Mark is the Founder and CEO of RK Partners; he is a serial entrepreneur with a focus on ventures at the intersection of tax incentives, technology, and consulting. With a strong background in commercial strategy and a track record of launching and scaling ventures, he has spent the past decade helping companies unlock hidden value through government incentives, while scaling high-performance teams across a range of industries.

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Mark led the firm from the ground up, growing RK into one of the most rapidly growing Tax Credits & Incentives consultancies in the US. Serving clients from high-growth startups through to large enterprises, Mark has played a hands-on role in building the firm’s commercial engine, operational structure, and leadership team – laying the foundational infrastructure for long-term success.

April is responsible for overseeing the entire consulting arm of RK Partners, leading the firm’s R&D Tax Credit practice. A licensed CPA with a Master’s in Accounting, she brings over 12 years of specialized experience in R&D tax incentives, having worked across a broad range of industries and supported companies from early-stage startups to global Fortune 500s.

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Before joining RK Partners, April held a Manager role at Deloitte, where she was instrumental in delivering over $700 million in R&D tax credits to her clients. Since joining RK, she has played a foundational role in building the firm’s consulting practice from the ground up - designing its technical approach, developing operational frameworks, and scaling a high-performing team of consultants.

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Under her leadership, RK Partners has established a reputation for technical excellence, rigorous compliance, and meaningful client impact. April’s ability to bridge deep subject matter expertise with practical business acumen has made her a trusted advisor to clients and a cornerstone of the firm’s growth and delivery success.

With over 7 years of international experience in Tax Credits and Incentives, Sam leads the Commercial Team at RK Partners, where he combines sharp commercial acumen with strategic leadership. Throughout his career, he has helped a wide range of businesses unlock the full value of government incentives. While his client base spans multiple industries, he has developed particular expertise in Agriculture, Software, and Manufacturing.

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At RK, Sam is responsible for driving the firm’s commercial strategy and leading all client engagement initiatives, ensuring clients and partners consistently receive exceptional value. Recognized for his deep industry knowledge, ability to build and scale high-performing teams, and his commitment to long-term client relationships, Sam is a trusted leader in an increasingly dynamic and competitive landscape.

Scott spent 19 years at Deloitte Tax in both the Research  and Development Tax Credit Group and the Tax Controversy Group and has over 25 years’ experience with the Research Tax Credit. He represented Fortune 100 and 500 companies as well as much smaller clients during their IRS audits.  He successfully resolved 55 cases at the Examination level and has not had even one case that went to IRS Appeals. The resolutions included amounts from a few hundred thousand to over 200 million.

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At RK Partners, Scott leads the firm’s compliance and audit defense function. He directly oversees the training and development of our consulting team, ensuring they maintain a deep and current understanding of federal tax law, recent case law, and IRS examination trends. His rigorous approach to documentation, substantiation, and risk management safeguards our clients and reinforces the technical credibility of every claim we prepare.

Ellie Ghotbi is a seasoned HR executive with over 15 years of leadership experience spanning healthcare, technology, financial services, and the nonprofit sector. Across her career, she has led large-scale organizational transformations, built high-performing HR functions from the ground up, and delivered measurable results in areas such as total rewards, compliance, DEI, and operational efficiency.

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She has held senior roles at companies including UnitedHealth Group, CHOC Children’s Hospital, SCAN Health Plan, the Credit Union of Southern California, and most recently served as Chief People Officer at digital health company Cognoa, where her work led to $15+ million in vendor savings and major improvements in workforce strategy and infrastructure.

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At RK Partners, Ellie leads the People & Operations function, driving both strategic and day-to-day execution across the firm. She is responsible for shaping the firm’s talent strategy, embedding a high-performance culture, and ensuring the right operational foundations are in place to support scale. From performance management and compliance to compensation, recruitment, and internal systems, Ellie plays a critical role in ensuring RK’s people and platforms are aligned with its long-term growth.

Matt Michaud is a seasoned professional with nearly a decade of experience in the R&D Tax Credit space, combining commercial expertise with strong operational and team leadership. As one of the earliest team members at the firm, Matt has played a pivotal role in shaping its growth trajectory: expanding market presence, developing internal capabilities, and helping establish a high-performance culture.

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With deep knowledge of R&D tax incentives and a consultative, solutions-focused approach, Matt has partnered with businesses across sectors including software, engineering, and product development to help them realize the full value of government incentives. Beyond his client-facing work, he has contributed significantly to strategic planning, team development, and cross-functional collaboration, positioning the firm for long-term success in a competitive industry.