BIZ Report for June 15

June 15--ON THE MOVE

Erica Herman has joined First National Bank as a commercial lender in its Weld County market, which includes branches in Greeley, Windsor, Johnstown, Brighton, Fort Lupton, Kersey and Platteville.

She has 17 years working in the financial industry and will be responsible for providing financial solutions for commercial loan and deposit needs, acting as the customer's advocate in securing suitable credit and other financial services.

She previously worked as a senior relationship manager, credit analyst and teller for Wells Fargo Bank.

She is a graduate of Black Hills State University in Spearfish, S.D., where she studied political science and business administration. She can be reached at (970) 395-7632 or [email protected].

Candace Marshall has joined Coan, Payton & Payne, LLC as the firm's accounting coordinator. Marshall brings more than 15 years of accounting experience to the job.

She graduated from Northeastern Junior College in Sterling with an agribusiness degree, and she is a native of Yuma.

Coan, Payton & Payne, LLC is a northern Colorado-based business and real estate law firm with offices in Denver, Fort Collins, Greeley and Steamboat Springs.

Karena Downey has joined Kennedy and Coe, LLC as an intern in the firm's Loveland office. She will prepare tax returns and financial statements, assist with audits, provide general accounting assistance and observe client tax planning meetings.

Downey obtained her associate degree in business from Aims Community College in Greeley. She graduated in May from the University of Northern Colorado, where she received her bachelor's degree in accounting, and was a member of Student Colorado Certified Public Accountants and the Student Center for the Public Trust. Downey is from Mt. Carmel, Pa.

North Range opens counseling center

North Range Behavioral Health has opened new Counseling Center at 7251 20th St., Building C in Greeley. The Center provides individual, family, group, and couples therapy to clients with private insurance and those without insurance who are able to pay out of pocket. If you require more intensive or specialized services, we will help you access our comprehensive services across our network. The center currently has three therapists: Program Director, Bonnie Adams, Carl Unruh, and Courtney Davis.

Northern Colorado accounting firm plans merger

Kennedy and Coe, LLC, a national accounting and consulting firm in the food and agriculture industry, plans to combine with California CPA firm, Matson and Isom. Owners of both firms voted to merge operations Jan. 1, 2015, pending final approvals, according to a news release.

With a combined 375 people and almost $60 million in revenue, the combined firms will be about 60th in size among U.S. CPA firms. Jeff Wald will preside as CEO and the firm will bear a new name, which honors the legacies of the two firms, the release stated.

Both firms work extensively with businesses throughout the food-supply chain including input suppliers, processors, packagers, storage and distributors to name a few.

Matson and Isom is based in Chico, Calif., with offices in Redding, Colusa and Yuba City. About one-third of the firm's business relates to food and agriculture. The firm also works with manufacturers, education, construction, landowners, developers and health care, the release said.

In 2013, Kennedy and Coe acquired Vela Environmental and AgKnowledge, businesses that expanded the firm's offerings to include proactive policy and legislative involvement, sustainability and resource planning, and detailed profit-margin management at the crop and acre level. Sixty percent of the firm's business relates to food and agriculture with the rest in biofuels, manufacturing, construction, landowners, developers, community banks and health care providers. The firm has offices in Kansas, Colorado, Mississippi, Wyoming and Washington.

Public hearing set for Atmos rate case

The Colorado Public Utilities Commission will take public comment at a hearing in Greeley on a proposal by Atmos Energy to increase natural gas base rates.

The Greeley hearing will be held 4-6:30 p.m. Thursday at the Farr Regional Library, Library Meeting Room, 1939 61st Ave.

The Atmos proposal includes a planned rate increase of $4.8 million that would increase average monthly bills for residential customers by 7.2 percent in the company's northeast region; 5.4 percent in the northwest/central region; 7.7 percent in the southeast region; and 7.6 percent in the southwest region.

Average monthly bills for commercial customers would go up by 0.1 percent in the northeast region and 1.0 percent in the Southeast region, while bills for commercial customers in the northwest/central region and the southwest region would remain the same or decrease slightly.

The PUC granted Atmos a $1.3 million increase in annual base rate revenues effective March 1, based on expenses for a test year ending Dec. 31, 2012. In its new rate request, the company stated it has invested more than $14 million in its natural gas delivery system since that period, according to a news release.

Atmos provides natural gas service to more than 110,000 customers in 64 communities and 16 counties within Colorado, including the larger towns of Canon City, Cortez, Crested Butte, Durango, Greeley, Lamar and Steamboat Springs.

Those who cannot attend may submit written comments on the proposal to the PUC, 1560 Broadway, Suite 250, Denver, CO 80202, or electronically via the PUC website. Comments should be addressed to Docket No. 14AL-0300G.

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