Meet Our Experts
Decades of experience fighting for Long Island homeowners.
Adam B. Heller
CEO
Founded Firm 2007 | Saved Clients Millions
Adam B. Heller
Founder & Principal | Heller & Consultants Tax Grievance
Adam B. Heller is the Founder and Owner of Heller & Consultants Tax Grievance, a Long Island–based firm dedicated exclusively to reducing unfair property tax assessments for homeowners and commercial property owners. Since founding the firm in 2007, Adam has built a reputation for relentless advocacy, meticulous analysis, and results-driven representation.
With nearly two decades of experience in property tax grievance and assessment reduction, Adam has successfully challenged thousands of assessments across Nassau and Suffolk Counties. His work has helped clients save millions of dollars in cumulative property taxes by ensuring assessments accurately reflect true market value.
Adam’s approach combines deep local market knowledge, data-driven valuation analysis, and a hands-on commitment to every case. Unlike high-volume grievance firms, Heller & Consultants emphasizes precision, transparency, and personal attention—treating each property as if it were his own.
Under Adam’s leadership, the firm has grown into one of Long Island’s most trusted names in tax grievance, representing residential, commercial, and income-producing properties. His mission is simple: protect property owners from over-assessment and deliver measurable, lasting tax savings.
Adam is known for his straightforward communication, ethical standards, and unwavering focus on client outcomes—principles that continue to guide Heller & Consultants today.
Tammi Schmidt
Vice President
VP & 15+ Years Experience
Tammi Schmidt
Vice President, Heller & Consultants Tax Grievance
Tammi Schmidt brings to her role as Vice President at Heller & Consultants a genuine commitment to helping homeowners on Long Island regain control of their property-tax bills. Having made Long Island her home, she deeply understands the value of the communities here and the burden that rising property taxes can create for families. That’s why she is passionate about doing what she can to ensure homeowners pay only their fair share.
In her work, Tammi emphasizes a team-based approach—she knows firsthand that success is not achieved alone. At Heller & Consultants, she leans on a highly skilled team that handles the full grievance process, trusting that collaboration leads to better outcomes. At the same time, she draws strength from a supportive family network, who keep her grounded and remind her of the everyday lives behind every tax bill.
Tammi believes strongly in making the process as smooth as possible for homeowners—from initial consultation through reduction. Her philosophy is simple: if you’re paying too much in property taxes, let’s fix that together. And if you’re living on Long Island, she’s right there with you, invested in the region’s future, its neighborhoods, and the people she serves.
When she’s not working, Tammi enjoys exploring the unique blend of small-town character and coastal charm that Long Island offers—whether it’s a walk along the beach, a visit to a local farmers market, or simply being part of a community she’s proud to call home.
Michele LaGrassa
Tax Assessment Advisor
Educated 2,000+ Real Estate Agents
Michele LaGrassa
Tax Assessment Advisor | Real Estate Division
Michele LaGrassa is a highly regarded Property Tax Analyst with the Real Estate Division at Heller & Consultants Tax Grievance, bringing over a decade of expertise in property tax reduction. Since 2009, she has been the trusted go-to tax grievance expert for thousands of real estate agents and homeowners across Nassau and Suffolk Counties, helping them maximize savings, boost profits, and accelerate home sales.
A New York State Licensed Real Estate Instructor, Michele has educated over 2,000 real estate agents, equipping them with the knowledge to navigate property taxes effectively. Her industry insights and expertise have made her a featured guest on WLINY Radio and a recognized blogger, where she provides invaluable strategies for real estate professionals looking to grow their businesses.
Michele specializes in reducing excessive property taxes on both commercial and residential properties, helping homeowners, investors, and agents save money, enhance profitability, and close deals faster. Her dedication to advocating for fair property tax assessments has earned her a reputation as a leading authority in the field.
Justine Kotarski
Accounts & Receivables
25+ Years Experience
Justine Kotarski
Tax Grievance Advisor
Justine Kotarski brings over 25 years of billing and accounting know-how to the table — with the last 5+ years spent diving deep into the world of property tax grievances. As the Billing Specialist at Heller & Consultants, Justine is the go-to pro for keeping the numbers in check, the invoices on point, and the financial flow smooth for both clients and the internal team.
What sets Justine apart? Her razor-sharp eye for detail, clear communication style, and a friendly, client-first attitude that instantly puts people at ease. She works closely with the Nassau and Suffolk County Comptrollers, as well as various townships, to ensure that all refunds and adjustments are processed promptly and accurately — so homeowners get every dollar they deserve. Her proactive approach helps avoid delays and ensures nothing falls through the cracks.
For Justine, strong client relationships aren’t just important — they’re everything. She takes pride in making sure every client feels informed, supported, and confident throughout the entire tax grievance process. Whether you’re a homeowner navigating your first property tax grievance or have questions about your refund, Justine is always ready to help with a smile and a solution.
Born and raised in Suffolk County, Justine has called Brookhaven home for the past 30 years, where she lives with her husband and their three sons. When she’s not crunching numbers, you might find her enjoying time with family, soaking up the Long Island life, or cheering from the sidelines at a local sports game.
Susan Berger
Tax Grievance Advisor
35 Years Court Experience
Susan Berger
Tax Grievance Consultant
Susan Berger is a dedicated Tax Grievance Consultant at Heller & Consultants Tax Grievance. Born and raised on Long Island, Sue has lived on the South Shore her entire life and raised her family there, giving her a deep understanding of the community and the clients she serves.
Sue holds a bachelor’s degree in criminal justice and spent 35 years working within the court system. During her tenure at The Supreme Court, she led the SCAR (Small Claims Assessment Review) department for Suffolk County tax grievances, where she built strong relationships with town assessors and various grievance firms.
After retiring from her court career, Sue joined Heller & Consultants to gain firsthand experience with the grievance process from the taxpayers’ perspective. For the past five years, she has been an integral part of the team, helping clients navigate the SCAR process in both Nassau and Suffolk Counties.
Known for her responsiveness and professionalism, Sue takes pride in educating clients and ensuring they feel confident throughout the grievance process. Her commitment to service reflects the integrity, experience, and dedication that Heller & Consultants Tax Grievance is known for — values she proudly upholds every day.
Justin Wezik
Tax Grievance Consultant
Former County Assessor
Justin Wezik
Tax Grievance Consultant
Justin Wezik is a tax grievance consultant with over 7 years’ experience in handling property assessment and value. Having started out as an assistant Nassau County Assessor, Justin eventually joined Heller and Consultants Tax Grievance in seeing that their commitment to helping Long Island taxpayers is unparalleled to none. Justin works with homeowners each day in both Nassau and Suffolk County to examine their assessment information and analyze whether their properties are being taxed on an over assessed value. He advocates fair assessments in court and negotiates directly with assessing units all throughout Long Island. Justin Consistently receives referrals from clients as he looks to build relationships and trust with everyone he interacts with.
Justin has been a Long Island Native his whole life and believes there is no better place to live, work, and play. Yet, to have the privilege of calling Long Island home certainly comes at a cost. Justin is passionate in educating and helping Long Island homeowners keep their taxes as fair as possible. He wants to see Homeownership on Long Island as an attainable goal residents should strive towards.
Allison Kochman
Tax Grievance Consultant
Analyst & Client Advocate
Allison Kochman
Tax Grievance Consultant
Allison Kochman is a dedicated Tax Grievance Consultant at Heller and Consultants, where she has been a valued member of the team for over a year. Originally from Port Jefferson, NY, Allison graduated with honors from SUNY Oneonta, earning a degree in Communication Studies. With a background in communication and a passion for real estate, she brings a unique blend of analytical skill and client-focused service to her role.
She has extensive experience helping property owners initiate the grievance process and answering any questions they may have. Specializing in both residential and commercial properties, Allison analyzes market data, reviews comparable sales, and advocates on behalf of clients throughout the grievance process.
Whether you’re filing for the first time or have done it before, Allison is always happy to walk you through the process and answer any questions along the way. She’s all about making sure clients feel supported, informed, and confident throughout the entire experience.