About Us

Founder and former CPA, Bryan launched our service on the advice of his father (how does one make a living in this incredible town?) out of his home in 1993. From there, with the support of many CPAs, business owners, non-profit organizations and a fabulous staff, it has surpassed his dreams of what was possible. Bryan likes to play in his community – on the water, on the trails, in the woods, (and secretly taking up the ukulele) while continuing to strive for providing a service of outstanding care.

Since 2000, Mary brings her extensive office experience and dedication to doing each job right. Her dedication is only exceeded by her friendly and personal demeanor. Mary was born in Wisconsin, but came to Durango to help her sister build a barn and liked it so much that she eventually chose to settle down here. Mary's hobbies include caring for her llamas and making soap. She has a passion for reading and hiking the backcountry. Mary's goal is to eventually be able to spend more time outdoors and enjoy life.

Tanya started in June 2001. Her leadership skills, her attention to detail, and her sense of fairness has helped lead The Payroll Department to its success. She is a fair player of the game of softball (a lefty). She is a mother to two delightful girls who keep her incredibly busy when she's not here at the office.

Jessie was born and raised here in Durango and loves it! She earned both Accounting and Art degrees from Fort Lewis College which provides creativity and attention to detail in everything she does. All her jobs prior to starting with The Payroll Department in 2010 were service oriented and she continues to set the high standard of service we strive for. Outside of the office, she loves spending quality time with her son and being in the mountains. From cross country skiing in the winter, mountain biking in the summer, and traveling whenever she gets the chance, she’s up for any adventure with her family!

Jenny has been with The Payroll Department since 2011. Born and raised in Albuquerque, eventually the desire to live in her favorite vacation spot resulted in a move to Durango with her husband and two kids. She likes hiking, camping, music and being in the mountains. Combine computer skills with a love of numbers, and a drive to get the job done right, and you’ve got Jenny. She truly serves our clients and her colleagues with outstanding care. Need a custom report or specialized scripting? Jenny's your gal!

In May of 2016, Vanessa added her years of experience with small businesses and her passion for helping people to the Payroll Department Team. You will hear Vanessa’s smile anytime you call the office and be greeted enthusiastically anytime you walk in the door. Originally from the deserts of Arizona, her love the for gardening, the mountains, and four seasons brought her to beautiful Durango. When not working on your payrolls, she enjoys spending time with her family, being on outdoor adventures, and throwing down with the Durango Roller Girls.

LaShell moved to Durango in 1991 and started with The Payroll Dept in October 2018. LaShell brings her varied bookkeeping skills and her years in customer service to the team. She always has a smile on her face and loves helping people. Away from work, LaShell enjoys antique shopping, crafts, hanging out with family and friends, camping and loving on her 6 dogs.

Jodie joined The Payroll Department in the Fall of 2018. She was born and raised in the Midwest and moved to Durango in 2011 to be closer to family. She brings a diverse background to the team, including her experience as a business owner. With a love of numbers and a commitment to excellence, payroll processing is a natural fit. In her spare time, she loves training horses, barrel racing, enjoying Mexican food with family, and obsessing over her two blue heelers (Jammer and Sadie).

Originally from Oklahoma, Robbin moved to Durango in 1993. Her years of accounting experience made for a smooth transition in November 2019 to The Payroll Department. Just as she found her home in Durango, she found her home with the team at The Payroll Department. In her spare time, Robbin enjoys traveling, taking her dog to the river and watching a good college football game. Go Sooners!

Gary, a transplant from Chicagoland, joined the team in March 2020. After hiking the Pacific Crest Trail in 2017 it became his focus to find a smaller outdoorsy town in the mountains to call home. Durango fit the description perfectly. Having a wide variety of past working experience, he brings an all-encompassing view on customer service and loves working within such a tight-knit community. He believes less is more, which is why he lives in a tiny house and spends as much time as he can outside!

Although a Durango native, Matthew has lived all over including Hawaii and Mexico. He heard Durango calling and moved back in 2012 and subsequently joined The Payroll Department in October of 2020. He brings with him over 15 years of IT and customer service experience which he uses to provide our customers a more technologically advanced and simpler experience. He loves Durango and looks forward to serving its residents in this new capacity.

Michael joins the TPD team from First Republic Bank, where he was VP of Deposit Operations. Prior to banking, Michael was VP of Marketing at Berkeley Executive Education. Michael has taught programs on Innovation and Strategy in the Berkeley MBA program. Michael worked for the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, Deloitte Consulting, Booz Allen Hamilton, and was a youth sailing coach. Michael has an MBA from Berkeley, an M.A. in Economics from University of Denver, and a B.A. in Economics from Connecticut College. He is guided by a core belief in the power of human-centered design to transform both employee and customer experiences. Michael was born in Norway, grew up in Africa, and is excited to call Durango home.

Karel came to Durango from the Front Range with her husband and children in 2008. She joined the Payroll Department in 2021. Their commitment to a high standard of service, reputation of excellence and community support made it a team she is proud to be part of. Karel brings extensive customer service, accounting, and retail experience to the Payroll Department. She loves helping people and always has a smile to share. When not at the office you will find her cheering for her favorite sports team, playing in her garden or exploring all that the Southwest has to offer.

Growing up in Maine, Chelsea is no stranger to small town living. After spending her 20’s in Denver she traded in the city for the mountains and landed in Durango. Starting at The Payroll Department in September 2021 with a background in retail management, hospitality, and insurance sales, she strives to provide superior customer service. She loves numbers, puzzles, and building relationships with her clients, which has made The Payroll Department a perfect fit. When she is not at work you will find her adventuring in the mountains. Camping, hiking, climbing, skiing, biking, you name it - she is ready for it!

Sydney joined The Payroll Department in 2013 and after relocating and taking a 4-year hiatus to start a family she is back and feels like she never left! Sydney works and lives in beautiful Grand Junction with her family. She has substantial customer service experience, as well as banking experience. You will experience her spunk and enthusiasm with every interaction. When she is not working, she is rocking the mom gig with her two boys, Carson and Walter. She also enjoys leading her local MOPs group (Mothers of Preschoolers), playing with her dogs, and watching movies.

Kelly joined The Payroll Department in February 2022. She was born and raised in Albuquerque, NM and moved to Durango in 2020. Kelly brings with her a variety of skills garnered from her past work in several customer service industries, ranging from restaurants to veterinary medicine. Her attention to detail, passion for learning, and inclination as a problem solver make her a good fit here at The Payroll Department. Kelly is an avid cat lover and has fallen in love with the Durango outdoors and small-town vibe. She is excited to be part of the team and serve your payroll needs!

Genevieve joined The Payroll Department in 2022. After 3 years working with The Payroll Department as a client, she decided that this was the place to be. Genevieve brings a variety of skills to the team, including years of customer service and business management. Outside of work, you can find her tending to animals on the homestead, whipping together a gourmet dish for friends or trying her hand at new hobby.

Dylan is originally from south Dakota, but he felt adventure calling and decided to move to Durango in May of 2022. He brings years of customer service skills having most recently worked as a Sales Representative for Nabisco, and brings the technical skills with his degree in Accounting. He has a long list of outdoor hobbies such as skiing, biking, hiking, ultimate frisbee, soccer, and much more! He is eager to continue exploring the area!

Danae joined The Payroll Department in August 2022. She is a recent graduate from Fort Lewis College and decided she wasn’t ready to leave her favorite mountain town. When Danae came in for her first interview, she realized that The Payroll Department was where she wanted to be (Everyone was wearing flip-flops)! She found the work environment to be everything she could hope for when starting her career. Her experience with a variety of different software programs helped her transition into payroll processing smoothly. Danae enjoys spending her time supporting local businesses with her friends and going to trivia nights with her coworkers. She is very happy to be working at The Payroll Department and is always ready to help!

Emily is originally from Phoenix, Arizona and spent the past decade exploring the American West and honing her skills in public policy, food and agriculture, and local business advocacy before putting down roots in Durango in 2020. She joined the Payroll Department at the beginning of 2023 and is excited to work for a thriving local business that is continuing to grow and contribute to the Durango community. When she’s not out hiking or exploring, she’s usually baking, checking out new local spots around town, or hanging out with her favorite plants.