Member of the Month - 2004 December Member of the Month – Mary P. Giesler
Mary was nominated by Susan M. Spaur. In her nomination, Susan shared the following comments: Mary Giesler is currently serving as the chairperson on the Chapter Advisory Council (CAC) after serving nearly two years as the treasurer. She has also been very active with the Kansas Chapter, serving as its president for several years. I met Mary in St Louis, at the first presidents' meeting, held outside of National Conference. She worked through lunch with me to make sure our table presentation came off well. Mary is an energetic, hard-working leader and a huge NATP fan. She always does what she says she will do and you can rely on her completely. She is also creative and smart. NATP is blessed to have her serving as a Chapter leader. With that, you can all get to know Mary Giesler better through some interview questions . . . Q.
How many years have you been preparing taxes? A.
I just completed my 23rd year of preparing taxes. Q.
What is your business name, where is it located? Do you own it? Do you employ staff? A.
My business is named MPG Accounting. It is a sole proprietorship, and is located in Overland Park, KS. My office is in my home and city ordinance dictates no employees, so I work alone. Q.
Type and number of returns filed. A.
I personally prepare approximately 300 individual, corporate, partnership, and trust returns annually. Q.
Were you in another line of business before doing taxes? A.
Straight out of college I went into medical research at KU Medical Center. I was their number cruncher. At that time, I also worked for H&R Block on the side and got hooked on taxes there. Q.
Did you have a mentor early in your career? Do you mentor others? A.
In my tax practice I never had a mentor, but in my position as president of the Kansas NATP Chapter, my mentor has been Vern Krehbiel. I now mentor others on the Board. Q.
Are you involved in other tax-related activities? A.
I regularly provide volunteer tax preparation for mentally disabled individuals. Q.
What brought you to NATP and what keeps you as a member? A.
In 1993 I decided to start really growing my practice. It was at that time that I realized the importance of staying on top of the new laws. NATP was my choice for education then and still is today. Q.
What types of NATP activities have you participated in? A.
During 2004, I wrote an article for the TAXPRO Quarterly Journal and served on the National Board of Director's nominations committee. I have been a member of the Chapter Advisory Council (CAC) since it's inception in Las Vegas in 2002.I have served as the treasurer of the CAC and am currently the chairperson, having been elected at National Conference in San Francisco. I have been a Kansas Chapter Board member since 1999, serving as secretary, vice president, and currently as the president. Q.
Why do you recommend NATP to others? What member benefits do you find most beneficial? A.
When I joined NATP, I realized I had a common bond with all NATP members. I was no longer alone in my practice; instead I had a whole research department behind me, as well as a group of people who shared my experiences. The camaraderie we have developed is both fun and valuable to me. Education and the research department are the most beneficial to me. Q.
What are the biggest challenges facing tax preparers today and is there anything you can see that NATP could do to better prepare them? A.
The biggest challenge facing tax professionals has two related aspects; being informed of and adapting to tax law changes as fast as possible. NATP does an excellent job in keeping the membership up to the minute with the weekly e-mail blast. Q.
Can you give a little background on your family, spouse, children, community involvement, hobbies, favorite activities, etc.? A.
My spouse is Doug Giesler who is a biology and chemistry teacher; together we have four children, Lee (19), Lauren (16), Jordan (14), and Parker (8). Doug and I celebrated our 23rd wedding anniversary in September 2004. We have no grandchildren. I graduated in 1980 from WilliamWoodsCollege in Fulton, MO with a BS in psychology and minors in both business and chemistry. My volunteer actives include the Boy Scouts as an Assistant Scout Master, the Cub Scouts as Pack treasurer, and assisting therapists at the LeeAnn Brittan Infant Development Center at Shawnee Mission Hospital. I help to facilitate therapy to children 0-3 years of age who live with disabilities. My favorite activities are fishing with my husband, family vacations, attending my children's activities, knitting, and just being with friends. Q.
What are your goals for the future personally and for your career? A.
My goals for the future are to grow my practice, open an office away from my home, and hire preparers to work for me. I currently operate out of my home and by city ordinance am not allowed any employees. A personal goal of mine is to be a guest on Oprah. I'll let you know when that happens! Q.
What kinds of things are important to you in life? A.
I would say the most important things to me are my family and friends. Q.
Did you ever have a "defining moment," an embarrassing moment, or another memorable experience related to your career as a tax preparer? A.
When I was elected president of the Kansas Chapter of NATP, I had a National Board members' wife approach me and tell me her husband had every confidence in the world in me and my abilities to lead the KS Chapter. That was my proudest moment and I gained great confidence in my leadership abilities at that time. Congratulations Mary on being this month's Member of the Month!
November Member of the Month – Darrel D. Shinn, EA, RFC, CTP, RR
Darrel was nominated by Teresa (Jan) Horton. Q.
How many years have you been preparing taxes? A.
I have prepared taxes for 45 years, beginning in 1959. Q.
What is your business name, where is it located? Do you own it? A.
SSB Tax Professionals, Inc., (Changed from Serving Small Business, Inc. in 2002). Located in Arlington, VA and Culpeper, VA, and is jointly owned with my son, Donn Shinn. Q.
Type and number of returns filed. A.
250 per year, including Individual, Partnership, Corporation, Estate, Trusts, and Payroll. Q.
Were you in another line of business before doing taxes? A.
Yes, I was a pilot and plans officer in the United States Air Force for 21 years. I have over 10,000 flying hours. Before I retired in 1982, I was selected for the rank of colonel. I had prepared taxes part-time from 1959 to 1983. In 1983, I bought a tax/accounting company and began full-time tax preparation. In 1996, my son Donn, joined me in business. Q.
Did you have a mentor early in your career? Do you mentor others? A.
Yes, my college professor, Mr. Jackson, at Ball State University in Indiana, was my mentor. I have been a mentor to a University of Pennsylvania student and have sat with the VA Chapter NATP Board of Directors for past 12 years as advisor. Over the years, I have had several young people work in our office. Q.
Are you involved in other tax-related activities? A.
I teach every year (14 years) at the Virginia NATP's annual conference. I have served as director, vice president, and president of the VA Chapter of NATP, and am presently a director and treasurer of the Chapter. I completed nine years on the National Board of Directors with NATP on 12/31/03 and was national secretary for four years. I chaired or served on every NATP committee during the nine years. I volunteer with IRS (was on Special Enrollment Exam Committee for past four years), where I helped write the Special Enrollment exam (SEE) for Enrolled Agents. Q.
What brought you to NATP and what keeps you as a member? A.
I joined NATP in 1986 and attended the San Francisco Conference in 1987. I stay with NATP because of their education, research, networking, and working with IRS. I credit NATP with a major part of helping me pass the Enrolled Agent's Exam in 1987, since the San Francisco Conference covered the tax law of 1986 changes in detail. Q.
What types of NATP activities have you participated in? A.
I have written several articles for the TAXPRO Quarterly Journal. From 1994 to 2003, I served as a national director. I also served four years as national secretary. I have chaired the Membership, Nominations, and Professional Standards Committees, and worked on the Finance Committee for three years. I chaired the Bylaws, Tax Professional of the Year and Tax Professional of the Month, and Disaster Relief workgroups. Q.
Why do you recommend NATP to others? What member benefits do you find most beneficial? A.
Education and research for both, plus networking. I average three to four new members each year. With Member Get a Member, that means free dues! Q.
What are the biggest challenges facing tax preparers today and is there anything you can see that NATP could do to better prepare them? A.
All tax preparers, whether licensed or not, need to keep current with the new tax laws. I believe each preparer should be registered and should diversify their practices to meet new challenges. NATP can help by providing top-of-the-line education, research, and a voice in Washington. Q.
Can you give a little background on your family, spouse, children, community involvement, hobbies, favorite activities, etc.? A.
I have been married to Sue for 28 years. I have two sons, Donn, my tax partner, and Dwaine (deceased), and one daughter, Jennifer, a senior at Michigan State University. In addition, I have three grandchildren, three step-grandchildren, and one great grandson. I am very involved with the Kiwanis Club of Arlington as past president and director. I am also director and treasurer of the VA Chapter of NATP. I am secretary of our local homeowners association and a member of the Culpeper Chamber of Commerce. Reading, hiking, horseback riding, weekly dates with my wife, advising young people to take control of their finances and save for the future are my favorite activities. Q.
What are your goals for the future personally and for your career? A.
I plan to continue teaching, attend 90-120 hours of education per year, continue financial planning for clients, and offering mutual funds and annuities. I will continue to volunteer for NATP, the IRS, and the Kiwanis Club of Arlington, VA. Q.
What kinds of things are important to you in life? A.
Family, helping clients, assisting young people get their businesses started and becoming successful, and enjoying the networking with NATP members. Q.
Did you ever have a "defining moment," an embarrassing moment, or another memorable experience related to your career as a tax preparer? A.
I had a stroke one week after starting a very large IRS audit for three multi-million dollar Corporations/LLCs. I have learned that IRS revenue agents do have a heart when the agent I was working with delayed the audit for a few months to allow me to get back to work slowly. This made me look hard at all the things I had on my plate. Congratulations Darrel on being this month's Member of the Month!
October Member of the Month – Gwendellyn M. Radloff, EA
A member of the NATP New Jersey Chapter nominated Gwendellyn (Gwen) for Member of the Month. Nomination comments: Some ways in which Gwen has proven herself as a team player and a true professional include: - Serving as hostess/sign-in for all Chapter seminars. She also assists in coordinating vendors, compiling and collecting materials, and general pitching in and helping.
- President of Starfish, a volunteer organization that drives citizens for medical appointments, shopping, etc.
- Treasurer of Crop Walk, handling over $14,000 in contributions for feeding the hungry.
- Member of the Interfaith Council of Rutherford, New Jersey.
- Representative on Bridge-Builders committee for 55 Kip Center, an organization for homebound senior citizens.
- Instructor and advocate for students at American School of Business for taxes, annuity, and senior issues.
- Aids seniors with tax preparation, NJ real estate credits, and filling out pharmacy forms for the aged and disabled.
- As a U.S. Coast Guard Auxiliary volunteer crewman, patrols the Hudson River to assure that watercraft operate safely.
- Founding member of the Department of Homeland Security under Secretary, Tom Ridge, in Washington D.C.
Q.
How many years have you been preparing taxes? A.
Since September 1982. Q.
What is your business name, where is it located? Are you the owner? A.
I am a sole proprietor in Rutherford, New Jersey. I use my own name for the business and I have no additional employees. Q.
Type and number of returns filed. A.
Expertise in small self-employed, Schedule C, partnership, and s-corp. business owners. Clients are varied including landscapers, musicians, writers, poets, and plumbers. Approximately 200 returns. Q.
Were you in another line of business before doing taxes? A.
I am an independent financial consultant with three areas of expertise: An enrolled agent for the IRS, a registered representative for the SEC, and an insurance agent for the state of New Jersey. My insurance license allows me to offer not only mutual funds, but also annuities. My corporation exposure has varied from Chase Manhattan Global Credit Training, through the Sperry and Hutchinson Company's Financial Analyst – Manager of Financial Planning – Manager of Investment Analysis, and administration to Drake American Corporation's Cash Manager. I attended Boston University for my BSBA and Northwestern University Graduate School of Management for my MBA. Q.
Did you have a mentor early in your career? Do you mentor others? A.
My peer at H&R Block (1982-1984) was encouraging and told me that I was very qualified to go out on my own and enter the securities field. I mentor others through teaching and volunteering. Q.
Are you involved in other tax-related activities? A.
I teach at the American School of Business: life/health insurance; accounting for Chartered Property Casualty Underwriters; Series 6 & 63 to become a registered representative for the NASD/SEC; and future Series #7 teacher. Many more activities are listed above. Through these various organizations, I have spread my tax knowledge and assisted many in preparing their NJ homestead rebates and medical forms. Q.
What brought you to NATP and what keeps you as a member? A.
I joined NATP on my own, realizing that I need a peer network since I am a "one woman business." Our current Chapter Board President asked me to be on the Board years ago and I accepted. I enjoy the camaraderie of the Board members and look for ways to educate all members. Q.
What types of NATP activities have you participated in? A.
I am a Chapter Board member, past secretary, but my usual position has been host for the two-times-a-year seminars. I have been on the nominations committee, membership committee, and currently am seminar chairperson. Q.
Why do you recommend NATP to others? What member benefits do you find most beneficial? A.
NATP is an excellent organization to support your tax business by meeting your peers who are knowledgeable in many varied aspects of tax planning and preparation. It is the "flow of information" that is most important in today's world – NOT the volume – but the exact answer. Q.
What are the biggest challenges facing tax preparers today and is there anything you can see that NATP could do to better prepare them? A.
The Internet and e-filing of tax returns are the biggest challenges. We as preparers know the intricacies of tax preparation, but the IRS and the Internet gurus tout how easy it is to prepare taxes. NATP can continue to provide current/timely instruction to members and find ways to get most members to participate in continuing education. Q.
Can you give a little background on your family, spouse, children, community involvement, hobbies, favorite activities, etc.? A.
My family consists of my mother in Illinois, one cat, and a fabulous boyfriend, Lambert. My responsibilities include a house in Rutherford, New Jersey with a pool, and a lot in the Poconos. Currently I like sailing with the Coast Guard Auxiliary, gardening, and renovating my house (I do much of the work myself). Q.
What are your goals for the future personally and for your career? A.
I plan to continue on my career path to provide full service financial advice to my clients. I am an EA, registered representative (NASD), insurance agent (life/health/long-term care/annuities), notary, certified annuity advisor, mortgage solicitor, sell stocks and bonds, and take law classes. I plan to get licensed for Series 7 soon. Q.
What kinds of things are important to you in life? A.
Most important to me is helping others through affiliations (Starfish, USCGAUX, church, etc.). Through them, I most enjoy sharing my knowledge, helping others be safe, and learning from them. As a Virgo, I like meticulous things, and most important of all is honesty. I find that I like being involved and being part of a group. I feel very honored to be a member of Homeland Security under Mr. Ridge. Belonging is what America is to me; we need to cherish every minute, live the fullest, never give up, and have faith in God. NATP is an integral part of my life and has been for many years. Q.
Did you ever have a "defining moment," an embarrassing moment, or another memorable experience related to your career as a tax preparer? A.
My meticulousness came through when I had a client's audit and all seemed to go badly – until I pulled out a newspaper flyer in which my client advertised and then the auditor said, "You surely keep everything." I proved the case and my client was dismissed. At National Conference in 1998, I was the only one who raised my hand that I still prepared tax returns by hand. BUT I was proud that I knew HOW to fill in the tax forms and knew what was on the form and where. Congratulations Gwen on being this month's Member of the Month!
Meet NATP's Member of the Month, Rob Casey, EA
September 2004 Rob's nominator was I. A. (Allen) Watts of Stockbridge, Georgia. A nomination comment from Allen: In nominating Rob, Allen Watts, to whom Rob sold his practice in November 2003, stated, "Rob went above and beyond any written agreement to provide continued service to existing clients, and continued to work for new clients with great enthusiasm. Rob continually pointed to the value of NATP and enrolled me as a new member." Q. How many years have you been preparing taxes? A. I started doing taxes for the public in 1992 in Boston with TAXMAN. Moved to Atlanta and restarted with Block in 1994. Started own business in 1997, took EA exam in 1998 and enrolled in that cycle. Q. What is your business name, where is it located? Do you own it? A. The business name is The Tax Pros. It's located in Stockbridge, GA (suburb of Atlanta). I was a partner until the sale in November 2003. Q. Type and number of returns filed. A. About 700 individual and 200 business. Q. Were you in another line of business before doing taxes? A. I was an U.S. Army officer from 1967 thru 1990, and retired as a Lieutenant Colonel on July 31, 1990. Three days later, Sadam invaded Kuwait. I served in Texas, North Carolina, Hawaii, Indiana, Kansas, Virginia, and Massachusetts in the U.S. My overseas service included Vietnam (25th Infantry Division), Thailand (Special Forces Thailand), and Germany (Headquarters 7th Corps and 569th Personnel Service Company). Q. Did you have a mentor early in your career? Do you mentor others? A. My Block instructor and office manager eventually became my partner when The Tax Pros was started. She became an enrolled agent in 1996 and pushed me to take the exam in 1998. Several of my past tax course students still contact me for mentoring and others have found me on the NATP volunteers list. Q. Are you involved in other tax-related activities? A. I have taught a basic tax preparation course for Block. I also teach in The Tax Pros office and at the local college's continuing education department. Q. What brought you to NATP and what keeps you as a member? A. The legal name of the business we originally started was Professional Tax Services. We said that if we claimed to be professional, then we ought to belong to professional societies and associations. Sandra, as an EA, was already a member of NAEA so I joined NATP. In 2000, I was elected to NATP's Georgia Chapter Board of Directors. Two things keep me involved with NATP and either would be worth the price of admission alone. First, clearly NATP education is the best value for the money in the industry. I'm referring specifically to the Famous 1040 and 1040 EXTRA® but the rest of it is of the same caliber. Second is what I learn every year from other NATP members. Of course that requires being active, serving, and attending events at state level and National Conference. Q. What types of NATP activities have you participated in? A. I have attended National Conference since being elected to NATP's Georgia Board of Directors. In 2002, I was vice president of Georgia and attended the presidents' meeting where the first Chapter Advisory Council (CAC) meeting took place. My loud mouth got me in trouble again that day and I was elected as one of the original members of CAC for a one-year term. In 2003, I was subsequently reelected to a two-year term. I have chaired a national workgroup, am a state volunteer, and am on the mentor volunteer list as well. In addition, I am still newsletter editor for Georgia. Q. Why do you recommend NATP to others? What member benefits do you find most beneficial? A. In addition to the above, clearly the education and the magazine are worth the price of membership. I like the weekly and monthly e-mails that keep me right up to speed on what's going on in the industry. If the problems and situations they mention haven't crossed my desk yet it's a good bet they will in the near future. And I must be a slow learner. I understand the requirement is for 30 hours of CPE annually, but it takes about 70 for me. NATP courses, between national and state conferences and the 1040 and 1040 EXTRA®, account for over 50 of that. Q. What are the biggest challenges facing tax preparers today and is there anything you can see that NATP could do to better prepare them? A. I think national registration is coming and sooner rather than later. It will be a mixed blessing. I believe there are certainly preparers in the industry who aren't professional in their standards or actions and ought to be educated and brought up to standard, or removed from the industry. On the other hand, I fear the impact of cookie cutter bureaucracy imposing standards and requirements that make no sense – like the proposed annual testing. NATP can speak to Washington for the community and advise us when we need to speak for ourselves. Q. What are your goals for the future personally and for your career? A. I have sold my business and will work at least through June 2005 with the purchaser; a super guy and an EA with a wealth of knowledge and super high standards. But even now already, I have more time available to serve in NATP and my Alumni Association and enjoy my grand baby. I'm constitutionally incapable of retiring so I imagine I'll also remain associated with this business in one capacity or another. Q. What kinds of things are important to you in life? A. My family is the most important thing to me. Back when I was just starting to notice that girls were different from boys and that might not be all bad, I decided that Linda Lessenberry was just about exactly what a girl ought to be. I was a klutzy enough kid that I didn't act on that right away but now we've been married for over 40 years. We have two daughters; Susan Schafer who lives in Arkansas and is the mother of Katherine Elizabeth (Katie), our only granddaughter; and Marjorie Casey who lives in Australia. Doing important work and doing it well is also important to me. The "Service to Nation" aspect of being a career military officer will never leave me. Now in the tax industry there's also an important aspect of "Service to Others" that I enjoy. Some people we work for come to us completely exhausted, demoralized, and scared to death from fighting a system they don't understand. When we can help them find their way out of the wilderness and back into the sunshine of tax compliant citizenship, there's a tremendous reward for the nation and our clients and maybe a little left over for us. Q. What are your favorite activities/hobbies? A. I'm an active alumnus of the University of Arkansas and a football fanatic. If the Razorbacks are playing east of Mississippi, I'm going to be there screaming and shouting and wearing obnoxious fan apparel. I have a Mustang convertible and a Porsche 944. Their license plates are RZRBAC and RZRBAK. Oh and naturally, the cars are red and white. Q. Did you ever have a "defining moment," an embarrassing moment, or another memorable experience related to your career as a tax preparer? A. When I decided to get into this industry I was sure I knew all I needed to know. My own return was complex with rental properties and stock transactions and I did returns for friends and family, so I had it all down cold. Nevertheless, taking a course was the easiest way to get into the industry so I did. I was amazed at how much I learned and recovered way more than the cost of the course via amendments I filed for open years. When I moved to Atlanta I knew I didn't need more instruction, after all I had done taxes for the public for two seasons and only been away from it for one year. But again, taking the course was the path of least resistance so I did – and again I was amazed at how much I learned. Since then I have taken or taught tax courses every year. As much as there is, and as fast as it changes, none of us knows it all. Congratulations Rob on being this month's Member of the Month!
August Member of the Month – Marilyn Meredith, EAMarilyn was nominated by Gayle Compton of the NATP Michigan Chapter. A nomination comment from Gayle: Marilyn has been my mentor because of her knowledge and her kindness. She can always be counted on to assist a person with any concerns. Q.
How many years preparing taxes? A.
38 years. Q.
Where is your business located? Do you own it? A.
Have three offices – PortHuron, St. Clair, and Marine City,Michigan. Yes, they own me and I own them. I have three business names: Meredith Tax Service, Meredith Financial Research, Much & More Income Tax Workshops. Q.
Type and number of returns filed. A.
We do all types of returns – 1040, 1040NR, 1120, 1120s, 1041, 990, 709,706, Canadian, Michigan, and out of state. Q.
Were you in another line of business before doing taxes? A.
I was a substitute teacher and I was a time study analyst for a short time. Q.
Did or do you have a mentor early in your career? Do you mentor others? A.
My husband, Ralph, and I opened the first company office for H&R Block in Michigan. We were it. We worked together and made it somehow! Yes, I help mentor others. I have done that for NATP. As a "Blockie" I was a satellite director for 21 offices, many of them new. As a manager there and an owner now, I am mentoring employees and many others. Through teaching I am mentoring others. Q.
Do you do other tax-related activities? A.
I teach my own seminars – Much & More Income Tax Workshops. I also I teach for Michigan Chapter NATP, for National NATP, for other Chapters of NATP, and for other organizations. My volunteer work in taxes is for National and for the Michigan Chapter. Q.
What brought you to NATP and what keeps you as a member? A.
I knew Block was not the only answer to taxes, so I joined many years ago to get another view of taxes from outside Block and for the forms, research, etc. I am a believer in the organization and its resources and what it has to offer to us struggling ones who keep on practicing to become the professionals NATP is trying to make us. Q.
What types of NATP activities have you participated in? A.
I have written articles, served on committees, volunteered at Conference, taught at Conference, been on the mentor program, been a member of IRPAC and SEEAC, and been a Board member of Michigan Chapter for years. I have held every office of the Michigan Chapter except Treasurer (but did fill-in as that). I was the first instructor hired by Michigan Chapter and am still teaching for them. I have participated in just about every function except working at trade shows (always too far away) and being on National Board. Q.
Why do you recommend NATP to others? What member benefits do you find most beneficial? A.
I have always recommended NATP to others – even won the prize for doing so a couple times! The member benefits are the tax articles weekly, monthly, quarterly, and the education as well as research and a quality organization to be associated with. Q.
What are the biggest challenges facing tax preparers today and is there anything you can see that NATP could do to better prepare them? A.
I think newer preparers are too dependent on the computer and do not know the way items affect a taxpayer. Therefore, we cannot do as good a job advising them overall. NATP just needs to keep discussing the "things your computer cannot do without you asking/telling it to." We need to keep the interactive classroom so that we can all learns from others in class. Q.
What are your goals for the future personally and for your career? A.
Keep active and up-to-date for many years to come and to help others see "the rest of the story." Q.
What kinds of things are important to you in life? A.
God, family, friends, clients, employees, fun. Travel, caring for others as Christ would have me Q.
What are your favorite activities/hobbies? A.
Traveling, reading, and game playing for fun. Q.
Did you ever have a "defining moment," an embarrassing moment, or another memorable experience related to your career as a tax preparer? A.
My first all computerized return I did was for a college professor and his art teacher wife who "were into computers." I lost the whole return and had to have them come back in and give me much of the information again. They are still my clients today!! A call from our City Income Tax Office asking me what I was up to now! It seems one of my clients was getting senile and, instead of sending in her tax return with the check attached, she cut out the strip from our cover letter telling her the balance due and sent that little strip in with the check! I immediately went to her house and found the returns right there on the table and had her sign and send in the complete return. This was an early version of the paperwork reduction act!! How many more stories can I tell??? I am sure others who work with me or are on the Michigan Board have some stories to relate! (Editors note: To hear the stories, ask those Michigan Board members!) Congratulations Marilyn on being this month's Member of the Month!
Meet NATP's Member of the Month, Barb SteponkusJuly 2004 "Barb Steponkus is knowledgeable, congenial, provides leadership, and is a wonderful person besides!" exclaims her nominator, Pat Bruss. What a great way to describe NATP's first Member of the Month! The two are both members of NATP's Wisconsin Chapter. In her Chapter, Barb, who resides in Edgerton, Wisconsin, has coordinated the Chapter newsletter since 1999. She's been a member for six year, was in charge of vendors for four, and was President two years. Just as her mentor, Jackie Stark, did for her, Barb mentors others by being a state volunteer for NATP and NAEA, as well as assisting others with tax and accounting software decisions. Barb is married to Ron Steponkus and they have four children and two grandchildren. Barb says being a mom is her main job. Her tax business, Steponkus Tax Service, is secondary to motherhood, and began in 1982. She has since expanded twice – in 1995 and in 2001 – and serves just over 2,300 clients, consisting primarily of individuals, but also a mix of partnerships, corporations, fiduciary, many small businesses, farms, and rentals. The tax business is open full-time during tax season, employing 22 mostly part-time employees, and is open part-time during the nontax season. Preparing taxes since 1977 and an EA since 1981, Barb's background is in chemistry and math with BA's from Viterbo College in LaCrosse, Wisconsin. In the past she worked for H&R Block and taught for them as well. She continues to teach classes each fall to her own employees. Barb was a member of SEEAC for two years and remembers the first time she attended a meeting and was introduced to the other members. "I wondered what a tax professional from a small town in Wisconsin was doing with this group, but soon realized that some of them didn't really know about individual tax returns and it was important to be there." Barb has been an NATP member almost since NATP began. She joined because she felt it was important to support organizations that were involved with tax issues. The fact that NATP was in Wisconsin also appealed to her. Through the years Barb has steadfastly maintained that NATP offers her quality education and a great value for the membership dues. She cites education, TAXPRO publications (weekly, monthly, quarterly, and special notices), tax aids, the mileage book, rental and business forms as items she relies on most to keep her up on taxes. But the very best part of her NATP experience has been the friends she has made over the years. Active in her church and her community, Barb is a lector and lay distributor at church. She is involved in fundraising and the newsletter for her area Chamber, assists with the phonathon for public TV, and is the treasurer of the Sterling North Society (named for the author of Rascal, who grew up in Edgerton). Barb Steponkus is guided by her service to others through her church and honesty in her interactions with others. Her professional goals are to continue offering quality service and to remember that we don't just fill out tax returns, but provide planning services for clients. | 
