Donna Ascenzi and Bernie Corbishley, partners
8 Tappan St., Baldwinsville
(315) 703-1088
Q: What problem does your business solve?
A: Our business is to make our clients’ businesses more profitable. We assist small businesses in getting their accounting records set up and maintained, giving them access to better tools for decision-making. Good accounting provides a business (or individual!) the ability to know where they stand financially, how they have progressed, and what they need to do to succeed going forward. Without solid and ongoing financial records (the language of business!) any business is ill-equipped to achieve their goal, which is to generate income.
In addition to working with businesses throughout the year to help with their financials, we prepare individual and business year-end taxes, and assist with all compliance issues including help with back taxes and dealing with the “nasty grams” that both businesses and individuals invariably receive from the IRS or the state (all states).
Q: Why does your product or service stand out?
A: We are a “hands-on” operation wherein the partners (CPAs) have direct contact with each and every client. While we have a dedicated and capable staff (Antonina and Elli) who assist with the work, we the partners take personal responsibility for the outcome of the work and are genuinely dedicated to each client as individuals. We get to know our clients on a personal level enabling us to ask pertinent questions that will affect their finances.
Q: Why did you choose to locate your business in B’ville?
A: The business was originally started as “Donna T. Ascenzi, CPA,” a sole proprietorship. Having been born and raised in a small community (Oswego), Donna knows the value of the camaraderies that develop in a town like Baldwinsville.
When she and her husband relocated to B’ville there was no question as to the location of the practice. We strongly believe in supporting our neighbors and “keeping the money local.”
Q: What is your favorite part about the B’ville community?
A: The village does a great job of maintaining the streets and public places, businesses and residents do a great job of maintaining their properties, the river flowing through the center of town is an asset of which few communities can boast, the history of the region and the canal are held in high regard, the school district is one of the finest in the state, the proximity to Syracuse enables residents to avail themselves of a myriad of cultural and sporting events while retaining the small town ambiance, and the residents are one big happy family.
Q: What do you see for your business in the next five years?
A: We have grown exponentially over the last seven years since we opened our practice in B’ville, going from a sole proprietorship to a partnership with two employees. We anticipate similar growth over the next few years.
Q: What has been your most satisfying moment in operating your business?
A: Not just saying this because Bee Local is sponsored by the Greater Baldwinsville Chamber of Commerce, but Donna having been chosen as the GBCC’s “Business Person of the Year” in 2015 was the high point for our practice. Building a business from scratch requires a great deal of time, effort and sacrifice, and having been recognized as such indicated to us that our work had really paid off as this effort was recognized by the premier business organization in our community.
Q: If you were to tell one person “thank you” for helping you become the person you are today or your business/organization become what it is today, who would it be and what did they do?
A: Our spouses are equally responsible for our success. The time and effort that we, as partners, have expended on the business has been shared by our spouses as our “office time” represents time away from them and our families.
Q: What super power would you like to have?
A: Time travel — so we could go backwards and do it all again!
