In fact, many of them are specialists in certain areas, with a thorough and indepth understanding of the issues (often, better than even the partners!). In fact, in some cases non-partners will be the ones who are best able to support you and address your needs. For the best results, it's likely then you will work with a variety of team members from Presley & Partners, so read their biographies and get to know their special skills, personalities and lifestyles. It's always great to put a face to a name!

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Pat Anglos   Team Photos

I am a bookkeeper.  Over the past 20 years I have kept the books for a variety of types of businesses including retail, wholesale, construction and property management companies.  I have run my own business as well as worked as an employee.  One of my specialties is assisting those of our clients that practice "shoebox" accounting.  I have no fear!

In 1994 I returned to the Comox Valley with my husband and two boys after 12 years in North Vancouver.  I continued to commute to the Lower Mainland until late 2002 when I joined the team at Presley & Partners.

I particularly like the team approach used by Presley & Partners.  My ability to easily access all the different accounting specialties within the firm allows me to provide excellent service to my clients.  We are all focused on the same goal, "increasing the net worth of our clients."

My time outside of work is occupied by my family as well as my involvement in the Comox Valley Baseball Association and the Courtenay Shito-Ryu Karate Club.  My garden claims any leftover time.

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David Christie   Team Photos

I first discovered the Comox Valley in 1987 on a beautiful fall weekend of glorious sunny days and cool crisp nights.  My wife and I fell in love with the Valley and decided that this is where we wanted to raise children.  Our dream came true in 1993 when the two of us and our two small children moved from the east side of Vancouver to a small acreage on the Tsolum River.

Prior to joining the team at Presley & Partners in December 2002, I owned and operated my own small business in Vancouver.  As so many of us in the Valley have done, I lived in the Valley, but worked elsewhere.

I know the pressures and realities that those who run small businesses face in today's business environment.  I am familiar with the difficult trade-offs that must be made every day between business and family.  Last, and perhaps most important, I've experienced the joy that occurs with each business success.  There is no other feeling quite like it.

I started the CGA program in 1997, and look forward to completing it in the next couple of years.

I am thrilled to be working at Presley & Partners.  Exceptional client service is just our starting point.

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Eric Dawson, C.A., Partner   Team Photos

Hi

I grew up in North Vancouver and received a Bachelor of Commerce from UBC in 1991. Then after the usual post-graduate travels to Europe, I completed my training for my CA with a firm in Vancouver. Shortly after receiving my CA in the summer of 1995 I moved to the Valley and Presley & Partners. Since that time, I have been promoted to Manager in 1999 and Principal in 2000.

In the time I have been working in this business, I have had lots of experiences which have helped to shape me as an accountant - from large downtown Vancouver companies to small owner operator businesses, from walking on log booms to literally counting beans (there are not many of us who can really say we are bean counters!). These experiences help me to bring new ideas to every job I work on.

Of course I'm more than just a bean counter.  I particularly enjoy working in the area of tax planning (although, probably like all of you, I get really frustrated dealing with Canada Customs and Revenue Agency). I also enjoy working with our accounting students, and helping them to achieve their goals.

Since January of 2001 I have had the privilege of being the treasurer of the Comox Valley Chamber of Commerce.  I have enjoyed working with other members of the business community to try and help shape the future of business in the Comox Valley.

For those times when I've managed to dig myself out of my office, you are likely to find me hanging out with my wife, Kara and my daughter, Shannon, somewhere in the great outdoors or planning a trip to some far off place.

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Dawn DeHaas, promotions and administration specialist   Team Photos

I moved to the Comox Valley from the Lower Mainland in 1982. Having grown up there, I quickly decided the Valley was the place for me. Presley & Partners brought me onto their team in 1990 and I have loved it ever since. Pretty much everything I know I have learned through this office.

I look after the work-in-progress and accounts receivable, produce financial statements, and other office duties when Debbie and Krista need me.  So sometimes you may find me out front greeting clients or answering the phone.  The best part of my job is I get to do all the fun, creative stuff.  I help create promotional items such as newsletters, brochures, booklets, mailouts, advertising layouts and just about anything that needs an attractive presentation. I also had a hand in getting this website together and keeping it maintained.

Having two young boys keeps me very busy with swimming, soccer, biking, tobogganing up on the mountain and lots of other high energy stuff that boys like to do.  We also spend a lot of time hanging out at the beaches, lakes or parks camping or just going for walks in one of the many trails in beautiful Comox Valley.

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Colleen Ellison, C.G.A., C.A., Partner   Team Photos

I was born and raised in the Comox Valley. I left for a couple of years to attend B.C.I.T. in Vancouver to get my Financial Management Diploma of Technology. The B.C.I.T. diploma gave me three years of credit towards my C.G.A. designation. After a couple of years I was happy to return to this area to enjoy all that the area has to offer recreationally.

I have been working in public practice since 1981. During this time, I completed my C.G.A. designation and then in 1991 got my C.A. designation.

What I have learned about public practice is that you never stop learning and there always are new challenges. During the past couple of years, I have benefitted from Presley & Partners joining the RAN ONE Network. I have taken lots of RAN ONE training courses and have expanded my skills to work with clients to help them make their businesses even more profitable and therefore more valuable. The RAN ONE training and keeping current with income tax issues helps me to work with clients to solve tax and business issues.

The types of issues that I have experience dealing with include purchases and sales of a business, a variety of corporate reorganizations, business proposals and forecasts and a variety of other tax planning issues. I have also been doing some business develpment work which has included planning sessions and working with clients to develop key performance indicators that apply to the critical areas of their business.

I also have enjoyed presenting seminars including the Advanced Financial Management Program which is a hard hitting training program in which we review the underlying principles of business and financial management. This course is designed specifically for non-financial people.

In my spare time, I do a some volunteer work as Treasurer of the Strathcona Nordics Ski Club, Treasurer of the Comox Valley Country Roads Marathon Society and have been working for the past couple of years on the Comox Valley Communities Regional Playing Field Strategy Steering and Implementation Committees. I also like to spend as much time as possible with my husband and two children. As a family we like to be outdoors and and particularily enjoy skiing and mountain biking.

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Brenda Kelm, C.G.A., C.A., Partner   Team Photos

My best days at work are when my day is a whirlwind of activity, working with many clients throughout the day, assisting my fellow team members and solving problems created by computers, the tax act and the economy.

I've been in public practice since 1987, achieving my Certified General Accountant designation in 1990 and Chartered Accountant designation in 1994.

I enjoy and have worked in tax and accounting for many years.  My focus is on improving client business profitability.  By conducting workshops for client teams and owners, mentoring or even just producing more meaningful financial reports, we are adding value to our usual tax and accounting services - and seeing the benefits enjoyed by clients and their team members.

I am delighted that Presley and Partners is a member of the RAN ONE network as this will keep our business along with our client’s businesses in the forefront – it’s the future!

My personal life is full of activities including walking my dogs (actually, they walk me!) and attempting to tame some acreage in the Dove Creek area. I enjoy hiking, scuba diving, golfing and gardening when I find the time.

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Murray Presley, C.A., Partner    Team Photos

1964! Yes, that's when I first started in the accounting field. So many things have changed! Automation, computers, faxes, the internet and the future whatever it may bring.

I was born in England, raised in England, Ontario and B.C. and moved to the Comox Valley in 1961. I love to travel, play at farming and even after all these years still look forward to going in to work each day.

When I first entered public practice it was auditing, accounting, financial statements and tax returns - all mainly dealing with what has happened. In the last few years our firm has made a major shift to being proactive and helping our clients improve their businesses. As the 'old guy' in the firm, this has reinvigorated me and the whole team as well as adding another challenge to our work. Its not that we didn't help our clients in the past - but we were limited in what we could do. We didn't have the formal programs and tools we have now. Now we are much more effective.

By the way, my wife Ann is also a CA and one of my partners in this firm. I have two grown children, Heidi and Trevor, and I enjoy getting involved in our community's future.

(Editor: Murray is a councillor for the City of Courtenay)

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Debbie Robertson, Director of First Impressions    Team Photos

I was born and raised in the Comox Valley. I have a large extended family in the Valley due to both my parents being descendents of two of the first European families that settled here. After graduating from G.P. Vanier I attended a technical college in Victoria and after finishing my courses I returned to the Valley.

I started here at Presley & partners in 1989 doing mainly the reception duties. Through the years I have increased my duites and now handle the putting together of the financial statement/tax packages as well as many other duties. Recently I was given the honour of being made Director of First Impressions and I try to ensure all of our clients are looked after and have a pleasant experience when visiting our office. I enjoy all aspects of my job as there is always something new to learn and people to greet.

In my spare time I enjoy spending it with my family. I have a very active son who keeps me on the go, so I spend a good deal of time at the arena, baseball field and many other sporting events. I also enjoy the many things the Valley has to offer, from the mountains to the beaches and I try to take advantage of them as much as possible.

I look forward to seeing you when you drop by our office.

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Ann Scott, B.A., C.A., Partner    Team Photos

Things have really changed for me in the last few years. I’ve always enjoyed accounting and working with our clients but wondered sometimes if we got the maximum value for our clients with what we did. Now that we’re a part of RAN ONE and have the resources and tools to help our clients improve their businesses and their lives, my work has become exciting and rewarding!

My university degree is in Economics, which is really quite different to accounting. While accounting reports on the past, economics looks toward the future. Our new business development services are similar to economics but based on strong accounting skills as well. How lucky I feel to now have the opportunity to use both areas of my knowledge and help people with their businesses.

Technology is of special interest to me. I really enjoy keeping up with the latest developments for the internet, e-commerce and computer systems. If there ever were “Interesting times” here in my lifetime, it’s now with the internet. The opportunities are limitless but the challenges equally large.

In my spare time I hang out with my (life and business) partner Murray on our small farm raising racehorses and we go travelling as much as we can.

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Krista Smith, Receptionist    Team Photos

I was born and raised in the Cowichan Valley.  After graduation I moved to Burnaby and spent most of my time hoping for an opportunity to return to the island.  My husband and I were fortunate that when the opportunity came it brought us to the Comox Valley.

Over the years I have taken bookkeeping and office administration courses which enabled me to work for some great companies, a tire company, a building supply store and now Presley & Partners.  I became a member of the Presley & Partners team in March of 2001 and have enjoyed every moment of it (including my first tax season) as no two days are the same.  My main duties are helping Debbie with reception and to assist the others whenever I can.

In my spare time I am kept busy with my two children at home or at one of their extra-curricular activities.

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Yvonne van den Brink, C.M.A., Controller    Team Photos

Hi everyone!

I joined Presley & Partners in 1997, and since then have enjoyed working with a great team. I was born and raised in the Comox Valley where I graduated from Highland Senior Secondary in 1986. I went back to school in 1995 and graduated with a diploma in Business Administration from North Island College.

My studies led me to the Certified Management Accountant (CMA) profession and I have just recently been rewarded with the CMA designation. As a CMA I am fully trained in all facets of general accounting, including specialized training in management accounting, leadership and innovation.  I also received training in the skillful arts of communication and negotiation, and to construct a clear, strategic view of the organization.

Everyday at work is a new learning experience and within the office I can be found working on the inter office accounting, assisting the partners with various duties, helping clients on new accounting programs, especially Simply Accounting and working on clients year-ends and accounting issues.

When I am not at work I can be found either working on my farm or gardening.  I also enjoy taking my Golden Retriever, Tanner and Jack Russell, Hayley, on long walks or on trail rides my Quarter horse, Silver.