Meet the team

Steve graduated in 1990 from the University of Oregon, College of Business Administration with a Bachelor of Science degree.  In 1993, shortly after earning his CPA and Oregon Municipal Auditors license, he founded the accounting firm in hopes of fulfilling his strong desire to provide quality, affordable accounting services to the local community.  He has managed the practice since then, now employing a full, and growing team of accounting and financial professional serving more than 1000 clients each year. Among his clients served are numerous cities, school Districts, and other special Districts in Oregon for whom the firm provides audit and advisory services. 

Steve delivers significant governmental expertise. He has dedicated the last 28 years planning and performing audits for small and mid-sized governments, accumulating more than 20,000 hours of dedicated audit and advisory services during his career.  His understanding and appreciation of governmental functions have been further enhanced through serving as a Roseburg City Councilor for five years and through participating on numerous government and non-profit Boards and Committees. 

In addition to spending more than 80 hours each year in continuing education classes dedicated to honing his municipal audit skills, knowledge and experience, Steve also spends hundreds of hours each year with his staff in professional development training sessions. Furthermore, a significant amount of time throughout each year is spent with staff and clients researching and discussing GASB standards, analyzing complex reporting matters, and developing tools for government management and audit. Steve takes great pride in translating and summarizing complex information for clients, helping others appreciate and understand what is most often confusing and overwhelming.

Ash is a Certified Public Accountant (CPA) licensed in Texas and Oregon through successful license reciprocity. She holds a master’s degree in accounting from the University of Texas at San Antonio and brings over 12 years of experience as a corporate accountant and financial analyst, with specialized expertise in municipal auditing and government accounting.

Ash has experience in auditing municipalities and governmental entities, including evaluating internal controls, reviewing fund accounting systems, ensuring compliance with GASB (Governmental Accounting Standards Board) standards. She has spent over 80 hours in continuing education courses focused specifically on municipal audit practices, expanding her technical knowledge and practical skills in governmental accounting. Her commitment to professional growth also extends to her teams. She leads staff development through annual training sessions, investing time each year in mentoring and coaching others in the profession.

In her current role, Ash manages a team of accounting professionals, overseeing daily operations to ensure that accounting and auditing assignments are completed with accuracy and efficiency. These assignments include financial statement audits, preparation of financial statements, reconciliation of general ledgers, audit planning and risk assessment. She reviews work for quality, coordinates timelines, and fosters a collaborative work environment to uphold high standards across all engagements.

Ash is also experienced in preparing individual tax returns and small business/LLC filings, and she has provided accounting guidance and compliance support to international subsidiaries. She is recognized for her analytical mindset, attention to detail, and her ability to build and maintain strong client relationships.

Outside of her professional work, Ash is an active member of the National Disaster Management Team in her community and is always ready to assist when emergencies arise.

Ash is a member of the following professional organizations:

• American Institute of Certified Public Accountants
• Oregon Society of Certified Public Accountants
• Government Finance Officers Association

Jean came to Umpqua Valley Financial with over 30 years of experience in Healthcare Financial Management. In Oregon, she served at Mercy Medical Center—17 years as Controller and an additional 5 years overseeing their Physician Clinics. Prior to relocating to Oregon, Jean held senior-level financial management positions at hospitals in Massachusetts, Maryland, and Ohio, and began her career as an Auditor in Kansas, where she completed the CPA exam.

 

At Umpqua Valley Financial, Jean has played a vital role in supporting clients through financial transitions, preparing Ground Emergency Medical Transportation (GEMT) cost reports, and leveraging her extensive not-for-profit expertise to guide governmental entities in financial and accounting matters. She brings over five years of experience in municipal auditing and Single Audit engagements, including planning, fieldwork, testing, and reporting for entities receiving significant federal funding.

 

Jean is the firm’s resident expert in Single Audit procedures and has deep expertise in assessing compliance with the Uniform Guidance (2 CFR Part 200). Her work includes auditing internal controls over compliance, reviewing Schedule of Expenditures of Federal Awards (SEFA) accuracy, and evaluating adherence to procurement, reporting, and subrecipient monitoring requirements. Jean also performs detailed compliance testing on federal and state grant programs to ensure clients meet audit requirements and avoid potential findings.

 

Jean has provided full-service government management services to North Douglas School District for the past three years and continues to be a trusted resource for public sector clients navigating federal and state grant compliance.

Desiree has been with Umpqua Valley Financial since 2021. In addition to her role on various Audit engagement teams, Desiree serves our clients as a Licensed Tax Preparer and is currently working towards becoming an Enrolled Agent. Currently, Desiree is continuing her education at Southern Oregon University, working towards completing their Bachelor of Science program with an emphasis in accounting. This coursework will allow her to sit for her CPA exam in the near future. Desiree also has valuable experience with a variety of business types including partnerships, S-corps, corporations, non-profits, and other entities which allows her to provide consulting services. With ongoing mentoring, training, education, and licensing, Desiree is highly equipped to handle nearly any situation and is committed to both Umpqua Valley Financial and our clients who can benefit from a long-term relationship.  

Savannah joined UVF in June of 2017 as an Audit and Tax Associate. She was the first smiling face you saw when walking through our doors! Since then, through hard work, she has made her way up the ladder and is now the Communications Manager for over 60 Municipal Audits. Savannah comes to UVF with a strong background in customer service and office management. She brings positivity and life to the office, and UVF loves that! Her free time is spent exploring the great outdoors with her family and friends, going to her children’s sporting events, and so much more!

Ely is a first-generation college graduate from St. Edward’s University, where he earned a degree in Finance with a minor in Economics. He brings a strong foundation in accounting, finance, and administrative operations. Before joining Umpqua Valley Financial, Ely gained hands-on experience in core areas such as bookkeeping, financial reporting, forecasting, budgeting, and project management. With more than eight years of experience working with financial systems and ERP platforms, he is known as a decisive planner and strategic problem-solver.

Since joining Umpqua Valley Financial, Ely has expanded his expertise to include municipal auditing and government accounting. He has worked on various audit areas, contributing his knowledge and skills to support accurate and efficient audit processes

Kassie joined the firm in March of 2021 as a member of our investment team. She is now managing investment operations as well as supporting other business areas as a tax and audit associate. Her background in banking and business management brings a multitude of strengths to the UVF team; of the eight years in banking, she spent the last six managing two different Wells Fargo locations in the Douglas County area. Kassie and her family moved to the Roseburg area seven years ago and has been lucky enough to participate in volunteering locally at Wildlife Safari, Operation Tiny Home, Habitat for Humanity and more. She’s currently working towards completing licensing for tax preparation to better serve our tax and investment clientele. In her free time, her and her family enjoy the outdoors, especially hiking and camping throughout our beautiful state!

Teagan brings a background of customer service, attention to detail, and dedication to getting the job done right. She enjoys engaging with our clients and wants to make sure everyone feels welcome and appreciated. Her ability to always maintain a positive attitude, even in stressful moments, is much appreciated and highly noticed. Having spent many years as a Customer Service Rep and Dispatcher in the Medical Supply Industry, Teagan understand how important even the smallest detail can be.

Chelsea is currently studying Accounting at Portland state University, where she is on track to graduate in 2023 with her Baccalaureate Certificate, as a CPA candidate. She earned her Accounting Certificate at Portland community College, where she was a President’s List Honoree. She also has a B.A. in Production Design. When away from work, she enjoys spending time with her dog, ballet, photography, and gardening.  

Leticia joins our team as an Audit and Tax Associate, bringing a diverse background and strong analytical skills. She graduated summa cum laude with a BBA in Accounting from Texas A&M University–San Antonio, earning a 4.0 GPA and receiving the Outstanding Graduating Student award from the College of Business. Leticia has over two years of municipal accounting and auditing experience, including preparing financial statements in compliance with governmental accounting standards. While at UVF, she worked on municipal audits, developed a solid understanding of GASB requirements, prepared financial statements, and supervised staff throughout the audit process. With a 20-year background as a court reporter and experience as a staff accountant, she offers exceptional attention to detail and the ability to manage complex tasks with accuracy and consistency. Outside of work, Leticia enjoys spending time with her friends, family, and seven grandchildren.

Francisco joins us from an operations and project management background, with more than 15 years of experience in working with media, film festival and production companies. His keen attention to detail and passion for finding efficient and innovative solutions are adaptable for any situation. He successfully owned and operated a gallery in Austin, Texas which unfortunately closed during Covid but led him to pursue his dream of living in New York City. In his spare time, he loves to travel, watch films and spend time with family and friends.

Marc grew up on the Southern Oregon coast and earned his Bachelor’s degree from the University of Oregon. He brings over a decade of accounting experience across a range of roles and industries. At UVF, he has successfully leveraged this background—along with a strong attention to detail and analytical mindset—to contribute meaningfully to the team. This is Marc’s second year learning the single audit process and working with the Schedule of Expenditures of Federal Awards (SEFA), where he continues to support Jean and expand his expertise. He also plays a key role in reviewing financial statements and developing a deeper understanding of federal revenue and expenditures. Marc currently resides in the Portland area and, outside of work, enjoys staying active by watching sports, playing basketball, and golfing.

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More information coming soon!

More information coming soon!