Walla Walla Union-Bulletin, Wash., Strictly Business column

July 25--A nearly 30-year-old Walla Walla accounting firm will soon transition from a partnership to sole ownership.

Hal Thompson, owner and founding partner of TKCPA, 5 W. Alder St., will retire July 31 and sell his shares in the accounting firm to business partner Kristal Hassler.

Thompson spent 40 years in public accounting. He founded the firm in 1985 with Jane Kreitzberg. It was then known as Thompson & Kreitzberg PLLC. Kreitzberg retired in 1996.

Five years later, Hassler joined the firm and became instrumental in its growth. An office in Moses Lake was added to provide service to Hassler's former clients. In 2013, the firm also merged with Walla Walla firm Jim Johnson & Company. The next January, Teresa Wagner joined the firm. That was the same month the name was officially changed to TKCPA. The name will remain the same after Thompson's departure.

"I am extremely excited to become the sole owner of the business," Hassler said in an announcement. "This has been a lifelong dream for me and it has finally come to fruition after many years of hard work."

With tax expertise in business, transitional and estate planning, Hassler said she remains inspired to help clients achieve business and estate planning goals.

The office was recently remodeled, and a new website -- tkcpa.com -- was launched, featuring a comprehensive suite of tax and accounting services offered within the firm's advanced online platform.

"Technology will never replace personalized client services but it can greatly enhance the working relationship between the client and the firm and we are excited to making that shift in a big way," she said in a prepared statement. "I look forward to our future growth and assisting more businesses and individuals with their tax needs in the Walla Walla Valley and beyond."

Strictly Business is a local business column. Vicki Hillhouse can be reached at [email protected], 526-8321 or @VickiHillhouse.

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