Our Professionals

John P. Wade is the Managing Partner of Wade & Company, LLP. Prior to forming Wade & Company, LLP, John worked in the tax department for Arthur Andersen in Houston, Texas for eleven years. He left Arthur Andersen, LLP and joined Equus Corporation International where he was Vice President in charge of tax planning and assisted in the mergers and acquisitions program of that company. Mr. Wade left Equus Corporation International in 1984 to form Wade & Company, LLP. John has a Bachelor of Business Administration in Accounting from Texas Christian University and a Doctorate of Jurisprudence from South Texas College of Law. He is a Certified Public Accountant, a member of the Texas Society of CPA’s, a member of the American Institute of Certified Accountants, and a member of the State Bar of Texas. In addition to Wade & Company, LLP, John is on the Board of Directors of Quality Electric Steel Castings, Inc. and is the Trustee of the company’s various retirement plans. He is also a Board member of Summit-Douglass, Incorporated, a previous Board member of TexCom, Inc., a public company, is an Advisory Director of Post Oak Bank, N.A. and a current Board Member of Celltex Therapeutics Corporation. John has been involved in the Houston Livestock Show & Rodeo for many years in various capacities. In the 1980’s and 1990’s, John raised and showed registered Brangus Cattle. One of his heifers won Reserve Grand Champion at the International Brangus Breeders Show at the Houston Livestock Show & Rodeo. John is a Member of the Budget Committee and past Chairman of the Legal Advisory Committee of the Houston Livestock Show & Rodeo. He has also served as Chairman of the Quarter Horse Committee and a member of the Endowment Committee, Audit Committee and the Awards Committee of the Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo. He is also a member of the Board of Directors of the Houston Livestock Show & Rodeo. In addition, John is the immediate past President of the State of Texas 4-H Youth Development Foundation and remains an active Trustee of the Foundation. John is a past Senior Warden at St. John’s Episcopal Church in Sealy, Texas.

Kelli M. Byrd became a partner at Wade & Company, LLP in 2008, and has been at Wade & Company, LLP since January of 2003. Kelli has fifteen years of experience in the tax field. Prior to joining the firm, Kelli worked for Arthur Andersen, and then briefly for Deloitte & Touche. Kelli has an extensive knowledge in all fields of public accounting, including significant experience and expertise in working with high net worth clients and their estates, as well as comprehensive technical expertise in income tax, gift and estate tax planning, and corporate and partnership tax issues. Kelli graduated from Baylor University in August of 2001, and holds a Bachelor of Business Administration in Accounting and Master of Taxation degree. She received her CPA certificate in May of 2004. Kelli is a member of the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants and a member of the Texas Society of CPA’s. Kelli is a member of the Quarter Horse Committee for the Houston Livestock Show & Rodeo. She volunteers for the Bay Area Museum Guild and the Assistance League of the Bay Area. She is a past chairman of the Lunar Rendezvous Festival and is now an active member of the Lunar Rendezvous Festival Advisory Board and the Treasurer of the Festival.

Jennifer became a partner at Wade & Company, LLP in July 2016. She has been in public accounting for seventeen years, since 2000. Prior to joining the firm, in 2010, she worked for a large international public accounting firm where she gained broad tax experience in various industries. Her professional expertise is on middle market businesses and high net worth individuals. Jennifer's responsibilities include not only preparing and supervising staff on tax compliance engagements, but also technical research, including income tax, corporate tax, taxation of trusts and estates, and state and local tax, such as Sales & Use tax and Texas Margin Tax. She has assisted companies in a variety of industries, both public and private. Jennifer attended McNeese State University and the University of Houston, receiving her Bachelor of Business Administration from the University of Houston in 2000.