OUR STORY
How we became FABS.
Focus Accounting and Business Solutions, FABS, got its roots from Eugene J. Miller CPA, where Lara worked with her father, Gene, for nine years. They decided to be of service to small, family-owned businesses year-round and individuals at tax time. Starting out servicing 250 clients, they continued to grow year after year. Lara learned from Gene to treat each client like family and offer to go visit them at their homes or businesses, if that was their preference. Lara learned to focus on clients by supporting them year round, providing quick, accurate turnaround services. Gene and Lara attended continuing education seminars to stay on top of changing tax law and the latest tax strategy. This enabled them to provide the best tax advice to their clients.
Lara then took on the title of Director of Accounting and Tax Services. She provided clients with bookkeeping and payroll services year-round. She was able to develop a team to help her to continue the customer service the clients had learned to expect. As she managed the workflow, she was able to get the tax season to run more efficiently and timely. This was important as clients cycled through the office to get taxes filed accurately. It was always important to Lara that the client understand the result of their tax return and provide suggestions for a better outcome in the next year. The highlight of each tax season each year was catching up with clients, discussing family additions, marriages, kids, and giving sympathy on losses of loved ones.
In 2017, Gene was offered an opportunity that would start him towards his path of retirement. He believed Lara was well prepared to go solo and offered the sale of the business to Lara. She decided on Focus Accounting & Business Solutions as the name of the reborn business. As Lara took over, she continued her training to ensure for a smooth transition for her clients. She faced the biggest challenge, gaining the trust from clients. She overcame this challenge by being honest with her clients when she did not have a quick answer. To provide her clients with accurate answers to issues, she would calibrate with Gene or research herself to learn the answers. It was important to Lara to provide her clients with her experience and knowledge to take of care of their needs.
The business, we now know as FABS, services over 550+ businesses and individual clients. Lara’s future for Focus Accounting and Business Solutions is to focus on family- owned businesses and grow the client base. By accomplishing this goal, the team at FABS will be of service to more families and their businesses.
The FABS Team
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Owner
Lara Milliron
Lara attained her Bachelor of Science Degree in Business Administration with a major in accounting and a minor in finance from Slippery Rock University. She started her career in the banking and investment industry when she worked in PFPC’s mutual fund division in Delaware. After starting her family, Lara started in public accounting in 2008 with her father after leaving the healthcare industry where she served as the Corporate Controller.
In 2017, her father retired, and she started Focus Accounting & Business Solutions. Lara has over 20 years’ experience in the accounting industry. She strives to be of service to small family-owned business owners to help them understand their financials and give them the information to make informed decisions in their operations. She is very proud of the relationships she has built over the years with all her clients. She wants them to feel like they are part of the FABS Family.
To unwind, Lara enjoys campfires with her husband, kids, and fur babies, reading and crafting.
Accounting Assistant
Melanie McBee
Melanie earned her Bachelor of Science degree in Environmental Geography from The Pennsylvania State University. She worked for an HVAC company and the Postal Service before leaving the workforce to get married and raise her 4 children. Melanie re-entered the workforce as an Administrative Assistant for the Punxsutawney Alliance Church before switching to public accounting in 2015.
She joined Focus Accounting and Business Solutions at its creation in 2017 and has been expanding her skills and certifications ever since. Currently Melanie is a Certified Pro Advisor for QuickBooks; proficient in both the online and desktop versions. She manages direct client services including: payroll, bookkeeping and tax return preparation as well as being a Notary Public.
Melanie unwinds with her husband and loves to be with her family, including the four-legged kind!
Accounting Assistant
Melissa Bortzer
Melissa joined our team in early 2022. Having decided to leave the healthcare field in 2012, she obtained her insurance license. Her experience with State Farm has allowed her the opportunity to gain extensive experience and training in customer service, operations, and marketing. With this experience, Melissa made the decision to go back to school and will soon graduate with a Business Degree from Penn State University. She has brought valuable knowledge in operating systems and marketing to the FABS family.
Melissa is a Certified Pro Advisor for QuickBooks online. She also assists in bookkeeping, multi-state payrolls, and any task that may come her way. She has brought numerous ideas in improving efficiency and task organization to FABS.
In her spare time, Melissa enjoys spending time with her family and friends. They can often be found relaxing while camping, laughing around a table during game night, or just enjoying time at home.
