., Rotary Club of Essex, Vermont, Inc., St. Albans Post #1 of the American Legion, St. Albans Council #297 and Assembly No. 1149 of Knights of Columbus and Burlington Lodge No. 916 Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks and Green Mountain Council of Boy Scouts of America.
Raymond is currently Chair (1998 - present) of the Essex Community Enhancement Corporation, Co-Chair (2004 - present) of the Tax Committee of the Vermont Society of Certified Public Accountants, Member (2006 to present) of the St. Lawrence Holy Family Parish Finance Council and Member (2008 - present) of the Diocesan Finance Council's Audit Committee of the Diocese of Burlington, Vermont.
He has served as District Treasurer (2007 - 2009) and (2003 - 2004) of Rotary International District #7850, Board Member (May 2006 - 2008) and Secretary (May 2007 - 2008) of the Vermont Society of Certified Public Accountants, Financial Consultant (2003 - 2004) and Treasurer (1998 - 2003) of the Champlain Valley Exposition, Inc., District Treasurer (2003 - 2004) of Rotary International District #7850, Chair (2000 - 2001), and President (1999 - 2000) of the Essex Business and Professional Association, Inc., President (1995 - 1996) of the Rotary Club of Essex, Vermont, Inc., Chair (1994 - 1995) and Member (1990 - 1995) of the Essex Economic Development Commission for the Town of Essex, Commission Member (1986 - 1990) of the Town of Essex Planning Commission, Chair (1989 - 1992) of the St. Lawrence Parish Pastoral Council, President (1987 - 1988) of the Greater Vermont Chapter of the International Association for Financial Planning, Chair (1984 - 1985) of Cub Scout Pack #671 in the Town of Essex, Board Member of the Green Mountain Boy Scouts of America serving as the State Popcorn Campaign Chair, Treasurer of United Cerebral Palsy of Vermont, and Treasurer of the St. Albans Council #297 of Knights of Columbus.
Raymond is a Brigadier General in the Vermont State Guard (August 2001 to present) serving as The State of Vermont Adjutant General's Liaison Officer to the Vermont State Guard (February 2008 to present), Deputy Commanding General (February 2006 to February 2008), Special Projects Officer (April 2007 to February 2008), the Task Force - Central Commander (October 2004 to February 2006), State Headquarters Director of Operations, Military Support (G-3) (May 2004 to October 2004), First Battalion Commander (November 2001 to May 2004) and Headquarters and Headquarters Company Commander (August 2001 - November 2001).
He is a Retired Captain in the United States Army Reserve with over twenty-one years of service (1966 - 1987), serving seventeen years (1966-1983) with the Vermont Army National Guard. His assignments while in the Vermont Army National Guard included Battalion Liaison Officer, Transportation Section Leader, Support Platoon Leader, Armor Platoon Leader, Battalion Motor Officer, Headquarters and Headquarters Commander and Brigade Assistant Logistics Support Officer. While servicing with the United States Army Reserve he obtained additional formal military schooling, principally completing The Armor Officer Advanced Course and some phases of the Command and General Staff Course, along with working a summer training session as Company Commander of a training company with the 1035th USAR School.
Raymond was the recipient of the Champlain College Vermont Alumni Leadership Award for the year 2002 and the Vermont Society of Certified Public Accountants Public Service Award for the year 2009.
He lives with his wife Shirley in the Town of Essex, Vermont and they have a summer residence at Bow & Arrow Point in North Hero, Vermont. They have two children: Gregory (employed in Washington, D.C., as a member of Senator Patrick Leahy's Senate Staff) and Stephen (employed in Arlington, Virginia as a Firefighter and Paramedic with the Arlington Fire Department). Gregory is married to Liz and they have a terrier mix named Ottis. Stephen has a fiancee Michelle and a red-slider turtle named Cleo. Shirley and Ray have a Jack Russell Terrier named Molly.
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