Accounting firm moving to new home

Bollenbacher and Associates is moving to Meridian Street.
The accounting firm, currently located at 215 E. Pearl Street in Portland purchased the Movie Gallery building, 915 N. Meridian, earlier this year.
Brenda Kaup, firm administrator, said the company has significantly grown since it first opened its doors in 2004.
“We’ve been very fortunate and blessed. Our business has grown, we have expanded our team members, so the office has gotten a little small,” she said. “(The old Movie Gallery is) a great location, and it gives us the ample opportunity to expand and continue our good services, hopefully.”
The company bought the building in September, and construction work began in early November, with plans to fully move into the building before the end of January.
Originally, though, Bollenbacher and Associates considered adding an addition to its 2,000 square-foot space on Pearl Street.
“We found out it would only offer us a couple extra offices,” Kaup said. “And we wanted to look more into the future for five, 10 years down the road.”
In addition to more office space, the new location will add a conference and break room, amenities the company doesn’t currently have.
Bollenbacher employees were able to pick colors for their offices to make them feel more comfortable, Kaup said. The firm has eight full-time staff members and five part-time staff members.
Kaup said she hopes the new location will offer the company more visibility, which it hasn’t had at its Pearl Street location, to Jay County residents.
“A lot of people in the community don’t know where we are located, had not heard of us that have been in the community for a long time,” Kaup said.
“I think it’s a nice opportunity. We’re kind of in the financial district a little bit there with the banks.”
The company is using local businesses to build and renovate its new 4,000 square-foot building, including Coppersmith Electric, Pennville Custom Cabinetry and Dan’s Furniture and Restoration.  Team members are looking forward to moving into the new building in the new year.
“Right now, we are searching for places to store things, and we’re kind of on top of one another,” Kaup said with a laugh.
And she and her fellow employees are grateful to the community that has helped them get started and expand.
“They have made us what we are and have helped us grow,” she said.[[In-content Ad]]