The Team Who Helped Shape Our Future

In recognition of the countless hours, insightful listening, bold actions and innovative ideas provided to our Firm over the last thirteen years, we are pleased to induct our friend, mentor and client Alan Boal into the W&C Hall of Fame. Alan has a well deserved reputation as a “world class facilitator” which we have fully utilized over the years. His proven ability to listen, unlock and transfer value, ideas, and knowledge along with his passion to help others grow their enterprises has had a tremendous impact on our Firm.

This skill set along with these leadership traits were garnered via a successful and extensive career path. After obtaining undergraduate and graduate degrees, Alan worked for numerous industries in diverse roles which provided him not only a well rounded business background but also allowed him to observe multiple business models and leadership approaches. In 1983 Alan formed Idea Transfer, Inc. which is a business education enterprise that is dedicated to the providing of perspective by helping leaders manage processes, systems, knowledge, time, conflict, and change. This unique approach has allowed Idea Transfer to provide consulting services to an extensive international client base that has been cultivated over many years. In addition to inspiring others, Alan has and continues to seek out those that inspire him. He converted years of journals into a book called The Able Navigator (The Art and Science of Constructive Living) in order to share the lessons learned and the inspiration he gained from mentors and pathfinders.

Alan and his wife Pam reside in Las Vegas, Nevada.

In recognition of his exemplary business success as one of Orange County’s true real estate entrepreneurs and for being a truly great friend and mentor for Russ Wertz as well as one of his favorite clients for over 25 years, we are pleased to induct Bob as the first ever client honoree into the W&C Hall of Fame.Bob and the Orange County real estate industry have gone hand in hand for more than fifty years. After serving our country during the Korean War, Bob began his sales career in the real estate department of the Los Angeles Examiner. In 1961, after getting his fill of newspaper work, Bob struck out on his own by opening the first office of Hubbert Advertising & Public Relations Company in Eagle Rock, California.  As the industry continued to grow, so did his business.  In 1969 Bob followed many of Southern California’s major builders and established roots in Orange County by making it the corporate home of his company. Shortly thereafter he went on to expand within California into the cities of San Diego, Santa Clara and Sacramento. Never satisfied with the status quo, it wasn’t long before his agency became the largest one of its kind within the western United States by specializing in serving residential real estate developers and by marketing well over $1 billion of their projects throughout California, Arizona, Nevada and other western states.

In 1992, Bob began transitioning the equity in his advertising agency to longtime employees in order to allow him time to become actively involved in Homes for Sale Magazine as its Chief Executive Officer, a company which he co-founded in 1978.  During his tenure as CEO, he continued to expand the business through acquisitions as well as organically which ultimately led to its successful sale at the beginning of the new millennium. Never tiring of his love of the building industry, in 2002 Bob purchased seventeen acres of land in Barstow, California and formed a partnership to build single family homes.  He later formed other partnerships and continued to build both residential and commercial condominiums within California, as well as in Seattle, Washington.

Bob has always been a “giver”. Throughout his career, Bob’s commitment to the building industry has been evident by his ongoing support of local, regional and national trade associations.  He served fourteen years as Vice President of Public Relations and Membership for the Building Industry Association of Southern California.  He has also chaired the Public Affairs Committee and served on the Membership Committee of the California Building Industry Association based in Sacramento.  He has also been a Director of the National Association of Home Builders and served as California Vice President for Association Members for NAHB. Ultimately, Bob was honored by his contemporaries when they presented him with the Jay Tipton Award which is commonly referred to within the industry as their tribute to the “Man of the Year in Orange County Real Estate.”

Bob and his wife Sylvia spend time at their homes in Seattle, Washington, Del Mar, California and Kona, Hawaii when they are now traveling the world and enjoying life.

Cheryl Nichols, our Partner and friend, passed away December 25, 2004 as a result of her battle against cancer.  In recognition of her passion for the industry and her exceptional client service, we are honored to memorialize the career she loved so much by inducting her into our Hall of Fame.Cheryl was a truly valued member of the Wertz & Company team since the acquisition of her firm in November of 2000. Cheryl was a quality person of high integrity, a strong role model for her family and a superior provider of professional accounting services. She was passionate about her work and was rewarded by the trust and confidence that her clients placed in her.  Her depth of technical experience, along with her sound business advice served her and her clients well throughout her career and were a huge part of who she was.It is because of Cheryl’s special relationship with many of her clients that she had already begun to transfer some of the servicing responsibilities to others within our firm so that each and every one would continue to receive the personal attention they had come to enjoy and expect with Cheryl.  She was always positive and up-beat during her illness – she fought with grace, style and courage and was always a step ahead, moving in the right direction of what needed to be done.  She never gave up, and her courage and giving never stopped.  It is how she will always be remembered.

In recognition of the exemplary services he has provided his clients, as well as his contributions to the community in which he lives, we are pleased to induct Harvey Cova into the Wertz & Company Hall of Fame.Harvey joined the United States Army at eighteen years of age where he served a total of three years, two-and-a-half of which was spent stationed in Japan as a staff sergeant during the Korean War. After being honorably discharged from the Army, Harvey enrolled at Woodbury University in Los Angeles where he obtained an accounting degree in 1956. It was there that he met Marilyn, a fellow student, who became and has been his wife for the last fifty plus years!Harvey began his accounting career with Charles Ford and Associates in Los Angeles. He added some sales experience to his resume from 1964 through 1969 by working as a salesman with the Fuller Brush Company selling products on a door-to-door basis. It was during this time, while doing accounting work on the side, that he met his future business partner, Julian Fox. In 1971, Harvey and Julian formalized their business relationship and established Fox & Cova which was originally based in Beverly Hills.Seven years later, in 1978, Harvey moved his half of the Firm to Orange County where he began to operate Fox & Cova from an Irvine office. Concurrently, in addition to running his tax practice, Harvey became one of four equity owners and served as the Chief Financial Officer to Homes for Sale magazine which offered advertising space to Orange County’s residential homebuilders. Harvey continued to function in this role until the magazine’s successful sale in 1998.It was in 2004 that Harvey decided to start enjoying the fruits of his labor and joined forces with Wertz & Company in order to allow himself more time to pursue his various hobbies. When he is not in the W&C offices he’s out playing golf!  Harvey is a dedicated father of four and a loving grandfather to seven. He currently serves on the Board of Directors at Woodbury University as he has done over the past twenty years. He is also a member of the Knights of Columbus and the Italian Catholic Federation of the Church of St. Thomas Moore in Irvine.We are honored to have Harvey join the ranks of those who have made an impact not only within the accounting industry, but as part of the Wertz & Company legacy as well.

Harvey S. Cova passed away on April 30, 2013 from complications of a stroke, surrounded by the family members he loved. We are honored to have known him.

Ken Mitchell, a co-worker and friend, passed away on April 19, 2008, as a result of a tragic cycling accident while on vacation in Bolivia. As a tribute to his many accomplishments and to memorialize his value to his clients and to our firm, we celebrate his life by inducting Ken into the Wertz & Company Hall of Fame.Ken was a Principal in the firm’s Long Beach office and had been with the Wertz & Company team since joining us in January of 2001 as a result of our acquisition of the Goodban and Walsh firm.  He was known for his great work ethic, high integrity and a desire to provide quality professional service to his clients.Ken’s love for life, his gregarious manner and his passion for adventure took him to many places throughout the world. Ken’s own family described him as an adventurer and a world traveler! He always went without any itinerary and liked to stay in places where he became ingrained in the local communities he was visiting. His last trip was an example of this passion.We miss him and are honored to place him into our Hall of Fame.

Loydene Wilcoxson is someone of exceptional character whose lifelong personal and professional commitment has been focused on serving others. She has consistently displayed this pledge by dedicating her life to her family, her clients and her faith.

Loydene started her business career at the law firm of Baker, Farnham & Began right out of high school where she began training in the paralegal area.   After taking some time off to raise her two children, she returned to the work force at Powars & Tretheway where she served for over 37 years.  During this period Loydene attended the University of Southern California where she completed the requirements to become a certified legal assistant and not surprisingly graduated at the top of her class!

Loydene joined the Wertz & Company team in 2001 where she rose to the title of Principal. She has worn many service hats during her time with us and actually claims to have enjoyed all of them! Her impact has been felt by our staff and our clients alike, both in their work lives as well as their personal lives.

Loydene and her husband of 37 years, Tery, have embarked into a new stage of life called RETIREMENT!  They have relocated to a beautiful new home located next to a peaceful lake in Georgia. They are looking forward to serving others through their church, spending quality quiet time with one another and sharing the many new adventures that we are sure are in store for them.

We are honored that Loydene has accepted our offer to be inducted into our Hall of Fame.

It is with deep gratitude that we have inducted Bob into the Wertz & Company Hall of Fame. This induction is an acknowledgement of the overall excellence in service that Bob has consistently displayed to our clients, as well as to honor the hours of community service that he has provided for over fifty years.After graduating from the University of California at Los Angeles with a degree in business administration, Bob began his career by working in the accounting departments of a number of industrial companies over a five year span and became the Chief Financial Officer of a defense related contractor. In order to fulfill his ambition to become a Certified Public Accountant, Bob joined a public accounting firm and soon thereafter started his own practice in 1958 in the Los Angeles area. In 1972, Bob’s firm had outgrown their office space and Bob decided to take advantage of this opportunity and relocated his practice to a fast growing area known as Orange County. In 1999, Bob and his partner, Mike Trank, decided to sell their firm to Wertz & Company.Bob’s uniquely personal and humorous approach to his relationships has endeared him to his clients and friends. His knowledge and understanding of tax law and his expertise in the estate, trust and financial planning areas has cemented these long standing relationships with our firm.Over the years, Bob has maintained memberships in the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants, the California Society of Certified Public Accountants (having served as a past Board member), the Long Beach-Orange County Chapter of the CPA Society (having served as a past Board member), the LINC Society of CPA Financial Planners (having been named in 1991 the Financial Planner of the Year), the Los Angeles State Inheritance Tax Referees (having served as a past Treasurer), the Orange Coast Estate Planning Council (having served as a past President) and the Society of CPA Financial Planners (having served as a past President).During this same period, Bob has served the community through his affiliations with the Acacia Adult Day Care Center (serving as a current Board member and Treasurer), Rotary (having served as a past President and Treasurer), the College Alumni Association (having served as a past President), the Rotary International District 5320 Charitable Foundation (having served as past Treasurer), and the City of Los Alamitos Fine Arts Commission (having served as a past President).Given all of these responsibilities, Bob has somehow managed to father seven children and is responsible for another eleven grandchildren. Additionally, he and his wife, Lois, have been married for over fifty years.

It is with much appreciation that we have inducted Rosemary into the Wertz & Company Hall of Fame.  During Rosie’s fifty-plus years in the accounting industry, she has consistently displayed an unending loyalty not only to her employers but to the hundreds of clients she has helped during this period.While attending Excelsior High School (1955 – 1959) in Norwalk, California, Rosemary began her career as a part-time secretary working nights during the tax season with the CPA firm of Sharpe & Company. During this time, Rosie’s focus was business and athletics. After graduation in 1959, she began attending Cerritos College as a business major while at the same time serving as the president of the Girls Athletic Association. Rosie’s scholastic career was cut short due to illness in her family which forced her to leave college and begin work full time at Sharp & Company where she stayed for nine years. In 1968, Rosie became the administrative assistant for Bob Little which was the beginning of what was to become a forty year business relationship. Rosie served the clientele with Bob under the various firm mantles of R. T. Little & Company, Little & Trank, Corbin & Wertz and ultimately Wertz & Company, LLP.During her career, Rosie worked closely (via Bob’s involvement) with the California Society of Certified Public Accountants, the Long Beach-Orange County Chapter of the CPA Society, the LINC Society of CPA Financial Planners, the Newport Beach-Irvine Rotary Club (where she was honored as Paul Harris Fellow) as well as the Rotary International District 5320 Charitable Foundation.The induction of Rosemary Heinrich into the Wertz & Company Hall of Fame is the result of her consistent display of integrity, loyalty, unselfishness and client service during her entire career.  Now retired, Rosie spends a lot of her time traveling to see friends, family and the countryside.  When not traveling, she enjoys visiting historical exhibits and has a passion for the old “classic” movies.