Team Gossip 2011
Kathy Zaffore, CPA, principal, went back to the beach for a chunk of August, hoping for days of sun and sand. But it was a cold foggy year – it happens, even in sunny southern California. Did a lot of bike riding, reading, writing and visiting friends and family. John and I ventured out again in November with grandson Ian for a real road trip. Furthest point south – Carlsbad Caverns – far but worth the drive! Highlight for me was Bosque del Apache National Wildlife Refuge where I got to see Sand Hill Cranes for the first time up close. Highlight for Ian – a photograph with an alien in Roswell NM J. Highlight for John – collecting more national park pins. Back at the ranch, I continue to take Italian lessons in the hope that someday I will be able to converse with the competency of a 5 year old child. We head to Italia in May for 3 weeks—Sicilia, Amalfi, Roma.
Kim Ruane, CPA, practice manager, is the owner of the epicenter of happy gatherings. Her home has hosted several large family affairs, Bunko, Bible Study – you name it. Everyone wants to go to Kim’s house. Why? It truly is a happy place. She continues to scrap book and is showing great talent at creating greeting cards – a new business in the budding? Kim, almost an empty nester (two still in college here at University of Colorado-Boulder and one on his own in Chicago – a biochemical researcher – wow!), keeps tabs on the whole busy family. For Anniversary 25, Kim and Larry joined up with his brother and sister-in-law and they “did” Italy—Rome, Florence, the Tuscan hill country, Venice, Assisi, back to Rome. They are now conversant in all things pizza. Yummo!
Kathleen Bell, CPA, accountant extraordinaire, now has only one in high school – where does the time go? When Kathleen and I first started working together her son was a tiny baby. Now he is a freshman at Colorado School of Mines – a public university specializing in engineering. Time does fly and Kathleen has not changed an iota. Her daughter is an active high schooler. Kathleen continues to hone her skills as a chef in her home kitchen, regales us with tales of mouth watering feasts and shares her recipes with us. And she bakes! Still the best lemon bars I have ever tasted anywhere. Period. We are always happy when Kathleen brings treats to the office.
Lorie DeBerard, Paraprofessional and Admin,bookkeeper/admin, Lorie and family received a wonderful honor last year. Her husband John was promoted to Commander in the US Navy and was promptly deployed to Afghanistan. He has been gone for many months, but is scheduled for a February homecoming. Lorie has been, as always, a trooper this year and we are all grateful for his safe return -- soon. In her everyday life, she scoots all over Douglas and Elbert Counties, keeping up with the activities of her two teenage daughters. Her son is a happy camper at CSU in engineering, Lorie’s alma mater. Go Rams!! In her spare time this year (how did she manage to have spare time?? She must be really organized), Lorie ran a marathon. Wow.
Vicki Stevens, IT Specialist and Overall Computer Wizard and Bookkeeper and Software Designer and …, not only keeps our systems up and running, with great humor and fun (she has to have a sense of humor to deal with all of us non-techies), but can occasionally be talked into QuickBooks training. She continues to sell her own software product, AllReports, a nifty add-on for doing state unemployment reports, W-2s and 1099s with QuickBooks and Peachtree (see www.granitesoftware.com for details). Vicki went on a road trip with her two daughters this fall to Disneyland and the beach – graduation present for Daughter Two. Daughter One is in her second full year of college. And let’s not forget the camping trip to Branson, MO with her parents and the girls earlier in the year. Busy busy. In her leisure, she continues to work on a variety of home projects—like reflooring the house in hard wood. Is there anything she cannot do? She is back in school and I suspect will graduate as a Master Carpenter. (Actually, she is working on an AA in accounting – you go, girl!)
Marj Spies, Admin Assistant, is a familiar face to many -- she worked as a banker for years in town and now she and Tom own and operate Alpha Gymnastics. Alpha has opened its Off Track Gymnastics Camp Program which promises to be a raging success. Check it out if you are looking for a fun week long experience for your kiddoes when they are Off Track this year. We hope Marj will find time to help us keep our clutter under control. She is a pro at that, too! Marj has flitted back and forth to Florida this year to visit with her sister and she tells us she’d really like to live there…which has us a tad concerned – until we realize we could go visit her! In December. Or January. But then, Marj will soon be a grandmother and we know what that means--she will want to stay in Colorado close to baby!
