Certified Public Accountants
David R. Whittle, CPA
Firm Treasurer
Powell Office
Dave is our firm’s managing partner and the partner in charge of the Powell office. He graduated from High School in Glasgow, Montana in 1972 and earned his Bachelor’s of Science degree in Accounting from the University of Montana in 1976. After graduating, Dave worked with a CPA firm in Cody for eight years prior to purchasing our firm. He has worked in public accounting since 1976 and has been licensed to practice as a CPA since 1981.
Dave has a vast array of experience in all areas of income tax preparation and planning for individuals, corporations, estates, trusts and not-for-profit entities. Other areas of expertise are financial planning for investing, retirement, estates and trusts, business and succession planning, business consulting for operations, purchases and sales.
Barbara R. Hamilton, CPA
Firm President
Cody Office
Barb is the partner in charge of the Cody office. She grew up in Powell and graduated from Powell High School in 1980. She earned her Bachelor’s of Science degree in Accounting from the University of Wyoming in 1985, graduating with honors. Barb joined our firm in 1986 after working with a small CPA firm in Powell for a year after graduating. She has worked in public accounting since 1985 and has been licensed to practice as a CPA since 1986.
Barb has very broad experience in all areas of income tax preparation and planning. She is also well versed in estate and trust administration and planning, financial statement preparation including compilations and reviews, business consulting services and QuickBooks consulting.
Joseph A. Asay, CPA
Firm Vice President
Powell Office
Joe joined our firm in 2010; his professional experience before joining us included nine years in the private sector and eight years in public accounting. He is a Cody High School graduate, and earned his Bachelor of Science degree in Business Administration from the University of South Dakota. He has been licensed to practice as a CPA since 2005, and became a partner in our firm in 2012. Joe is experienced in all areas of income tax preparation and planning, and financial statement preparation.
Timothy D. Stewart, CPA
Cody Office
Tim graduated from Cody High School in 1994, after growing up in Cody. He earned his Bachelor’s of Science degree in Accounting from the University of Wyoming in 1998. In May of 1998, Tim sat for and passed the Uniform CPA Examination and began his professional career with Union Pacific Corporation in Omaha, Nebraska. Tim spent nearly 12 years in the Finance Department at Union Pacific working in Corporate Audit, Capital Planning, and Treasury. In 2010, he left Union Pacific to become Chief Financial Officer of Signal 88 Franchise Group, Inc. During his 2 ½ years with Signal 88, Tim managed all financial aspects of the Company and advised 80+ franchisees on cash flow and other financial matters. Tim returned to Cody in January 2013 along with his wife, Kim, to raise their four boys. Tim has been granted his license to practice as a CPA in Wyoming, effective January 2014.
Nathaniel D. Keefer, CPA
Powell Office
Nate moved to Powell with his family at 8 years old and graduated from Powell High School in 1997. He attended Northwest College and graduated, with honors, from Montana State University – Billings earning a Bachelor of Science degree in Accounting. In 2013 he was granted his license to practice as a CPA in the State of Wyoming. In 2015, he earned a Master of Business Administration degree from the University of Wyoming. Nate is experienced in corporation, partnership, individual, trust and estate, and not-for-profit tax returns. He assists small business clients in implementing controls to maximize profits and cash flow. Nate also enjoys coaching various clients in their personal financial decisions including budgeting, debt management, and saving.
Nate is on the Board of Directors of the Powell Medical Foundation which supports the medical community of Powell through education, advocacy and fund raising. Nate resides in Powell with his wife Niki and four children. As a family, they enjoy camping, boating and traveling.
Para-Professionals
Janell Cline
Firm Secretary
Powell Office
Janell is a Powell native. She worked in banking prior to joining the Firm in 1991 and became a shareholder in 2009. Janell is responsible for computer operations and technical support, client bookkeeping and financial statement compilation, payroll preparation and reporting, and serves as a notary public. She is also the QuickBooks Pro Advisor at the Powell office and provides QuickBooks support and consulting services to many of our bookkeeping and tax clients.
Linda M. Kolpitcke
Powell Office
Linda joined our firm in January 2013 as a staff accountant. She graduated from Cody High School in 1986 and earned her Bachelor of Science degree in Accounting from the University of Wyoming in 1990. Linda went on to earn her Juris Doctorate degree from the University of Wyoming College of Law in 1995. She has been licensed to practice law in the State of Wyoming since 1995. Linda came to us with a broad range of work experience, including practicing law in a small private firm and with the Wyoming Attorney General’s Office as an Assistant Attorney General. She has also served as the Executive Assistant to the Board/President, Assistant Trust Officer, Bank Secrecy Act Compliance Officer and Compliance Officer for a national banking institution. Her duties with our firm include income tax preparation, bookkeeping and payroll services.
Administrative
Carla M. Essex
Powell Office
Carla grew up in Powell and then moved to South Dakota with her husband in 1977. She was employed as a receptionist and bookkeeper for the 26 years that they lived in SD. Carla joined our Firm in 2003 when she and her husband returned to Powell. She provides bookkeeping and payroll services, notary public service, greets clients at the front desk, makes appointments and keeps the work flow moving through the office.
Seasonal Staff Members
Marla A. Pierson
