I grew up in Cheyenne, Wyoming, where I learned self-sufficiency and how to stick up for the underdog. In 1982, I graduated from the United States Military Academy at West Point, NY. My military time taught me leadership and honed my dedication to defending and supporting those who couldn’t defend themselves. This was often an unpopular stance, but I had no problem facing the biggest critic, the man in the mirror.

After leaving the Army, I spent time as a computer programmer and in financial services before setting in on my real passion, tax representation.

I had been doing taxes for folks since my early days as a Second Lieutenant. After completing my Master of Science in Accounting in 2014, I elected to bypass the CPA route and instead became an Enrolled Agent.

Enrolled Agents are licensed by the Department of the Treasury, Internal Revenue Service to represent taxpayers with IRS issues. At this writing, 49 states recognize this license for representation matters at the state level.

I am passionate about representation because I have always hated bullies and those who use bullying tactics. And the IRS can be the biggest bully around. They are, without question, the most efficient and effective collection agency on the planet due to a well-earned reputation for aggressive tactics and the fact that they can seize assets for debts as small as $10,000.

State Departments of Revenue can be even more aggressive. But in both cases, they have to follow a set of rules.