Maybe it’s that we take immense pride that we are the number one provider of payroll services in the Four Corners Colorado area. Or maybe it’s because as a staff we go snowshoeing, bowling, rafting, parachuting (that’s right), attend yoga classes and require and enjoy a sense of humor to work here. Or maybe it’s because we’re a founder of Local First. Or maybe it’s because, we donated over $30,000 to the local non-profit community in the last twelve months. Mostly however, it’s because we get to serve you and our awesome community.
Appreciate always having a live voice answer the phone? We all answer the phone! You are our livelihood and many of our conversations offer a chance to be helpful. If we don’t know the answer, you should expect a return call in less than two hours.
Review our community involvement page, talk to anyone who works here – we like what we do, we love our community, and we sincerely enjoy our interactions with you. It’s fulfilling to be able to help someone with their day.
If a mistake is made, we own up to our responsibilities. It’s not how we do when all goes well, it’s when something goes awry when you find out the strength and mettle of why you selected 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.
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.
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.
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!
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.
Jim joined the Payroll Department in 2023 after a career as a commentator on the international pro foosball circuit, covering tournaments in 18 countries and being prominently featured in the 2019 documentary, Foosballers. Jim has lived in Durango for 15 years with wife Amy and their two children, Ari, 12, and Kian, 10, who are local student-athletes and (of course!) have also competed in the junior events at the foosball world championships. Jim also won a world championship as a player and earned top honors (with his pro-player wife) at the annual Snowdown Foosball event here in Durango.
Jim enjoys sports, birding, reading, trivia and cooking, but his primary focuses are his wife and kids. “After traveling for many years, it’s nice to settle down and simply raise a family”.
Anja joined the Payroll Department Team in May 2024. With her previous 2 years of payroll and iSolved experience she’s making a great addition to the team. Originally from Germany she’s calling California her home since 2019 where she’s living close by the beach with her husband, who’s serving the Navy, and two dachshunds. Being remote gives her the opportunity to combine work and life in a balanced way. In her spare time, she enjoys a morning trail run or a day by the beach. In her work life she also does what makes her happy: Doing payrolls and all the little (and big) tasks that come with it.