Tax Team
Ally Pepito
Tax Administrator
Happy Holidays from my family to yours! š
For those who havenāt met me yet, My name is Ally Pepito. I grew up in the Philippines and moved to the United States in 2009. My favorite part of my day is hanging out with my little family; which includes Julio Alvarado (Boyfriend), Joji (Fur Baby: age 4), and Ella (Fur Baby: age 3). This last year has been an amazing year full of memories to keep and cherish. In May 2022, I walked down the stage with my cap and gown. A week later, I started my first day at the TRPG office, as the new member of the tax team. I have spent the last six months learning about taxes and preparing to kick ass on the next upcoming tax season (Which is coming up closer each day). My favorite trip in 2022 was in June; A group of my friends and I went to Manchester, Tennessee for the Bonnaroo Music Festival. We spent a week dancing the night away, tasted amazing food, and met the kindest people. My hobbies are binge-watching Netflix shows, baking desserts, and listening to music on full blast (Since I canāt sing in tune).
As 2022 comes to a wrap. I am excited about what the new year brings. I am so happy and lucky to be part of the TRPG family. I canāt wait to continue to learn more about taxes and build stronger relationships with my coworkers and TRPG clients.
I hope you all have a safe and wonderful Holiday and a Happy New Year!
From Ally, Julio, Joji, and Ella
Brianna Walters
Tax Coordinator
A year of change and a year of growth, 2022 has been a wild ride! This year we hiked in Colorado, lounged on the beach in South Padre Island, and created lots of new memories with friends and family. Weston turned 14 and is in his final year of middle school, his football team won their championship game. Emma is 12 and is crushing her 2nd year of competitive bouldering, she is ranked 5th in the region and will be headed to regionals in January.
We fill our evenings and weekends with sports, paddleboarding, game nights, and sāmores.
This year we have learned that life is exactly what you make it, and you can have everything you ever dreamed of with hard work and the support of the people around you. Wishing you and your family love, growth, and belonging this coming new year.
Elysha Comer, CPA
Tax Advisor
Happy holidays from the Comerās! We have enjoyed another fabulous year filled with adventure and fun!
Norah (3) and Jack (1) have had a great year with a new school (daycare), where they are thriving, happy and healthy! We added a couple more obligations to our calendar as Norah picked up swimming and soccer this year. Jack has started developing an amazing personality, and his favorite things to do include exploring the outdoors, practicing any sport he sees his sister or the neighbor kids playing, and getting into anything and everything he possibly can. They have become the best of friends and it has been one of my greatest joys to witness.
This year we have taken a bunch of trips to our family farm in mid-Missouri, and it has been great to get everyone outdoors and off the grid. Over the summer, we took a family trip to Branson, MO where we spent most of our time on nature trails and spent a day at the aquarium in Springfield, MO ā highly recommend it! My husband and I celebrated 5 years of marriage over the summer and took a trip to Nashville, TN, just the two of us. The highlight of that trip was the day we hiked around a nearby state park and found incredible waterfalls. We hope to bring the kids down to South Florida to visit old friends and see the beach at the beginning of the year for our next adventure!
I hope everyone has a safe and rejuvenating holiday season! Cheers to 2023!
Jason, Elysha, Norah (3) & Jack (1)
Lisa Sachs
Tax Accountant
2022 has been a year of ups and downs. We said goodbye to some that we love and have welcomed some new ones into our lives to love.
The things that are truly important in life have made themselves evident. Through it, all our faith and purpose remain strong.
As 2023 approaches, our family looks forward to continuing to love and enjoy each other and to sharing Godās love with others wherever there is an opportunity.
Luke Crowther, CPA
Director of Tax
Iām sure Iāll be the only person that starts their Holiday card with āWe canāt believe 2022 is almost overā. It was filled with road trips to Colorado, a vacation to Mexico, seemingly endless sporting events, and a few hundred tax returns sprinkled in for fun.
With our oldest kiddo Mercedes starting middle school our family schedule has been thrown into further chaos as we now have two different drop off/pick up times and locations. No amount of advice would have prepared me for having a pre-teen daughter and the amount of growing and maturing that happens as she headed into middle school. From her shooting up several inches to her soccer abilities weāre so proud of the young woman sheās growing into.
Charli, our youngest, loves that sheās the only Crowther child in the elementary school and is enjoying the feeling of being one of the ābigā 4th graders. Much like her older sister Charli is loving soccer and is also finding her voice which is full of big opinions and emotions, which we love.
Mandi is staying busy with growing her furniture business, real estate, and making sure the household stays on track, which each of those are full-time commitments on their own. As for myself, Iāve been finding more projects to tinker with so I can match my hobbies with my old soul tendency. Weāre looking forward to a family filled holiday season and a prosperous new year. Wishing you the happiest of holidays!
Luke, Mandi, Mercedes, & Charli Crowther
Matt Striegel
Director of Finance and Accounting & Principal
Happy Holidays from the Striegels!
Itās the end of 2022 and I canāt believe itās been a year since Iāve done this! The year has been full of running kids to/from practices and games and itās only the beginning. Andie (4th grade) thought it would be fun to try some tennis, which she enjoyed, but decided sheād rather play volleyball and softball more. She got her first taste of weekend softball tournaments with her club team The Rebels. Volleyball is much of the same with starting her first club team at PVA with myself being her coach. Kane (1st grade) also tried some tennis, but couldnāt pass up playing some flag football again, and also played a lot of basketball. He played in his first basketball tournament and canāt wait for the next one. We did have time to squeeze in a family vacation to Englewood, Florida over Memorial Day weekend. We walked to the beach daily, built sandcastles, boogie-boarded, took in an amazing sunset, and even saw some dolphins swimming in their natural habitat. Casey took a sales director role at CovergeOne in January. Itās been a learning experience but going very well. She also celebrated her 40th birthday this year! We celebrated by taking a trip to Mexico with 8 of our friends. Itās been a month, and we can finally have a margarita again. I have decided to finally retire from playing volleyball, I played competitively for 28 years, and couldnāt be happier with my decision. We also made a big decision to put a pool in our backyard! Itās been a great process so far and canāt wait to be swimming in May. From our family to yours, we wish you the happiest and healthiest close to 2022, and cheers to 2023!
– Matt Striegel
Meredith Dickinson, CPA
Senior Tax Advisor
In June, Tyler and I continued our adventure of visiting every MLB stadium. We went to Chicago to see the Cubs and White Sox, and then on to Milwaukee to catch a Brewers game. I do not know how long he will want to be seen with his mom at baseball games, but I will attend as long as he lets me. Since I am paying for the tickets, I bet he will let me attend. He is now a junior at KSU, he is majoring in accounting. In honor of his upcoming job at a CPA firm, I am including a picture that proves accounting is in his blood.
Lauren is in her senior of high school, which is keeping her busy. Her school brought back the color guard for the football games; Lauren enjoyed participating so much that she is going to try out for the color guard in college. She has decided to attend Pitt State in Pittsburg, KS, and major in Biology/Chemistry with the intention of going to med school. She also received the Stars and Stripes award from American Heritage Girls. This award is like the Eagle Scout.
Sara Mathes, CPA
Senior Tax Advisor
Happy Holidays from the Mathes Family! The past year has been a time of new beginnings for our family.
We started the year living in a 5th Wheel and Pole Barn while finishing the construction of our new home. We didnāt waste any time moving in February once the Final Inspection was completed! It was a delight to have the amenities of a normal home again.
Ali finished up her Senior year at Leeās Summit High School. We spent the spring celebrating her achievements, including being Salutatorian of her class and being honored as one of the top 100 Scholars in Missouri. She began her freshman year at Truman State University in the fall, majoring in Biochemistry and Molecular Biology.
Tyler started the 5th grade in 2022. He enjoys swimming, gaming, and performing experiments that typically leave a path of destruction in his wake!
Tim & I took a trip to Mexico in November to celebrate our 22nd Anniversary. We hadnāt had a chance to travel much in the past few years between the pandemic and the time spent moving/building our house. It was nice to get away!
And finally, another new beginning was the opportunity I received in joining the TRPG team in October. Iām excited to be part of such a great group!
Wishing you all a Happy Holiday Season and New Year!
Tim, Sara, Alison (19), Tyler (10)
Trace Weatherford
Tax Associate
Another year is in the books! Highlights of the year would be vacationing in Mexico with my amazing girlfriend, all the great moments with friends and family, and the time I was able to spend on the activities I enjoy. While in Mexico I learned to replace the water with Tequila which turned out to be actually safer. Had a loss in the family during the year, and while sad, it started my deep dive into learning about my family tree. Fun fact, my family comes from the Scandinavian area so we might be Vikingsā¦ probably not but it sounds cool. Lastly, I have a few hobbies that I enjoy when time allows like working on restoring my 1977 Chevy C20 truck. I bought it in high school and have lots of dreams about what I would like it to become. It is a continuous journey of problem-solving since there is no how-to manual for that.
TRPG has allowed me a wonderful opportunity to enjoy what I do for a career and life outside of that. A genuine thank you to everyone working with TRPG that believes in what we stand for and do. Happy holidays and cheers to another great year to come.
Wyatt Phillips
Tax Associate
2022 has been a big year for me! I graduated from William Jewell and had my first experience in the tax field with an internship here which lead to a full-time position starting in September.
I just recently moved to Leawood, which is my first time being on my own, another big step in branching out. I got a chance to go see Hades Town by the (mostly) original Broadway cast which also allowed me to explore Omaha some with my girlfriend.
For now, the future holds more schooling, prepping for the CPA examination, and hopefully getting a chance to catch more plays in my downtime.
Happy Holidays and New Year,
Wyatt Phillips
