Staff

Megan has a BA Economics & Management from Albion College and an M.S. in Accountancy with an emphasis in taxation from Michigan State University.  According to her DISC profile, Megan is an Analyzing Implementer, which makes her very focused on the quality of work.

Outside of work Megan likes being outside, traveling, any type of water activity, and hiking.

Ask Megan to tell you about taking a tour of the Ben and Jerry's Ice Cream factory, or better yet, ask Megan to take you on a tour of the Ben and Jerry's Ice Cream factory. 

Angie keeps the whole place running smoothly and connects callers with the right expert on the Cole Gavlas team. She is a central piece of the communication engine at Cole and helps to get information to both clients and staff. In addition to her internal bookkeeping responsibilities, Angie has helped to keep Jeff Cole on time and in the right place for 15 years. She enjoys getting to know firm clients and spends her non-work time with her family or at the golf course.

If you were new to the U.S., Angie would want you to see the following three places:

• Torch Lake, Alden Michigan – to show what a beautiful State Michigan is
• Disney World – to show how creative we are
• New York City – to show the variety of lifestyles in our country

Stephanie records the transactions that keep businesses running. She helps clients get their bills paid, pay their employees, and even make deposits. She also works on financial statements and trusts. She enjoys  taming the "devil" that lives in the details and enjoys working with a variety of clients.

She enjoyed participating in the firm's Kaizen event and brainstorming about ways to improve internal processes. Ask Stephanie to tell you more about this "Kaizen" idea.

Don't look for Stephanie on weekends during football season - you'll find her glued to the TV taking in the latest Packers game. In the summer, she'll be hauling the family to the beach, and playing a card game called "Euchre" or one called "Hand and Foot" (which sounds something like "Foot in Mouth", which is the author's best game.)

Julie is a graduate of Western Michigan University and is a CSPM and SCOPE Advisor.   She spends her time helping clients see their business in a new light. She enjoys learning about new businesses and solving the occassional Quickbooks challenge.

If you want to get her fired up, just ask her to tell you about Kaizen and how it can be applied to business. And while you're at it, ask her about the Toast Video and "muda".

Julie and her husband enjoy vacationing, canoeing/kayaking, and spending time with friends and family (especially their 5 nieces and nephews).   

Jamie has a BBA from WMU and her role includes tax compliance and assisting clients with their accounting.  Jamie's DISC profile shows her to be a "Coordinator" and she plays sports - so that must make her a "Coordinated Coordinator".

She lists the following three places as her favorites: camping up north, Cedar Point, and the Rocky Mountains. 

Be sure to ask Jamie to tell you about the Kalamazoo Ultimate Disc League - but watch out she might try to recruit you for the team.  

Tracy helps clients pay the bills and collect from their customers. She enjoys the problem solving aspect of working on payables and receivables and finds that her tendency to be a perfectionist is an asset in her job.

Tracy enjoys accounting because it brings business information together. She says it's like solving a puzzle - all of the pieces of a business fit when you do it right and you can see the results when you finish.

She spends her time away from the office keeping up with her teenagers' numerous sports activities.

Michael has a Bachelors in Business Administration and a Master's of Science in Accountancy from Western Michigan. He was drawn to accounting by the problem-solving nature of the work and is currently preparing for the CPA exam.

Michael says he enjoys the feeling of accomplishment that comes when a project is finished (and everything is in balance.) Michael got to first experience the firm as an intern and later joined the team as a staff member.

He grew up in Toledo, OH, but spent most summers and winters in Michigan where he took part in seasonal outdoor activities like waterskiing in the summer and snowmobiling in the winter. He has competed in amateur wakeboard competitions and enjoys concerts -- especially "heavy rock".

When he's not participating in a sport, studying for the CPA exam, or rocking to the beat, you will find Michael attending every Michigan football game. In fact, one of his favorite places on earth is The Big House (Michigan stadium) when it is full of 110,000 screaming fans.

Mary is one of the people that helps to make it all come together at Cole Gavlas. She helps process returns and financial statements and greets clients who call or visit. 

Mary's style is a Coordinating Supporter according to the DISC assessment and her flexibility is an asset in her role.

If a visitor were to drop by, Mary would take them to visit the house she grew up in, the state of California, and Europe even though she hasn't been there yet.