Our team fosters a culture of success
Marianne (Mimi) Pangallo, CPA, Owner
Mimi is a Certified Public Accountant (CPA) with more than 30 years' experience as a professional who guides individual clients to maximize their tax position to reduce liabilities and advises small business clients to increase profitability by helping owners understand compliance and how financials impact their business. Renowned in the community as a trusted partner for her clients, Mimi's taxation advice is a welcome resource for sound business and financial decisions.
As a Seattle native, Mimi focuses on helping individuals and business owners achieve their goals in the "Great Northwest" and beyond ... "Mimi loves going the extra mile for clients and works to innovate strategic solutions to address any accounting issue." Areas of practice include individual and business taxes, accounting, IRS audits, small business development and financial forecasting.
- Central Washington University, B.S. degree in Accounting
- CPA License (1984) Washington State
- Member: Washington Society of Certified Public Accountants
- Member: American Institute of Certified Public Accountants (AICPA)
Laurie Amaral, Senior Accountant
Laurie has over 30 years of experience in individual and corporate tax preparation and planning in prominent executive positions as a Certified Public Accountant (CPA). Her expertise in preparing tax returns at Mercer Island Accountants is unparalled. Laurie's stellar career includes serving as the tax manager of a "Big 4" accounting firm in the U.S. to tax director at a prominent Northwest software company. Areas of expertise include taxation, K-1 reporting, and financials. Laurie applies her knowledge of the ever-changing U.S. tax codes and financial business strategies to her preparation of tax returns to provide our clients with the best return to achieve their goals.
- University of Iowa, BA degree in Accounting
Ernie Nelson, Senior Accountant
Ernie has over 40 years’ experience at Mercer Island Accountants and is recognized by his peers and local business owners for his accounting expertise, including but not limited to: individual & corporate tax returns, financial statements, audits, and tax and financial consultation to target small business clients' return on investment. Ernie enjoys meeting with his clients to maximize their returns while creating lasting relationships -- he prides himself on providing the most accurate, secure, and financially sound service that makes a difference. (Retired: July 2020)
Sue Cohen, Business Manager / Certified ProAdviser
Sue has over 15 years of experience in business management at Mercer Island Accountants as a certified Quickbooks ProAdviser bookkeeper who expertly manages client accounts providing montly bookkeeping, payroll services, quarterly reports, and budget forecasting. Highly efficient with tax preparation and financial statements, Sue also serves as our client relations liaison. Her attention to detail accentuates her continuing education in accounting principles, honed over the years by excelling at courses in business management and accounting. She recenlty completed the exam to become an IRS Registered Tax Return Preparer (PTIN).
- University of Washington, B.A. degree in Communications
- Intuit Quickbooks Certified ProAdviser - 2020/2021
Serena Tarica, Communications Specialist
Serena is our communications specialist, content editor, and client outreach expert. She developed strategies at the University of Washington for the Provost's Laboratory Safety Initiative where her team recieved a UW Distinguished Staff Award Nomination and a Campus Safety, Health, and Environmental Management Association (CSHEMA) Innovation Award for their innovative program. With over 20 years' exerpeince working as a writing strategist, Serena creates marketing communcations, website and digital content, and writes and edits books for numerous clients. As a screenwriter, her feature films have been in development in Hollywood and, as a producer, her films Reign and Anne Frank Meets God have won multiple film festival awards.
- University of Washington, B.A. degree in Communications
- University of Washington: "Distinguished Staff Award Nominee"; 2018 "CSHEMA Innovation Award"
- Member, Screen Actors Guild (SAG)