meet-the-team

Our Company

A Full Service Accounting Firm specializing in Small Business, Payroll, Bookkeeping and all Taxes, Marie Alana Bass, CPA provides a personal touch to running your business

You can always choose a faceless firm that passes your information to other accountants, or you can pick people who are willing to do whatever it takes to earn your trust and earn your business.

Our Team

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Alana Bass, CPA

After my son was born, I started a private practice to handle the incredible demands of work/life balance. What I wasn't expecting after spending years as a Public Accountant, a Managerial Accountant and a Forensic Accountant working for some of the biggest companies in the world and also some of the smallest was that my business would grow so very fast once my husband started helping market. I never really realized just how difficult it is if you're someone who doesn't know a "money" person you can trust as every client I'd ever gotten on my own was a referral. Today, as my son is finished with Auburn Engineering and my daughter is attending UVA. I see how important it is that the trust relationship needs to grow over time. My children know I'm there for them but that's because I've always been there. To prospective clients who haven't met me yet, please call me if you have any accounting, business, tax, payroll, or bookkeeping issues and allow me to be the person you trust with your business. Over time, I'll earn your trust too.

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George Bass, MBA

When I met Alana at the University of Florida, I was already in business school having worked as a salesman after graduating college. I only saw business from the Revenue side of things and had a difficult time understanding how companies valued people in Cost Centers. As the founder of three companies (two successful and one not) I quickly became aware that earning money was only half of a p&l. As an Adjunct Professor at KSU where I teach both the undergrads and the EMBA's, I've made it my mission to look at businesses as a whole and show others how to do the same. In order for Alana Bass, CPA to grow, there needed to be an office manager, Bookkeeping Supervisor and Marketer and it's my pleasure to do all of these. I believe people only engage in free trade if they're better off than they were if they didn't. And I know that working with Alana Bass, CPA makes everyone better off. Please call us if you have any accounting questions and let us help you keep more of your own hard earned money.

Heide Fisher

Coming to work at Alana Bass, CPA was quite possibly the very best experience of my professional life. I first met Alana and George when they began doing the accounting for the company at which I had worked for nearly 25 years. Their professionalism, help and understanding cleared up all the problems we had and was instrumental in facilitating a move from one antiquated accounting system to QBO. When circumstances led to me needing a job, they hired me right away and spent the next month training me how to do basic bookkeeping. Then, they helped me study and prepare for the QBO certification exam. This took one month.

After all that training we began the actual customer training where George sat with me every day and showed me how he did the books for different clients. He did this for another month before having me do the books while he watched. We did this for another month after that and then, after three months of training at Alana Bass, CPA, I started working on customer's books on my own.

I've never felt so prepared and able to handle customer issues as I have with Alana Bass, CPA. Where else does someone take a quarter of a year to make sure you're totally ready to be entrusted with preparing company's financial statements. Yes, if I have any questions, George will answer them as well as review my work each week but the collaboration, the supportive environment, and the customers are all fantastic.

Elda Quijano, CPA

I completed my Bachelor of Science in Business Administration, major in Accounting, at the Philippine Women’s University in Manila. While working in the U.S., I felt that I should obtain a CPA license in order to better equip me in the field of accounting. I was able to successfully acquire this in September 2008. Throughout my career, I managed payroll and tax reconciliation, general accounting, financial reporting, credit and collection, budget development, cost planning, and others from small to large establishments, both private and public. In every organization I became a part of, I consistently look for ways to improve the process as needed in my area of concentration and made my workplace better than when I started. Working with Alana, I will be expanding my knowledge as a CPA and a proficient tax professional while bringing in my experience and expertise from my previous employments.

Krystyna Ameros

When not acting as a Volunteer Business Manager for Camp Camellia Rose with the Girl Scouts of Greater Atlanta, Krystyna puts her Bookkeeping and Accounting Skills to good use since 2001. Having served as a Controller for more than 11 years, Krystyna is QuickBooks Certified and extremely service oriented. Her professional model is one that puts her clients first and the ease with which she communicates makes working with her a joy. Familiar with every aspect of bookkeeping from categorization to reconciliation, Krystyna can provide financial analysis and pro-forma forecasts as well as help determine the best and most efficient systems for clients to track their cash flow and understand where their business is on paper. At Alana Bass, CPA PC we are very fortunate to have her.

Jennifer Crandon

I have been providing full charge bookkeeping services for over 25 years. In that time I have been a US Army Veteran owned business owner and I have an extensive background in all aspects of full charge bookkeeping & tax preparation. My clients include everything between restaurants, retail, various types of medical practices, automotive, construction, transportation, and a multitude of other types of small businesses. My specialties include setting up a new business and all aspects of accounting, including financial statements, payroll generation, all types of tax reporting, A/R & A/P services, individual, partnership & corporate federal tax returns. I am a Notary Public, Certified Notary Signing Agent, Commissioned Remote Online Notary and I am Certified Fingerprint Technician for the National Air Transportation Association (NATA) authorized by the Transportation Security Administration (TSA) to collect and process fingerprints necessary to conduct Criminal History Records Checks. I am obviously a very driven individual and I have found my passion in accounting. I enjoy sharing my experiences to educate and council other business owners to help them build the best possible business model to achieve their goals.

Jocelyn Spidle

Having graduated college with a 4.0 GPA in business administration and a concentration in Accounting, Alana Bass, CPA was very fortunate to have Jocelyn choose to come work with us as her first real world job. Jocelyn passed all her QBO certification in one shot (no easy feat) but that’s not unexpected as she worked full time while in College raising her three children with her husband and high school sweetheart. When not bookkeeping or raising kids, Jocelyn enjoys painting as a creative outlet.

Merri Bass

Having worked within the service industry for 30 plus years, Merri has managed and supervised a large group of software support specialists. As a high level executive, Merri values customer service and taking care of clients above all. Wanting to expand her role to be able to work outside of her employer, Alana Bass, CPA is very fortunate to have Meredith come work with us. Merri is QBO certified and sees accounting as more than just a puzzle to solve. She understands the human component that comes with maintaining client’s books and this is what makes her so spectacular. Merri is an avid cyclist and CrossFit enthusiast.

Chelsey Patera, EA

Chelsey is a hardworking, self-driven individual from Bozeman, Montana. In 2019, she graduated from Montana State University with a Bachelor of Science degree in Accounting. Chelsey became an Enrolled Agent in 2023 and is actively pursuing her CPA license. Chelsey has experience in a plethora of industries but loves working with small businesses. As a young entrepreneur, it has become her passion to help like-minded individuals pursue their entrepreneurial dreams. When Chelsey is not geeking out over taxes she enjoys spending time with her husband and two young sons, playing softball, and enjoying a warm, summer night with some live music.

Felicia Dixson, EA, CTRC, ATA

It’s not often you meet someone who has danced at opening ceremonies for Disney, been handed a contract from Sony to sing in Nashville, engineered fireworks displays for an entire city and told fish tales they can back up with photos all while lining up awards as an accountant.

Felecia first fell in love with math as a junior in high school. A tomboy at heart, she loves to take things apart and see how they go back together, so math and its problem-solving possibilities were a natural fit. “Math is amazing because it rules the world. We use algebra principles every day, having to know X and figure out Y to get to Z.”

Her passion has led her to serve as an officer or chairperson on committees from improving the IRS to taxpayer advocacy. She also serves as Treasurer for her local Board of the Veterans Park Association Committee. To no surprise, Felecia has also been named a TaxBuzz Top 100 Professional.

Corine Hampton MST, CRTP/CTEC

Corine is an incredibly experienced tax accountant, with 27 years in the business. She literally grew up in an accounting firm, with her first job being at a firm in her local neighborhood. Having a friendly personality, she uses her knowledge of the tax world to tailor each client’s experience to their own particular needs. Corine holds a master’s in taxation and is a CRTP/CTEC for California. She is a people-person with a professional edge. Corine has experience with high-net worth individuals and other various business entities. When not in the middle of busy season, Corine regularly helps clients with strategic tax plans and forecasts. She has a broad realm of knowledge and often assists with training bookkeepers on accounting, payroll, depreciation and the many features of different accounting software packages. Having been married for 23 years, Corine has one daughter, and two mischievous English bulldogs. When she isn’t focusing on taxes or helping out with the Southern California Bulldog Rescue (she’s a board member), Corine can often be found in a bowling alley, cheering on her daughter (a collegiate/junior professional bowler), or trying on her many pairs of shoes (which she designs and has flown in from Italy)!

Serita Lombard, CPA

Serita is the very definition of " unafraid to get it done and get it done right". After graduating with her degree in Accounting, Serita began running her own business preparing taxes, reviewing returns, payroll processing, bookkeeping and handling sales tax. Now that she's part of our team, Serita is able to utilize her skills with the other tax preparers, bookkeepers and reviewers to help Alana Bass, CPA PC grow in ways that couldn't happen before. We're very excited and happy to have Serita at Alana Bass, CPA. When she isn't accounting and solving people's problems, Serita sails the lakes of North Georgia.

Abby Owens

I completed my Bachelor of Science in Business Administration, majoring in Accounting, at Auburn University. War Eagle! As a young entrepreneur my passion is to help like-minded individuals pursue their entrepreneurial dreams. I have been working in accounting for three years now and continue to grow my skillset every day. Throughout my career, I have experience working in general accounting, financial reporting, and others from small to large establishments, both private and public. I love being able to use my talents and abilities to financially serve the clients I work with. I strive to seek and to glorify God in everything I do. If I am not working, I am coaching volleyball or spending time with friends and family.

Andrea Crews

I started my bookkeeping experience in a retail environment 30 + years ago. I continued these skills after joining the US Navy and handle payroll for 5 submarines with 1000 +people. After being wife and mom for a several years, I then went back into the financial field, performed as full-time bookkeeper, prepared budgets, developed/maintained financial records, reconciled accounts, controlled inventory, and processed payroll, including payroll taxes. I also performed internal audits in multiples states. For the past 2 yrs I have been working in the medical field in the accounting department but am now excited to join the team at Alana Bass CPA full time.

Elizabeth Upshaw

I first met Alana Bass professionally when she took over the accounting for my husband's company. My husband had passed away and I didn't know anything about bookkeeping, finance, accounting or taxes, but she spent inordinate amounts of time with me walking through how I'd record and put together my financial statements for a company with which I was wholly unfamiliar. When we finally got it ready to close, I had become very proficient in quickbooks and Alana asked if I would come work with her.

Alana and George helped me prep for the QBO certification and after that they spent time walking through each of their clients with me and showed how every business, like my late husband's company, had individual needs and challenges.

But what really impressed me was the system that George had set up for me. After showing me how each company worked, he'd have me categorize the revenue and expenses and then, if there was any question about where to put what, I'd shoot him an e-mail and he'd answer. If there were any larger issues such as fixed assets problems, depreciation schedules etc, I'd call and he'd walk me through those. Then, every week we'd review what was done to make sure it was all correct and that's how Alana Bass, CPA keeps all these companies current. Their fail-safe method of insuring all the company's books are done correctly is exactly what I'd expect from them when I was a client and exactly what I provide for others now that I am an employee.

"I would be lost without Alana Bass, CPA. I met Alana through George, as I worked with him at the Mesa Consulting Group where we helped businesses earn more money than they spent, but when I moved to Ball State from KSU, lost my brother and had to handle the rigors of a new, more demanding position, I just didn't know how to deal with estates, trusts, new compensation plans and the new tax laws. Like George does when he teaches, she took complicated subject matter and made it simple and easy to understand. Without someone I know had my best interests at heart, I would have been terrified trying to handle all of these issues on my own. Thank you Alana and thank you George."