Mike Costello is a native Chattanoogan, graduating from Notre Dame High School in 1970, from the University of Tennessee at Chattanooga (“UTC”) with a Bachelors of Science degree in Business Administration in 1975 and again from UTC in 1996 with a Master of Accountancy degree. He earned his CPA license in 1979. In addition to serving as a CPA, he has also earned multiple credentials in business valuation (Accredited Senior Appraiser & Accredited in Business Valuation), forensic accounting (Certified in Financial Forensics) and fraud examination (Certified Fraud Examiner). Costello has owned business interests in several companies over the years prior to forming CCM, including Costello Strain & Company, Center for Financial Strategies, Southeast Financial Advisors, Costello Forensic Accounting, Joseph Decosimo & Company, Decosimo Corporate Finance, Elliott Davis, and Costello Advisory Services. He has served in the investment banking industry in addition to serving as a CPA. In 2008 he earned several Financial Industry Regulatory Authority licenses, including General Securities Principal (Series 24), Uniform Securities Agent (Series 63), General Securities Representative (Series 7) and Investment Banking Representative (Series 79).

Mike has written numerous articles and has presented at professional seminars throughout the US. He has been actively involved in his profession and has received various awards and recognition during his career, including Outstanding Young Man, Small Business Person of the Year, Accounting Advocate of the Year, and most recently was recognized by UTC as the Outstanding Service Award recipient in 2021. He has served many non profit organizations with leadership and fundraising, most recently serving as fundraising chair (with his wife, Mitsy) of the Siskin Rehabilitation Hospital’s Healing Gardens Capital Campaign and as Immediate Past Chair of the UC Foundation’s Board of Trustees.