News
Anderson ZurMuehlen Sponsors Montana Business and Professional Women’s Conference
Anderson ZurMuehlen recently sponsored the state conference for the Business and Professional Women (BPW) held in Bozeman on Saturday, May 3rd. The event had a great turnout, with BPW representatives from all over Montana in attendance. Anderson ZurMuehlen was one of the major sponsors of the event and had an exhibit table prominently displayed throughout the conference, as well has being one of the speakers. One of the Bozeman office’s CPAs made an informative presentation on fraud and internal controls for businesses. The conference provided a great opportunity to network with business women from all over the state.
Bozeman Employees Attend the Women’s Circle of Excellence
Almost half the Bozeman office attended the Women's Circle of Excellence, hosted by MSU's College of Business. The annual event, created two years ago, aims to enhance and enrich the lives of women alumnae by providing opportunities for mentoring and networking. This year's theme was “Links of a Lifetime.” One of Anderson ZurMuehlen’s Bozeman staff members helped to organize the two-day conference.
Anderson ZurMuehlen Sponsors Junior Achievement’s Hall of Achievement
A group of Bozeman employees represented Anderson ZurMuehlen at the Junior Achievement Hall of Achievement awards banquet. The evening featured the Young Entrepreneur of the Year award which recognizes a successful young business person (age 18 and younger) with a $1000 scholarship to apply to their business or training. Anderson ZurMuehlen’s Bozeman Operations Manager serves on the JA of Montana Board of Directors. Junior Achievement is the world's largest and fastest-growing non-profit economic education organization.
Spring is in the Air at the Bozeman Office!
The Bozeman office participated in the 2008 Daffodil Days hosted by the American Cancer Society. Held each spring, the American Cancer Society sells fresh daffodil bouquets to raise money for cancer research, education, advocacy and patient service programs. The daffodil was selected because not only is it the first flower of spring, but it is also a symbol of hope. The Bozeman office purchased a bouquet for every employee, as well as a “Gift of Hope” bouquet that was delivered to a cancer patient at a local treatment facility.
Anderson ZurMuehlen’s Bozeman Office Attends MSCPA Career Opportunity Night
The Bozeman office was well represented at this year’s MSCPA Career Opportunity Night held January 22nd at Montana State University. Three AZ staff members manned the booth, while another attended as a representative of the MSCPA Vision Task Force. The participants kicked off the night by explaining the evening's goal to showcase the great opportunities available to students right here in Montana! Bozeman employees talked to students about the family atmosphere at Anderson ZurMuehlen that fosters learning and teamwork. The smaller event (about 35 students and 7 companies) allowed employers to learn more about the students than most full-scale career fairs. It was not only a great way for the Bozeman office to meet potential employees, but also to put the Anderson ZurMuehlen name in the minds of the future best and brightest business men and women in Montana.
Bozeman Office Sponsors Bozeman Symphony Concert
The Anderson ZurMuehlen Bozeman office sponsored a Bozeman Symphony concert on February 2nd. The concert, “It’s A Classic”, performed by cellist Scott Kluksdahl, included pieces from Mozart, Hayden, and Beethoven. The Symphony Secretary (who is also a Bozeman AZ employee) attended the event and said that the evening was very enjoyable and that the turnout for the concert was great. The Bozeman Symphony has a very dedicated community following compared to most local symphonies, with over 60 donors and supporting businesses. It was a great opportunity to support the Symphony's 40th season.
Anderson ZurMuehlen’s Bozeman Office Volunteers at Museum of the Rockies Benefit
The Bozeman office handled the auction accounting at the Museum of the Rockies Masquerade Ball held February 9th. One of the Museum’s biggest events of the year, over $82,000 was raised to fund research, exhibits, and operating costs through ticket sales, sponsorships, and auctions. One of the highlights of the evening was a call for donations to the school fund: in only a few short minutes over $46,000 was raised to allow school groups visit the museum for free! Among the 275 people that attended the event were V.I.P.’s Rob Ash, the new MSU football coach, and Jack Horner, the Museum’s curator of paleontology. The event was led entirely by volunteer community committees and was (once again) a huge success!
Bozeman Intern Honored at Montana State University Awards Ceremony
An intern in Anderson ZurMuehlen’s Bozeman office, was recognized at the 26th annual Awards for Excellence at MSU on February 19th. To her surprise, she was awarded not one, but TWO awards this year: an Award for Excellence in Accounting, and the Torlief Aasheim Community Involvement Award. The Award for Excellence in Accounting is given to seniors with a GPA of 3.5 or better with an exemplary record of campus and community involvement. The Torlief Aasheim Community Involvement Award recognizes students who give of themselves to their communities in addition to their outstanding academic achievements. This award is only given to one male and one female student each year. All the employees at Anderson ZurMuehlen are very proud of their intern and congratulate her on her phenomenal accomplishment.
Anderson ZurMuehlen’s Bozeman Office Gets in the Spirit of Giving
With the holidays just around the corner, Bozeman staffers have really been in the spirit of giving: they’ve recently completed not one, but TWO holiday community service projects!
Last week employees chipped in and collected food for the local Gallatin Valley Food Bank. After hearing that the food bank was short about 600 turkeys a week before Thanksgiving, the big-hearted staffers in the Bozeman office decided that they’d like to help. Then, even after hearing that the turkey shortage had been handled, the Bozeman office donated four boxes of food, with everything from cranberries to stuffing! After all, what good is a turkey without the trimmings?
The Bozeman staff also participated in Operation Christmas Child, a toy drive hosted by Samaritan’s Purse. Gift-filled shoeboxes will be sent to needy children around the world. Since 1993, Operation Christmas Child has delivered more than 54 million boxes to children in 120 countries. Bozeman staffers had a lot of fun shopping for toys and other items for a boy and a girl, age two to four.
Bozeman Office Raises Money for Big Brothers Big Sisters
Members of Anderson ZurMuehlen’s Bozeman office recently participated in the Bowl for Kid’s Sake fundraiser for Big Brothers Big Sisters (“BBBS”) of Gallatin County. Bowl for Kid’s Sake is Gallatin County's largest community fundraiser. It helps BBBS serve over 500 children annually through a variety of community based and school based one-to-one mentoring programs. Over 70% of BBBS’s operating revenue comes from major fundraisers such as Bowl for Kid’s Sake. This is the third year that the Bozeman office has been involved in the event. Bozeman staffers hit the pavement to collect pledges for the fundraiser. A few employees even set up websites to collect online contributions. Donations could be collected as a flat amount or a pledge per pin. Friends, family, and the Bozeman community helped contribute to their efforts. In all, the Bozeman team raised over $1,000 for BBBS! They turned in their money on November 4th at the Bozeman Bowl, where they had two hours to rack up as many pins as they could. The Bozeman employees had a great time and enjoyed helping such a good cause. They are looking forward to being involved in Bowl for Kid’s Sake again next year.
Accounting Internship Open House - Bozeman, Montana
Anderson ZurMuehlen’s Bozeman office had a full house on October 24th. Twelve of the top accounting Master’s degree candidates that Bozeman recruiters met at the MSU Career Fair were invited to the event. This was a great opportunity for the Bozeman staff to check out the candidates and for the students to learn more about the company. The students were greeted at the door with food and drinks and given the opportunity to meet members of the Bozeman team. Once they got settled in, shareholders took a moment to ask the candidates a few questions about their goals, their experience, and their interest in Anderson ZurMuehlen. Afterwards, students were given a tour of the office. Many of the students stayed until the very end of the event, talking with Bozeman staffers and asking questions. All in all, the open house was a great success!
Missoula Start! Heart Walk Huge Success
At locations all across America sponsors, walkers and donors work together to raise money to help the American Heart Association. One such event took place in Missoula, Montana on September 15, 2007 generating over $125,000. Staff members from the Anderson ZurMuehlen office raised more than $2,500 of that amount.
As the American Heart Association’s signature fund-raising event, the Start! Heart Walk promotes physical activity and heart-healthy living in a fun, family environment. This year more than 1 million walkers will participate in some 500 events, raising funds to save lives from this country’s No. 1 and No. 3 killers — heart disease and stroke. Companies all across the country are walking and working to save lives. Learn more about Start! Heart Walk.
The American Heart Association is the largest voluntary health organization working to prevent, treat and defeat heart disease, stroke and other cardiovascular diseases. These diseases devastate millions of people of all ages and kill more than 910,000 Americans each year.
To fight cardiovascular diseases, the association supports research, education and advocacy and helps heart disease and stroke patients. Each year they train more than 9 million emergency medical services personnel, healthcare professionals and citizens in Emergency Cardiovascular Care. Millions of volunteers and supporters all across America help fight heart disease and stroke and make it possible for all people to live longer, better lives.
Meet the Accounting Recruiters
Always on the lookout for the best and brightest future CPAs, the Anderson ZurMuehlen Bozeman office vice presidents attended MSU’s annual “Meet the Accounting Recruiters” gathering. The event, held on October 2nd, was a great way to talk to accounting students in a more intimate setting. In 2006, over 130 students and faculty attended the event. The Bozeman office recruiters collected over 100 great resumes, for Bozeman and for the other Anderson ZurMuehlen locations, and even set up a few interviews. It was noted that there was a significant increase in students this year over past years. More and more people seem to be going into the accounting field. The larger Career Fair for all business students was held on October 3rd from 9AM to 3 PM on campus. Over 180 organizations participated in the event.
Anderson ZurMuehlen to Sponsor Jim Soft Seminar
The Montana Nonprofit Association and the Governor’s Task Force on Endowments & Philanthropy will be presenting a seminar on New & Important Charitable Giving Laws, with speaker James Soft.
The seminar will focus on legislative changes and issues that will impact charitable institutions, their constituents, and the professionals who advise them. Understanding the laws and how to comply will help facilitate the charity’s development efforts as well as enhance the professional advisor’s skills. Due to the technical nature of the material, this seminar will be most beneficial to those who work with the various charitable financial/estate planning techniques and who want to learn more about the benefits and management of planned gift instruments.
Mr. Soft is the President of Yellowstone Boys and Girls Ranch Foundation. He brings 37 years of experience in the charitable sector and 35 years working with donors/institutions in planned giving development. Mr. Soft is a Certified Financial Planner (CFP) and was awarded a Master of Finance from the College of Financial Planning. He is a board member of the Montana Nonprofit Association and a member of the Montana Governor’s Task Force on Endowments & Philanthropy.
Montana Nonprofit Association Holds 6th Annual Conference
Anderson ZurMuehlen representatives recently attended the MNA’s Annual Conference in Billings, Montana. The Helena based association represents almost 500 nonprofit agencies. Held at the Holiday Inn Grand Montana from September 24 through 26, the conference was attended by nearly 450 nonprofit professionals, board members, volunteers, consultants, foundation staff, trustees, community leaders, public officials, students, and many others interested in the nonprofit sector.
Conference attendees had their choice of 24 seminars covering topics from fundraising to volunteer management. The focus of this year’s conference was on cooperation across the entire nonprofit sector; the association hopes to decrease repetition in nonprofits and increase cooperation.
HeadWaters Conference Draws Record Attendance
Firms from across the US and Canada meet at Upstream Academy’s sixth annual leadership conference and rate it the best yet!
With Utah’s majestic Wasatch Mountains as a backdrop and in the luxury of the world-class Stein Eriksen Lodge, over 130 accounting firm leaders from across North America gathered in Park City, Utah July 9-10 for Upstream Academy’s 6th annual HeadWaters Leadership Conference. Presenters at the conference included former Moss Adams Chairman/CEO Bob Bunting, Clifton Gunderson CEO Carl George, Upstream Academy Founder and Director Sam Allred, Anderson ZurMuehlen President and CEO Tim Bartz, Beard Miller Vice Chairman and Human Resources Partner Jody Keller, and Peak Life Habits CEO Mark Weinstein. Session topics included setting partner goals, planning new partners’ first 100 days, maintaining work/life balance, niche development, communication and accountability, making mergers work, and planning your firm’s future. A special presentation by Scottish mountain climber and paraplegic, Jamie Andrew, held attendees spellbound. A huge thanks goes out to all who attended and helped make the conference so successful!
Relay For Life® of Yellowstone County
On July 13, 2007 staff and family members from the Anderson ZurMuehlen (AZ) Billings office participated in the annual Relay For Life® held at the Billings West High Track. It was a 1950’s theme and AZ chose to be “Hopelessly Devoted to a Cure.” The Billings office was successful in raising $9,044.00 for the American Cancer Society. The total raised in Yellowstone County was $640,000.00!
The American Cancer Society’s web site states that the Relay For Life® is a fun-filled overnight event designed to bring together those who have been touched by cancer in our community. At the event, we celebrate survivorship and raise money to help the American Cancer Society in its mission to save lives, help those who have been touched by cancer, and empower individuals to fight back. During the event, teams of people gather at schools, fairgrounds, or parks and take turns walking or running laps. Each team tries to keep at least one team member on the track at all times.
But, Relay is much more than a walk around a track. It is a time to remember those lost to cancer and celebrate those who have survived. It is a night for people who have shared the same experience to comfort and console one another. During this event, we honor survivors during the Survivors Lap and we remember those we lost to cancer during the Luminaria Ceremony. We also celebrate life, friendship, and a chance to work together toward a cancer-free future.
Most importantly, Relay gives you the power to help in the fight against cancer. By joining together as volunteers and donors, our efforts help the American Cancer Society strive toward a future where cancer doesn’t take the lives of our friends and family.
For more information about how you or your organization can participate in Relay For Life®, visit the American Cancer Society’s web site at www.cancer.org.
Relay For Life is a signature American Cancer Society community gathering where everyone can participate in the fight against cancer. The gathering is designed to celebrate survivorship and raise money for cancer research and programs. On August 3, 2007, local volunteer teams camped out at the Helena Capital High School and took turns walking or running around the track for 16 hours. Each team is asked to have at least one representative on the track at all times during the event—because cancer never sleeps.
The Anderson ZurMuehlen / Employee Benefit Resources team showed their spirit and support not only by walking or running the track for the entire 16 hours, but also by raising $550.00 in donations for the American Cancer Society. This donation included selling 25 luminary bags in memory of loved ones who have suffered from cancer. The bags were lit in an evening ceremony and displayed around the track, as well as in the bleachers, spelling out “HOPE”.
Participants enjoyed numerous fun events throughout the night including silent auctions, dancing, finger painting, movies, and scavenger hunts, all in the “Island of Hope” theme. One Anderson ZurMuehlen volunteer completed 72 laps (that’s 18 miles!) around the track and stated, “It definitely helped having Starbucks as our neighbor! We look forward to participating again next year!”
Visit www.cancer.org for more information about how you can participate in an upcoming event.
First Annual March for Independence - Atlanta, Georgia
On July 3, 2007 a group of Montanans, including volunteers from the Anderson ZurMuehlen Helena office, joined in with the opening act of the National Federation of the Blind's annual convention held in Atlanta, Georgia. This year's opening act was the first March for Independence. They gathered around daybreak and hit the streets, an unlikely group of demonstrators. Almost all were blind. Most carried white walking canes. A few had guide dogs. They marched by the hundreds from the Marriott Marquis hotel to Centennial Olympic Park, where, on Tuesday morning in downtown Atlanta , they were praised for their courage.
The thrust of the group's efforts is to get the sighted world to see the blind the way the blind see themselves-as equals.
Back at the Marriott the lobby bustled with participants, navigating through the crowd and the up and down escalators with relative ease, tapping canes across the carpet, offering object lessons in how the blind are self-sufficient, said John Pare Jr., who heads public relations for the group. "Our biggest problem isn't being blind," he said. "It's being accepted as being as capable of performing as sighted people."
James Gashel, NFB's executive director for strategic initiatives, said the unsighted world has seen profound changes since he attended his first NFB convention in 1965. "There are changes in the law, and the organization is much larger," he said. "The capabilities of the blind are now more recognized. Back then, a lot of blind people were led around. Not anymore."
He said technological advances are making the unsighted and sighted more equal by the day. The group helped develop one of the latest breakthroughs: A $2,200 device called a Kurzweil-National Federation of the Blind Reader, that reads print and translates it into spoken word in 20 seconds. "It's becoming artificial vision," he said.
For more information about the National Federation of the Blind and their upcoming events, please visit their web site at www.nfb.org .
Article contents taken from "Convention of unsighted realizes vision of equality" By Jeffry Scott, Mike Morris, www.nfb.org
Spirit of Service - Butte Rescue Mission
Anderson ZurMuehlen celebrated their annual Butte Spirit of Service day on June 28, 2007 by donating labor at the Butte Rescue Mission. The Butte Rescue Mission provides temporary emergency shelter, clothing, meals, chapel and medical clinic services for area men, women and children. It is supported by generous monetary and labor donations from the community in addition to proceeds from their thrift store.
The staff members from the Anderson ZurMuehlen Butte office volunteered for a full day of work repairing and replacing ceiling tiles and repairing the tile mechanisms.
Anderson ZurMuehlen Wins National AAM-MAA Marketing Achievement Awards
The AAM-MAAs are national awards presented in recognition of outstanding achievements in the area of accounting marketing and communications. The panel of judges included professionals in the advertising, public relations and marketing fields, who evaluated nearly 200 projects this year. Of the 200 entries submitted by top accounting marketing professionals nationwide, Anderson ZurMuehlen won first place in two categories. The logo design for their "Flourisch" financial growth for women program and in event marketing, tradeshows and seminars for the "Flourisch" program and marketing collateral materials.
Museum of the Rockies Dinosaur Grand Opening Celebration
In 2007, the Museum of the Rockies celebrates its 50th Anniversary. One of the newest additions to the Museum is the Siebel Dinosaur Complex, including the Hall of Horns and Teeth, the Mesozoic Media Center , and the Hallway of Growth and Behavior.
As part of this celebration, the staff from the Bozeman office of Anderson ZurMuehlen hosted the June 8 Grand Opening and Members' Preview and Reception for the new permanent dinosaur exhibit titled "The Hall of Giants". Anderson ZurMuehlen and the Museum worked together to launch a new concept of using a business supporter's staff to welcome guests and assist with traffic flow and questions. Over 450 museum members attended this gala event. Participating staff from Anderson ZurMuehlen commented that "it was a lot of fun welcoming people to 'our' museum!"
For more information about the Museum of the Rockies or the special dinosaur exhibit, visit www.museumoftherockies.org.
Breathin' is Believin' Fundraiser
For the second year in a row, staff from the Anderson ZurMuehlen Bozeman office volunteered at the Cody Dieruf Benefit Foundation Fundraiser called Breathin' is Believin' held on June 16, 2007. This foundation was created in memory of Cody Dieruf, who passed away in 2005 from cystic fibrosis, to provide financial and emotional support to local children and young adults with CF. The foundation awards funds for medical expenses, travel expenses for medical treatment and scholarships for extra-curricular activities including sports, dance and the arts.
Final Rules Coming for 403(b) Retirement Plans
403(b) Plan Sponsors will want to pay special attention to the upcoming final rules being issued by the Internal Revenue Service (IRS). The IRS plans to issue the final rules for 403(b) retirement plans by June 30, 2007, with a January 1, 2008 effective date.
Employee Benefit Resources, LLP (EBR) will be providing information on these changes, as well as interpreting the regulations and assisting not-for-profit entities with implementing the new standards.
If you would like more information, please contact one of our consultants at 406.449.5500 or visit our website at www.ebrworld.com .
New Audit Standards Presented at Missoula AGA Meeting
On May 29, 2007 a Missoula Shareholder with Anderson ZurMuehlen presented a program on the new audit standards for the Missoula - Lake Chapter of the Association of Government Accountants (AGA). The presentation focused on familiarizing the participants with the major concepts in the new auditing standards and their impact on audits of local governments and nonprofits.
This latest overhaul of the auditing standards was issued in response to the perceived inadequacies in the existing standards by Congress and others. Fraudulent financial statements, insider dealings, audit failures and loss of confidence in the investment community spurred this recent revision.
With these changes, auditors will be probing much deeper into an organization's processes and internal controls and will be required to obtain more and better audit evidence. More time will also be spent by the auditors performing risk assessment and planning.
For further information on these recent changes or with questions regarding your business, feel free to contact Anderson ZurMuehlen at (406) 721-7800.
2007 Montana State Society of Human Resource Managers Conference
A representative from the Anderson ZurMuehlen technology solutions department was in attendance at the 2007 Montana State Society of Human Resource Managers Conference in Bozeman , May 16 t -18 h to present a report concerning data mining and reporting capabilities. Many human resource managers and payroll and accounting staff now manage numbers for their businesses. Whether they are assessing recruitment efforts, employee retention, pension contributions, salary assessments, or long term business projections for organizational growth, data is the key to all of these functions. Many times obtaining the right numbers is a challenge costing hundreds of hours and loss of productivity. Our technology solutions consultants help manipulate existing software and add components to create the results necessary for effectively managing an organization.
The most common complaint heard from customers is that their accounting system does not give them the information they need to effectively manage their organization. They spend hours, and sometimes days, getting data from different reports in their system and manually entering it into a Microsoft ExcelT spreadsheet to produce key information. Not only can this process be time consuming but it is subject to entry errors. Wouldn't it be nice to click a button and have key information presented in a way that is easily understandable to you and your staff?
We bring years of experience with report writing and data analysis to the table. As Certified Public Accountants, we are trained to work with many different organizations and have experience pulling information from many types of accounting and production systems to create meaningful information for our clients. We understand the types of information needed to communicate to top management as well as daily information for financial and operational success.
Anderson ZurMuehlen is a Certified Microsoft PartnerT and advises a wide range of industries and organizations seeking technological solutions using both the client's current programs and new systems in the best interest of the client.
United Way/Anderson ZurMuehlen Seminar
On June 6, 2007, Anderson ZurMuehlen presented a free seminar at the Helena Chamber of Commerce for Lewis and Clark United Way agencies. The session focused on Pension Protection Act and how the changes impact non profit agencies. Topics included financial management, oversight responsibilities of the Board of Directors, charitable giving reforms, and new auditing standards. Also discussed were the preparation and filing requirements of Form 990, and functional expense allocations for fundraising, general management and program services. The training session was well attended by Board members and executive directors.
Almost 3,900 people joined Montana 's first lady, Nancy Schweitzer, at the Susan G. Komen Race for the Cure on May 19, 2007. "It was just a sea of people, all working for one cause," Schweitzer said moments after finishing the race herself. "This is one of my favorite races." ( Helena Independent Record, May 20, 2007). Among the participants were 300 breast cancer survivors.
Staff members from the Anderson ZurMuehlen Helena office and from the Employee Benefit Resources office joined in and volunteered at the race. The volunteers participated in the Helena event along with their families and enjoyed a great race for a worthy cause.
The Race for the Cure is an annual breast cancer awareness event funding research and development to fight cancer and to raise awareness about breast cancer. Seventy-five percent of the money raised through the race stays in Montana - the other 25 percent goes to the national organization and can only be used for grants. The effort to raise awareness about breast cancer isn't just a one-day event. The group has events going on all year and gives out more than $150,000 in grants, which pays for things like early screening, education, or helping women who can't afford to pay for their care.
On May 10th more than fifteen crews in Helena tackled spring clean up chores for elderly and disabled members of the Helena community. The teams raked leaves, mowed lawns, painted trim, fences, and houses, trimmed bushes and trees, planted flowers, built a therapy garden and had an amazing day giving back to the community. Although the crews were challenged by sporadic rain and thunder, everyone put in more than a full days work bringing Spring into neighborhoods throughout Helena .
Employee Benefit Resources and Anderson ZurMuehlen partnered with the City of Helena , Rocky Mountain Development Council, AARP, HUD, Wal-Mart and American Federal Savings Bank. Morrison Maierle Engineering and Heritage Propane joined us this year and proved to be great assets to our teams!
We are fortunate to have such wonderful business partners and staff who give so willingly to their neighbors through this endeavor.
Professional Women in the Spotlight
The Anderson ZurMuehlen Bozeman office sponsored a reception for the Montana State Convention of Business and Professional Women (BPW) held in Bozeman on May 18, 2007. Women from all parts of the state came to attend workshops on topics such as 'Fundraising for Non-Profits' and 'Running a Small Business' as well as conduct the annual member business. A leader in grassroots activism, BPW is a national organization which promotes equity for all women in the workplace through advocacy, education and information.
Special Olympic Games - Livingston , Montana
Staff volunteers from the Anderson ZurMuehlen Bozeman office participated in the Special Olympics games in Livingston , Montana on April 26th. The Volunteers spent the day as event timers and record keepers as well as organizing and running the registration table. The staff members were touched by the spirit of the athletes, their coaches and families. Throughout the year the AZ Bozeman office is also involved with Special Olympics by serving on the Planning Committee for the Area Games and volunteering at various other events.
In Memory of Dawn Elizabeth Porter - February 14, 1961 - May 12, 2007
With great sadness we mourn the loss of our good friend, and dedicated associate.
Dawn was born on February 14, 1961 in Blackfoot, Idaho. Most of her working years were spent in Helena at the Fly Away Café and she eventually became a part of our EBR family.
Dawn's passion for life, her love of animals, and the outdoors were evident each and every day. She will be greatly missed by all who knew her. We have been inspired by her courage, quick smile, and positive attitude and we consider ourselves fortunate to have known and worked with an individual of her quality. Her memory will have a lasting impact on us all.
She is survived by her husband, Doug; her two sons, Kenneth and Christopher; and two daughters, Kelly and Nicole and her grandchildren Dominic, Ava, Haylee, Ali, and Logan.
Local accounting firm a major supporter of American Cancer Society
A longtime corporate sponsor of the Society's Yellowstone County Relay for Life, Anderson ZurMuehlen has taken on a new project this year with their support of the Society's annual Daffodil Days fundraiser. According to Anderson ZurMuehlen, the day after the golden blooms are delivered to the American Cancer Society's Billings office, they will be handing them out to all their clients who visit their office. "We feel it will be another step to demonstrate to our clients our commitment to the American Cancer Society. It will be a great experience to share these beautiful flowers with our clients."
During this summer's Yellowstone County Relay For Life, which is scheduled to be held at the Billings West High School track, Anderson ZurMuehlen will purchase and light a luminaria for every client who has passed away or survived cancer since last year's event. "It's a tradition we feel strongly about," they say. "We want our clients and the entire community to know we are passionate about finding a cure for this terrible disease."
AICPA's "Feed the Pig" Financial Literacey Effort
The Anderson ZurMuehlen (AZ) Seattle office recently participated in the AICPA’s “Feed the Pig” campaign at Kenmore Elementary School. "Feed the Pig" was created to extend the reach of the AICPA's 360 Degrees of Financial Literacy effort.The campaign uses the traditional image of savings, the piggy bank, to encourage younger generations to find the benefits of saving for every stage of life. The Seattle staff spent the day teaching students about city planning, payroll, and how to manage checking accounts. More "Feed the Pig" information and tools can be found at www.FeedthePig.org.
Record-Breaking Christmas Tree for Intermountain Children's Home
The Helena offices of Anderson ZurMuehlen (AZ)and Employee Benefit Resources (EBR) proudly participated in this year's 19th Annual Festival of Trees. The Festival, Helena's premiere holiday event, benefits Intermountain Children's Home—a nationally recognized, non-profit organization that provides treatment programs dedicated to children suffering from moderate to severe emotional disturbances.
This year marked Anderson ZurMuehlen's 14th year as a participant and proved to be a very exciting one. AZ's tree, decorated in a pirate theme and titled "Rocky Mountain Plunder," was a huge success due to the time, energy, and creativity of the AZ/EBR staff, and the generosity of FAST Enterprises and Northrup Grumman.
FAST Enterprises purchased the tree for $8,250 and donated it back to Intermountain to be auctioned off again. It was then purchased a second time by Northrop Grumman for $8,000, bringing in an all-time, record-breaking $16, 250 for Intermountain!
Anderson ZurMuehlen and Employee Benefit Resources are honored to be in the company of such generous people and are proud to help support Intermountain.
On November 28th , the Anderson ZurMuehlen (AZ) Seattle office sponsored a table at the Japan-America Society Holiday Celebration Dinner and Auction. The event is a fundraiser for the "Japan in the Schools" Educational Outreach Program serving Puget Sound elementary and high school students. A mix of AZ clients and staff filled the table for fine dining, unique auction items, and plenty of good cheer to kick off the holiday season while supporting this great program.
United Way - Help, Hope, and Optimism
The Billings offices of Anderson ZurMuehlen (AZ)and Employee Benefit Resources (EBR) teamed up to participate in the 2006 Yellowstone County United Way drive.
United Way is the collective power of people who care about improving the overall quality of life in Yellowstone County. The organization helps identify the most pressing local problems and programs that are making progress to solve them. Their goal is to ensure all contributions from the Drive get to the heart of what matters—transforming communities and improving lives.
AZ and EBR are happy to announce they reached 100% participation this year and raised $11,323 for the cause.
New Location for Anderson ZurMuehlen Missoula Offices
The Anderson ZurMuehlen (AZ) MIssoula offices are excited about their recent move to 1821 South Avenue West. The new space located on the fifth floor has joined the former Stephens Street office and the former Russell Street office locations.
Anderson ZurMuehlen Celebrates a Successful American Cancer Society Relay for Life Drive
2006 Relay for Life Team
The Anderson ZurMuehlen (AZ) Billings office participated in the 2006 American Cancer Society's Relay for Life. The relay event is comprised of teams that gather for an overnight walk/run to honor cancer victims, and raise money for research with the hope of finding a cure. This year's drive was a huge success with the AZ Billings office raising an amazing $8,345 for the cause.
Anderson ZurMuehlen Helena Office Awarded Friend of the Year
The Helena Anderson ZurMuehlen (AZ) office was honored with the "Friend of the Year" award by Big Brothers and Sisters of Helena (BBBS). "AZ & Co. has been extremely supportive of the mentoring work of BBBS. Their employees are generally very active in the Helena community and specifically engaged in BBBS mentoring and fund raising efforts. We couldn't provide the services we do without the support of generous businesses like AZ & Co.", said Sara Berg, BBBS board president.
Jan Parks & Associates Merges with Anderson ZurMuehlen
Anderson ZurMuehlen & Co., P.C. (AZ) is pleased to announce that Jan K. Parks & Associates, P.C. has joined the Firm effective January 1, 2006. The merger is the latest in a series of strategic moves aimed at strengthening our relationship with the city of Missoula .
AZ entered the Missoula market in February 2005 with the acquisition of McElroy Smartt & Wilson. On October 1, 2005, Elmore & Associates, P.C. merged with the company and our current location was established at 3819 Stephens Avenue .
Jan K. Parks & Associates began with four employees in the summer of 1996. Located at 1800 South Russell Street , the company grew its client base by offering services in tax planning and preparation, estate planning and wealth preservation strategies, business succession planning, and financial statement preparation. With an emphasis on personalized service, the company more than doubled in size in less than ten years.
The shared values of Anderson ZurMuehlen and Jan Parks & Associates ensure that our clients will continue receiving the exceptional service they have come to expect.
The two offices will continue operations at their current locations until late summer, when they will combine forces in a new office designed to house all thirty-four employees. The new office will be managed by AZ shareholder Mike Tobiason . Other shareholders in the Missoula office include Mike Combo, Steve Gibbs, Jan Parks, Paul Sepp, Shirlee Walker, and Norm Williamson.
Anderson ZurMuehlen is a full service public accounting and consulting firm representing businesses and individuals. Serving the northwest since 1957, we have additional offices in Billings , Bozeman , Butte , Helena , and Seattle.
Anderson ZurMuehlen honored for Spirit of Service Community project
Spirit of Service crew hauling away wood pile
On June 1st, Anderson ZurMuehlen (AZ) was honored at the 13th Annual Business/Human Services Alliance Luncheon hosted by United Way and the Helena Chamber of Commerce. AZ and Rocky Mountain Development Council were recognized for their annual Spirit of Service project and its impact on the Helena community. Anderson ZurMuehlen COO and Shareholder, Gary Carlson presented before and after pictures taken over the years.
Spirit of Service was created to help elderly citizens and those whose circumstances have created hardship. SOS teams spend one day cleaning-up, painting, and fixing-up selected projects around their homes and property.
May 11, 2006 marked the 6th annual Spirit of Service event in the Helena Community.
QuickBooks Point of Sale Support and Installation
Anderson ZurMuehlen (AZ) is already well known in Montana as the place to go for QuickBooks consulting. The AZ Accounting Services Department is proud to announce one more area of QuickBooks expertise to offer clients—QuickBooks Point of Sale.
© 2006 Anderson ZurMuehlen & Co., P.C. All rights reserved.
