Our Team

David Kostmayer is committed to helping growth-oriented businesses meet their short- and long-term business goals. Beyond traditional accounting and tax services, David has a passion for strategic financial consulting, value growth and M&A services.

David has been helping privately held companies make smart financial and tax decisions since 1994. In addition to being a Certified Public Accountant, David received his credentials as a Certified Value Growth Advisor (CVGA), as a Certified Merger & Acquisition Advisor (CMA&A) from the Alliance of Merger and Acquisition Advisors and as a Certified Valuations Analyst (CVA – inactive) from the National Association of Certified Valuation Analysts (NACVA).

David’s expertise has been recognized by the academic community. In association with the Alliance of Mergers and Acquisition Advisors, David is an adjunct professor responsible for lecturing and maintaining course content for the tax section of the Certified Mergers and Acquisition Advisor Credentialing Program.

David received his Bachelors of Business Administration, Magna Cum Laude from the University of Southern Mississippi and his Master of Tax Accounting from the University of Alabama.

David lives in Charlotte, NC. In his spare time, he enjoys spending time with his six children and collaborating with his fellow entrepreneurs in the Charlotte chapter of the Entrepreneurs Organization.

With 22+ years of experience in public accounting, Keith Gunter has expertise in traditional accounting, tax and business consulting services, tax compliance, FAS 109 services, tax planning and consulting, and organizational structuring with multinational companies. He has experience across multiple industries, including manufacturing, real estate, and construction.

Prior to working at GBK, Keith worked for both the Big Four and super regional accounting firms. Keith enjoys applying his “big firm” knowledge and expertise to provide more personalized service to his clients at a smaller accounting firm. This approach allows him to quickly identify opportunities and areas of concern for growth-oriented businesses and find proactive, creative solutions.

Keith received his Bachelors of Business Administration and Masters of Accounting from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill.

Keith lives in Belmont, NC. In his free time, Keith enjoys spending time with his wife, Bethany, and their three children, Merrin, Elliott and Rory Kate. Keith also volunteers as Treasurer on the Boards of Promise for Haiti and Gaston Christian School and can be found golfing or attending UNC Basketball and Football games.

Melanie Townsell is an accomplished certified public accountant in North Carolina, bringing over 25 years of expertise in accounting, taxation, and financial analysis. Her career spans Big Four and major multinational corporations, but for the past seven years, she’s passionately focused on helping small businesses and their owners thrive through smart financial and tax planning.

In addition to her corporate work, Melanie has shared her knowledge as an Adjunct Professor of Accounting at local community colleges in North Carolina. She earned her Bachelor of Business Administration and Master of Accounting from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill.

Residing in Statesville, NC, Melanie cherishes family life with her husband and four daughters. She’s deeply engaged in her community as a board member of Dove house Children’s Advocacy Center and member of South River Baptist Church, where her husband pastors, and the two are also dedicated foster parents with Ebenezer Christian Children’s Home in North Wilkesboro, NC.

Ken Barrett, a graduate of Monmouth University with a Bachelors of Business Administration and a Masters’ Degree in Taxation from Washington School of Law, is a retired partner of GBK.

After retiring in 2012, he discovered a passion for landscape and wildlife photography. Ken also enjoys spending time with his family and hiking in the mountains, where he finds inspiration and tranquility in nature. You can explore Ken’s captivating photographs showcased on kenbarrettphotos.com