Lauren Foster is a Client Success Champion who works with business owners to help them feel secure and at peace with their finances. Lauren believes the continuing success of a business depends on a strong financial foundation. Lauren is a Licensed Insurance Agent turned Accountant after deciding to complete her degree when she had her youngest child. She landed a position at Bear Financial in October 2020. Lauren is also a small business owner and uses her personal experiences to guide her clients in the right direction for their own businesses. Lauren is a Gusto People Advisor, Xero Advisor, Quickbooks Pro-Advisor, and also holds several other certifications that she uses to assist her clients. Lauren holds an AS in Accounting from South College. She intends to complete her BS in Accounting from South College in March of 2022.

lauren@bearfinancialsolutions.com

Erin Reece has worked with CEOs, Founders, VPs, multi-million-dollar companies, and mom and pop shops all across the country. Her dream when she built Bear Financial was to be able to meet with any business owner, at any level and help them achieve all of their financial goals.

Erin knew from a young age that she wanted to be an accountant. She never waivered from that passion, declaring her major practically her first day of college. She graduated with a BS in Accounting and a graduate certificate in Criminal Justice. Erin then spent over 10 years working in corporate and public accounting firms. But seeing how burnt-out both the clients and colleges were, Erin decided to create her own, unique accounting firm.

Erin believes that everyone deserves a personal relationship with their accountant. She goes above and beyond to ensure every client feels at home, fully supported, and ready to tackle and accomplish every financial goal.

Her favorite thing about Bear Financial: Fave thing about Bear is how we lead with compassion, and seek to truly serve those who have put their trust in us.

Her favorite thing about Lauren: I love her incredible work-ethic. No problem is too big, no task is too overwhelming, she just works consistently through every obstacle, and is always smiling!

Her favorite thing about Shelby: She is so inspirational. She works so hard to make everything work like it should and she masters every little detail. I love her tenacity and her ability to keep everything in perspective.

erin@bearfinancialsolutions.com

Shelby Stennes started her business degree intending to pursue a career in marketing because she loves business strategy and helping her clients share their talent with others. She quickly realized there was something else her clients needed more: finance strategy. Seeing the money wounds, lack of resources, and shame that business owners held as their own failure, she wanted to be the person anyone could call with any sort of money issue. She quit her job and went back to school to get a degree in accounting. She joined Bear Financial Solutions in 2021 because it felt like home. It was the perfect place for her to flourish in her new career.

Shelby is the director of Bear’s Energetic Founder program; a group coaching and financial education resource that also provides ongoing support for business owners as they master their own accounting. Shelby’s greatest joy is solving problems and alleviating stress for her clients as they grow into the financially flourishing entrepreneurs they deserve to be.

Her favorite thing about Bear Financial: Shelby loves the mission of empowerment and authentic relationships she gets to build with clients.

Her favorite thing about Erin: Erin is an amazing mentor and has such an inspiring level of ease in every room she enters.

Her favorite thing about Lauren: Lauren has such a calming presence and clarity of purpose. Shelby loves brainstorming ideas with Lauren to help her stay tethered to the earth!

shelby@bearfinancialsolutions.com