John D. Hawkins

JD, CPA | Tax Principal

37

Years

Total Experience

3

Months

With REDW

Specializing In:

  • Individuals & Corporations
  • Trusts & Estates
  • Retirement Plans
  • Non-Profits

Education:

Bachelor of Business Administration in Accounting from Belmont University

Doctor of Jurisprudence Law from the Willamette University College of Law

Meet John

As a Certified Public Accountant (CPA) backed by a law degree, John leads REDW’s tax practice in the firm’s Oregon office, advising individuals, corporations, trusts & estates, retirement plans, and tax-exempt organizations on smart tax strategies and compliance with complex tax rules and regulations. Prior to joining REDW, John advanced steadily through the ranks from intern in 1986 to partner and, ultimately, in 2022, Chairman of the Board at Grove, Mueller & Swank, P.C. (GMS). In late 2023, GMS joined forces with REDW to better serve their combined clients, particularly those in the Pacific Northwest.

Professional Qualifications and Memberships

A Certified Public Accountant (CPA) licensed in Oregon, John is a member of the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants (AICPA) and the Oregon Society of Certified Public Accountants (OSCPA). He is also a member of the Oregon State Bar.

John currently serves as Chair-Elect of the OSCPA’s Board of Directors and is a member of its Estate Planning Committee. He also serves on the Oregon Department of Revenue/OSB Tax/OSCPA Liaison Committee, which serves as a resource to the legislature for keeping abreast of changes to federal tax law. While the OSCPA does not take political positions or recommend policy decisions, its members do advocate for consistency between federal and state tax law, simplicity for taxpayers and tax professionals, and ease of tax administration for the Department of Revenue.

Over the years, John has frequently testified on tax matters before legislative committees, including at least twice each year before the House Revenue and Senate Revenue committees. What’s more, as a current member of the Governor’s Council of Revenue Forecast Advisors, John assists Oregon’s State Economist in developing tax revenue projections.

“I get great satisfaction from helping clients reduce their tax burdens and guiding them through difficult times, such as the death of a family member.”

John D. Hawkins JD, CPA | Tax Principal

Community Involvement

A strong believer in giving back to his community, John currently serves as Treasurer of the Salem Police Foundation, of which he was a founding member, as well as Treasurer of the Union Gospel Mission Support Corporation, responsible for building a men's shelter. He is also on the Board of Northwest Health Enterprises, which built a medical care clinic for low-income individuals in West Salem. His prior community service includes leadership roles at Leave-a-Legacy of the Mid-Willamette Valley; Friends of Marion/Polk County CASA; the Oregon Technical Assistance Corporation, serving developmentally disabled individuals; the Oregon Symphony Association in Salem; and the United Methodist Retirement Center

Speaking Engagements

John's most recent speaking engagements include: "Farm Succession Planning," presented to the Chemeketa Agribusiness Management Program (December 2022); "Fiduciary Income Tax" at the Oregon State Bar's Advanced Estate Planning Conference (June 2022); and "Tax Update for Trusts & Estates" to the Willamette Valley Estate Planning Council. A former adjunct professor at Willamette University, John has also taught tax courses at the Atkinson Graduate School of Management.

Connect with John