James & Co. Business Advisors CPAs

Our proactive team of professionals partner with our clients to make their businesses more successful. Often times, James & Co. serves as CFO for our emerging, middle market clients. The James & Co. management team benefits clients with more than 100 years of in-depth experience. Our strength lies in the diversity of our expertise combined with a unique and caring approach to serving our clients.

Officers / Shareholders

Dan E. James MBA, CPA, President

A diverse accounting background and strong entrepreneurial spirit led Dan James to found James & Co. in 1983. Dan benefits clients with vision, objectivity, and more than 25-years of experience. His ability to listen, understand and assist entrepreneurs with effective business strategies has resulted in great longevity in the firm’s client family. Obtaining and structuring financing is another area that Dan offers vast experience in. His leadership has enabled assembling a seasoned and dedicated team of professionals whom have assisted in growing client businesses as well as the firm.

Dan holds a Masters degree in Business Administration from Arizona State University and Bachelor of Science degree in Accounting from Weber State University. He is also a Certified Valuation Analyst (CVA). Early in his career, Dan served as an accounting professor at WSU.

His extensive background includes years on the audit staff of Ernst & Young in Denver, and Grant Thornton Tax Department in Salt Lake City.

In addition to involvement in the Ogden business community, Dan has taken a leadership role in state and national professional accounting organizations and activities. Dan has served as the President of Ogden Golf and Country Club, Vice-chair of Weber State University Board of Trustees, Board of Directors for Ogden Weber Chamber of Commerce, as well as the Ogden Weber Applied Technology College Audit Committee and member of the Board of Regency Audit Committee.

Dan loves partnering with entrepreneurial clients to make them more successful.

Hobbies and Interests: golf, college sports, and the NBA.
dan@jamescpas.com

Debra L. Kelley MT, CPA, - Director Taxation Services

James & Co.'s Director of Taxation Services, Deb Kelley, earned her Masters of Taxation from The American University in Washington, DC, and a Bachelor of Science in Accounting from Weber State University.

In addition to more than 20 years of experience in public accounting, Deb's background includes extensive tax training. She attends approximately 50 hours of continued educational courses each year to stay abreast of changing tax laws.

Deb specializes in financial strategies to minimize tax obligations and maximize personal wealth. Her areas of specialization also include income, estate, and gift tax planning.

She is a member of AICPA and UACPA.
deb@jamescpas.com

Mary E. Markeson MAcc, CPA, Certified Fraud Examiner (CFE) - Director, Assurance Services

Mary joined James & Co. in 1996. She earned a Bachelor of Science from St. Olaf College in Northfield, Minnesota, as well as a Bachelor of Science in Accounting and Masters Degree in Accounting with emphasis in taxation from Utah State University. Mary has also completed advanced studies to earn the Certified Fraud Examiner (CFE) credentials.

Mary's background includes more than 15-years of experience in public accounting and 12-years in the banking and commercial loan industry. She specializes in auditing, accounting and consulting services for auto dealerships, mid-market businesses, health care providers, service industries, and non-profit organizations.

Mary is a member of the UACPA and the AICPA, and is a past Treasurer of the Northern Utah Chapter of RMA (Risk Management Associates). RMA's purpose is to foster superior standards and performance in the practice and management of lending and credit activities in the financial services industry.

Hobbies and Interests: Painting, running, cooking, reading, hiking, and playing bridge
mary@jamescpas.com

David Edwards, MBA, CPA - Manager of Taxation Services

Dave serves as Manager of Taxation Services at James & Co. His extensive background includes more than 12-years of tax experience as well as IT knowledge to improve efficiencies. Prior to being promoted to his current position with the firm, Dave served as Senior Tax Accountant with James & Co. Business Advisors / CPAs for more than four years. He specializes in multi-state taxation issues and tax reduction strategies for medical professionals. Dave received his undergraduate degree in Finance from the University of Utah, and his MBA from Westminster College.

Currently, Dave serves on the Advisory Board for the Salvation Army of Salt Lake City as well as Rotary of Ogden. He is a member of UACPA and AICPA.

Hobbies and Interests: Enjoys watching and playing sports, reading and spending time with his wife and three little girls.
david@jamescpas.com

Travis Vadnais, MAcc, CPA – Manager of Assurance Services - Certified QuickBooks Pro Advisor

Travis Vadnais, an Senior Accountant with James & Co., earned a BS in Accounting and a Masters in Accounting from Southern Utah University. He has worked in public accounting for more than six years including experience as an auditor with Moss-Adams LLP, one of the largest firms in the country. Travis specializes in assurance services (audits, review and compilations), accounting and consulting services for various industries. Travis has extensive knowledge and experience in internal controls to assist clients in the prevention and detection of fraud. As a Certified QuickBooks Pro Advisor, he is training and experienced in assisting clients with QuickBooks. He is a member of UACPA, AICPA, Ogden/Weber Chamber and Sigma Chi.

Hobbies and Interests: Watching and playing sports, fine dining, golf, travel, TV, friends and family, outdoor sports, hockey and softball.
travis@jamescpas.com

Paula J. Lewis - Audit / QuickBooks Specialist - Certified QuickBooks Pro Advisor

Paula brings 25-years in business management experience to our team including more than 10-years as Office Manager for James & Co. Her background in preparing financials, quality control and QuickBooks is a great benefit to our clients.

She earned a B.A. in Management with an Emphasis in Organizational Development, University of Phoenix (GPA 3.9/4.0). Additionally, she earned a certificate in office management at Southwest Missouri State University. She is a current Notary Public in the State of Utah.

Paula is an active member in various professional organizations, the Brigham City Golf Course Commission, and serves as Treasurer of the Wasatch Mixed Bowling League. She resides in Brigham City with her family.

Hobbies and Interests: Golf and bowling.
paula@jamescpas.com

Jodi Holmgren - Director of Marketing and Business Development

As an active member of the business community, Jodi represents James & Co. on various community and civic boards. “Although James & Co.’s reputation speaks for itself, I enjoy sharing our story and interfacing with growing businesses that can benefit from our value-added services to make their organization more valuable.” Jodi’s extensive background includes more than 25-years of marketing, branding and public relations. She brings a proven track record of success in defining, building and executing innovative marketing programs for a variety of products and services. In addition to marketing James & Co., her expertise is available to clients on a contract basis.

Hobbies and Interests: Family, snow skiing, travel, hiking, outdoor festivals and recreation, volunteering.
jodi@jamescpas.com

Robb E. James - National Director, HP Cloud Computing Security Solutions

Robb has been part of the James & Co team for 20 years in several roles ranging from network administrator to senior business development and business consultant. Robb is now the Director of Cloud Computing Security Solutions for HP and has formed a partnership with James & Co. on fraud prevention and Cyber Security. This division provides integrated security platforms that include analytics, SIEM, application security, intrusion prevention and web application firewalls. Robb has 20 years of technology experience which ranges from helping service providers build worldwide networks to helping the largest cloud computing companies with integrated security platforms. The HP – James & Co. partnership is helping companies around the region with internet security and fraud prevention techniques.
robb@jamescpas.com

Terri R. Ferran, CPA, Certified Fraud Examiner (CFE) - Auto Dealership Specialist

Terri is an automotive dealership accounting specialist with James & Co. She brings years of experience in public accounting and previously served as CFO for a large automotive dealership group. Terri received her degree in Accounting at Utah State University. Recently, Terri completed advanced studies to become a Certified Fraud Examiner. She is experienced in detecting and preventing fraud and embezzlement in organization through implementing controls.

Terri is a serious bean counter with a great sense of humor. She is also the author of three published books—two inspirational novels (Finding Faith and Having Hope) and a non-fiction humorous book, Life’s Alphabet Soup: When Your Children Make You Eat Your Words.

Hobbies and Interests: In addition to writing, Terri enjoys reading, boating, vacationing in Cancun, swilling Diet Coke and everything chocolate.
terri@jamescpas.com

Robilyn Spendlove - Accounting Specialist

Robilyn (Robi) Spendlove serves as an accounting specialist with James & Co. She benefits clients with her attention to detail, and is a pleasure to work with. Her extensive background includes 10-years of experience in construction accounting and 10-years of experience in manufacturing accounting. She received a BS degree in Accounting from University of Utah. We are proud that Robi is currently pursuing a Master’s in Taxation from Weber State University.

Hobbies and interests include: Boating and ATVs, playing games, watching her kids play sports, Zumba, scrapbooking, and painting.
robi@jamescpas.com

Lisa Patterson – Office Manager/Executive Assistant

Lisa brings more than 18-years of experience in business management with banking and financial institutions, and brings exceptional management and interpersonal skills to the team. In addition to HR responsibilities, client billings, payables and overall quality assurance of client documents, Lisa oversees the administrative team at James & Co. She is also a certified notary public.

Hobbies and interests: Sailing, traveling, gardening, hiking, and supporting her husband and kids in their hobbies.
lisa@jamescpas.com

Jenni Compton – Administrative Assistant

Jenni brings more than 8+ years of experience in administrative roles within the banks and credit union arena, and brings outstanding interpersonal skills to the team. Jenni received her BS in Human Performance Management in 2008 from Weber State University. In addition to her administrative role, Jenni assists the tax and audit teams, maintains reporting and budgets, assists with client billings, and the overall quality assurance and maintenance of client documents.

Hobbies and interests: Group fitness instructor, skiing, snowshoeing, hiking, cycling, and enjoys relaxing with a good book.
jenni@jamescpas.com

Our Team