Minnesota Society of Enrolled Agents

Minnesota Society of Enrolled Agents
Enrolled Agents are to taxes as CPA's are
to accounting and Attorneys are to law.

President
	Ronald Kohls, EA 763-425-8229 rkohls@comcast.net Ron has been in practice for himself since 1987. He currently prepares over 800 individual income tax returns and 35 small business returns. His practice is in Brooklyn Park. Prior to being in practice for himself he was corporate controller and tax manager for a trucking company in Minneapolis. He has his BSBA degree in accounting with honors from Roosevelt University in Chicago and his MBA from the University of St. Thomas. He passed the EA exam on the first try in 1996. Ron and his wife Sheila have two grown sons and five grandchildren. In his spare time he likes to travel, garden and ride his bicycle.

Vice President
	Merlin (Merle) R Davis, EA 612-722-4776 dts_merlin@hotmail.com Merle took his first tax class from H&R Block in 1968 and worked for them until starting his own business, Davis Tax Service, 5 years later. He worked evenings and weekends during tax season while also having a full time job, becoming an EA in 1976. In 2002 he retired from the full time job to work full time doing taxes. Merle, along with a group of like-minded EAs helped expand MnSEA during the late 70’s and 80’s. The group started the building process with monthly newsletters and meetings and later, an annual meeting.

Treasurer
	Linda Ferwerda, EA 651-774-2107 linda@lindasaccounting.com Linda attended Northern Michigan University and Century College where she completed her associate’s degree in accounting, starting her accounting career thirty years ago with the Norwest Banks, now Wells Fargo, in their commercial lending department. Her passion for tax preparation came from a desire to help her friends in the Christian community who are teachers or a pastors, aiding them in making sound decisions that are unique to their tax situation, She earned her EA in 2005.

Secretary
	Laura Passe, EA 763-670-4529 laurapasse@netscape.net I started my career as a bookkeeper in 1989. I took my first tax class from H&R Block in 1993 and started working for H&R Block in 1994 and worked at the Coon Rapids office and the premium office, I was with H&R Block for 10 years. I spent a short stint at an accounting firm in Ham Lake. I have worked for Hoium & Birkholz, Diana Herbst Tax Service, TaxPrep Solutions, and the TaxBook. In 2000 I opened my own Bookkeeping and payroll service called Laura L. Passe bookkeeping Service. In 2004 I received my EA certification, Health and Life Insurance License and Series 6 and 63 Licenses. In 2007 I started working out of my home; I have recently changed my company name to Laura L Passe Tax & Bookkeeping Service, LLC. I am a member of NAEA and MNSEA; I have been on the MNSEA Board as a secretary since my election in 2004. I and my husband Pat reside in Blaine with our two daughters and two cats. I have consistently been trying to grow my business but if you do find me with free time on my hands, you will find me with my mother, running around with my girls or best of all, out in my yard relaxing in the swing.

Director
	Ginger Decker, EA 651-484-9160 jelliebeane@comcast.net Ginger started her tax preparation career in 1982 as an employee for Mr. Tax of America where she worked until 1993. She started working at H & R Block in 1994 and in 1995 she began working at the H & R Block Premium tax office. Ginger received her EA certification in 1998 and in 2000 she started her own business now known as Ginger Decker Tax & Accounting Services, LLC. She works from her home office located in Little Canada, MN. Ginger is a QuickBooks Pro Advisor a member of NAEA, MNSEA, NATP, and NSTP. She has been married to her husband Gary for forty-two years. They have two wonderful children Daniel and April and two exceptional grandchildren Tim and Nicole.

Director
	Sandra (Sandy) Gravelle, EA 651-303-6383 sandy@comcast.net Sandy graduated from Jamestown College (ND) with a degree in business administration. She began her career with an accounting firm in St. Louis Park doing accounting and taxes and she never looked back. She has worked for CPA firms, many small business, MN Revenue, and for ROR Financial and Diana Herbst Tax Service. In 2006, she took the EA exam and opened her own practice. She has previously served on the Board of Directors of her Condo Association. In her spare time she is an avid reader and loves to play computer games.

Director
	Clair Hemenway, EA 651-385-7600 clair@redwing.net Clair Hemenway was born and raised in Red Wing and graduated from Red Wing High School and the University of MN Mankato with a BA Degree. Clair was a four year letter winner in sports, with academic majors in Business Administration and Math. He also did graduate training at both Winona and the University of MN Mpls. Clair’s previous employment includes the position of auditor with the State of MN for the Office of Public Examiner and Department of Human Services. While with the Dept of Human services he wrote an entire accounting system to be compatible with the United Way and various state and county agencies. Clair left government service to practice in the private sector and is the owner of Hemenway Accounting and Tax Service; and has practiced in the tax and accounting industry for over 40 years.

Director
	Barb Hoium, EA 763-574-0444 bhoium@yahoo.com I started my career as a tax preparer for H & R Block in 1970. I became an EA in 1983 and continued at the Premium Office for H & R Block. I taught basic and intermediate tax classes for over 22 years for them, I then started a tax and accounting business with Pam Birkholz in 1999. I have one gorgeous daughter and the best son in law in the world. We spend a lot of time at the lake in the summer. I take care of my mentally disabled cousin Louis, who has been with me for 10 years. I am a member of NAEA, MNSEA, NATP and NSTP

Past President
	Bruce Swanberg, EA 763-473-4711 ljbbts@comcast.net Bruce graduated from Augsburg College in 1969 with a major in Accounting and a minor in Economics. He worked with a CPA firm and then as a controller. He began doing taxes in 1976 part- time and in 1988 started his own business, becoming an EA in 1990. Bruce was President of MnSEA from 1997-1998 and on the Board of Directors in various positions for over 10 years. He is currently the “Tax Practitioner Liaison” representing MnSEA before the IRS and MN DOR.