My first experience with tax preparation came when I was approximately 11 or 12. My family was living in California at the time and my mother worked for H&R Block. Not only did she run a branch, but also taught new tax preparers on the weekends. On one of these weekends, I tagged along and sat amongst the many adults looking to start a new profession. My mom gave me some forms and told me to input this practice return for a client.  I accomplished my task with what I thought was ease since none of the other adults seemed to be finished yet. I am sure now that I got the easiest return to complete but nevertheless, I felt that this was something I could do one day, for real.

Fast forward to 2001 when I boldly announced to my parents that I want to go to college in Washington to be near my grandparents. This was the best decision I made and also forced my parents to look at where they wanted to live once my brother, and I left the nest. Eventually, I became a proud graduate of the University of Puget Sound and doubled majored in US History and US Politics. I quickly learned that jobs in the fields are few and were not my end goal. I met my now husband Tim at college, and also made another bold decision, that we were moving to Sequim to be even closer to my family.

My adult career started in 2005 in the mortgage industry as I have always had a genius for numbers. As a loan originator, I learned many things, but key among them were how to listen, how to strategize and how to cross the finish line. My skills of analyzing tax returns were sharpened as I needed these documents to help many families with home ownership.  few years back, my mom asked me for help with some of her bookkeeping clients and I gladly obliged. This was the catalyst I needed to realize that I desired to be back in this line of work.

I have worked for Bennett Accounting Services for the last few years working nights and weekends on tax returns and bookkeeping for clients. I took the real plunge in 2024 when I gave up my first real career and decided to go all in. I recently got my Enrolled Agent license to further my commitment to this field. Over the year, I have met so many wonderful clients and realized that I made the right choice. Working with my mother has been the best bonus. I relished the tales from her working with her father and now I get to create mine.

When I am not working, I love spending time with my family especially our two little parrots, Sparky and Loki. They are noisy, needy and nibbly, but I love it. During off-tax season time, I hope to get back into photography, build a few legos and take a few more adventures.

Ellen is a lifelong enthusiastic and dedicated tax preparer and bookkeeper. She received her start early in life by managing the books for her family’s automotive business and has been passionately supporting small businesses ever since. She now has 45 years bookkeeping and payroll experience.

She is also a notary and an experienced Registered Tax Preparer who has been preparing taxes for the last 26 years.

Ellen has lived on the Olympic Peninsula since 2001. When she is not working at Bennett Accounting Services she enjoys spending time with her family and single handedly supporting the Seahawks as their greatest fan.

Lori Gayman is a bookkeeper in our office. Lori and her husband John moved to Sequim from Puyallup in 1989 to raise their two children, Danielle and Casey. Lori was the bookkeeper for 15 years for the business she and John started and after her children left for college, she became the bookkeeper for Discovery Trail Properties and Timmy & Associates. Lori joined Bennett Accounting Services in 2020.  Lori enjoys spending time with her two grandchildren, her family and enjoys music, boating, fishing and gardening.

After spending 12 years as a dedicated stay-at-home mom, in 2020 I was given the opportunity to work in the accounting office where I have enjoyed working with clients and getting to know each of them.

Outside of the office I am a full-time volleyball and baseball mom. My husband and I enjoy cooking and hosting friends and family when we can find the time, and we love traveling back home to Hawaii where I am from a couple times a year.