Rea & Associates, LLP. - Meet Our Staff

With 38 years in the industry, Walter T. Rea Jr. is Rea & Associates' managing partner. Actually, the staff calls him "The Big Cheese." He's responsible for establishing the firm's long-range goals, hiring and firing, daily operations, including technological upgrades, and countless other tasks. Walter has been with Rea & Associates since its inception 20 years ago and specializes in individual and estate tax, partnership tax/accounting and general management issues.

A California native, Walter was born in Lompoc. He received his bachelor's degree in business administration/accounting from California State University, Los Angeles in 1968 and earned his Certified Public Accountant (CPA) certificate in 1974. He has belonged to the California Society of Certified Public Accountants since 1974 and the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants since 1975.

He worked in public accounting for about 18 months and was drafted into the army, where he served in the finance corps and in Vietnam. After he received his CPA certificate, he took a job as vice president of finance for a 500-bed teaching hospital. He later became vice president of finance and project director of financial software development for a computer startup company.

Later Walter went to work for a CPA firm in Beverly Hills, owned by Julius Lefkowitz, whom Walter considers his mentor. It was from Julius that Walter learned to be passionate about his profession, that above all else, one must honor the ethics of his profession, and the importance of doing the best job you are humanly capable of for every client, every time.

Walter later left Julius Lefkowitz & Co. and moved to Patterson, where he set up farming investment partnerships for Los Angeles clients, managed investments, owned more than 350 acres of fruit and nuts and served on the Diamond Walnut Advisor Committee.

Walter met Bob Lewis in 1988 and formed R. Lewis-W. Rea & Company, which became known as Rea & Associates in 2004. Walter is currently vice president of finance for Functional Designs LLC - a Reno furniture and carpet company. He also serves as secretary of the Patterson Cemetery District. He is the past president and former vice president of finance for the Copper Creek Homeowners' Association.

Although he's very busy, Walter enjoys cooking, working in the yard and interacting with the community at Copper Creek. His talents include a way with words and the unique ability to work well with both staff and clients.

Walter and his wife, Liz (Elizabeth) enjoy his four children: Joy (36), James (35), Michelle (23) and Michael (21) and their grandchildren Charlie (8) and Tyler (6). The Reas have a 15-year old cat named Grouche, and the newest baby in the family is a 70-lb. German Shepherd named Buddee. Walter and Liz really like the Christmas holiday. In fact, they start large-scale Christmas decorating of their home (inside and out) in October.

In addition to meeting some of Hollywood's "old guard" while at Julius Lefkowitz & Co., when he was a young child, Walter shook hands with then-President Eisenhower. Walter's favorite foods are his mom's broccoli casserole and her homemade macaroni and cheese topped with ranch dressing. He loves all types of salads and could eat them for every meal! His favorite dessert is banana cream pie.

Walter is very passionate about his job, emphasizing that the finished product (i.e. tax return, financial statement) must not only be attractive, it must meet the highest standards of excellence! His goal for every client is to do the best possible job. "This often means asking additional questions and seeking more information," Walter says. Regarding the Rea Team, he says his staff goes the extra mile for every client. "I really believe we have a staff that will 'go to until they drop' for the clients as well as for Tim and I," he says.

"We work very hard here, but we also take time to have fun," Walter explains. "Pumpkin Pal week is a great example. During Halloween week, we draw names and bring surprises each day for our secret pal. We do the same for Valentine's week."

Walter adds, "Everyone who walks through our door does so the first time as a 'client.' But none stay 'clients,' they become 'family.' And family deserves the best! So our job of 'delivering the highest possible quality of service in a timely manner' is easy because that's what family deserves!"

Affectionately referred to by the staff as "The Little Cheese," area native Tim Taylor, partner and enrolled agent, joined Rea & Associates in 1997 with the acquisition of Noret Bookkeeping Service. He became a Rea & Associates partner in 2004. Tim has more than 28 years of experience as an accounting and tax professional.

He earned an associate's degree from Modesto Junior College in 1972 and spent the next 10 years working full-time for a local real estate firm as its bookkeeper and office worker. During this time, Tim began working part-time during tax season for Noret Bookkeeping Service. He became a full-time employee for Noret in 1985. A coworker, the late Betty Mount, quickly became a mentor to Tim and inspired him to further his career in the tax field. Tim became an Enrolled Agent in 1989.

Tim is a member of the National Society of Enrolled Agents and the California Society of Enrolled Agents. He has also served on the board of directors in various capacities of the local Big Valley Chapter of the California Society of Enrolled Agents for several years.

He has completed all levels of the National Tax Practice Institute - earning the designation of "Fellow," and also holds the designation of "Accredited Tax Advisor" from the Accreditation Council for Accountancy and Taxation. His primary responsibilities at Rea & Associates include overseeing the bookkeeping staff and tax preparation - specializing in taxes for individuals and small businesses.

One of the busiest people you'll ever meet, Tim enjoys RV travel and time spent at home. His travels have taken him to Arizona, British Columbia, Canadian Rockies, Caribbean, Nebraska, Nevada, Ohio, Toronto and Washington, D.C. His favorite spot is the Clarks Fork area just below Sonora Pass. In 2006 he enjoyed an over seas trip to Slovenia, Austria and Italy, satisfying a lifelong dream of seeing the Austrian Alps, and Salzburg Austria.

Tim is a longtime member of the Stockton Cactus and Succulent Society, where he has served on the board for several years, including three terms as president. After many years of showing his cactus plants at the annual show, he won a Best of Show award in 2004 for Best Mammillaria (a species of cacti). He finds the plants most unusual, from a drab, sometimes ugly plant, a vibrant, gorgeous flower will burst forth - adding truth to the old saying, "Beauty lies within." He says his club associates, whom he's known for two decades, are an interesting group of people, ranging from the world travelers in search of rare and endangered species of cacti and succulents, to the novice collector, like himself.

Tim says, "Being part of the Rea & Associates family is truly unique. Being surrounded by a hard-working staff and having a dedicated partner has certainly eased the transition from employee to partner." He also says, "All of our staff, Walter and myself, work very hard to provide the best possible service to our clients, but it's really great to have some fun along the way!"

Tim notes, "The joy and the bright spot in tax season for me is the clients that I serve." He adds, "I always look forward to seeing my clients, even if it's only once a year."

Deanna Van Unen, administrative assistant with Rea & Associates for the past 14 years, performs countless duties. She handles administrative billing, typing, scheduling appointments, client contact, tax return work which includes input, verification, review, assembly, client calls, training and typing of financial statements. She also works closely with Tim and Walter.

She recently attended a weeklong series of billing and tax classes in Hawaii. Her background includes five years as a chiropractic office manager and three years as a medical billing clerk.

Deanna's interests include cooking, entertaining, gardening and having fun by the pool with her husband of eleven years, Tony, and children Chandler (13) and Darian (6). The family's dogs are Chewey and Max.

Deanna was born in Napa, California. When she was younger, she was on the swim team and won many awards. Today, she belongs to a Bunko group. One night a month, just the GIRLS get together for a "girls' night out." Deanna says her greatest talent is cooking. Her favorite foods are French onion soup and Caesar salad. She also goes for French fries dipped in ranch dressing

Has Deanna ever come across a celebrity? While in Las Vegas once, she and her husband were asked to be extras in a poker game on the Carson Daly show. Deanna was rather embarrassed when Carson sat by her and introduced himself while we they were filming on live TV - especially since she had never heard of Carson and had no idea how to play poker

When asked about working for Rea & Associates, Deanna says, "We're one big, happy family. We get along very well. Walter and Tim are great to work for." She continues, "We make it fun even if we're having a bad day, a problem with the kids or something personal. When somebody says, 'Hey, let's go have a fat, juicy hamburger,' then it all seems okay."

Deanna says her job specialty is client relations. "My goal for every client is to let each one know that I'm here for them no matter what," she says. "I love my clients! I want them to know that when they join our firm, they become part of our family."

Client interviews and tax return preparation, as well as bookkeeping and payroll responsibilities keep tax preparer and bookkeeper Dianne Kyne busy. She started as temp in 2003 and became an employee in 2004.

Before coming on board, Dianne spent 10 years in the auto industry, in positions ranging from receptionist to office manager. Before that, she worked for a defense contractor for five years in accounts payable as lead, and prior, she handled accounts receivable for five years for an equipment manufacturer. She's taken college accounting and computer courses, tax preparation courses and several training seminars.

The oldest of five daughters, Dianne was born in the city of Half Moon Bay, California. She and her husband Frank have been married 16 years and have a grown son and daughter. Dianne's interests include RV travel with Frank and their dogs Rilee & Bailee, Cocker Spaniel puppies. They've enjoyed trips to Nevada, Oregon, Washington, the Grand Canyon/Arizona and Idaho. Dianne has a talent for tole painting and loves to bake and give away cookies and breads. Also important to note is Dianne's affinity for chopped olive and mayonnaise sandwiches.

Dianne says her hero is the late Patti Gustke, the wife of one of Dianne's former bosses. Patti had MS (multiple sclerosis) and had to rely on crutches or a wheelchair and an assistant. Despite her disability, she was always active, had a smile on her face and shared herself with others. What an inspiration she was for Dianne!

From the time Dianne first walked through the doors of Rea & Associates, she recalls, "(They) made me feel like part of the family." She says the greatest thing about working here is, "Walter and Tim genuinely care about their clients and employees; they're family to them." She remarks, "For the first time in my life, I don't go home at night all stressed out, and I honestly look forward to work every day."

Regarding clients, Dianne says, "Our clients are great! We have farmers, housewives, retirees and account execs - each is passionate about what they do." Her goals are to treat clients with the utmost courtesy and respect and provide them with the best possible product, thereby earning their respect. "I want them to be confident in our ability and support," she says.

Another member of our Rea & Associates team is Bonnie Crabtree, bookkeeper. Her areas of focus include payroll, sales tax reports, client bookkeeping and financial statements. She is our newest Quickbooks Proadvisor.

Raised in Michigan and Alberta, Canada, Bonnie joined the Rea & Associates family in 2004. She loves working with computers, understands accounting software programs and is proficient in Excel.

She fell in love with bookkeeping when she took a course in high school. She later worked for a credit union in Canada for about two years before moving to Hayward, California. During that time, she completed a number of college accounting courses. She then landed a job with a CPA firm in Fremont, where she remained for three years.

She married her husband Rick in 1986. They have three children: Lisa (22), Joshua (18), Bryan (10) and a grandson, Joshua (2). Outside work, Bonnie and her family enjoy their favorite hobby - camping in their pop-up trailer.

Bonnie won a blue ribbon in a 4-H sewing club when she was about 10. She loves to sing and has belonged to church choirs since fifth grade. She loves to knit and crochet. And she's passionate about her job - no kidding! She is very active in her church, especially the choir

Her favorite food is heavy, creamy cheesecake with nothing added. She also loves French fries with vinegar and ketchup.

Bonnie tells us the best thing about working with the Rea staff is, "We're a team. We help each other," she says. "When I've been ill or my children have needed attention, I've always been met with a supportive attitude." She also likes the office parties.

"My goals are to accurately prepare clients' bookkeeping, etc., and to meet their needs with a professional attitude," she says. "I love to learn and I strive daily to do my job to the best of my ability."

Bonnie says Rea & Associates is "a caring, hardworking, knowledgeable family that not only works for you but wants to get to know you personally." She notes, "I think the clients feel comfortable when they come into our office; they're greeted with a smile and conversation. I've learned something from each of my clients about business and life."

Born and raised in a small farming community in Colorado, Shelly Combs processes payroll for clients and performs a variety of bookkeeping functions. She joined Rea & Associates in 2006 and brings 15-plus years of bookkeeping experience.

She and her husband Mark have been married for 19 years. They have three children, Justin (grown, living in Iowa), Kaitlyn (13) and Jacob (8), as well as a dog named Coco (a lab mix), and a cat called Mac (mixed-breed).

Mark’s line of work, aircraft maintenance, has taken the family to many parts of the country: Wisconsin, Vermont (twice), back to Colorado, Missouri, Oklahoma and most recently, Idaho. Shelly says they’ve seen some really beautiful country and have met all different kinds of people – some of whom have become lifelong friends. The family is settling into life in California and they really like the area. “The weather has been so awesome,” Shelly says. “I never thought I’d be mowing my yard in November!”

Her outside interests include attending her kids’ school and sporting events and working in her yard – everything from pulling weeds and mowing to planting flowers and relaxing on the back patio. When it comes to favorite foods, she has a weakness for just about any kind of cookies.

As far as celebrity sightings, when Shelly’s family lived in Owasso, Oklahoma (Tulsa area) and her daughter Kaitlyn participated in basketball and soccer, so did one of Garth Brooks’ daughters. “We saw him at several of the games. Kaitlyn got his autograph on the back of her soccer jersey at the last game of the season.” Shelly says her family thought it was great that he was like any other Dad at the games. “A few folks would ask for pictures, etc., but for the most part, he got to be a regular person.”

Shelly tells us that the greatest thing about working with the Rea Team is that everyone is very helpful and willing to answer her questions.

She says Rea & Associates is “a firm that is dedicated to doing the best for its clients.” Her goals are to “provide the best service I possibly can to every client, to contribute to the well being of the company and to do the best I can every day.”

Karen Wilson, Bookkeeper

Originally from Glencoe, Minnesota, bookkeeper Karen Wilson joined us in June 2009. She handles client payroll, tax deposits, codeing and data entry, check processing and bank statement reconciliation. Her focus is on meeting clients' expectations by completing requests correctly and in a timely manner.

She possesses bookkeeping expertise and experience as a credit union teller and loan officer. She's also a certified California Notary Public and holds a real estate license. On-the-job training, plus courses in financial services, real estate and technical accounting add up to a strong foundation.

Karen, who says people would be surprised to learn that she's shy, has several interest. Among these are being with her three sons, James (33), Justin (25), Isaac (16) and her cat Sweetie. She also enjoys occasional comedy shows and baseball games. She's traveled to the Oregon coast and watched fireworks over the bay, been to Hawaii, where she took a helicopter tour over an active volcano, and has also played at Disneyworld in Florida. When she can she visits her very large, extended family in Minnesota and enjoys the lakes.

In high school, Karen was master of the drill team and choreographed routines. A lifetime cat lover, she has completed six oil paintings of her feline friends. "They seem to have an independent spirit about them, filled with adventure and fun," she notes. Another of her talents is seen during her favorite time of year: Christmas, when she expresses her artistic side by decorating a tree and/or presents. "My family tells me the gifts are too pretty to open."

In the food department, Karen likes Mexican entrees best-probably due to her desire for tomatoes and avocados. Among her favorite meals is a combination of Doritos, cottage cheese and tomatoes. Regarding desserts, she tells us Minnesota has the best apple pie, but calls the strawberry rhubarb pie in Chaska, Minn., "unbeatable."

Karen Says it's a pleasure to work with the Rea & Associates team. "everyone treats their clients in a respectful, professional way and adds a personal touch to their services."

She says Rea clients are friendly and she enjoys meeting and getting to know each one. Karen wants you to know that Rea & Associates provides a professional staff for accounting and tax services, and really cares about its customers.

Lisha Madden, Receptionist

Born in Turlock, receptionist Lisha Madden does everything from greeting clients and answering phones to filing and scheduling appointments. She assists everyone in the office. A graduate of Grace M. Davis High School in Modesto, she joined the firm in 2006.

When it comes to outside interests, Lisha enjoys the outdoors or “just watching a good movie with [her] family.” During the summer, they often go to the lake or to a cabin in Pinecrest.

Lisha is very passionate about love and her family. She admits she gets “all mushy” over love stories or just watching an older couple that has been together for years and still has that fire in their eyes.

She married Mike, in the summer of 2007. The two met when Lisha’s daughter Kayla (14) and Mike’s daughter Kate (15) who were best friends in fifth grade, hatched a plan to get Lisha and Mike together. It worked! So now the two best friends are sisters. Also at home is Lisha’s son Kyler (7). Other family members include a dragon lizard, a water turtle and three fish.

In the celebrity sightings department, Lisha says she’s met several famous musicians, but meeting glam metal singer and guitarist Lita Ford was among the most memorable. Lisha has many favorite foods, but she loves spicy fare the most and has always had a sweet tooth. She also adds French fries to her hamburgers and likes to dip fries in her shakes.

Lisha’s hero is her mother. “I admire her for her strength,” Lisha says. “I know most kids say they will never be like their moms. Now that I have grown, I can say I am so lucky to have her in my life – she’s one of my best friends.”

Lisha loves working for Rea & Associates. “Everyone gets along very well,” she says. “They are all really great people both inside and outside the office. I’ve worked for many companies, but few have made the positive, life-long impression this place has.”

She continues, “I know clients have been coming here for years and are part of a big family. I hear so many great stories and look forward to meeting each and every one of our clients.” She wants you to know that “everyone here is upbeat and willing to help.”