SWALLING & ASSOCIATES, PC - Key Persons
Alyssa joined the firm as a staff accountant in early 2021. Alyssa was born and raised in Fairbanks, moving to Anchorage after graduating from the University of Alaska Fairbanks with a BBA in accounting and an MBA in general management. Before joining the firm in early 2021, she spent several years in public accounting with a national CPA firm as an assurance associate and in industry at an Alaska Native Corporation located in Anchorage. Alyssa is a licensed CPA in the State of Alaska and a member of the Alaska Society of CPAs. In her spare time she enjoys painting, doing home improvement projects and spending time in the great outdoors with her family.
Ms. Williams graduated from the University of Oregon. With a bachelor of business administration majoring in Finance. She worked for almost ten years in finance for a major Alaskan native corporation when she chose to pursue public accounting. She has national firm experience but prefers the local emphasis and client engaged culture of an Alaskan firm. She has passed the Uniform CPA Examination and is a licensed CPA in the State of Alaska. Christine is an avid runner and has successfully completed the Mayor's Midnight Sun Marathon.
Colin is a lifelong Alaskan and graduate from the University of Alaska-Fairbanks. Colin previously was a senior manager for the assurance department of a large national accounting firm. He has extensive experience working with large consolidated companies in the government contracting, construction, and retail industries. He is a licensed CPA in Alaska. Having grown up in Trapper Creek, Colin is a lifelong Alaskan and graduate from the University of Alaska-Fairbanks. During his free time he enjoys sporting events, hiking, reading, and traveling with his family.
Mr. Kennedy's accounting firm, Kennedy & Co., LLC, merged with Swalling & Associates in 2006. He brings 40 years of management, finance, accounting and auditing expertise to the firm. Mr. Kennedy holds a master's degree in business administration from Alaska Pacific University, as well as a bachelor's degree in accounting from the University of Montana. His public service credentials include serving on the ethics boards and the Alaska State Board of Accountancy, the regulatory body for CPAs. He has served on boards for large corporations with assets greater than $1 billion and the Alaska State Chamber of Commerce. He is an active community volunteer from local youth sports to national and international organizations. He feels honored to be a blue and gold officer volunteer for the United States Naval Academy (Annapolis) and U.S. Senator Dan Sullivan for the congressional nomination process for military academies. He is a retired mountaineer and successfully summited Denali via the difficult south buttress route.
Job Titles:
- Professional Staff Member
Ms. Dakan began her accounting career with Swalling & Associates in January of 2016. Her prior experience in the accounting industry includes tax, bookkeeping, and office management for small companies. She is responsible for preparing complex income tax returns and working on financial statement audits, reviews and compilations. Ms. Dakan graduated from Robert Morris University in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania with a bachelor's degree in Accounting and Finance. She is a certified public accountant in the state of Alaska and a member of the Alaska Society of CPAs. Ms. Dakan also grew up playing ice hockey in the state and continues to skate as often as she can today.
A life-long Alaskan, Ms. Kennedy has been working as a public accountant since 1984. In 2006, her own company, Kennedy & Co., LLC, merged with Swalling & Associates. Since then, Ms. Kennedy has been actively providing accounting, tax, finance, and management advisory services to businesses and individuals. She takes pride in fostering meaningful relationships and takes a personal interest in the business and tax affairs of each client. Ms. Kennedy holds a bachelor's degree from the University of Alaska, Anchorage. She is a past president of the Valley Performing Arts and continues to actively volunteer for the theatre. She is actively involved in Wasilla Sunrise Rotary serving in various officer positions such as President, Treasurer, and Secretary. She likes traveling with her husband Dan and spending time with her three adult children who are busy serving our country.
Before establishing his practice, Mr. Swalling was a partner in the Anchorage firm Ernst & Young. He has provided accounting services in Alaska since 1971. His clients include high net worth individuals, estates, trusts and a variety of business entities, such as real estate development, construction, retail, professional services, and Native corporations. Mr. Swalling is a graduate of the University of Notre Dame and is a life-long resident of Alaska. He is active in both professional and community service organizations and serves on the Board of Directors for Northrim Bank, Providence Health and Services, the Anchorage Convention and Visitors Bureau, the Anchorage Museum Foundation and the Alaska Pacific University Foundation, among others.
Swalling & Associates, P.C. is a certified public accounting firm, serving small to mid-size, closely held Alaskan businesses and their owners.
Chris Swalling founded Swalling & Associates in 1991.
John C. (Chris) Swalling founded the firm in 1991, when the international accounting firms started migrating out of Alaska. He had worked for such firms in Anchorage for 20 years - and didn't want to leave the State.
Swalling, was born and raised in Anchorage, started the firm based on his vision to give Alaskan-owned businesses the same depth of expertise as the larger firms but with an even greater commitment to client service and personal involvement.
John graduated with a BBA in Management from Washburn University in Topeka, Kansas in 2018. After serving 5 years as an Officer in the Army, John completed a graduate certificate in accounting from Golden Gate University in California. After graduation, John decided to stay in Anchorage and pursue a career in accounting. During his free time he enjoys going on hikes and spending time with his family and friends.
Johnna Minemyer has provided audit, accounting, and tax services since joining the firm in 2012. She has a rich knowledge of financial statement and tax compliance. Her experience includes working with closely-held Alaskan companies in a variety of industries as well as high net worth individuals and business owners. She has developed expertise in employee-owned companies within the professional services industry. Ms. Minemyer is a licensed CPA in the State of Alaska and a member of the Alaska Society of CPAs and the American Institute of CPAs. She holds BBA degrees in accounting and information systems from the University of Montana - Missoula. Johnna has a passion for the outdoors and winter sports, which lead to becoming an AASI Certified Snowboard Instructor (inactive).
Swalling & Associates, P.C. is a certified public accounting firm, serving small to mid-size, closely held Alaskan businesses and their owners.
Job Titles:
- Professional Staff Member
Justin brings a wide range of valuable experience from different industries. Justin began his career as a senior auditor with a national public accounting firm, later working in various accounting roles for Alaska Native Corporations. His focus is on comprehensive accounting and financial reporting for oil & gas, construction, and government contracting clients. Justin was raised in Eagle River and graduated from the University of Alaska Anchorage. He received a graduate certificate in accounting from the University of Hawaii Manoa. He is a licensed CPA in Alaska and a member of the Alaska Society of CPAs. When not in the office, he enjoys hiking, playing hockey, and participating in triathlons.
Ken is a lifelong Alaskan. After serving in the U.S. Army, he obtained a Bachelor's in Business degree with a major in Accounting from the University of Alaska, Anchorage. Prior to joining the Firm in 2008, he was a branch manager, commercial lender, and investment advisor with several local Alaskan banks. He provided banking services to the communities of Glennallen, King Salmon, Wasilla, and Anchorage over a span of 12 years. Ken has been a CPA in the State of Alaska since 2015 and provides accounting and tax services to a wide variety of Alaskan clients. His hobbies include playing guitar, outdoor activities and occasionally traveling to warm and/or interesting places.
Job Titles:
- Professional Staff Member
Ms. Culver joined Swalling & Associates in 2019. Kristen is originally from Washington state. She went into college as a pre-med major, took one accounting class, and the rest is history. She graduated from the University of Alaska Anchorage in 2016 with a bachelor of business administration degree with a major in accounting and has had a career in public accounting ever since. She joined the firm's professional staff in February 2019; before that, she spent three years interning in both audit and tax at a national CPA firm and then as an assurance associate for two years. She has primarily worked on non-profits, construction companies, and employee benefit plans. She has listened to the song Vienna in the city of Vienna. In her spare time, she enjoys country dancing, knitting, wine tasting, and getting outdoors in our beautiful state.
Lia was previously a partner in the assurance department of a national CPA firm and a director in the Anchorage office of a regional CPA firm. During that time, her responsibilities encompassed managing services to clients in various industries, consulting on accounting, reporting for clients throughout the West Region, and development and presentation of training seminars. Lia oversees audits of Alaska Native corporations, nonprofit entities, employee benefit plans, and various attestation engagements. Lia moved to Alaska from San Francisco, California, in 1993 with her husband and graduated from the University of Alaska, Anchorage. Lia is actively involved in local nonprofits such as Victims for Justice and the Anchorage Youth Soccer Club. Lia spends her spare time traveling and hiking with her family and is currently a proud soccer mom.
Lia has over twenty years of experience in public accounting.
Mafel joined the firm as a staff accountant in 2020. Originally from the Philippines, Mafel moved to Alaska in 2013 with her family after graduating from high school. In Alaska she began working as a manager at a local grocery chain where she developed her skills in customer service and problem-solving. While working full time, Mafel pursued a Bachelor's degree in Accounting from the University of Alaska Anchorage and graduated in 2019. Mafel joined the firm in January 2020 as a new staff accountant. When she is not studying for the CPA exam, in her spare time she enjoys traveling, relaxing at the beach, and watching the sunset during summer in Alaska.
Natasha joined the firm in November 2021. Initially pursuing a degree in civil engineering, Natasha switched her focus to accounting and graduated from the University of Alaska Anchorage with a BBA in Accounting. Before joining the firm, she worked for the State of Alaska Department of Revenue, developing her professional skills in management, problem-solving, and communicating complex accounting data. Natasha grew up in the world of martial arts, earning her black belt in Karate and winning gold medals at National Championships. She enjoys kayaking, fishing, and RV-ing around Alaska when not working.
Job Titles:
- Professional Staff Member
Peggy joined the firm in January 2022. Peggy graduated with a BBA in Accounting from the University of Alaska Anchorage in December 2020. Before joining the firm, she worked many years in Customer Service. Peggy developed her time management skills, attention-to-detail, and problem-solving skills during that time. Whenever she has the chance, Peggy likes to explore the Alaskan outdoors. Her favorite pastime is kayaking and spending time with her family and dog.
"Sandy" was born and raised in Fairbanks, pursuing a degree in accounting from the University of Alaska Fairbanks for several years before moving to Anchorage to join the firm in the fall of 2023 and continue his degree online. He expects to graduate in 2025 and then pursue his CPA license. Sandy worked full time as a tax intern at a local firm in Fairbanks since 2021, with a focus on small business and individual clients. In his free time, Sandy enjoys playing golf and following his favorite hockey, baseball, and Formula One teams.
Ms. De La Torre started her career as a senior manager at a national CPA firm, and since then has refined her expertise to include accounting and consulting services to a broad range of industries, including Alaska Native corporations. At Swalling & Associates, she is responsible for delivering financial statement and income tax planning and compliance services. Ms. De La Torre holds a bachelor's degree in business, accounting and office administration from Montana State University. She is a member of both the Alaska Society of Certified Public Accountants and the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants.
Ms. De La Torre has 35+ years of experience in tax accounting.
Job Titles:
- Professional Staff Member
- Staff Accountant
Ryan joined the firm as a staff accountant in early 2020. His previous accounting experience was at a local non-profit organization in the areas of payroll, accounts payable, accounts receivable, grant reporting, and non-profit finance. Ryan graduated from the University of Alaska Anchorage with a Bachelor of Business Administration in Accounting. In his spare time, Ryan enjoys discovering new hikes in Alaska.
Shelby graduated with a Bachelor of Science in accounting from Western Governors University in September 2018. Her previous experience includes individual income tax preparation and a variety of accounting roles in state and local government, where she enhanced her skills in compliance and interpreting regulations. Shelby is originally from Nevada and spends her free time skijoring and biking with her husky lab.
She has over 20 years of experience in public accounting. Prior to joining the firm, she was a managing director and partner in the tax department of BDO USA, LLP after its expansion with Mikunda, Cottrell & Co. Tracy's experience includes comprehensive tax and accounting services for a variety of industries and closely held entities. She is also experienced with the Alaska Native Claims Settlement Act and the complex issues involving Alaska Native Corporations. Tracy was born and raised in Alaska and graduated from the University of Alaska, Anchorage. She enjoys being involved in the community and supporting professional and charitable organizations such as the Alaska State Society of Certified Public Accountants, Anchorage Rotary, the Lutheran School Association of Alaska, and the Providence Alaska Foundation.
Tracy Hartung joined Swalling & Associates in January 2019.
Job Titles:
- Director
- Managing Director
Mr. Eski has 35+ years of experience providing integrated tax and comprehensive accounting services to closely-held Alaskan businesses and owners. As managing director, he is responsible for delivering client services, practice development, office administration, and the firm's quality control. He has earned separate master's degrees in Accountancy (Taxation) and Real Estate & Urban Economics from the University of Wisconsin-Madison and taught undergraduate accounting courses while attending graduate school. He is actively involved in professional and community organizations, including the Alaska Society of CPAs, Anchorage Estate Planning Council, American Institute of CPAs, and local non-profits such as the Alaska SPCA and AK Public Media. He currently serves on the Executive Board of DFK USA. Wayne spends his spare time shooting target archery, mountain/road/gravel/snow biking, and Nordic skiing with his family (find him on Strava).