Meet Our
Team

Our dedicated staff has decades of experience helping companies with their accounting needs. We always put our clients' needs first and do whatever it takes to help you reach your goals.

Lee Bowen
Owner

Lee Bowen, MBA

An accomplished entrepreneur with over 25 years of experience in corporate financial operations, strategic planning, and executive leadership—including serving as CFO of a multi-national, billion-dollar organization. Bilingual in English and Spanish, with a bachelor’s degree in Accounting from Brigham Young University and an MBA from Arizona State University.

JenniferCard
Tax Director

Jennifer Card, EA

An enrolled agent with 17 years of experience and a background as a business owner, giving her unique insight into clients’ needs. She specializes in tax preparation and federal and state representation, helping businesses navigate complex tax challenges with confidence. Jennifer’s personalized approach allows clients to stay compliant and focus on growth.

Alyssa Gunnell
Accounting Business Partner

Alyssa Gunnell, MACC

Holds a bachelor’s degree in Psychology from Brigham Young University and a Master’s in Accounting from the University of Utah. With five years at Certus, she has held key roles including Project & Office Manager, Onboarding Specialist, and now Accounting Business Partner. She blends a strong grasp of people and numbers to deliver efficient, tailored support to Certus clients.

Chandler Creamer
 
Accounting Business Partner

Chandler Creamer, Cpa

Chandler Creamer is a CPA with a Master of Accountancy from Western Governors University and a bachelor’s degree from BYU’s Marriott School of Business. He brings experience in public accounting and corporate finance, including audit work and leadership as an Assistant Controller. Chandler specializes in financial reporting, compliance, and process improvement, helping teams operate more efficiently.

Julie Acomb
BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT MANAGER

Julie Acomb

 With over a decade of experience in business development, operations, and client services, Julie brings a well-rounded, strategic approach to supporting client success. Prior to joining Certus, she held leadership roles in HR, marketing, and entrepreneurship, giving her a unique perspective on the challenges business owners face. 

Sheri Ashby
OFFICE MANAGER

SHERI ASHBY

With more than five years of administrative experience, Sheri ensures our office operates efficiently and professionally as our Office Manager. She welcomes every client with warmth and sets a positive, professional standard from the moment they arrive.

Alina Fenton
BUSINESS PROCESS MANAGER

Alina Fenton

A graduate of Utah Valley University with a degree in Personal Financial Planning and a minor in Business management. With a diverse background and five years of experience as an accounting professional, Alina currently focuses on implementing excellent and efficient internal processes designed with both team member and client success in mind.

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ACCOUNTANT - INCOME TAX

Jonie Schaeffer

A graduate of Utah State University with a degree in Accounting, Jonie brings over 15 years of tax experience to our team.  Known for being a true people person, she enjoys building lasting relationships with clients and helping them navigate complex tax matters with clarity and confidence.  Jonie is committed to delivering personalized, reliable service with a friendly touch.

 

DeAnn Smith
Accounting business partner - sales tax lead

DeAnn Smith

DeAnn holds an Associate Degree in Accounting and a Bachelor’s in Business Management from Utah Valley University. With 30 years of experience supporting a wide range of businesses, she delivers expertise in everything from accounting system setup to resolving complex sales tax matters. DeAnn is dedicated to helping clients achieve clarity and compliance. 

Dallen Taylor
ACCOUNTING BUSINESS PARTNER

Dallen Taylor

A motivated accounting professional, Dallen is dedicated to exceeding client expectations and serving as a trusted resource for businesses as they grow. His commitment to accuracy, efficiency, and client success makes him an invaluable part of our team. Dallen has been serving Certus clients with their Bookkeeping, Payroll, and Sales Tax needs for four years.

Ryan Smith
ACCOUNTing Business Partner

Ryan Smith

A graduate of Utah Valley University with a Bachelor’s in Accounting, Ryan specializes in franchise clients across restaurants and retail. Working toward his CPA, he values strong client relationships and is committed to providing accurate financials that support long-term growth and success.

Elliana Fogh
ACCOUNTING Business Partner

ELLIANA FOGH

Currently finishing her MAcc with a tax emphasis at BYU, Elliana enjoys helping clients and preparing financial reports that support business owners. With a detail-oriented and collaborative approach, she’s committed to making accounting more clear and manageable for clients.

Rachel Oates
ACCOUNTING SPECIALIST - Bookkeeping

Rachel Oates

Experienced bookkeeper with 7+ years supporting franchisees, 1099 contractors, and small businesses. Holds a Professional Bookkeeping degree from a California community college and is committed to ongoing learning. Outside work, she enjoys being a wife and mom, spending time with family, reading, baking, and staying active.

Annie Rawlinson
ACCOUNTING SPECIALIST - Bookkeeping

Annie RawlinsoN 

Annie earned her associate degree from the University of Utah and brings strong organizational skills to Certus. She is committed to accurate bookkeeping and works closely with clients to support their business goals. Annie is known for her approachable manner and clear, dependable communication.

Lynnel Queen
ACCOUNTING SPECIALIST - Bookkeeping

Lynnel Queen

Lynnel completed her Bachelor of Science in Accounting at Western Governors University. She has been a Certus bookkeeper for over two years and brings prior bookkeeping and business ownership experience. Lynnel values client relationships and delivers reliable support.

Tamia Sheriff
ACCOUNTING SPECIALIST - PAYROLL

Tamia Sheriff

With a background in customer service and over three years as a payroll processor, Tamia specializes in managing accurate payroll across multiple platforms. Her focus on efficiency and client support ensures smooth, reliable payroll operations for a diverse range of clients.

 

Javier Urbina
ACCOUNTING SPECIALIST - PAYROLL

JAVIER URBINA

A certified public accountant specializing in financial management and taxes. With over twenty years of experience in accounting, taxes, and auditing across various sectors of the economy, he has developed a broad professional approach that enables
him to understand clients' needs and recommend solutions.

Adrian Alonso
ACCOUNTING SPECIALIST

ADRIAN ALONSO

 Adrian earned a bachelor’s degree in accounting with a minor in business management from Utah Valley University. Prior to joining Certus, Adrian worked in hospitality management. Adrian now supports payroll and bookkeeping operations and is actively pursuing CMA certification.

Jomel Torres
ACCOUNTING SPECIALIST - Bookkeeping

JOMEL TORRES

Jomel is pursuing a bachelor’s degree in Accounting at Ensign College and serves as an accounting specialist, supporting financial operations for franchises and other businesses. With extensive experience in QuickBooks, strong customer service skills, and fluency in multiple languages, Jomel ensures accuracy, efficiency, and clear communication for every client.

Xianny Magoffin
ACCOUNTING SPECIALIST - PAYROLL

XIANNY MAGOFFIN

Enrolled in the BYU business school, Xianny has led data analytics and automation projects, focused on improving workflows and reducing costs. With experience in customer service, payroll, tech, and nonprofit sectors, she’s passionate about inclusive impact, cultural engagement, efficiency and continuous improvement through innovation, teamwork, and strategic problem-solving.

Nathan_darling_img_sq@2x
ACCOUNTING SPECIALIST - BOOKkEEPING

NATHAN DARLING

Nathan is an approachable and reliable accountant who is dedicated to making finances easier to manage. He values clear, friendly communication and precise attention to detail. Nathan builds lasting relationships with clients, providing guidance that helps them feel secure and confident as they achieve their financial goals.

Landon Spencer
ACCOUNTING SPECIALIST - BOOKkEEPING

LANDON SPENCER

Holds a Bachelor’s in Accounting and a minor in Business Management from Utah Valley University. Landon supports financial operations through detailed bookkeeping as an Accounting Specialist. Landon brings strong leadership, organization, and problem-solving skills.

Aaron
BUSINESS ANALYST

Aaron Shepherd

Currently double majoring in Business and Analysis along with Finance at Utah Valley University after receiving his Associate’s Degree in Business Management Spring of 2025. Aaron serves as a Business Analyst and enjoys enhancing reporting and bringing thoughtful insights into the hands of business owners to improve data-driven decision-making. He is committed to delivering the insights needed to maximize profitability to every client.

Andrew
ACCOUNTING SPECIALIST -BOOKKEEPING

ANDREW wadley

Currently pursuing a degree in accounting at Brigham Young University, Andrew is eager to apply his growing knowledge to support our clients' bookkeeping needs. He is dedicated to providing accurate and reliable financial assistance, always striving for clarity and efficiency in every task.

Aden Pace
ACCOUNTING SPECIALIST - Bookkeeping

ADEN PACE

Aden is currently pursuing an accounting degree at Utah Valley University. With experience in customer service and Excel, he is detail-oriented and enjoys working directly with clients to keep financial information organized and accurate. In his free time, Aden likes to run, play basketball and enjoy video games.

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Sales and Marketing Assistant

Joseph Logan

Joseph graduated from Utah Valley University with a degree in Public Relations & Strategic Communication. At Certus, he drives lead generation through marketing campaigns, social media, blogs, and newsletters while supporting new client onboarding. His focus on clear communication and organized systems helps create a smooth experience for franchise partners.

Jay Garlock
 
ACCOUNTANT - INCOME TAX

Jay Garlock, CPa, MBa

Jay is a part-time member of our income tax team with over 40 years of accounting and finance experience. A CPA and MBA with Six Sigma Black Belt certification, he brings deep expertise in tax, bookkeeping, and business operations. Jay has also spent 34 years teaching accounting, combining practical knowledge with a passion for education.

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Accounting Specialist - Bookkeeping

Stephanie Garvin

 Stephanie brings over 15 years of hands-on accounting experience, with expertise in bookkeeping, tax preparation, and financial statement management. She has extensive experience managing full-cycle bookkeeping for small businesses using QuickBooks Desktop and collaborating on complex tax filings. Stephanie holds a Bachelor’s degree in Accounting and is currently pursuing her Master’s in Accounting at Southern Utah University.

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Accounting Specialist -Payroll

Olivia Peterson

 Oliva joins our Payroll team as a part-time team member, bringing a strong administrative background and hands-on experience with QuickBooks, billing, time tracking, and project coordination from her time at Atlas Engineering. She also brings an entrepreneurial mindset, having run her own business for several years, along with leadership experience through volunteer and missionary service. Olivia is currently pursuing a degree in Finance at Utah Valley University. 

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Interested in joining our team?

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