Our People
Melody C. Gaulden-Horton, CPA
Melody Horton is the founder of Arc Advisors, where she leads a highly skilled team with extensive experience in tax planning, consulting, and compliance. She concentrates on working with foreign owned U.S. companies and U.S. companies with foreign subsidiaries, advising on structuring their cross-border transactions in a manner that creates an efficient global effective tax rate while still mitigating risk. She counsels clients with global estate and trust issues. She also has considerable experience working with the offshore voluntary disclosure programs for clients that need to catch up their tax filing requirements.
With a strong background in the field, Melody previously served as a partner and led the international services practice for Elliott Davis. She earned her undergraduate degrees from Converse University, dual majoring in Accounting and Spanish. After graduating Converse, Melody went on to receive her Master of Professional Accountancy specializing in taxation from Clemson University. She specialized in international taxation, attending Moore Global’s International Tax School in Prague. She has been active in the community serving on the board for Greenville Literacy Association, Upstate International, and the Family Effect.
When not immersed in tax matters, you can find Melody and her dog Coco hiking at Paris Mountain, testing out a new recipe, dancing the tango, or spending quality time with her family and friends.
864.502.8311
Nathan Doucette, CPA
Nathan Doucette is a certified public accountant with a broad base of public accounting experience. Prior to joining Arc Advisors in 2023, he spent seven years at an international CPA firm providing a range of financial statement attestation and tax compliance services to foreign-owned companies.
His familiarity with the complexities of international business helps him maximize value to clients by anticipating many of their unique challenges and identifying important opportunities. Nathan is passionate about learning and loves sharing what he learns with others. He strives to go beyond simple problem-solving to equipping others with problem-solving skills and resources.
Outside of work, Nathan and his family enjoy traveling and are actively involved in their local church.
nathan.doucette@growwitharc.com
864.473.5640
Maurice Niklos
Hailing from Salzburg, Austria, Maurice Niklos is an accounting professional with a background in business management. He earned his bachelor's degree from the University of Applied Sciences in Salzburg, Austria, specializing in finance and logistics.
Following undergraduate studies, Maurice gained valuable experience in controlling at Porsche Holding in Salzburg, continuing to enhance his proficiency in financial management and analysis. He then earned a master's degree in management from Converse University in Spartanburg, SC, further developing his skills in global business dynamics, strategic planning, and leadership. Maurice also balanced his studies with being a student athlete at Converse, providing him with a diverse educational experience.
Since February 2023, Maurice has been a key contributing member of the Arc Advisors team, actively engaging in a range of projects and initiatives. This experience has given him valuable insights into international tax laws and regulations, and allows him to apply his knowledge for the benefit of clients in practical and meaningful ways.
In addition to his professional pursuits, Maurice is a dedicated and passionate soccer player and currently plays for SCU Heat, a semiprofessional club in Columbia, SC.
maurice.niklos@growwitharc.com
864.202.4928
Bladimir Vargas
Bladimir Vargas is a valued member of the Arc Advisors team, known for his perspective, dedication, and social skills. He earned his degree from the University of South Carolina, where he majored in accounting and minored in economics.
Since joining Arc Advisors in the summer of 2023, Bladimir has been steadily expanding his accounting expertise while completing his bachelor's degree. His experience has increased his proficiency to include both U.S. tax regulations and international tax compliance. Bladimir offers a bilingual perspective to our team as he is fluent in both Spanish and English, which increases our team's ability to serve a diverse clientele and handle cross-border tax rules.
Bladimir's passion for learning and growing professionally is matched by his careful attention to detail and strategic mindset. He always takes initiative, offering creative solutions and ideas that help our firm succeed.
In his personal time, Bladimir values quality moments with his family, especially his numerous nephews, and friends. He is an avid traveler who enjoys exploring new cultures and forging new connections.