Principals

Douglas M. Dewar | ddewar@dmecpa.com

Doug founded the firm in September of 1984 after having spent eleven years in public accounting (including five years with Arthur Andersen) and four years in private industry (primarily as a chief financial officer). He retired from public accounting on June 30, 2006, but continues to maintain an office at the firm so he can say hello to former clients and keep track of his real estate investments.

After moving his practice to Edmonds, Doug became very active in community activities because he is a strong believer in “giving back”. He was involved with the SnoKing Youth Club as a basketball and baseball coach (1985-1991), and the Public Education Foundation of the Edmonds School District as a trustee and treasurer (1989-1992). He was active in the Edmonds Chamber of Commerce beginning in 1985 as a director, treasurer, president and the Taste of Edmonds chairman (1993-1996). He was a founder of the Edmonds Visitors Bureau in 1990 and was active in its successor organization the Edmonds Alliance for Economic Development. He was treasurer and chairman of both organizations. From 1995 to 2003 he was a director of The Boys and Girls Clubs of Snohomish County, and was also the treasurer from 1998-2000 and it’s President in 2001-2002. He served as the alumni financial advisor for Delta Chi Fraternity from 1996 to 2008. He is also a member of Edmonds Rotary from 1988 to the present. In 2000 he was awarded the John M. Fluke, Sr. Community Service Award by the South Snohomish County Chamber of Commerce.

After graduating from the University of Washington in 1969 and marrying his wife Jan, they moved to Edmonds in 1972. They have two sons who are graduates of Western Washington University and the University of Washington. Jan was a librarian at College Place Elementary. Doug enjoys golfing and spending time at their winter home in Scottsdale, Arizona.

Michael D. Meeks | mmeeks@dmecpa.com

Mike is a principal of the firm. He currently consults with business and individual clients on the tax aspect of proposed transactions. He specializes in tax planning and consulting for small closely held businesses with the goal of developing a creative balance between the business and individual for income and estate tax minimization. He has extensive training and experience in all areas of taxation, including individual, partnership, corporations, estate, and fiduciary.

Mike is a graduate of Gonzaga University in Spokane Washington. He started his career with the international CPA firm of Arthur Andersen LLC in their Seattle office. After serving two years in the US Army, he returned to the Seattle area and over the next 9 years he was the controller for Seattle Housing Authority and a closely held nursing home chain. In 1981, he received his Masters Degree in Taxation from Golden Gate University – Seattle Campus.

In 1991 Mike merged his practice with Doug and Nancy to form the firm of Dewar Meeks + Ekrem PC. The firm has since quadrupled in size, now serving over 400 businesses and 1,300 individuals throughout the Puget Sound Region.

Mike has been a member of the Edmonds Rotary Club since 1985, past president and board member of the Snohomish County Chapter of the Washington Society of CPAs and is the current chairperson of the Annual Banker/CPA Forum. Mike is also the current treasurer of the Marysville Tulalip Chamber of Commerce. He is also a past member of the South Snohomish County YMCA board and a past treasurer of the Klahaya Swim and Tennis Club.

Nancy J. Ekrem | nekrem@dmecpa.com

Nancy has been a principal of the firm since 1990. Her main focus is serving clients in the areas of Estate Planning, Income Tax Planning, Business Planning, compliance with Generally Accepted Accounting Principles (GAAP), and Not for Profit accounting.

Nancy attained her CPA certificate in 1982, and has spent most of her career in public accounting. She has been with the firm since 1985. Nancy is a graduate cum laude with a BS in Business Administration from Seattle University (1981) – (Go Redhawks), a member of the Washington State Society of CPAs and the American Institute of CPAs.

Currently a director of the S. Snohomish County Chamber of Commerce, she has spent much of her time serving on various committees and boards throughout the region that emphasize business, arts, and children.

She lives in Seattle with her husband Vance. They are the parents of adult children. (Yippee for being empty nesters!)  They enjoy traveling, hanging out with friends, and hosting “family” dinners.  One of Nancy’s favorite activities is working with teenagers.

CPA’s

Noreen Reis | nreis@dmecpa.com

Noreen joined our team in 2000.

She specializes in meeting all the needs of our small business clients ranging from QuickBooks assistance to preparation and review of personal, business tax returns and financial statements. She manages many of our firm’s compilation, review and audit engagements.

Noreen is a CPA who received her BS degree in accounting from Central Washington University where she graduated cum laude in 1987. She is a member of the Washington State Society of CPAs.

Prior to joining our team, she worked as a consultant for Ernst & Young and as an assistant controller for a window coverings manufacturer.

Noreen has volunteered her time serving on several school district advisory boards, as treasurer of the Olympic View Music Boosters, as treasurer and executive chairperson of the View Ridge Cooperative Preschool, and as an accountant for the Phinney Neighborhood Association.

Noreen lives in Mukilteo with her teenage daughter.  She has a son currently attending Washington State University. In her spare time she enjoys gardening, cooking, skiing, and racquetball.

Liz Tyner | ltyner@dmecpa.com

Liz joined the firm in July 2008.  She specializes in estate and trust returns as well as prepares and reviews personal and business tax returns.  She also prepares and assists with compilation and review engagements.

She is a member of the Washington State Society of CPA’s and American Institute of Certified Public Accounts.

Liz has owned her own CPA firm as well as worked in private and public accounting firms..  While a stay at home mom,  she volunteered and filled many roles in her tenure on the Board of Trustees of Villa Academy and actively participated in the Windermere Children’s Hospital Guild.  She also served as Treasurer of the North Shore Chamber of Commerce.

Liz has 3 children and one grandson.  She enjoys traveling, gardening, spending time at her cabin on South Puget Sound and finding the next great boutique Washington Winery. 

Chris Fulton | cfulton@dmecpa.com

Chris joined our firm as a staff accountant in 2008 and became a CPA in 2010.  He received his BA degree from Reed College in 1999 and an MS degree from Penn State in 2002. Following graduation, he spent 5 years working as a consultant in China.

Chris is also a part time faculty member of North Seattle Community College, where he teaches accounting. Chris lives in Edmonds with his wife Yi and their son Evan, who was born in 2010. In his spare time he enjoys reading, hiking, and cooking.

Staff

Shirley Kronheim | skronheim@dmecpa.com

Born and raised in South Africa, Shirley received degrees in Science and Math from the University of Cape Town. After moving to Seattle in 1980, she did Medical Research at the University of Washington for 2 years and at Immunex Corp for 10 years. For the next 10 years, she stayed home with her 2 young children, volunteering in their classrooms and their schools. Since taking an intense tax class in 2000, Shirley has prepared hundreds of tax returns. She has been with Dewar, Meeks and Ekrem since 2002.

Shirley lives in Kenmore with her husband, Orlay and their border collie.  In her spare time, she enjoys tennis, kayaking, gardening, reading and playing bridge.

Administration

Anne (Emerick) Sanders | aemerick@dmecpa.com

Anne joined the team as a consultant 1999 and is still here keeping the firm administration running smoothly. She is fondly referred to as the “person in charge” and can be found managing the office, preparing tax returns, processing the billing, delegating tasks to the administration staff and doing just about anything that needs doing.

She has been the CFO/Director of Operations for two community banks in the Puget Sound area. Anne has a wealth of experience in the areas of management, personnel, compliance, finance, customer service and process redesign which was gained over 20 years working in the retail division of a large local bank.

Anne is looking forward to traveling, spending time with friends and family (and Braxton the dog), and enjoying life’s journey with her new husband Al.

Alice Elekes | aelekes@dmecpa.com

Alice joined the firm in September 2005 as the Front Office Administrator.  Alice is known as the friendly voice on the phone and keeps the office running smoothly.  If you need anything around the office, staff will often declare “Go Ask Alice.”

Alice grew up in Spokane, Washington.  She attended Gonzaga University where she met her husband, Jeff.  Alice graduated in 1987 with an Honors Bachelor of Arts in Economics and Minors in Mathematics and General Business.  She then attended San Jose State University and earned a Masters in Applied Economics.  After graduation, she worked as a staff analyst for the City of San Jose.

In 1991, Alice and her husband moved from the Bay Area to Lynnwood, Washington and she began her 9 year career as a full time mom.  During this time, she was also a Sunday school teacher, fundraising coordinator, team mom, and officer for Parents Club.  Alice worked at her children’s school for 5 years, as a Teacher’s Aide and then as Development Director.  Her experience working with little children has prepared her well for working here.

Alice and her husband Jeff have two children, both who now attend Gonzaga University.  Alice loves reading, gardening, sports, and the Zags.