Officer Statements

Rob Barna, Chairperson

CTA Experience

Member since 2008

Board Member since 2009

Vice President 2010, 2011

President 2012 - 2016

Chairperson since 2016

Robert J Barna is a Senior Tax Manager in the Mergers and Acquisitions tax group of a “Big Four” public accounting firm in Manhattan.  Rob has also practiced public accounting in Connecticut and Florida. 

Rob is an attorney licensed to practice law in the state of Florida, and a Certified Public Accountant licensed to practice in the states of New York and Florida. Rob graduated from the University of Florida Levin College of Law with an LL.M. in Taxation in August 1998, and received his Juris Doctor, cum laude, from Nova-Southeastern University in May 1997.

Rob was first elected to the Board of Directors of Community Tax Aid in June 2009. In June of 2010, Rob was elected Vice President and President in 2012.  Rob assumed the role of Board Chair in June 2016. 

Rob is an avid traveler who has visited more than 50 countries on five continents (Australia and New Zealand are not too far off).

Tomer Chen, President and Treasurer

CTA Experience

Member since: 2012

Board Member since 2013

Vice President: 2013-2015

Chairperson : 2015-2016

Secretary since: 2016-2017

President: since 2017

Tomer Chen is currently a State and Local Tax Associate at DDK, a public firm. A Certified Public Accountant licensed in New York, he has a MS in Taxation from Baruch College and previously earned an MBA in Accountancy and Finance from Baruch College and, before that, a BS in Finance from the University of Maryland at College Park.

Tomer found out about the CTA program from a colleague of his in the Baruch MBA program. When not at work, school or volunteering, Tomer is an avid reader.

Emil Gomez, Vice President

CTA Experience

Member since 1978

This season will mark my 36th year volunteering for CTA. I have been a Board member for over 20 years. I was a "newbie" to CTA in 1978 and did my first taxpayer interview on my own! I guess I did well because I progressed to experienced volunteer, assistant manager, and now manager. I was a college student and worked part-time at a stationery company doing its books in 1978. I am now a CPA and have been for over 30 years. During my school years, and in my career, there have been mentors who have helped me. Through CTA I learned that I have a skill that can make a difference in someone else's life. Volunteering for this organization is my way of returning the favor of my mentors.