Your Higdon & Hale Team The Higdon & Hale team comprises 15 Certified Public Accountants, Certified Financial Planners, Staff Accountants and Administrative Assistants. We share a commitment to provide clients with expert professional advice, along with highly personalized service.
President John Martin, CPA
John Martin joined the firm in 1986 and has been a shareholder since 1991. He oversees the firm's accounting and auditing practice, and he assists clients with tax compliance. John serves a wide and diverse client base, including manufacturing and wholesale operations, non-profits, small municipalities and professionals. John was the treasurer of the City of Roeland Park, Kan. He is a current Board Member of Estate Planning Society of Kansas City. A Certified Public Accountant in the states of Kansas and Missouri, John is a member of the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants and the Missouri Society of Certified Public Accountants. Martin earned a bachelor’s degree in Accounting from Rockhurst University in Kansas City, Mo. Although John has only worked for one firm since he became an accountant, he does enjoy traveling to try out new golf courses-or staying home and playing golf.
johnmartin@higdonhale.com Certified Public Accountants
Principal Dave Higdon, CPA and CFP
Dave Higdon has more than 50 years of diversified professional public accounting experience in auditing, taxes and management advisory services. His experience includes seven years with a regional firm of Certified Public Accountants, where he held the positions of assistant tax manager and audit manager. For eight years, Dave served as City Treasurer for Prairie Village, Kan., where he obtained experience in the areas of governmental accounting, fund accounting, budgeting, forecasting, and the preparation of reports required in the distribution of Federal funds. Dave is a Certified Public Accountant in the states of Missouri and Kansas. He is a member of the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants and the Missouri Society of Certified Public Accountants. Dave is also a Certified Financial Planner and served numerous years as a board member of the Financial Planning Association of Greater Kansas City. Dave earned a bachelor’s degree in Accounting from the University of Wichita in Wichita, Kan.. When not at the office, Dave is often found at the lake or an antique car show. davehigdon@higdonhale.com
Principal Bob Hale, CPA Bob Hale has more than 50 years of accounting experience, including four years with a "Big Eight" firm of Certified Public Accountants, and 15 years as Corporate Controller of a national chemical manufacturing and distribution company. Bob was actively involved in many mergers and acquisitions of regional and national chemical companies. As a Certified Public Accountant in the states of Missouri and Kansas, Bob is a member of the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants, the Kansas Society of Certified Public Accountants and the Financial Executives Institute. For 14 years, Bob served as City Treasurer of Westwood, Kan., and for the past 40 years he has served as the City Treasurer of Westwood Hills, Kan. Bob has served on the Board of Directors of the Kansas Society of CPAs and the Long Range Planning Committee, and he served as Chairman of the Management of an Accounting Practice of the Kansas Society of CPAs. Bob earned a bachelor’s degree in Accounting from the University of Wichita in Wichita, Kan. He participates in continuing education programs and seminars sponsored by the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants and other professional organizations. Bob loves warm weather and travels to places where he can boat and sail whenever possible. bobhale@higdonhale.com
Principal John Keech, CPA John is a Certified Public Accountant in the states of Missouri and Kansas and a member of the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants and the Missouri Society of Certified Public Accountants. He earned his bachelor’s degree in Accounting from the University of Missouri and participates in numerous programs and seminars sponsored by the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants and various State Societies of Certified Public Accountants.John Keech has more than 40 years of experience in public accounting, including 14 years with both national and regional Certified Public Accounting firms and more than 30 years as an owner, officer and director of a local accounting practice. His areas of expertise include income taxation, estate planning and business planning for small- to medium-sized business organizations and individuals. Although John enjoys golfing, reading, and biking, his life goal is to fly in an F-16 jet fighter aircraft. johnkeech@higdonhale.com
Principal William F. (Rick) Wesemann, CPA
Rick Wesemann specializes in accounting and income tax consulting, income tax preparation and management advisory services for closely held businesses and individuals. He is a Certified Public Accountant in Missouri and Kansas, as well as a member of the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants and the Missouri Society of Certified Public Accountants. Rick earned a bachelor’s degree in Accounting from Kansas State University in Manhattan, Kan. He has also completed the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants education program, "Tax Planning and Advising for A Closely Held Business". When not at the office or cheering on his children at sporting events, Rick is putting his brown belt in Judo to work as he moves closer to earning his black belt.
rickwesemann@higdonhale.com
Principal Gary Welch, CPA
A Certified Public Accountant in Missouri and Kansas, Gary is a member of the Kansas and Missouri Society of Certified Public Accountants. He earned a bachelor’s degree in Accounting from Wichita University in Wichita, Kan.Before joining Higdon & Hale in February 1995, Gary Welch spent over 30 years as an employee and partner at Troupe Kehoe Whiteaker & Kent. He has extensive background in auditing and financial and management consultation, as well as corporate and individual income tax planning matters. Gary has experience in many industries, including construction and manufacturing, real estate development, home and commercial construction, steel fabricators and erection, trucking, auto dealerships, non-profit organizations, Broker-Dealer organizations, Yellow Book audits, Single Audits - OMB A-133 and HUD Projects. When not crunching numbers or hanging out with one of his 14 grandchildren, Gary sneaks in a round of golf as often as possible.
garywelch@higdonhale.com
Alison Maier, CPA Alison Maier has more than 27 years of experience in public and private accounting. While in private industry, her emphasis was in construction and health care accounting. In public accounting, her emphasis is in individual income tax and QuickBooks. Alison is a Certified Public Accountant in the state of Kansas and a member of the Kansas Society of Certified Public Accountants. She earned a bachelor’s degree in Accounting from Kansas State University in Manhattan, Kan. She participates in numerous programs and seminars sponsored by the American Institution of Certified Public Accountants and various State Societies of Certified Public Accountants. When not at work, Alison spends as much time as possible riding her Hanley bike and helping high school kids as a volunteer in the FIRST Robotics program.
alison@higndonhale.com
Principal Sam Clough, CPA
Sam Clough began his career in public accounting with Sernes, Chandler, Schupp and Connealy CPAs, a firm that later merged with Grant Thornton. He is a Certified Public Accountant in Missouri and Kansas and is an active member of the AICPA.
Sam’s auditing experience includes private high schools and colleges, religious organizations, construction industry, trade organizations and banks. He offers tax planning and preparation for individuals, corporations, partnerships, estates and trusts. Sam attended Kansas City, Missouri Junior College and Rockhurst College in Kansas City, Mo. As an Eagle Scout and an accountant, Sam says people are surprised to learn he has a sense of humor – which is vital in the office and on the golf course.
samclough@higdonhale.com
Associates
Thomas E. (Tom) Bax Tom Bax has over 45 years of experience in public accounting and corporate finance, having owned a tax preparation and accounting business prior to joining Higdon & Hale. He has special expertise in small organizations and individual income tax. Tom earned a bachelor’s degree in Accounting from Central Missouri State University in Warrensburg, Mo. He has participated in numerous accounting and tax seminars sponsored by the National Society of Accountants, The Public Accountants Association of Kansas and other professional organizations.
tombax@higdonhale.com
Sharon Bush Sharon Bush joined Higdon & Hale in 2002 as an accountant and income tax return preparation specialist. Sharon was employed by Gary E. Kaplan, C.P.A., for over 20 years, and she joined Higdon & Hale when the firm merged with Kaplan’s practice. Sharon’s experience and educational background translate to highly professional services for Higdon & Hale clients. When not at work, Sharon loves to travel and garden. sharonbush@higdonhale.com
Richard Horn, CFP, E.A. Richard Horn joined Higdon & Hale in 1996 as a staff accountant with extensive experience in preparing personal and business income tax returns, income tax planning and performing accounting services. In addition, Richard has experience as a licensed independent insurance agent and a certified financial planner specialized in ministry planning and college financial planning. Richard earned an associate’s degree from Coffeyville Community College in Coffeyville, Kan., and a bachelor’s degree in International Relations & Anthropology from the University of Kansas in Lawrence, Kan. He received his paralegal certificate from the Institute for Paralegal in Houston, Texas. As a published author, Richard enjoys his accounting work but is a poet at heart. richardhorn@higdonhale.com
Support Staff
Linda Jones, Receptionist Secretary
Linda Jones joined Higdon & Hale in 1989 as the receptionist and lead secretary to help manage the administrative tasks of the firm. Jones is vital to office functions related to the timely filing of tax compliance forms, financial reports and many other essential client-related service functions, in addition to general office operations. Linda enjoys spending time with her grandchildren and also plays a game of Bunco or Bingo with her treasured friends. lindajones@higdonhale.com
Shanda Lollar, Executive Assistant Shanda attended college at North Central Missouri College in Trenton, Missouri and is a member of Phi Theta Kappa.Shanda Lollar joined Higdon and Hale as the Executive Assistant in 2004. In addition to providing administrative and management support to the firm’s senior team, Shanda assists clients by conducting research, preparing statistical reports and handling information requests. Shanda describes her job as being responsible for everything that was needed two hours ago and being able to read minds and overt disasters. When not demonstrating her great stealth with paper clips. shanda@higdonhale.com
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