Machen McChesney Announces Advancements

CONTRIBUTED BY MACHEN MCCHESNEY

AUBURN —

Machen McChesney, one of the region's leading CPA and business advisory firms, announced that Michael D. Machen, CPA, CVA, has been named the firm’s new managing partner.

“It has been my privilege for 14 years to serve as managing partner for Machen McChesney,” said Marty Williams, former managing partner. “I will continue serving clients and working side by side with the leadership team returning value to our clients and community. I am confident Mike will lead the firm forward by striving to deliver exceptional client experiences while progressively navigating through ever-changing technological, economic and regulatory changes. The firm looks forward to his leadership.”

Machen, a lifelong resident of Auburn, has 33 years of experience providing accounting, tax and advisory services to individuals and businesses.

Machen regularly returns value to clients needing his expertise in the areas of accounting & auditing, taxation, business valuation and business advisory services. He also has extensive industry expertise in construction, real estate, manufacturing, distribution, retail and professional services.

Machen has been a partner for 25 of the cost of equipment and other necessities is still too expensive. without enough budget, the volunteers are struggling.

As the years passed, the number of volunteers slowly decreased. By the time Quick and Griffith joined as volunteers around 2017, the number of volunteers was down to one.

“The demographic had changed,” Quick said.

“People moved away or died. But we slowly built it back up, and now we’ve got around 15 people.”

While we talked about the department’s past, we also talked about the current state of the department and its struggles.

They Are Now

WHERE

One of the biggest concerns that the volunteers have is money. While the volunteers have applied for and received grants — as well as donations — the

Water

FROM A2

“We don’t have the money,” Griffith said. “That’s the piece that we’re missing. The cost of everything is just astronomical.”

Some of the department’s equipment, such as its breathing apparatus, needs to be replaced. The main problem: It cost about $40,000 to replace it. The question that the volunteers have: “How are we going to pay for $40,000 of a replacement with only a yearly budget of $20,000?”

The department also has the cost of insurance every year, which takes out a chunk of its budget. These financial issues have forced the volunteers themselves to start donating in order to supply the department with what it needs. Whether it’s the breathing apparatus or the four new suits which cost

29 years with Machen McChesney, providing leadership in administration, process improvement, quality control, peer review, marketing, business development, client service, mentoring and staff training.

Prior to joining the firm, Machen was employed as an accountant and supervisor at Warren Averett in Birmingham, Alabama. Machen is a graduate of the University of North Alabama with a bachelor's degree in accounting and finance.

Machen is passionate about giving back to the community. He currently serves voluntary positions in multiple community organizations and is a past president of the Auburn Chamber of Commerce and around $11,000, money is something that the OBVFD is in dire need of.

“I don’t think people realize all of things they depend on,” Griffith said. "You depend on the sheriff’s department; you depend on the ambulance service. You would spend money on those. Why wouldn’t you spend the same amount of money on your volunteer fire department? We do the best we can, but there is only so much you can do with a budget of $20,000.”

Where They Want To Go

As the need for newer and better equipment goes up, so do the prices. The fire engines that the department uses were originally $160,000. Now, the engines cost close to $500,000.

Along with the money concerns, the volunteers also have their fair share of problems with their equipment being outdated. One of the newest volun- the Foundation for Auburn’s Continuing Enrichment for Schools.

CHRIS EARNEST

The company also announced the promotion of Chris Earnest to director of business services.

"As the firm continues to grow, the promotion of experienced senior leaders strengthens the foundation at Machen McChesney," Williams said. "This promotion recognizes Chris' outstanding accomplishments and commitment to our community, firm core values and delivery of excellent client service."

Earnest has been a business services consultant with Machen McChesney since January 2018. He works closely with teers was born only three years after the department’s truck was built in 1990.

Currently, a few of the volunteers have donated pieces of land to the department in order to store more water in tanks in the surrounding area. With these additional areas, the volunteers would have access to more water in a shorter amount of time.

How They Are Going To Get There

Volunteers with OBVFD are conducting a fundraiser to build a new water tank for them to store more water at the fire station. With the fire engines the volunteers use now, they can only hold up to 1,000 gallons of water at a time. A house fire or structure fire needs about 30,000 gallons of water to fully extinguish the fire. The water tank will be able to help provide water for the volunteers in a more convenient and business and individual clients, focusing on the streamlined delivery of client accounting and financial reporting services, outsourced accounting services and business advisory.

Earnest has expertise across numerous industries in business income and transactional tax preparation and planning services.

He is an Auburn University graduate with a bachelor's degree in accounting and forestry.

ABOUT MACHEN MCCHESNEY, LLP

Machen McChesney, a CPA and business advisory firm, has a 69year history of returning value to its individual and business clients, friends and community. The firm efficient way.

“We’ve never had water so close, like two minutes down the road,” Griffith said. “With this new tank, instead of having to go all the way to Lafayette, we’d have a closer source.”

With more donations and grants, the volunteers at OBVFD will be able to combat some of the problems they face, but what they also need is awareness. Not many people are aware of how few of the firefighters in Chambers County and the surrounding counties are actually paid.

“This is a growing community,” Cardoza said. “People probably don’t even know that we’re all volunteers or that we need their help.”

Originally, I planned on talking to the volunteers about their lives and how they were inspired to become volunteers at the fire department. However, talking and meeting with has offices in Auburn and Montgomery with 52 professionals and staff members. The firm offers comprehensive services, which include accounting and outsourcing, audit and assurance, business advisory, business valuation, estate and trust tax, family office and elder care, individual and business tax, industry specialization, international tax and wealth management. some of them opened my eyes to the hardships that these volunteers face every time they get a call over their radios. And these problems are not exclusive to the Oak Bowery Volunteer Fire Department. With the lack of funding, many of the local volunteer fire departments in Alabama have these same problems and also struggle to make ends meet.

Machen McChesney is an independent member of the BDO Alliance USA, a national network of leading CPA firms. For more information about Machen McChesney, its people, services, experience and alliances, visit machen.cpa.

“I think you’re gonna hear the same thing that you’re [hearing] right now,” Griffith said. “There are good folks everywhere; they like the community, but they don’t have the cash. They don’t have the gear. It’s very frustrating.”

If you or someone you know would be interested in supporting OBVFD, get involved by donating to its water tank fundraiser (email admin@oakbowery1400.org) and visit its Facebook page for more information.

>> for these improvements over the next 20 years.

Opelika Utilities is working to manage those costs for its customers and maintain a system they can count on.

Recently, it modernized the water meters throughout its system, replacing over 16,500 meters. The new meters are connected to the upgraded billing system, which will ultimately provide customers with greater control and support in tracking

HEALTH CARE >>

FROM A2 our faculty and student engagement expands.”

The new center will provide Auburn students and faculty from different disciplines the opportunity to support community members’ overall well-being. Nursing students will support diabetes management and asthma education, pharmacy students will provide medication management education, and students in human sciences will have the opportunity to develop and implement com- water use and managing accounts. As it closes out the meter replacement project, it will continue to add features to help customers with convenient ways to pay bills and receive support.

The recent billing software changes, account updates and meter change-outs have challenged its customer service team with significantly more phone calls. Consequently, Opelika Utilities is working to enhance and increase communications options for its customers.

As in the past, it recommends customers munity-based nutrition education programs.

Collaboration Good For All

Linda Gibson-Young, professor in Auburn’s College of Nursing, said the new health care center and residents will benefit from the synergy among the Auburn units involved.

“This site is a connector between Auburn University and the community to engage all in health and wellness conversations,” Gibson-Young said. “Nursing students will benefit by collaborating with the other disciplines in a set up their online account and use balance checks, auto draft and other payment options from their account portal. Opelika Utilities recently launched a new text chat feature as well. Customers can text 334-591-3525 to chat with a customer service representative for account information between 8 a.m. and 4 p.m., Monday through Friday. It also encourage customers to download the free mobile app for notifications and ease of making payments and service requests. Soon, it will also offer payment directly by rural environment.”

“Establishing good community health and well-being requires a team effort,” said Timothy Moore, interim dean of the Harrison College of Pharmacy. “The Harrison College of Pharmacy is excited to participate in this effort for the people of Chambers County and to involve our future pharmacists as vital members of this multidisciplinary team.”

The project is supported through in-kind and financial contributions by all key partners, as well as corporate grants. Partners and funders include phone. During the COVID pandemic, Opelika Utilities paused service shut-offs for non-payment to help community members through the crisis. It recently resumed the policy of collecting overdue payments from customers to avoid service disruption. Customers are asked to make every effort to pay past-due amounts and contact customer service staff right away if they need assistance making this happen.

Behind the scenes, the small, experienced and dedicated workforce the city of LaFayette, Auburn University, Alabama Extension, Chambers County, Alabama Department of Economic and Community Affairs, Alfa Foundation and Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Alabama.

“We’re bringing access to health care in a rural environment with modern technology, when you need it, at your convenience, in an area without easy access to an urgent care or hospital. This couldn’t have happened without our partners, both locally and at Auburn University,” said Chief Jim Doody, makes reliable water services possible. city of LaFayette Fire and EMS.

McDougal said that he is proud to be part of that team and its unwavering commitment to serving our communities — from customer service support and water quality technicians to field crews and plant operators — working in all kinds of weather around the clock. Families, friends and neighbors use water every day, and the team at Opelika Utilities is personally invested in delivering reliable, safe water to the region it calls home.

MORE INFORMATION

The Care Station employed by Auburn’s Rural Health Initiative was developed by Florida-based OnMed to make affordable health care accessible to all. The OnMed care stations provide 85% of the services received in a traditional primary care visit, using best-in-class devices to capture patient vitals, and clinicians are available for extended hours. Patient visits are private, safe and secure, and the Care Station is automatically cleaned

DIETRICH >> FROM A4 say she’s happy. and sanitized for the next patient.

At least I hope she is.

Also, I hope the man who hurt her reads these words someday. I hope this man recognizes her photo on Facebook. I hope he realizes that he was wrong about her. She isn’t trash. No way. No how.

Her name is Marigold. And while I’m sad the last face she ever saw was his, I’m thrilled the first face her little eyes will ever see will be God’s.

"Our partnership with Auburn University, the city of LaFayette and the Chambers County Commission is a perfect reflection of our mission to provide access to quality affordable health care for all,” said OnMed CEO Tom Vanderheyden. “We are extremely proud of our involvement in this innovative Rural Health project, and most importantly, serving the people of this community."

An open house for the Community Health and Wellness Center is planned for April 21.