Our Team

We are a Missoula-based team of accountants, tax professionals, and advisors who believe clients deserve more than once-a-year check-ins and vague answers. We take the time to understand your business, respond when questions come up, and help you feel confident about what the numbers are telling you.

Our Values

Numbers should lead to clarity, not confusion

Numbers tell a story. Our job is to help you understand what that story means and how to use it to make better decisions.

We focus on turning financial data into clear, practical insight so you know where things stand and what to do next.

Efficiency that actually helps clients

Good systems matter. When processes are clean and organized, work gets done faster and mistakes are less likely to slip through. We are intentional about building efficient workflows so we can spend less time untangling issues and more time helping you plan ahead.

Partnership, not just a service

We do not want to be the firm you only hear from once a year. We aim to be a long-term partner who understands your goals, your challenges, and how your business is evolving. That means asking questions, staying involved, and working alongside you as things change.

Building better lives for clients and our team

For clients, this means fewer surprises, clearer answers, and less stress around finances.

For our team, it means a supportive environment where people can grow, ask questions, and do meaningful work. When our team feels supported, our clients feel it too.

Proactive instead of reactive

We believe most problems are easier to handle when they are caught early. We pay attention, look ahead, and raise issues before they become expensive or stressful. That proactive mindset is how we help clients stay prepared instead of scrambling.

Andrew & Joe

Meet the Owners

Andrew Stolle

Partner

Andrew has been instrumental in helping companies leverage substantial tax savings since 2014. After graduating from the University of Montana, Andrew’s passion and education guided him to specialize in software/technology clients on the West Coast and collaborate with manufacturing and professional services companies.

In 2021, Andrew joined KPT Consulting, and within two years, he achieved a significant milestone by becoming a partner. Andrew then joined forces with Joe at Elevated Tax and Accounting, where their shared commitment to innovation and client success continues to thrive.

Residing in Western Montana, Andrew has passion for outdoor pursuits and in his spare time, you’ll find him on the river or in the mountains, enjoying skiing and biking with his wife and their golden retrievers.

Joe Holbrook

Partner

Joe has focused his career on helping business owners get their finances in order and pay less tax. He began his career in Ernst & Young’s Quantitative Services group doing R&D tax credit studies and accounting method changes in Houston, Texas. He then came back to Utah to raise his boys near family, working remotely before the practice became fashionable. He then worked as a Manager at PwC and as a Senior Manager in Eide Bailly’s National Tax Practice.

Joe grew tired of working for the man and started his own specialty tax consulting firm, KPT Consulting, in October 2020. Despite the world being complicated at the new company’s launch, KPT enjoyed incredible growth and huge success. After the sale of KPT, Joe joined back up with Andrew at Elevated Tax and Accounting

While Joe frequently travels to meet with clients, his home base is in Utah where he lives with his two boys. Outside of work and family, his hobbies include playing the piano and guitar, mountain biking, video games, skiing, board games, reading, cooking, DnD, and travel.

Joe graduated with a Master of Accountancy, Tax from the Brigham Young University Marriott School of Management and is a licensed Certified Public Accountant.

Meet the Team

Nathan Saravalli

Director of Accounting Services

Nathan joins Elevated Tax & Accounting with a range of professional and life experience. After obtaining his bachelor’s degree in 2007, Nathan assisted in managing a restaurant prior to returning to school to obtain a masters degree in 2012. Nathan began his career in public accounting in 2015 specializing in financial statement audits, reviews, and compilations, including audits performed in accordance with the Uniform Guidance. Industries served include not-for-profit, retail, and construction. Nathan also has extensive experience in the preparation of IRS Forms 990 and 990T.

Outside of the office, Nathan enjoys spending time with his wife and daughter, working on personal construction projects around his home, and taking advantage of the abundant outdoor activities the great state of Montana has to offer.

Education:
– Bachelor of Science, Business Finance, Montana State University – Bozeman, 2007
– Master of Professional Accountancy, Montana State University – Bozeman, 2014

Community:
– Board Treasurer, Tamarack Grief Resource Senter

Memberships:
– Montana Society of CPA’s

Sam Howell

Senior Accountant

Sam was born and raised in Missoula, Montana, and attended the University of Montana where he graduated with a degree in accounting and computer science. During school, Sam worked a tax season with the accounting firm JCCS, where he gained some experience with public accounting. Since 2017, Sam has been working for the law firm Christian, Samson & Baskett, as their in-house bookkeeper, accountant, and IT person. During much of that time, he also served remotely as accounting manager for a manufacturing company in Illinois, which manufactures various utility covers for avian protection, fire prevention, grid reliance, and wildlife preservation. In October 2024, Sam began working as a senior accountant with Elevated Tax and Accounting. Outside his work, Sam enjoys mountain biking, running, camping, reading, and travelling with friends, or to meet up with his sister who lives abroad.

Cindy Lasalle

Senior Tax Associate

Lucinda (Cindy), a Montana girl born and raised in the Anaconda area joins Elevated Tax and Accounting with 45+ years of accounting and tax experience. Cindy holds an MBA from the University of Montana, 2 degrees from Montana Tech (Business Associate and CIS/BIS-Accounting Degree). She is a RTRP and has completed many courses – Grant Writing, Estate Tax, Fiduciary Tax, LLC Tax, Tax Law, and Government Finance. In addition to her accounting experience, Cindy has been involved in academia, teaching middle school to college level courses.

Cindy serves as Treasurer for the Butte Emergency Food Bank – having been involved with the Food Bank since 1997. She is a School Board Member for Lyndon Academy (College Preparatory School), member of the VFW, and has served as a Board Member for the Butte Tax Increment Financing Industrial District Board.

Cindy enjoys golfing, reading, photography, and music – having performed with the Butte Symphony Orchestra.

Cindy feels that her biggest accomplishment is serving and helping others. Serving is important to her as in serving an individual, his/her dignity is preserved.

Cerena Milton

Tax Associate

Cerena is a University of Montana alum, graduating in 2024 with her master’s degree in accounting. Cerena’s passion for accounting began at a young age while helping run the business side of things on her family’s farm. Since then, Cerena has made the most of every opportunity to grow in financial literacy and encourage others to do the same. Her experience includes bookkeeping and account reconciliation for Wipfli, aiding in financial-compliance audits for Montana’s Legislative Audit Division, and tax return preparation for low-income and elderly taxpayers up in the remote villages of Alaska’s Bush.

Outside of work, Cerena enjoys spending time with her husband, serving at her church, hiking, skiing, cooking, or starting a new puzzle.

Kimberly Forshey

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Ryan Patrick

Emeritus

Walter J. Kero, CPA

Partner Emeritus

Walt is a member of the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants and Montana State Society of Certified Public Accountants. He is a Past-President of the Montana Society of Certified Public Accountants and currently serves on MSCPE Taxation Committee and Arthur Anderson-A Plus Tax User Advisory Council. Walt received the George D. Anderson Distinguished Service Award in 2011 honoring outstanding CPAs in the industry and the state. Walt has also served in a variety of leadership roles for the Missoula Housing Authority, Missoula Downtown Association, United Way, University of Montana Excellence Fund, Sunrise Rotary, Montanans for Better Government and Sigma Chi Fraternity.

A Teacher of Continuing Professional Education
Tax professionals across the nation have learned to trust Walt Kero’s expertise and knowledge. Applying years of practical experience and first-hand knowledge of the issues facing practicing professionals, Walt enjoys the opportunity to instruct and represent fine organizations such as Nichols Patrick CPE, Inc.

“Teaching requires that I understand the tax code and its potential implications on a wide variety of individual and business-related scenarios at a very deep level. I enjoy being an instructor, navigating intense discussions and meeting my peers from across the nation. In the end, I know teaching helps me become a better tax advisor.”

Past Educational Programs Include:

Tax Staff Training Level 2 Business/Pending
New Report Regulations (263)
Partnership Tax Advanced Issues
Preparing Complex 1040’s
Partnership Tax Advanced Issues
Alternative Minimum Tax
Corporations: A Complete Guide to Planning and Compliance

Mark Byington, CPA/ABV, CGMA

Partner Emeritus

Mark Byington CPA/ABV, CGMA, shareholder provides tax compliance, planning and preparation, financial statement analysis, business plan development, operations review, loan packaging and business valuation services. Mark was a co-founding partner in Byington, Deveny & Meyer, PC. After leaving BDM, Mark worked for 30 years in a variety of private industries including a sawmill, bottled water company, motorcycle dealership, truck dealership and truck manufacturer. These experiences earned Mark the designation as a Chartered Global Management Accountant (CGMA). Mark came back to Public Accounting in 2014 and has since earned the designation of Accredited in Business Valuation (ABV).

Mark is a member of the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants, Forensics and Valuation Section, as well as the Montana Society of CPA’s. Mark was also a founding board member of the Missoula Community Incubator and served as President of the Board. Currently, he serves as a board member and Treasurer of the North Missoula Community Development Corporation and as a board member of Trust Montana, a statewide not-for-profit, focusing on community land trusts.
In 2016, after completing 40 hours of continuing education, Mark earned a “Not-for-Profit Certificate of Educational Achievement” from the AICPA.

Mark stays pretty busy keeping everyone’s accounting and tax needs in check but, in his spare time he and his wife, Nancy, enjoy spending time with their children and grandchildren, hunting, cross-country skiing, gardening and of course, motorcycling.

Deborah J. Linthicum

Partner Emeritus

Deborah J. Linthicum, shareholder, brings her knowledge, wisdom and passion for helping people to the team. She provides tax compliance in taxation and payroll, bookkeeping, small business financial management, QuickBooks management and training. Other areas of expertise include software setup for profit and not-for-profit accounting and tax compliance.

Deborah has spent over 40 years in the business world providing retail and accounting management guidance. She has worked with individuals, corporations, partnerships and limited liability companies.

Throughout her years of experience, she has developed a strong background in client relationship management, helping clients achieve the goals they are striving for.

Deborah is a member of the Montana Society of Certified Public Accountants, National Association of Tax Professionals, The American Institute of Professional Bookkeepers, and The Intuit ProAdvisor Program.

Deborah has spoken at the Governor’s Advisory Council on Aging and The Montana Nonprofit Association Conference. She has served on the Montana Society of Certified Public Accountants, Not-For-Profit Committee, and United Way of Missoula fundraiser committee. She has also served as treasurer for the Montana Food Bank Network.

She brings 30 years of experience in the accounting industry to our team. Deborah’s areas of expertise include taxation, bookkeeping, small business financial management, and QuickBooks management and training.

Our Team

Numbers should lead to clarity, not confusion

Efficiency that actually helps clients

Partnership, not just a service

Building better lives for clients and our team

Proactive instead of reactive

Meet the Owners

Meet the Team

Emeritus

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