Our founder and CEO, Brenda Bowen graduated from Platt College in 1992 in Computer Accounting. While Accounting fundamentals stay the same, software has changed along the way and it’s opened up a world of opportunities. In 2003, Brenda began working with QuickBooks while working for a non-profit ministry, and in 2006 she became a subcontracted bookkeeper working for a Northern Colorado accountant, along with starting her own lineup of clients. By 2010, she realized she could turn outsourced bookkeeping into a business!

Fast forward to 2014, and her practice had grown so much she’d come to a crossroads: stop taking on new clients or grow larger. Technology had also been developed to the point where she could transition from a mobile bookkeeper to a virtual bookkeeper and serve her clients remotely.

Then everything changed. Her husband took a job in King Salmon, Alaska (a part of Alaska only accessible by airplane) as a bush pilot. Brenda moved from Colorado to Alaska in 2015, keeping all of her Colorado clients in the process. Then, she began adding clients from across the country, proving that virtual bookkeeping works – even from a remote area of Alaska. As long as she had the internet she could do work from anywhere with clients who live all over.

In October 2017, Brenda and her husband made the move back to Colorado. While a piece of her heart will always remain in Alaska, she is very glad to be back in sunny Colorado, closer to her family and friends!

Brenda has the expert ability to take a mess in a client’s books and get it back on track. She has years of experience cleaning up messy books and straightening out a client’s QuickBooks, ensuring everything from reports and balance sheets to profit and loss reports are set up efficiently and are showing up correctly. Over the years of training others and cleaning up books, Brenda has seen firsthand the importance of a good bookkeeper who understands not only the software, but accounting, payroll, and taxes.

Fast forward to today: with 21 years of QuickBooks experience, 18 years as a self-employed business owner, and 11 years as a QuickBooks ProAdvisor under her belt, Brenda has a successful bookkeeping business built not only on her experience and knowledge, but her heart for small business owners and self-made solopreneurs.

For Suzanne Langan, the world of accounting and numbers has always held a special place. After her son started school, she returned to work for an accountant, diving into a full-service office that provided payroll, bookkeeping, and reconciliation—all using QuickBooks for both in-house and client locations. She even gained experience in preparing tax returns.

From there, Suzanne expanded her skill set, first by working for an electrical contractor, where she became proficient in union payroll and reports. She then took on a role with a sole-owner company that was expanding nationwide, further broadening her professional experience. Suzanne later returned to the contractor business, where she took on more expanded payroll duties and assistant project management. This is where she learned to use HCSS to bid and manage projects, seamlessly importing hours into QuickBooks for payroll, and generating all bills and invoices directly from the platform.

A visit to her husband on the Western Slope of Colorado sparked a new dream, and Suzanne began planning her move from Northern Illinois. She gave a two-year notice to everyone in her job and her volunteer roles, preparing for the big transition. It was a well-planned move that allowed her to find a home that needed some love and updating, providing her with a built-in personal project.

With over 21 years of experience in QuickBooks, Suzanne is an expert in not only the software itself, but also in importing time from other programs. She has a genuine love for numbers and a meticulous eye for detail. Her deep familiarity with the QuickBooks desktop version is so strong that she uses it for her personal bookkeeping, even though her work with Peace of Mind Accounting is centered around QuickBooks Online. Suzanne has been working for Peace of Mind Accounting since 2020 and works closely with 45 clients. She works in QuickBooks Desktop and QuickBooks Online.

When she’s not immersed in numbers, Suzanne enjoys riding her horses on nearby trails or at home, as well as hiking with her dogs. She also loves to travel to visit her husband in scenic locations and cherishes time spent with her family.

For the past two years, Sarah Washburn has been a bookkeeper at Peace of Mind Accounting, helping small business owners find clarity and confidence in their finances. Her journey into bookkeeping began when her children started school full-time, which allowed her to pursue her passion for working with numbers. Her husband’s small business, which also serves other small businesses, has given Sarah firsthand insight into the unique challenges and triumphs entrepreneurs face every day.
Sarah understands that behind every ledger and invoice is a family, a dream, and a lot of hard work. That’s why she is dedicated to providing the detailed, accurate bookkeeping that gives clients peace of mind. When she’s not balancing books, Sarah is at home with her kids, managing their property, or working on their collection of old muscle cars with her family. Her personal experience as a small business family member gives her a unique perspective and deep empathy for every client.