Meet the
KNKBS Team
Our Experts
Experienced. Dedicated. Here for You.
As a women-owned and operated small business with over 30 years of experience, we provide expert bookkeeping and advisory services with the flexibility of a fully remote team. Our team members span five states, we have the freedom to be more productive and efficiently support your business—no matter where you are.
Kathleen Fernan
Co-Founder
Kathleen and Kerry founded KNKBS in 1991, to provide high-level accounting and bookkeeping services for small businesses and start-ups, and has evolved to include consulting for businesses of all sizes. For the last 20 years Kathleen has been a Contact Relationship Management Consultant and a Project Manager implementing multiple solutions and has been closely involved with the development and integration of websites and accounting systems.
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In the early 70’s her first job was working in an accounting department for a property management company. Kerry was her mentor and supervisor and taught her the accounting system from data entry to preparing for year end audit. Kathleen worked at this public company for 13 years as Controller managing over 75 sets of books for publicly held real estate partnerships under year round audit. During this time she honed her skills in reconciling and balancing books. Later her skills developed when she was tasked with converting all these books to a new computer system.
Today she spends her time managing KNKBS employees and clients and gardening
Kerry Whitmire
Co-Founder
Kerry began her accounting career in real estate – from bookkeeper to Controller to CFO to Senior VP in 13 years. She has a Bachelor of Science degree in Business Administration and passed the CPA exam (before calculators were allowed!).
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Ever since starting KNKBS with Kathleen in 1991, Kerry has been providing CFO-for-hire and consulting services to small and mid-sized businesses. She can immediately evaluate any set of accounting records and determine how to get a business on the right track – and she can make the best out of a mess.
Arlene Karma
Senior Accountant
Our accounting sleuth! Arlene has been with KNKBS since 1997, working full time keeping clients’ books squeaky clean.
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She prides herself on balancing every account and is not afraid to take on a troubled set of books. Arlene specializes in contractors and job costing; she’s also a payroll expert.
Arlene works remotely from her Texas office, and when she’s not balancing the books, she’s a professional barrel racer.
Kitty Morse
Senior Accountant, CPA
Kitty’s experience ranges from performing financial audits while at Ernst & Young, to SEC reporting at The Walt Disney Company.
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She went on to spend 20+ years as CFO of a small family-owned manufacturing business. Kitty brings a broad understanding of management needs, compassion for the bookkeeper’s responsibilities, and a deep appreciation for accuracy to her work as a conversion and clean-up specialist.
Arlene Karma
Senior Accountant
Our accounting sleuth! Arlene has been with KNKBS since 1997, working full time keeping clients’ books squeaky clean.
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She prides herself on balancing every account and is not afraid to take on a troubled set of books. Arlene specializes in contractors and job costing; she’s also a payroll expert.
Arlene works remotely from her Texas office, and when she’s not balancing the books, she’s a professional barrel racer.
Kitty Morse
Senior Accountant, CPA
Kitty’s experience ranges from performing financial audits while at Ernst & Young, to SEC reporting at The Walt Disney Company.
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She went on to spend 20+ years as CFO of a small family-owned manufacturing business. Kitty brings a broad understanding of management needs, compassion for the bookkeeper’s responsibilities, and a deep appreciation for accuracy to her work as a conversion and clean-up specialist.
Laura Martorana
Senior Accountant
Laura is a Senior Accountant at KNKBS with a degree in Business Administration – Public Accounting.
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Her many years of experience in the accounting industry for both CPA firms and small businesses have given her an expertise to help our clients to resolve their accounting and business issues. She loves helping others and resolving issues to cleanup books.
When not at work, she loves gardening, reading, family time with kids and grandkids, and Dodger baseball.
Danielle Barkume
Staff Bookkeeper & Executive Assistant
Danielle joined KNKBS as a Staff Bookkeeper and has since added the duties of the company’s Executive Assistant.
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She has over 15 years of QuickBooks Desktop experience, running her family-owned, manufacturing small business. She learned the accounting basics from the many hours shadowing her mother in their business, and looks forward to continued learning and growth with KNKBS.
When not working, Danielle enjoys time with her 3 boys and 4 dogs.
Dusty Bisla
Staff Bookkeeper
Dusty brings to KNKBS a broad range of experience, as operations manager and bookkeeper for her own music consulting business.
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She has been working with QuickBooks desktop for 12 years. With a degree in Applied Economics from London University, she worked in banking for 15 years as a commercial loan documentation specialist.
In her spare time, Dusty regularly attends the gym and loves to travel with family and experience other cultures.
Reba Crise
Staff Bookkeeper
Reba is a part-time bookkeeper with 13 years experience in the construction industry, performing all aspects of office management and bookkeeping.
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She specializes in QuickBooks Enterprise and Advanced Payroll.
When not working Reba loves spending time with her dogs, gardening, cooking and learning the art of archery.
Michele Haisman
Staff Bookkeeper
Michele has worked for KNKBS since 1997 as a part-time bookkeeper, supporting multiple companies with their financial record-keeping.
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She loves gardening, spending time with her 3 grown kids, and has been a foster mom to countless kittens.
Sheridan Haisman
Smartsheet Systems Administrator
Sheridan is a certified Smartsheet professional with a background in building scalable Smartsheet solutions. She focuses on creating systems that make information easy to find, processes consistent, and collaboration effortless.
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Carina Martinez
Staff Bookkeeper
Carina is a bookkeeper located in Southern California and is a wife and mother of two beautiful daughters. She studied accounting in college and quickly began working for multiple organizations on finance teams.
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In 2013 Carina took a hiatus from her career to begin a family, then joined KNKBS in 2019 to provide support including bookkeeping, payroll, and reconciliation for multiple businesses.
She and her family have recently found a passion for traveling and camping across Southern California.
Katie Musson
Staff Bookkeeper
Katie has years of experience keeping books for multiple industries/businesses including service industries, manufacturing, artist management, medical practices, restaurants, grocery stores, performing arts venues and non-profits.
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She loves researching, problem solving and learning new tech.
In her spare time, she likes relaxing with her family and pets.
Mike Nalick
Staff Bookkeeper
Mike is a local small business owner who joined the KNKBS team to assist with bookkeeping and special projects.
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He brings more than 25 years’ experience with QuickBooks and has provided bookkeeping services to a variety of concerns, from physicians’ offices and yoga studios to manufacturing and construction companies.
When not at the desk, he’s likely in the ocean or the mountains. Also, his dogs seem to love walking him.
Karen Robertson
Staff Bookkeeper
Karen, who specializes in fiduciary accounting, brings with her the organizational, analytical and customer service skills that were important in her previous career as a consulting engineer.
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She is grateful to get to use these same skills daily as the mother of two teenagers and two needy cats, wife to Dave and as an active volunteer in multiple charitable organizations. Karen and her family live in Columbus, Ohio.
Penny Todd
Executive Assistant
Penny has worked for KNKBS since 1998 as an executive assistant to various clients. She maintains all the compliance for many corporate entities.
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Penny brings detail and organizational skills learned while working many years as a legal secretary for litigation attorneys.
She enjoys the Big Bear area, skiing and horses.
Michele Wagoner
HR Specialist
A proven Human Resources leader with over 20 years of experience, Michele possesses a broad wealth of knowledge in a variety of industries throughout the globe, including both public and private and profit and not-for-profit companies.
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Her strengths include outstanding strategic, communication, facilitation, and problem-solving skills, which have been key in her demonstrated consistent strong leadership and sound judgment.
When not working, Michele enjoys riding her horse and spending time with her dogs.
Carol Welch
Consultant
Carol’s experience working in accounting dates to the 70’s. She was the Controller for a few garment industry companies and Director of Operations for a manufacturer, managing the workflow for the entire operation.
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Since then, she has worked independently for several hundred clients helping them with accounting, technical, and training needs. She joined KNKBS several years ago assisting clients in whatever their accounting and technical needs are.
Michele Wagoner
HR Specialist
A proven Human Resources leader with over 20 years of experience, Michele possesses a broad wealth of knowledge in a variety of industries throughout the globe, including both public and private and profit and not-for-profit companies.
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Her strengths include outstanding strategic, communication, facilitation, and problem-solving skills, which have been key in her demonstrated consistent strong leadership and sound judgment.
When not working, Michele enjoys riding her horse and spending time with her dogs.
Carol Welch
Consultant
Carol’s experience working in accounting dates to the 70’s. She was the Controller for a few garment industry companies and Director of Operations for a manufacturer, managing the workflow for the entire operation.
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Since then, she has worked independently for several hundred clients helping them with accounting, technical, and training needs. She joined KNKBS several years ago assisting clients in whatever their accounting and technical needs are.