What an exciting and busy year it has been for us at Opsahl Dawson! The dust has settled in our new building in Vancouver and we are comfortably ensconced in our beautiful new space.  

As with the whole country, the COVID-19 situation threw us for a loop, hitting us right in the middle of our busy tax season. Despite navigating through unprecedented times and closing our office to the public in mid-March, our staff members have continued working safely and efficiently (many remotely) to meet client deadlines and deliverables using the latest tools and technology. 

Our new office at 7701 NE Greenwood Drive, Suite 200

To give you a virtual tour of our new space, we created a short, fun video that includes all our staff — check it out below!

In addition to our Vancouver office address change, we also promoted several employees from within our ranks and added some new key members to our team. Those promotions and new hires were recently featured in the Vancouver Business Journal’s Movers & Shakers section. Join us in congratulating these outstanding individuals for their achievements!

To meet with one (or more) of these professionals or any of our other talented and experienced team members, contact us online or call (360) 737-8007.

Debbie Ralston was promoted to Senior Manager. Debbie is an Enrolled Agent who joined the firm in 1995. She is based in the firm’s Longview location where she manages the individual tax group for the office. Debbie has more than 20 years of experience in individual tax and accounting work and is especially skilled in resolving IRS issues and estate planning.

Ursula Perkins, CPA, Opsahl Dawson

Ursula Perkins was promoted to Senior Manager. Ursula is a CPA who joined Opsahl Dawson in 2010. She manages the individual tax group in the firm’s Vancouver office and specializes in individual, trust and estate tax returns. Ursula earned her degree in business administration from Washington State University Vancouver, majoring in accounting and finance. She remains actively involved with her alma mater where she participates in the Carson Coaching Program. Ursula also serves on the Foundation for Vancouver Public Schools Advisory Council and the Certified Public Accountants Political Action Committee. Prior to becoming a CPA, Ursula had a career in the banking industry.

Kelsey Elwess was promoted to Senior Manager. Kelsey is a CPA and has been with Opsahl Dawson since 2012. She is one of the leaders in the firm’s entity tax group where she focuses on real estate and partnership taxation. Kelsey has been in the accounting industry for over 10 years. Kelsey has a Bachelor of Science degree in technical management with an emphasis in accounting from DeVry University, and she also holds a master’s degree in accounting and finance from Keller Graduate School of Management. Active in the Clark County community, Kelsey serves on the Board of the YMCA and is also a member of the Accomplished and Under 40 Class of 2019.

Sam Christensen was promoted to Senior Manager. Sam is a CPA who was born and raised in Utah and joined Opsahl Dawson after relocating to Vancouver in 2016. Sam is a graduate of Utah State University with bachelor’s degrees in accounting and economics, as well as a master’s degree in accounting. At Opsahl Dawson, Sam is one of the leaders in the firm’s entity tax group with an emphasis in business tax planning and consulting. 

Sheri Karpa was promoted to Senior Manager. Sheri is an Enrolled Agent who joined the firm in 2018. Sheri holds a bachelor’s degree from Portland State University and has over 20 years of experience and specializes in individual, business, trust and estate tax returns. 

Adam Rasmussen was promoted to Manager. Adam is a CPA who joined Opsahl Dawson in 2015. Rasmussen is a graduate of Central Washington University with a bachelor’s degree in accounting and finance. At Opsahl Dawson, Adam is a manager in the firm’s entity tax group with an emphasis in business tax planning and consulting.

Megan Hays was promoted to Manager. Megan is a CPA and has been with Opsahl Dawson since 2017. She is a manager in the firm’s individual tax group and specializes in individual, trust and estate tax returns, as well as tax planning and projections. Additionally, Megan serves on the board of the Alumni Association for La Salle Catholic College Preparatory.  Megan earned her bachelor’s degree in accounting with cum laude honors from George Fox University.

Justin Jenks was promoted to Senior. Justin is a CPA who joined Opsahl Dawson in 2017. Justin was raised in Vancouver and earned his bachelor’s degree in business administration from Washington State University Vancouver, majoring in accounting, and graduating magna cum laude. He remains actively involved with his alma mater where he participates in the Carson Coaching Program as a Student Mentor. At Opsahl Dawson, Justin works in the firm’s entity group reviewing corporate tax returns and performing tax planning with clients. Additionally, Justin works in the firm’s financial statements services group. Justin is also actively involved in the Clark County community and is a board member of the Vancouver Symphony. 

Andrew Nelson was promoted to Senior. Andrew is a CPA who joined Opsahl Dawson in 2018. Andrew holds a bachelor’s degree from Westmont College as well as a master’s degree in business administration from Keller Graduate School of Management of DeVry University. Andrew works in Opsahl Dawson’s entity group where he performs financial analysis, and reviews corporate tax returns and financial statements for an array of clients. 

Echo Rosky was promoted to Senior. Echo has spent her whole life in Vancouver, where she was born and raised. She has been with Opsahl Dawson since 2017 when the CPA firm she was working for, Thompson & Associates, merged with Opsahl Dawson. Echo enjoys being part of the Opsahl Dawson team and coming from a small firm it has been a real pleasure for her to be working with so many talented people who are always willing to help at a moment’s notice.  Echo specializes in individual, trust and estate tax returns in the firm’s individual tax group.

Connie Dixon was promoted to Senior. Connie is a QuickBooks Pro-Advisor and has been working in the accounting field since 2005. She earned her bachelor’s degree in accounting from Washington State University Vancouver. Connie joined Opsahl Dawson in 2015 and specializes in bookkeeping and WA State taxation.  She also has experience working with clients on business and individual taxes.  Outside of work, Connie is involved in her children’s school classrooms and volunteers with the PTA.

Kendra Widger was promoted to Senior. Kendra was raised near Olympia and moved to Vancouver to earn her bachelor’s degree in business administration from Washington State University Vancouver, where she majored in accounting. Kendra joined Opsahl Dawson in 2015 and works in the firm’s individual tax group where she specializes in individual, trust, estate and not-for-profit tax returns.

Marianne Knight is an experienced CPA and tax attorney who joins Opsahl Dawson in the role of Senior Manager with more than 30 years of accounting, tax and law experience. Marianne is based in Fort Lauderdale, Florida where she works remotely for the firm. Marianne earned her Bachelor of Science degree in accounting with cum laude honors from the University of Florida and her law degree from the University of Miami School of Law, with a concentration in tax. Marianne is skilled in tax consulting for individuals and entities, international tax, multi-state business entities, tax research and accounting.

Mindi Eleazer is a CPA who grew up in Clark County.  After interning with the firm in 2012 she is excited to join the firm again as a Manager in the financial statement services group. Mindi has previous experience with Portland firms performing audits, reviews and compilations. Mindi is a graduate of Washington State University Vancouver where she earned her bachelor’s degree and a master’s degree in accounting.

Kelly Raby is an Enrolled Agent who grew up in the vacation destination of Whitefish, Montana and joins the firm as a Senior. Kelly studied accounting at Tarrant College in Fort Worth, Texas, earned her Enrolled Agent credential in 2015 and expects to graduate from William Howard Taft University in the fall of 2020 with a Master of Science degree in Taxation. Kelly has over 11 years of tax knowledge and experience and works in the firm’s individual tax group where she specializes in individual, small business, trust, estate and not-for-profit tax returns.

Justin Schauer is a CPA who was raised in the greater Vancouver area and joins the firm as a Senior. He earned his bachelor’s degree in business administration from Washington State University Vancouver, with a double major in accounting and finance. Justin works in the firm’s entity group preparing financial statements as well as corporate tax returns.

Jessica Hemard is an experienced CPA who joins Opsahl Dawson in the role of Manager. Jessica is based in Auburn, Alabama where she works remotely for the firm. Jessica is a graduate of the University of Georgia where she earned her bachelor’s and master’s degrees in accounting and taxation, respectively. She earned her CPA license in 2009 while working with a regional Georgia CPA firm where she gained financial statement auditing and tax experience. Most recently, Jessica worked as a tax manager for five years at a local Alabama public accounting firm. At Opsahl Dawson, Jessica manages individual and business tax return preparation as well as provides tax consulting.

Marcus Lowe

Marcus Lowe hails from Eastern Washington and joins Opsahl Dawson as a Senior. Marcus earned his Bachelor of Science degree in accounting from Utah Valley University and his master’s degree in accounting from the University of Oregon. Prior to joining Opsahl Dawson, Marcus worked in both the public and private accounting industries where he obtained a wide variety of experience. Marcus is excited to step back into public accounting where he can help multiple clients. Marcus works in Opsahl Dawson’s entity group with an emphasis in business tax planning and consulting.

Andrew Dorsey grew up in Vancouver and joins Opsahl Dawson as an Associate. Andrew has passed the CPA exam and earned his degree in business administration from Portland State University, majoring in accounting, and graduating cum laude. Andrew specializes in individual, trust and estate tax returns in Opsahl Dawson’s individual tax group.

Christel Dinkler is an experienced CPA who joins the firm as a Manager. Over her long career in public accounting Christel’s primary emphasis has been in business and individual taxation. She graduated from California State University, Long Beach where she earned her Bachelor of Science in Accounting.  At Opsahl Dawson, Christel manages individual and business tax return preparation as well as provides tax consulting.

Karen deRenne is an experienced CPA who joins Opsahl Dawson as the firm’s Controller with over 30 years of accounting, auditing and tax experience. Karen grew up in Portland and earned her bachelor’s degree in business administration from Gonzaga University. Over her lengthy career Karen has worked for two Big 4 public accounting firms as well as several companies in the private and non-profit sectors. At Opsahl Dawson Karen is responsible for overseeing the firm’s accounts payable and accounting activities, as well as working on projects with the shareholders.

Dana Pound

Dana Pound joins Opsahl Dawson as an Administrative Assistant at the firm’s Vancouver office. She resides at the front desk, and her friendly and welcoming face is one of the first points of contact for clients and firm members alike. Dana is a Vancouver native where she attended Clark College and raised her family. Dana has extensive administrative experience in the legal, healthcare and logistics industries and is now adding the accounting industry to her repertoire.

Dennis Henderson joins Opsahl Dawson as an Associate. Dennis was born and raised in the Pacific Northwest. Dennis received his bachelor’s degree in accounting from Weber State University in Ogden, Utah, graduating with cum laude honors.  Prior to joining Opsahl Dawson’s team, Dennis gained accounting and tax experience working with small businesses. At Opsahl Dawson, Dennis works in the firm’s entity group where he prepares corporate tax returns.

John Polen joins Opsahl Dawson as an Associate after interning with the firm this past tax season. The Vancouver native is a 2020 graduate of Washington State University Vancouver, where he majored in accounting. John is very excited to begin his professional career at Opsahl Dawson and is currently working towards completing the CPA exam. At Opsahl Dawson, John works in the firm’s entity group where he prepares corporate and individual tax returns.