About

Plan. Perform. Succeed.

From Day 1, Morrison’s focus has on been recognizing, respecting, and meeting the needs of our clients. Our founder brought the perspective of both industry executive experience and senior management in what is now the world’s largest accounting and consulting firm; Morrison carries on that tradition with a team that combines professional service and real-world industry backgrounds. With an understanding of both top-notch service organizations and real-world client needs (and how they can collide rather than connect), our mission is to be a trusted advisor.

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Founded in 2002, Morrison today offers a robust team of professionals in three service areas: Business & Accounting Advisory, People Solutions, and food, ag, and energy related Grants. Along with our headquarters in Chico, California, we serve clients from our location in Folsom, California, in the Sacramento region. Our clients are located across the United States.

As you will see in our Services page, our services are designed to fill needs that are both challenging and vital:

  • Interim or outsourced business, accounting, financial, and human resource roles and consulting.
  • Executive and management recruitment focused on your needs – not the need to make a commission.
  • Grant strategies to maximize your marketing, energy efficiency projects, equipment upgrades, training programs, and more.  

Whether it’s a temporary need, regular ongoing assistance, or a special project for which you require additional expertise, our experience with middle market organizations allows us to support clients from the start-up phase to growth and transition. Our industry focus expertise includes food, agribusiness, processing, distribution, manufacturing, marketing, trade associations, construction, and government.

We don’t hire advisors straight out of college. If you’re going to consult, you should probably know something. Brent Morrison, Founder

The Team

R. Brent Morrison

Founder & Principal

R. Brent Morrison founded Morrison in 2002. He has served processing, agribusiness, distribution, manufacturing, and other companies as an executive and advisor since 1981. Brent oversees Morrison strategy and implementation, practice development, infrastructure development, and both serves and oversees services to Morrison clients. He brings special expertise in business planning, strategy, management, and financial analysis.

Read more about R. Brent Morrison

Prior to founding Morrison, Brent was Vice President and Chief Financial Officer of Sunsweet Growers Inc., one of the nation's premier producers of juices and dried fruit products.  Before joining Sunsweet, he was President of Butte County Rice Growers Association (BUCRA), an agribusiness service and supply company. As a Senior Manager with the “Big Four” accounting firm Deloitte, Brent led the Sacramento office's Food & Consumer Products Industry Group and helped found and direct the Sacramento office forensic accounting practice.

Brent holds a bachelor’s degree in business administration and is a Certified Public Accountant (inactive).  He is a graduate fellow of the California Agricultural Leadership Program, a two-year educational fellowship hosted by four participating universities, and a certified Six Sigma “Champion.” 

Brent is a member and past President of the Far Western Chapter of the National Society of Accountants for Cooperatives, a member and officer of the Chico Noon Rotary Club, and a past director of the California Agricultural Leadership Alumni.  He has served with many professional and civic organizations, including an appointment to a state advisory board by then California Secretary of Food & Agriculture (and later USDA Secretary) Ann Veneman.

Qualifications

  • Founder & Principal
  • CPA (Inactive)
  • Six Sigma “Champion” certified
  • Graduate, California Agricultural Leadership Program
  • Past Chapter President, National Society of Accountants for Cooperatives

Toni Scott

Managing Principal

Toni Scott is responsible for Morrison's overall management and operations. She also leads and directs Morrison’s grant services, working with clients in government, food, agribusiness, manufacturing, production agriculture, processing, and marketing to plan, prepare for, and secure competitive state and federal grant funding. She also oversees grant administration of client projects and contributes to business plan and feasibility study projects and conducts strategic planning and facilitation. Toni directs Morrison’s external communications and industry outreach.

Read more about Toni Scott

Toni has written and/or overseen the preparation of most of the ~$45 million in successful grant proposals Morrison has written over the history of the company. These include grant proposals for industry commodity associations; grower-owned cooperatives; private for-profit entities; trade associations, and nonprofit organizations. 

Toni holds a bachelor’s degree in political science and agriculture business from California State University, Chico, and a master’s degree in print journalism from Boston University. She worked for the Chico Enterprise-Record, a daily newspaper, for three years, covering city government and stories related to business, agriculture, education, and public safety.

Toni is the past Chair of the City of Chico Planning Commission and is the past Chair of the Board for the Chico Chamber of Commerce. She is the past President of the Chico Chamber of Commerce Young Professionals Organization, a member of the Butte County Farm Bureau Board of Directors, a founding director of the Butte Agriculture Foundation, past chair of the Butte County Young Farmers and Ranchers, a former appointed member of the City of Chico Sustainability Task Force and a former appointed member of the Butte County Library Advisory Board. She is a graduate of the California Farm Bureau Federation's Leadership Farm Bureau program and a former contributing business columnist for the Chico News and Review.

Qualifications

  • Master of science in Print Journalism
  • Member, Past Chair, Chico Planning Commission
  • Board Member, Butte County Farm Bureau
  • Board Member, Past Chair, Chico Chamber of Commerce
  • Board Member, Jesus Center

Ana Klein

PRINCIPAL, BUSINESS & ACCOUNTING ADVISORY SERVICES

Ana Klein, MBA, leads and directs Morrison’s Business & Accounting Services (B&A) practice. Her role includes providing services and overseeing the B&A team, serving clients in industries including food, agribusiness, trade associations, manufacturing and processing, distribution, and the non-profit sector. Ana also oversees practice development for the B&A practice, including long-term strategy, identifying and implementing service options, training, implementation of appropriate technologies, and business growth.

Read more about Ana Klein

Ana was previously Vice President and Chief Financial Officer of Sunsweet Growers Inc., where she served nearly 23 years. At Sunsweet, the world's largest handler and marketer of dried tree fruits, Ana was responsible for overseeing the finance, treasury, grower accounting, and planning functions. Additionally, Ana oversaw Sunsweet’s Chilean operations including drying operations, grower relations, finance, taxes, legal structures, and negotiating and procuring of  fruit from local growers. Ana began her career with the accounting firm Arthur Andersen serving banking and agriculture clients, one of which was Sunsweet. In 1999, she became the company’s finance manager and in 2004 was named the first female and youngest CFO in its now 100 plus year history. 

The oldest child in a farmworker family, Ana went from helping in the field to being the first in her family to graduate from college. Ana was given the Distinguished Alumni Award by California State University, Sacramento in 2018; named the College of Business Administration Alumna of the Year in 2015; and was recognized as CFO of the year by the Sacramento Business Journal in 2014. She served as the chair of the Sacramento State Organization for Executive MBAs for two years, and served as a board member for the Center for Land-Based Learning (CLBL) for six years and as Chair of the CFO Roundtable for the National Council of Farmer’s Cooperatives. She holds both a bachelor’s degree in accounting and an MBA from California State University, Sacramento. 

QUALIFICATIONS

  • MBA, California State University, Sacramento
  • Past Chair, Sacramento State Organization for Executive MBAs
  • Past Chair, CFO Roundtable for the National Council of Farmer’s Cooperatives
  • CFO of the Year, Sacramento Business Journal
  • Distinguished Alumni Award, CSU Sacramento
  • College of Business Administration Alumna of the Year, CSU Sacramento

Jeff Boian

MANAGER, PEOPLE SOLUTIONS

Jeff Boian manages Morrison’s People Solutions practice area, serving clients in industries including agribusiness, manufacturing and processing, distribution, and non-profit, focusing on executive recruiting, organizational development, outsourced and interim human resources management, and human resources advisement. Jeff’s expertise includes organizational leadership, career strategy, leadership training, and professional development.

Read more about Jeff Boian

Before joining Morrison, Jeff was Vice President, Education & Professional Development, for California & Nevada Credit Union Leagues. In that role he led the overall planning, development, budgeting, and execution of select strategy, programming, and initiatives for over 230 credit unions in California and Nevada. He previously served as Associate Director for Career Strategy for the Drucker School of Management at Claremont Graduate University, and in multiple leadership roles at Azusa Pacific University.

Jeff holds a master of arts degree in organizational leadership from Azusa Pacific College and is a member of the Society for Human Resource Management (SHRM).  Additionally, he holds graduate certificates in Organizational Development & Change (Azusa Pacific), Career & Life Planning (CSU Chico), among others. Jeff is a Myers-Briggs Type Indicator (MBTI) Certified Practitioner, a Certified Master of Career Services (CMCS) by the National Career Development Association, and holds a certificate in Strengths Based Leadership and Management from Noel Academy.  He previously had his own consulting practice focused on organizational development.

QUALIFICATIONS

  • Master of Arts, Organizational Leadership, Azusa Pacific
  • Graduate Certificate, Organizational Development & Change, Azusa Pacific
  • Graduate Certificate, Career & Life Planning, CSU Chico
  • Member, Society for Human Resource Management (SHRM)
  • Certified Practitioner, Myers-Briggs Type Indicator (MBTI)
  • Certified Master, Career Services (CMCS), National Career Development Association
  • Certificate, Strengths Based Leadership and Management, Noel Academy.

Sarah DeForest

Manager, Grants

Sarah manages Morrison’s Grants Services practice, helping clients in government, food, agribusiness, manufacturing, production agriculture, processing, and marketing to plan, prepare for, and secure competitive state and federal grant funding.

Read more about Sarah DeForest

Sarah joined Morrison with two decades of experience in agricultural communication, writing, and project coordination, most recently in the College of Agriculture at California State University, Chico, where she was director of external relations. Prior to that role she worked in philanthropic development, human resource consulting, student recruitment, and public relations.

Sarah’s passion for agriculture ignited at a young age, growing up in a cattle ranching family and participating in 4-H and FFA. She earned her bachelor’s degree in agriculture with an option in animal science at California State University, Chico. She is a graduate of the California Agricultural Leadership Program, and she has received numerous awards for her service to agriculture and the community, including the 2020 Common Threads North Award, the 2019 Farm City Celebration Community Service Award, and the 2011 Butte County CattleWoman of the Year.

QUALIFICATIONS

  • Class 39, California Ag Leadership Program
  • Member, California CattleWomen’s Association
  • Member, California Farm Bureau
  • Member, California Women for Agriculture

Tim Peters

Manager, Business & Accounting Advisory Services

Tim Peters joined Morrison in 2011 and serves our clients in outsource CFO and controller level roles. Tim assists Morrison clients in industries including agribusiness, manufacturing and processing, distribution, and marketing, with a focus on costing, cost controls, cash flow budgeting and management, financial reporting and analysis, business efficiency, ROI analysis, and short- and long-range planning.

Read more about Tim Peters

Prior to joining the Morrison team, Tim worked for Matson and Isom (now KCoe Isom), the region’s leading public accounting firm. While there, Tim worked in the firm's tax and audit departments, assisting both locally-owned and investor-owned companies in agribusiness, healthcare, and a variety of other industries. 

Tim is a graduate of California State University, Chico, where he earned a degree in accounting and received the 2006 Harry L. Jefferson award for excellence in accounting. In 2015, he graduated from the NorCAL Academy of Leadership, a one-year educational program sponsored by Wells Fargo and Innovate Northstate. He is a member of the Chico Chamber of Commerce’s Young Professionals Organization and the National Society of Accountants for Cooperatives. Tim is a licensed Certified Public Accountant.  

Qualifications

  • CPA
  • Member, Young Professionals Organization
  • Member, National Society of Accountants for Cooperatives
  • Graduate, NorCAL Academy of Leadership

Michelle Genova

Bookkeeping & Support Services Provider

Michelle Genova serves Morrison clients in a range of services including grant administration and reporting, monthly financial statement reporting, accounts receivable and preparation of billings, accounts payable and preparation of payments, payroll and related reporting, account reconciliations, external reporting, and related bookkeeping and support services.

Read more about Michelle Genova

Michelle first joined Morrison as the Business & Marketing Coordinator and was responsible for Morrison’s business and office administration including managing key vendor relations, banking relationships, and office administration. Michelle also coordinated Morrison’s marketing efforts, working closely with its creative design and marketing consultants. After completing her Associate's Degree in Accounting, she transferred to the Morrison Bookkeeping Services team.

 

Prior to joining Morrison, Michelle worked as an insurance representative in a local office of a national firm, writing policies, assisting clients with claims and compliance issues, and providing assistance with the budget and business planning. She combined her education in law and an interest in flood insurance to research flood maps, federal regulations, and flood plain management to assist farmers struggling with mandatory flood insurance requirements.

 

Originally from the Yuba Foothills area of California, Michelle came to Chico as a student and graduated from California State University, Chico in 2013 with a bachelor of arts degree in anthropology and a minor in criminal justice. After graduating, Michelle spent a period of time living in Rome where she taught English as an au pair.

 

After discovering a newfound passion for accounting with Morrison, Michelle earned an associate’s degree in Accounting as well as a Certificate of Achievement in accounting from Butte Community College. Previously, Michelle was a member of the Chico Noon Rotary; sat on the Rotaract Club of Chico Board of Directors as well as served as Program Director; and served as auction chair for the 2022 Evening with Catalyst fundraising gala, an event supporting the Catalyst Domestic Violence Services non-profit.

QUALIFICATIONS

  • Associates Degree, Accounting
  • Certificate of Achievement in Accounting
  • Bachelor of Arts, Anthropology

Andrew Magee

Consultant, Business & Accounting Advisory Services

Andrew Magee serves Morrison clients with a range of services including interim CFO/controller level roles and other accounting support, business planning and budgeting, system documentation and improvement, loan compliance and cash planning, accounting system conversions, and audit preparation and support.

Read more about Andrew Magee

Prior to joining the Morrison team, Andrew worked as Director of Capital Markets Finance for the University of California, Davis and later went on to become the Founder and Managing Director of Greenwell Management. He holds a bachelor's degree in international economics from the University of California, Los Angeles as well as master's degrees in accountancy and business administration from the University of California, Davis. 

QUALIFICATIONS

  • Master's of Professional Accountancy
  • Master's of Business Administration
  • Bachelor's in International Development

Ann Herbert

Consultant, People Solutions Services

Ann Herbert assists Morrison clients with Executive Recruitment under Morrison’s People Solutions Services by identifying, screening, and interviewing potential candidates for key positions with Morrison clients. She serves Morrison clients in agribusiness, production agriculture, manufacturing, processing, distribution, and in the non-profit sector, seeking to find the best fit for each recruitment engagement, which can include finding and placing controllers, CFOs, bookkeepers, and other key positions.

Read more about Ann Herbert

Prior to joining the Morrison team, Ann worked as a consultant helping companies to develop their infrastructure by finding employees who worked best in their individual organizations, and by coaching, mentoring and developing employees. Ann also founded and launched a non-profit organization that developed programs to affirm women in their roles as wives and community leaders across the country.

Ann previously worked in developing strategic partnerships across the country with Educational Media Foundation, a contemporary Christian music radio network. Additionally, Ann was Chief Operations Officer for EyeCenter Optometry overseeing three locations in the Sacramento area. Ann also worked with the local affiliate of Susan G. Komen for the Cure, overseeing the annual Race for Cure event with more than 25,000 runners and walkers.  

Ann has a master's degree with an emphasis in organizational management and an undergraduate degree from San Diego State University in radio and television

QUALIFICATIONS

  • Master of arts degree in organizational development

Daniel Paulsen

Consultant, Business & Accounting Advisory Services

Daniel Paulsen serves Morrison clients with a range of services including interim CFO/controller level roles and other accounting support, business planning and budgeting, system documentation and improvement, loan compliance and cash planning, accounting system conversions, and audit preparation and support. Daniel works primarily with clients in agribusiness, food processing, distribution, and similar industries.

Read more about Daniel Paulsen

Prior to joining the Morrison team, Daniel worked as an Audit Manager at Deloitte and served four years in the United States Marine Corps. He holds a bachelor’s degree in business administration with a minor in Bible and theology from William Jessup University and a master’s degree in professional accountancy from the University of California, Davis, and is a licensed Certified Public Accountant.

QUALIFICATIONS

  • CPA
  • Master of Professional Accountancy degree
  • Member, American Institute of Certified Public Accountants
  • Member, National Society of Accountants for Cooperatives
  • Member, Beta Gamma Sigma

Jamisson Parker

Consultant

Jamisson Parker serves Morrison clients in areas of grant writing and project management, and accounting advisory services. He brings his skills and experience in accounting and auditing to advise clients and effectively serve those seeking competitive grant funding through the United States Department of Agriculture, California Department of Food and Agriculture, California Energy Commission, and other granting agencies. Additionally, he brings experience with grant administration to assist with financial performance, ensuring compliance, and capitalizing on all available resources.

Read more about Jamisson Parker

Jamisson brings over seven years of governmental accounting experience, with an emphasis in grants. Prior to joining the Morrison team, he worked as an Accountant for Chico Unified School District, the largest school district in Butte County with a General Fund budget of Approximately $180 million. In that role he assisted with budget preparation, oversight of the District’s finances, and grant administration of federal, state, and local grants. Prior to that role, he worked for California State Parks as an Off-Highway Vehicle (OHV) grants auditor performing program audits and leading educational workshops for Governmental and Non-Profit organizations that were awarded funding within California.

Jamisson is a graduate of California State University, Chico, where he earned a degree in Business Administration with an Option in Accounting in 2014. He also holds two associates degrees from Butte Community College; one in Business Administration and one in Social and Behavioral Studies.

QUALIFICATIONS

  • Bachelors of Science, Business Administration, Option in Accounting
  • Associates in Science, Business Administration
  • Associates in Arts, Social and Behavioral Studies

Regan Penning

Consultant, Grants Services

Regan Penning serves Morrison clients in areas of grant writing, grant administration, and project management. She brings her skills and experience in communications to effectively serve clients seeking competitive grant funding through the United States Department of Food and Agriculture, California Department of Food and Agriculture, California Energy Commission, and other granting agencies.

Read more about Regan Penning

Prior to her role at Morrison, Regan worked for over ten years as director of communications at Youth With A Mission in Chico, California, after serving nine years in Guatemala City, Guatemala, in bilingual communications for the same non-profit organization. As communications director, Regan oversaw all media and marketing efforts as well as mobilization of college students into community and global outreach initiatives. She has served in leadership development, volunteer training, mentorship, and team debrief and evaluation.

The missions training program for Guatemalan teens Regan co-founded in 2001 has trained hundreds of underserved youth, many of whom now serve throughout Central and South America.  

Regan studied Public Relations and Spanish at the University of Louisiana at Monroe, and Biblical Studies at the University of the Nations.

QUALIFICATIONS

  • Director of Communications, Youth With A Mission (YWAM), Chico

Mayra Price

Bookkeeping & Support Services Provider

Mayra Price serves Morrison clients in a range of services including monthly financial statement reporting, accounts receivable and preparation of billings, accounts payable and preparation of payments, payroll and related reporting, account reconciliations, external reporting, and related support and services.

Read more about Mayra Price

Prior to joining the Morrison team, Mayra worked as an Accounts Payable Clerk for a Chico based general engineering contractor and aggregate producer, providing financial, administrative, and clerical support, including managing, processing, verifying, and reconciling various accounts.

Mayra started her career with a privately owned bookkeeping firm, where she assisted clients with bookkeeping services including accounts payable and receivable, account reconciliations, payroll processing, quarterly and monthly tax returns, and operating and business taxes. While there, she worked in a variety of industries, with a focus on small business and businesses with multiple legal entities.

Mayra holds an associate’s degree in Accounting, as well as a Tax Preparer and Accounting/Payroll Clerk certifications from Butte Community College. Mayra is bilingual, speaking English and Spanish fluently.

QUALIFICATIONS

  • Associates Degree, Accounting
  • Tax Preparer certificate
  • Account Clerk certificate
  • Bilingual (Spanish/English)

Susanna Steffen

Business Administrator

Susanna Steffen is responsible for Morrison’s business and office administration including managing key vendor relations, banking, and office administration. Susanna coordinates Morrison’s marketing and internet presence, working closely with our team and our creative design and marketing consultants.

Read more about Susanna Steffen

Susanna brings over 10 years’ experience in business administration and customer service. Prior to joining Morrison, she worked as an Administrative Coordinator at Northwest Lineman College, an educational institution that provides safety and certification training in the power delivery, natural gas, and telecommunications industries. There she assisted with advanced training courses, coordinating elective registrations, working with vendors, and facilitating processes in career planning and strategy. Susanna has previous administrative experience working for a behavioral health clinic, insurance agency, and security company.

Susanna is a graduate of Butte Community College where she earned an Associate’s degree in Social and Behavioral Studies. She attended Humboldt State University where she studied Child Development.

QUALIFICATIONS

  • Associate’s degree in Social and Behavioral Studies

Jessica Lazdins Vuk

Consultant, Grants Services

Jessica Lazdins Vuk serves Morrison clients in areas of grant writing, grant administration and project management. She brings her skills and experience in communication and marketing to effectively serve clients seeking competitive grant funding through the United States Department of Agriculture, California Department of Food and Agriculture, California Energy Commission, and other granting agencies.

Read more about Jessica Lazdins Vuk

Prior to her role in Morrison, Jessica worked for over a decade in the international nonprofit sector in Sarajevo, Bosnia-Herzegovina, equipping college students with educational and life skills through foreign language courses, seminars, mentoring, leadership development and community outreach initiatives. As Sarajevo Team Leader, Jessica managed the branch of the organization located in the capital city of Sarajevo. Her duties included overseeing all organizational activities; leading communication and marketing efforts; managing the Sarajevo staff team; executing strategic planning sessions; and developing key partnerships with external stakeholders.

Additionally, Jessica served as Marketing Coordinator at Bon Appetit Sarajevo, a family-owned, fine-dining bistro. She had a supportive role in the business, alongside her spouse who owned and managed the restaurant. Jessica developed Bon Appetit Sarajevo’s marketing strategy and all promotional materials; she also managed all social media profiles. Bon Appetit Sarajevo was among Tripadvisor’s Top 5 restaurants in the city during Jessica’s tenure.

Jessica holds a bachelor’s degree in English and Comparative History of Ideas from the University of Washington. She has a master’s degree in Global Leadership from Fuller Theological Seminary.

QUALIFICATIONS

  • Bachelor of Arts degree in English and Comparative History of Ideas from the University of Washington
  • Master's degree in Global Leadership from Fuller Theological Seminary

Justin Webb

Consultant, Business & Accounting Advisory Services

Justin Webb serves Morrison clients in a range of services including interim controller roles and accounting support, business planning and budgeting, system documentation and improvement, loan compliance and cash planning, accounting system conversions, and audit support. Justin assists Morrison clients in distribution, processing, agribusiness, and other industries.

Read more about Justin Webb

Prior to joining the Morrison team, Justin was assistant controller at Andersen & Sons Shelling, a large California walnut handler, processor, and private label manufacturer (including trails mixes and roasted, flavored, and natural packaged nut products).  

Justin started his career with KCoe Isom, the region’s leading public accounting firm, where he worked as a Senior Associate in the firm’s tax department. While there, he worked in a variety of industries, with a focus on agribusiness.

Justin holds a bachelor’s degree in Accounting, with minors in business administration and Bible & theology from Simpson University.

Justin and his wife serve as a Caring Community Team for the nonprofit organization, Creating Caring Communities, with a mission of connecting people to their neighbors and communities.

QUALIFICATIONS

  • Bachelor's Degree, Accounting
  • Member, Alpha Chi - National College Honor Society
Morrison Team Photo

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