Miranda Gillespie-Smith grew up in Redmond, Oregon at Reindeer Ranch outside of Redmond – also known as Operation Santa Claus.  She received her Bachelors of Science in Health and Physical Education while playing softball at Southern Oregon University in Ashland, Oregon. She also received her Masters of Arts in Teaching from ConcordiaUniversityand has been teaching for four years at South Medford High School (Medford, Oregon). Miranda is very accomplished, over the years she has taught English, Health, and PE. Miranda is the varsity softball coach as well. Miranda says, “I loved the area and was able to get a teaching and coaching job, so, we have stayed here ever since”. Her husband, Roger, is from South Carolina.  He received his Bachelors of Arts in Communications from University of Maryland while in the United States Army (Paratrooper 82^nd Airborne).  The last place he was stationed was in Herlong,California.  When he got out of the Army, he lived and worked in Reno, Nevada. Miranda says, “I met Roger six and a half years ago through a friend while on a road trip toReno.  A year later he moved to Oregon, and in May of 2010 we got married.” Since moving to Oregon, he has worked as a supervisor at CDS Publications in Medford,OR.

On March 22^nd, 2012, the Smith’s welcomed their little bundle of joy: Taela Reese Smith! Miranda says, “We LOVE to go to the coast and spend time on the beach, go camping, and pick blackberries, while rafting the Rogue River in the summer time.  We also love to BBQ with friends and family when the weather starts to get nice.  My teaching and coaching keeps us very busy, especially with our new bundle of joy, so, we also enjoy a weekend off with just the two (now three!) of us.”

Miranda says, “My parents have always gone to Giancarlo and he also did our taxes when we were growing up and in college. ZoomTax has worked with my family for years so it was an easy transition from a college student to an employed worker and married homeowner. Although he is located in Bend, and we live in Southern OregonI  feel confident knowing my questions will be answered promptly and we can communicate over the phone or via email to get everything organized. I love how I send him paper work after paper work (jumbled and rubber banded…) and everything comes back in such an organized neat completed package!”

Kendra Hobbs grew up in a small farming community in Eastern Washington. In 2005, Kendra and her family moved to Bend,Oregon in order to have better opportunities. Currently, Kendra is a full-time local community college student. She is pursuing an associate’s degree of general studies because she enjoys a wide range of things: foreign languages, music, fashion, and English. Kendra says, “Bendis a beautiful place to live. Sometimes I forget how lucky I am to be surrounded by such natural beauty”.

In Kendra’s free time she loves: to bake or cook, drink lots of tea, read, and watch movies. When it comes to food, Kendra adores Julia Child’s The Art of French Cooking and any Williams-Sonoma cookbook. Her favorite everyday books and magazines include: The Harry Potter series, The Hunger Game series, Victoria Beckham’s That Extra Half an Inch, Learning to Fly: The Autobiography, Marie Claire and Glamour. Two of Kendra’s favorite movies are Pride and Prejudice (the 2005 version with Keira Knightley) and Valentino: The Last Emperor.

Kendra says, “ZoomTax is a friendly and inviting  place. 2011 was the first year I needed to file my taxes and I was very nervous because I had no idea what I was doing. Luckily, it is very easy conversing with Giancarlo – it’s like talking with your best friend, so, everything went smoothly. I definitely feel less anxious about taxes now because of ZoomTax”. ZoomTax says, “To know Kendra is the process of learning the things about her that she doesn’t willingly tell you right off the bat. Kendra has: done work on a farm, plays the alto saxophone and percussion, bakes croissants, studies Japanese, and has been to Japan– who knows what other secrets she keeps hidden. She is such a pleasure to have at the office”.

Johan Moberg grew up in Sweden. For the past last twenty or so years Johan has worked as a commercial pilot working in Asia, Africa, and North America. He says, “I like flying and traveling. It is really nice seeing a lot of the world. My favorite place is Alaska. Alaska is beautiful and very interesting – I love it there”. Currently he works as a helicopter pilot for a large international company supporting the oil/gas industry and is working in West Africa. He moved fromCosta Rica in 2010 to Bend,Oregon. He loves the great quality of life Bend has to offer. The outdoor recreation is what attracted Johan to Bend. Who doesn’t love the variety of recreation Bend has to offer? Johan says, “I like skiing, hiking, and horses. In my spare time I enjoy working on my farm”. Bend is the right place for Johan to be because he loves the outdoors – after all, the sun shines almost every day!

Johan was referred to ZoomTax by an associate. Johan says, “ZoomTax has a great understanding of international tax issues which is important to me. Everyone has been very attentive and I get questions answered immediately. I am also kept informed along the way”. ZoomTax says, “True to his Scandinavian roots, Johan like the frozen landscape as much as he likes the summer sunshine. It’s safe to say that when Johan is not at home in Bend, you will find him either in the frozen tundra or the tropical jungle. We like working with Johan as everyone at ZoomTax agrees that Johan is one of the most laid-back and relaxed clients we have”.

Christine and Brad Thompson have lived in Bend,Oregon for about six years. Both Christine and Brad are originally from San Diego. After they got married they decided to try something new. Over the years the Thompson’s have lived in various places such as San Diego, Minneapolis, and Tahoe City. Christine says, “We were looking to move from Tahoe City when my sister moved to Bend. We decided to give it a try as well”.

What about Bend does the Thompson’s love? Christine says, “As a family we love to eat ice cream, play games, and talk about movies”. The Thompson’s also enjoy the outdoors, especially the Cascades, and the lakes that they offer for kayaking. Christine has been a secretary in some capacity for twenty years and Brad has been teaching for seventeen years. They have two beautiful children. Like most parents they spend a lot of time being a taxi service but when they do have spare time they love watching films and reading. Who doesn’t love a captivating movie? Or being curled up with a good book? I know I do. It’s the little things in life.

Christine says, “I appreciate Giancarlo’s sincerity and kindness. ZoomTax saved us over $1,000”. Giancarlo says, “We have clients who are Yankee fans and clients who are Red Sox fans. I don’t mean to start a war, but since I have a daughter in College in Boston, my support goes to the Red Sox camp!”

In 1994, Jim Diegel and his family moved to Redmond, Oregon from Washington State. Jim has been in hospital and healthcare leadership since 1988. In 1994, Jim was hired as the executive director of Central Oregon District Hospital which is now called St. Charles Redmond – he is the President and CEO of St. Charles Health System. Jim oversees a company that delivers hospital, physician, and other health services in the Central Oregon market. He is responsible for the strategic, operational, and fiduciary integrity of the company. Jim says, “The best part of my job is when I am in the presence of our caregivers who deliver services directly to our patients or provide services that support our mission ‘to improve the health of those we serve in the spirit of love and compassion’”.

Jim and Vicky have been married for almost 28 years. They have two children, adult boys, both of whom are in medical school. When Jim has free time he enjoys traveling. He loves boating, tennis, golf, and skiing.Central Oregon is definitely a beautiful place to live if you love being outdoors and exercising because the sun shines almost every day. Jim’s favorite activities in Central Oregon are a good round of golf and a great run down the slopes.

Jim says, “I have known Giancarlo since the mid-1990s. He has helped me navigate some complex tax issues. The staff at ZoomTax gives me personal attention and is friendly”. ZoomTax says, “Our association with Jim Diegel goes back a couple of decades and we have had the privilege of knowing Jim throughout various stages of this career. Beyond the well-structured manager role, Jim has an eclectic personality with a keen interest and knowledge of foreign cultures that has brought him to far away, and less developed countries from his youth. Jim is one of those great guys who always has time for you regardless of how busy he may be at the time”.

In 1999, Maria Aamodt and her extended family relocated to Redmond, Oregon. Her family is very large (six brothers and sister) and very close, so, when her parents needed to relocate to a drier climate due to her mother’s health, the family relocated as well. Maria says, “my mother would not consider moving unless all of her ‘chicks’ moved as well.  My husband and I decided ‘why not?’ So we moved from the small town of Molalla, Oregon in the Willamette Valley to beautiful sunny Central Oregon and would never, ever move back”. After living in Redmond for about a year or so, Maria’s family drove to Molalla to visit family. Maria said, “While driving in the pouring down rain, my son asks me ‘Mom, what are those things going back and forth on the window?’ He was talking about the windshield wipers. I guess he’d never noticed them before since we moved to Central Oregon.  Yep, we don’t miss the rain!”.

With three sons in nearly year-round sports, like most mothers, lack a lot of free time but Maria enjoys working out with her husband and she loves to shop. She also enjoys spending time with her three sisters.  But most importantly she loves time spent with her husband and boys.  Maria says, “As a family we spend a lot of time on the lake in the summer: wake-boarding, water-skiing, wake surfing, tubing, etc.  After I’m done providing taxi services to my darling kids, cleaning the house and doing laundry, I don’t have much spare time left over.  I do somehow manage to always make time for a good book or to work in the garden”. Who doesn’t love that?

Maria works at Collins & Sons, Inc. It is a family owned business (Maria’s family) that began doing business in 1999, Collins & Sons Excavating.  Then in 2008 they opened Storm Water Services to provide services for storm drainage.  Maria said, “I walked away from a 4-year scholarship to start a family.  Not a great career move but not one that I regret.  After a few years I got back into the workforce but not without my kids by my side.  When our family started Collins & Sons back in 1999, I began bookkeeping part-time in a home office where I could have my kids with me.  I was very lucky, this was more important to me than a fancy career and a big paycheck.  As my three boys grew, they continued to go to ‘work with mom’ until they went off to school.  Then I started back full-time.  I am very grateful to Collins & Sons, Inc. for allowing me the opportunity for a career and the ability to raise my sons myself”.

Collins & Sons Excavating specializes in all aspects of residential and commercial excavation.  They build roads, arena and ponds. They offer utility trenching, snow plowing, demolition, trucking and utility hydro-excavation services. They also install septic and storm systems. Storm Water Services (SWS) was developed to offer detailed storm drainage services.  SWS has a large vacuum truck that cleans storm drains such as drywells, catch basins, drill holes, oil/water separators, etc.  They specialize in helping their clients adhere to the rules and regulations associated with storm drainage and DEQ.  They offer storm system installation, decommissioning and consulting.

For both companies Maria provides all office managerial duties as well as bookkeeping, payroll, marketing, advertising, etc.  She also helps with estimating, scheduling and compliance for our SWS clients.

Maria says, “I really appreciate how friendly and helpful Giancarlo and all staff members are.  ZoomTax is very prompt at retuning emails and telephone call as well. Our companies are set up for quarterly reviews of the books.  This really helps to make our tax preparation to go more smoothly each year”. ZoomTax says, “Maria has been an angel to work with. She is always on top of things and she always acts as a go between for information that we need to finish our work. The Collins’ family is an absolute pleasure to work with. They have been with us since the beginning and we really appreciate being able to help them with their taxes each year”.

Greg Elder and Mallory moved to Bend Oregon in August, 2008 from Las Vegas. The Elders moved to Bend, Oregon to be closer to their family. Bend is one of only cities big enough to support a career in radio on the east side of the Cascades where the “sun shines”. They love travelling all over Oregon, playing outdoors, and Bend is the perfect home base.

Greg Elder currently works at Bend Radio Group and established group of radio stations in Central Oregon in its current ownership. Greg says, “we operate the best group of radio stations in Central Oregon: providing listeners with the best music, promotions, and fun radio event”. Greg helps local and regional businesses tell their story to thousands of potential customers.  He consults business owners about their marketing needs, creates customized solutions based on what they uncover, and work with his client to achieve their goals.

Greg has been a Radio Account Executive since college at the University of Oregon. Over the years he worked many different places. He began working at a national radio group in Las Vegas. Then he started working at a local broadcasting group in Bend, and then moved to Bend Radio Group.

Greg met Giancarlo through a networking event or the Central Oregon business community. Greg says, “ZoomTax consistently provides a level of tax service that I hadn’t seen before in Central Oregon. The team at ZoomTax works hard to help keep my family’s hard-earned money with us. The year-round tax-planning advice is very helpful, too. I appreciate that my taxes are being prepared by a licensed CPA – which you can’t find at a seasonal tax-preparation company. Like most people, I tend postpone tax issues until the due date – but I like knowing that ZoomTax is available to talk to me all-year-long. If I have a question or concern, ZoomTax takes some of the anxiety out of the process”. ZoomTax says, “Greg and Mallory came to our office with a few tax questions. We immediately knew that they would be two of our best clients. With Greg’s busy schedule and extensive travel in Central Oregon, we provided guidance on record-keeping and relieved tax concerns. We had known Mallory from a previous business relationship and we recognize her as a talented business woman. This may sound corny, but Giancarlo believes we got two birds with one stone”.

P.S. ZoomTax is one of Greg’s clients, and he has designed an effective advertising campaign for us.

Yoli DiGiulio moved from Moorestown, New Jersey, in January of 2007. The DiGiulio’s moved to Bend because they were looking for a lifestyle change, a slowing of pace, and exposure to nature and its many wonders where they could raise their three young boys.

Dr. Yoli DiGiulio earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in Biology fromRutgers Universityin 1990. Then she went to Temple University School of Dentistry in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, where she graduated with distinction and high honors. She is active in her community of Bend,Oregon– she is a board member at the Tower Theater and of Together for Children. She enjoys reading, camping, and spending time with her family.

Dr.Yoli DiGiulio opened Cornerstone Family Dentistry, in October 2010 as a place for her to practice her life’s work, and to offer dental care to the Bend community. The focus of Cornerstone Family Dentistry is to provide comprehensive dental care for the entire family, mom and dad, children, and grandparents alike. Dr. Yoli DiGiulio, performs all phases of general and cosmetic dentistry including general cleanings, root canal, crown and bridge, implant restoration, teeth whitening , bonding and veneers, and full mouth restoration/rehabilitation.

Cornerstone Family Dentistry was founded by heart-felt inspiration and pure determination to provide gentle, courteous, and state of the art comprehensive dental health care to their patients.  Cornerstone Family Dentistry’s believes that providing exceptional customer service is just as important as providing superior dental health care. She goes the extra mile for her patients.

When asked about ZoomTax, Dr. Yoli DiGiulio said, “They have organized my professional and personal tax planning and compliance, and have done so with ease and authority. Now I can focus on what really matters to me – my family and my practice. Lastly, I appreciate both their attention to detail and how personal ZoomTax services are”. ZoomTax says, “Yoli is a fun, outgoing, Doctor who is constantly on the move. You can always find her doing something, such as following the local art and music scene, various summer fests, and a long list of children activities. When Yoli is at our office and we ask, ‘what are you doing this weekend?’ we usually get a long list of things no of us have not thought of”.

Website: www.bendoregondentistry.com

In June 2006, the Brody’s moved to West Linn,Oregon, from New Jersey, to get out of the rat race. They wanted to raise their kids in the great state of Oregon and to be near Becky’s family who lives in Bend, Oregon. Carl coaches a girl’s soccer team. He also enjoys running and pick up basketball games. Carl and Becky love spending time together as a family with their children and enjoy the beautiful outdoors of Oregon.

Carl Brody is a sales director for MetLife Dental. He trains and support sales executives who distribute employee benefit programs.  He’s been at MetLife for 20 years in a variety of roles, but always in sales, training, or product development. Becky is faculty at the University of Medicine and Dentistry of New Jersey.  She teaches graduate programs (masters and PhD and publishes research). She spends time in both Portland and New Jersey, but the bulk of her work is done with technology. Becky completed her PhD in 2011. She was a clinical dietitian and clinical manager before moving into academia.

Carl said, “Giancarlo is great at educating as we go along.  Each year I learn more and feel more empowered.  In the past, I just felt like someone was ‘doing my taxes’. My objective has always been to learn more so I can manage my finances better through out the year”. Carl pointed out a “new” benefit of working with ZoomTax. Carl said, “Giancarlo should double as a tour guide. Becky and I went to Italy last year to celebrate all sorts of occasions — her PhD, our 15th wedding anniversary, and her birthday. Giancarlo gave us all sorts of great tips, including our favorite… EAT GELATO EVERY DAY, WHICH WE DID…. FOR 2 WEEKS”.

ZoomTax says, “The Brody’s are a fun couple and a fun family. We were glad to assist them with their initial questions on their tax deductions. We have enjoyed maintaining both a personal and professional relationship with them – now, Carl, where is our ice cream?”.

Mike and Angie Del Nero opened Cascade Mattress in November 2011. They felt the Bend market had a gap that could be filled with a new concept of wholesale pricing. Mike Del Nero was an advertising executive for fifteen years, and Angie was a nurse. They both were accustomed to anticipating and fulfilling the personal needs of others.  Their business concept is to offer high quality products at very competitive wholesale prices. 

An exciting addition motivated them to a career change. That was the imminent arrival of their first child (Finnley, born August 2011). Within the short span of five months, they left long term careers, delivered a son, moved toBend, and opened a brand new store.

Bend was a natural choice for them, as it offers the lifestyle they were seeking and a market opportunity. Now that Finnley is seven months old, he is just as comfortable with his parents at the store as he is at home, or strolling around the Old Mill, or the Friday Art Walk (with Mom and Dad).

Mike says of Cascade Mattress Company “our customers really enjoy the benefits of a comfortable, local store offering quality mattresses, adjustables, and bedding accessories at wholesale prices”.  He adds, “many people are impressed when they compare the quality, comfort, and warranty of our products to those of our competitors”. Angie proudly reminds us that “because Cascade Mattress Company is a locally owned business, we benefit the local economy and community”.