Team

1 Fixed Monthly Fee - Planning | Accounting | Taxes | Consulting

Helping Canadian businesses beat the odds!

Josh Spurrell

Josh Spurrell

Founder

 Josh Spurrell, Mgmt, CPA, CA founded the firm in August 2011. Although, he began his business career as a construction contractor. Most accountants only experience running their own business after they complete a business degree and a professional accounting designation. Further, most accountants do not experience the challenges of running a non-accounting business. This allowed him to have the unique experience of being on “the other side of the accountant’s desk” and drives him to help other entrepreneurs.

Upon selling his business he attended Concordia University where he was the recipient of the Jimmy Condon athletic scholarship and the Concordia academic scholarship. In his final year at Concordia, he also led the winning team in the management simulation challenge of 4th-year business students and completed a management practicum with the City of Edmonton where he was charged with developing cost-effective environmental solutions for recreation facilities.

Upon graduating with a Bachelor of Management Josh has worked exclusively in public practice since 2008. He successfully wrote the Uniform Final Examination (UFE) into the Chartered Accountant profession in 2010, after passing each module of the Chartered Accountant School of Business program on the first attempt, in a compressed schedule. During his time in public practice, he has worked extensively with medical and construction professionals.

Josh is a Certified Advanced QuickBooks Online ProAdvisor and enjoys helping clients obtain reliable financial information through the implementation of modern accounting systems. He is also a firm believer that to maximize their chances of success, business owners should implement progressive tax strategies, formalize a business plan, and then put in place a system to analyze performance against that plan to ensure adjustments can be made before it’s too late!

Shadan Farasati

Shadan Farasati

Manager

My name is Shadan Farasati. I was born in Iran and moved to Canada in 1999, first settling in Vancouver and then relocating to Edmonton in 2011 alongside my husband. As you might imagine, moving to Canada was a challenge in its own, given the language and cultural barriers involved. That being said, after living in Canada for some 20 years now, I am also happy to call myself a proud Canadian. 

Moreover, I have a four-year-old daughter with whom, in addition to my husband, I spend the majority of my time outside of work.

I received my Bachelor of Technology in the field of Accounting in 2009 and later received my CGA designation in 2011. I have 12 years of experience in public practice, the majority of which has been spent in a managerial capacity within public practice, including both small practice and big accounting firms, e.g., (Grant Thornton & EY).

 Outside of work, I enjoy playing sports, in particular, squash and swimming. I am also a fervent fan of Pop music, including but not limited to, Persian, Spanish, and English variances. 

My career objective is sustained upon the principle of steady improvement in my line of work, such that I may and can become the best at what I do, in the process aiding my business firm to grow and succeed evermore. 

Lastly, I enjoy working at Spurrell and Associate because of the firm’s overall policy to provide unwavering help to small business owners, something to which Spurrell and Associate are passionately committed.

Denise Mitra

Denise Mitra

Manager

My name is Denise Mitra.  I was born and raised in the west end of Edmonton where I still live with my husband and daughter.  Right after I finished high school, I started working as a receptionist in a medical office for a number of neurologists.  After many years there, I trained to become an EMT-A which I worked as for a couple of years.  I decided that being an EMT was not for me and found a job as an administrative assistant in a prominent tax law firm.   I worked as an assistant to 2 partners and various associates, provided payroll and payable services and worked as the office manager during my 12 years at that firm.  In 2008 my husband and I adopted our daughter and I took some time off to stay at home with her.  As my daughter got older, I did various jobs from my home and eventually found myself working with Josh at Spurrell & Associates in 2012.   Although I do not have any formal training in accounting, during my time at Spurrell & Associates, I have become a Certified Advanced QuickBooks Online ProAdvisor and I am proficient in preparing financial plans, business plans, yearends and providing outsourcing services for our corporate clients and preparing personal taxes. 

I originally started working with Josh at Spurrell & Associates because I was able to work from home and work around my daughter’s schedule.  I have enjoyed being a part of the growth of Spurrell & Associates and I have chosen to stay because I believe in our values.  One of the values is “continually learn, develop talent, and promote from within”.   Even though I don’t have the formal education in accounting, I have continued to learn through my time at Spurrell & Associates and have become a manager and work closely with two of our four teams.  I am looking forward to what the future holds for Spurrell & Associates and for me as an employee!

When I am not working at Spurrell & Associates, I love to be with my husband and my daughter.  We love to swim together, I enjoy reading and we enjoy being outside.  I also am an active member in my church and have held many leadership positions there.

Yahweh Matuguinas

Yahweh Matuguinas

Associate

Hi! My name is Yahweh Matuguinas. I immigrated to Canada in 2010 when I was 17 years old. As any other immigrants, I had to adapt to new culture, new language, new people, etc. That being said, I knew I can count on something that will not change everywhere I go: numbers! I know its very stereotypical for an asian kid to love math, but what can I say? I cant walk away from something I love to do! This is how I discovered accounting. I was amazed on how numbers can tell a story of a business without elaborate paragraphs and complicated words that are not even in my vocabulary.

I went to MacEwan University to pursue my commerce degree. Coming from a third world country, I realize that I cant pass any opportunity and I have to work hard if i want to achieve my goals. I took any job I could get: fast food crew, sales associate, even door to door insurance sales. I worked 30 hours a week while maintaining my good standing at school. I have a pretty unique name. By the way, it means god (pretty cool, right?). This pushed me to aim higher and make sure I do my best to deserve my name.

I found out about Spurrell & Associates through my friend. She always talked about how happy she was to work at the firm and this encouraged me to apply for the job in 2016. Working with my Spurrell family is what makes me excited to come to the office everyday. They also gave me the opportunity to advance further in my career by helping me get to the CPA program. With hardwork and dedication, I dream of being a CPA in the future.

Besides the people I work with, the values we share at Spurrell are what keeps me working hard for the company. WE GET THINGS DONE! I am committed that everything we do will help our clients beat the odds

Alex Ledwos, BBA

Alex Ledwos, BBA

Associate

My name is Alex Ledwos. I was originally born in Penticton, British Columbia. During my younger childhood years my family moved around Western Canada. We made stops in both Victoria, BC and Regina, SK before finally settling down in Sylvan Lake.  Once settled into in the town of Sylvan Lake, I remained there right up 2019 when I relocated to Edmonton to work at Spurrell & Associates.

I began my education in 2012 when I started my Bachelor of Business Administration degree at Red Deer College. After finishing the first two years I transferred to Mount Royal University down in Calgary. It was there I finished my schooling and graduated with a bachelor’s degree. During this time, I was able to achieve being on the dean’s honor roll every semester. Since joining Spurrell and associates I have begun taking my CPA PEP courses and am currently working on my completing the program and writing the CFE in September 2021.

In my spare time I have a love for sports, both watching and playing. I played football for almost 10 years spanning from middle school all the way through to men’s league, most recently playing in 2015 for the Central Alberta Buccaneers of the Alberta Football League. As well, I have always had a passion and love for classic muscle cars. However, I was never able full explore that passion until recently. In 2018 I was handed down a 1972 Oldsmobile Cutlass Supreme from my grandpa as he shared a similar passion for cars. My current goal is to restore it to all its former glory and eventually use it as my daily driver during the summer months.

As my career continues to grow, there are many things that I look to achieve. In the immediate future I look to continue to work towards getting my CPA designation. I believe that you should try to learn something new every day and have tried to shape my long-term goals around this mentality. That is why my long-term objectives are to continue to incrementally improve my knowledge and technical skills every day in order to be able to better help Canadian small businesses beat the odds.

I am passionate about helping small businesses because I grew up in a small town and I saw just how vital they are to the community. During my working career I have been privileged to have worked only for small businesses. It was during this time that I saw the challenges that they faced. Moreover, I was able to see how great the victories are when small businesses succeed. That is why I love the mission we have here at Spurrell and Associates and continue to be committed to helping small businesses #beattheodds.

Trevor Samons

Trevor Samons

Business Coach

My greatest accomplishment is being married to my lovely wife for over 20 years and having the privilege of co-creating three amazing children with her. They are my everything and the reason why I work so hard to help business owners grow their companies.

My very first job was delivering the Edmonton Sun newspaper as a teen. If you’ve never had the opportunity to deliver newspapers, I can tell you from experience that it is a great training ground for becoming an entrepreneur. The conditions are never perfect, you have to get up earlier than all of your friends, you have to work weekends and the most important lesson…you can’t do it alone. On more than one occasion, mom and dad had to provide emergency support when it was -25 and snowing.

I earned my diploma in sales and marketing in 1999 which fueled my passion for business. Together, Karen and I started several home-based businesses during our 20 years which taught us what it takes to build a successful business and more importantly, we learned from the many mistakes along the way.

As strange as it may sound, I achieved my Red Seal Electrician Journeyman certificate and held many supervisory positions, building many notable projects throughout Alberta. I was able to hone my skills as a leader, teacher, mentor and manager during my 13 years in the electrical trade.

My passion for helping small businesses to beat the odds really took root during the economic collapse of 2008-2009. Seeing so many businesses close, people losing jobs pushed me to learn how to take advantage of the online opportunities and leverage them to help businesses avoid unnecessary closure. Partnering with Josh from Spurrell and Associates was a natural transition from our digital agency, Inspired Method that we started in 2018.

I am a huge music fan and I enjoy singing and playing instruments. A goal when I reach my business goals is to sing and play cover tunes on the beach in Maui.

Until then, I am committed to helping Canadian businesses beat the odds of 50% failure by implementing proven business and marketing strategies. It is my firm belief that business failure is 90% preventable and our work with Spurrell and Associates for the next several years will help numerous businesses #BEATTHEODDS.

The reason I decided to join Spurrell and Associates is because our goals are aligned. Helping Canadian Businesses Beat The Odds isn’t just a slogan, it’s a mission with a purpose.

There is a human cost to business failure. Families lose jobs, homes and belongings. Marriages break up due to financial pressure, worst of all, people make the choice to end it all when businesses fail. If we can use our collective knowledge and expertise to help one more business beat the odds, then our mission is a success.

Don’t become a statistic, contact info@spurrell.ca to book a free consultation and learn how we can help you to #BEATTHEODDS.

Karen Samons

Karen Samons

Business Coach

Hi, my name is Karen Samons. My journey to working with Spurrell and Associates has been a long and winding road. Let me back up and share that with. I have always loved being around people my entire life. Running through the neighborhood yards with all the kids in the area was an everyday experience. Growing up on an acreage was hard sometimes for an extrovert like me.  I thrive with human connection. Going to the same school, Namao, for kindergarten to grade 9 with all the same kids could be limiting when you love meeting new people. Thanksfully I had tons of cousins to hang out with too. As a teenager, I loved babysitting. You could say I started working for myself quite young. Whenever our family was at a party or get together and there was a baby there, you’d find me holding her and playing with the other children too. I have always loved that human interaction no matter the age. I baby sat all the way through university. This passion of being with people led me to becoming a teacher. After completing a Bachelor of Education degree from the University of Alberta, I went on to teach several years as an early childhood teacher up to the junior high level. Wherever the school needed me, is where I taught. Through my teaching years, I met and married my husband, Trevor.

After having our first child, I knew I didn’t want to rush back to teaching and leave my son with someone else for childcare. I tried, but everyday it was hard. I wanted to be home with him and so the entrepreneurial journey twists continued. In the meantime, Trevor and I tried our hand at owning and operating a few traditional businesses, only to find out they weren’t exactly the right fit. Did we ever learn a lot.  Years later I opened a dayhome after having our second child. I ran the dayhome for 5 years and in that time had our third child. Here is where my journey gets even more twisty. Once I closed the dayhome when our youngest was 2 years old, I knew I just had to do more with my skills and with my time. What could I do from home that would allow me to be with my kids? It may be unusual, but I wanted to learn more especially about something I didn’t know much about. I’m unique that way. At 39 years old and having been done with formal education for nearly 20 years, I decided to go back to school to take some business courses. I enrolled at NAIT, primarily in the online course delivery programs. I am currently taking my last course to complete a marketing diploma in business administration. I have loved almost every course, as hard as it’s all been. In the middle of this round of secondary schooling, in 2018, my husband and I decided to start our own official business called Inspired Method Marketing, a digital marketing company. Soon after, we met Josh Spurrell by hiring him as our accountant for our new business. What we found was even more valuable, a like-minded person who also wanted to help businesses grow and stay in business. We quickly bonded together to create a new path, business coaching. Today we are working together to help businesses around the world beat the odds by staying in business and thriving.

Alana Gueutal

Alana Gueutal

Business Coach

My name is Alana Gueutal. I was last born in a family of four children. Although I had a passion for music, writing and art, I found a love for graphic design, which ultimately became my post secondary field of study.

After graduating, I got my start in the print industry by working for my hometown newspaper. Before moving on to a local small run print shop. I worked my way from graphic designer to outside sales and ultimately operations manager. After working there for five years, my boss gave me the opportunity to buy the print shop from him. I thought it was going to be so simple to run the business, since I had a lot of knowledge about the industry, but found out how wrong I was!

Despite the extremely steep learning curve. I was able to bring the business steady growth. Doubling sales within the first year of business ownership, and eventually tripling that over 12 years of business ownership. Each year brought new challenges, and new rewards. All of those experiences fueled my passion to help small businesses succeed. But after 12 years of business ownership, my business partner and I decided it was time to go our own separate ways. While I was sad to leave my business, I was very excited to look for a career where I could help other small businesses like my own.

When I first heard about Spurrell & Associates, I knew this was where I belonged! I aligned instantly with their mission to help Canadian businesses beat the odds. And knew I would be able to put my experiences to work every day helping small businesses succeed! Coming in to work each day is a huge pleasure – knowing I’m making a difference to many entrepreneurs.

In my spare time, I have an immense passion for music. I play flute in my church worship services as well as saxophone, ukulele, piano and vocals in my band. When I’m not playing or listening to music, I can be found walking or biking the trails along the river valley. Or in the kitchen, cooking for my loved ones including my fiancé and son.

Desmond Soon, CPPA

Desmond Soon, CPPA

Vancouver Account Manager

Hi, my name is Desmond, and I am the Vancouver Account Manager for Spurrell & Associates. I’m here to provide consulting and concierge services to all the BC clients to help them beat the odds. I have an extensive background in sales and marketing. When I’m not chasing around my wife and 2 sons, I’m working on my expert cross bow marksmanship. I’m also a certified Canadian Personal Property Appraiser who can prepare leasehold and equipment valuations for financing.

Anthony Hill

Anthony Hill

Associate

I was born in Hay River, NWT and lived there until my family moved to Edmonton when I was 15 years old. After graduating from Archbishop O’Leary Catholic High School, I went to the University of Alberta and attained a B.Sc. with a Biology Major and Geology Minor.

I am mostly of Cree and Scottish descent and am very proud of my heritage. Growing up, and into adulthood, I have enjoyed playing hockey and baseball as well as hiking and camping. I love cooking and spending time with my family and friends.

After I finished university, I agreed to help my brother and cousin who were working in the kitchen at a local golf course. I quickly discovered that my love of food came with a natural talent for cooking, and I spent the next several years working in various kitchens around Edmonton.

At this point I was offered an opportunity to use my university degree to move to Tokyo, Japan and become a private English teacher. I spent two years immersed in Japanese culture helping people of all ages improve their English-speaking abilities. This was an incredibly rewarding experience that boosted my self-confidence and has allowed me to see the world from new perspectives.

After moving back to Edmonton, I spent many of the next fifteen years as a professional cook, moving up the chain of command until I ultimately became the chef of a small Edmonton pub. While I was in this position we were hit with the pandemic, and I used the extra time on my hands to return to school and take an online course in Accounting and Payroll. During the practicum portion of the course, I was placed as an intern here at Spurrell & Associates CPA and immediately realized this was the type of accounting firm I wanted to work for. Now I am working my way towards a CPA designation and look forward to continuing helping small businesses achieve their goals and #beattheodds.

Professional Experience and Credentials

I have been working at Spurrell & Associates CPA for two years. I attained a Certificate in Accounting and Payroll from CDI College Online.

Something Unique About Me

I can make eggs benedict over a campfire.

Where I am going in my career?

After attaining my CPA designation, I would love to finish my career working for Spurrell & Associates CPA and continue to help small business owners achieve their goals.

Why do I want to work at Spurrell & Associates CPA?

When I started this journey to become an accountant, I thought I would work at a firm long enough to gain the experience needed to start my own business helping small business owners with their accounting and tax needs. While completing my internship here at Spurrell & Associates CPA I realized I had already found a place where I can help small business owners right away in my career. I feel aligned with Josh’s vision, and I really enjoy working with the fantastic people here. Seeing our clients progress and continue to improve their businesses is incredibly rewarding. I can’t wait to see what the future holds for me here.

Chanel Diaz

Chanel Diaz

Associate

My name is Chanel Diaz. I was born and raised in Edmonton. Before I was born, my parents immigrated here from Trinidad & Tobago. In 2017 I spent a couple of months in Trinidad, which required me to adapt to the cultural differences between the Caribbean and Canada. When I was younger, I participated in dance classes and swam on my high school swim team. In my free time now I enjoy ceramics, travel, cooking and spending time with family and friends.

Right after high school I got promoted to be the supervisor at Shoppers. I worked as a full-time supervisor for a couple months while I decided what I wanted to pursue in school. I then started to study at CDI College in the Accounting and Payroll Administration program. Before completing the program, I began applying for jobs and came across Spurrell & Associates. In the group interview I decided I wanted to work here because of the mission to help Canadian businesses beat the odds. This was important to me because when my parents immigrated here and my dad got work experience in Canada, he opened his own small business. From there I got to witness the struggles that small business owners go through on a daily basis, so learning how to help small businesses beat the odds drew me in. I enjoy working at Spurrell & Associates because I get to be a part of the meetings and see how Josh helps small businesses succeed every day. To further my education and knowledge, I am currently working on completing my prerequisites for the CPA program.

John Jamieson

John Jamieson

Associate

My name is John Jamieson. I was born in Edmonton and raised in several small towns in Alberta. My childhood and adolescent years were centered on swimming, water polo, and my education. Now, in my free time, if I’m not at the swimming pool, you’ll find me high-tailing it to the mountains to find a new hiking trail.

I started my career as a power engineer, but soon realized that this path didn’t align with my long-term goals. So, I made the choice to return to school and pursue a degree in commerce. Since graduating with a bachelor’s degree, I have enrolled in CPA PEP courses to broaden my knowledge and advance in my accounting career.

Through my grandparents, I had a firsthand view of the ups and downs faced by small business owners. This is why the opportunity to help small businesses achieve their goals and maximize performance truly resonates with me. Working at Spurrell & Associates has afforded me the chance to provide such assistance and support to our clients across Canada.

Jordyn Andrews

Jordyn Andrews

Associate

My name is Jordyn Andrews. I grew up in a small town in Manitoba. I moved to Edmonton by myself 5 years ago to pursue my degree, where I have been ever since. Edmonton has been such a great adventure for myself, my younger sister has since joined me in the city.

I completed my Bachelor of Commerce with a major in accounting at MacEwan University in April 2023, and have since moved on to the CPA program. I look forward to obtaining my CPA designation and continuing to expand my knowledge in this field with the support of my peers. A fun fact, I am the first person in my family to obtain their post-secondary degree.

Outside of work I like to spend my time at the gym, skiing, going to concerts and catching up with my friends.

I chose to work at Spurrell & Associates because of their mission to help small businesses succeed. Growing up in a small town, every business was a small business. I saw many small businesses come and go over the years. At Spurrell & Associates I am able to provide our clients with knowledge and support as they overcome their obstacles, and celebrate their wins as they come.

Michelle O’Brien – Sobus

Michelle O’Brien – Sobus

Associate

Hello, my name is Michelle O’Brien–Sobus. I was born and raised in Edmonton, where I still live. I attended MacEwan University and graduated from the Bachelor of Commerce program in June 2022 with a major in accounting and a minor in management. During my time at MacEwan I was a part of the accounting club and was co-president for the last two years of my degree. I also helped organize and host the accounting club’s first ever virtual tax clinic during the pandemic. In addition to the accounting club, I was also a CPA Campus ambassador for my last year at MacEwan. In my spare time I enjoy playing board games, attending concerts, reading, and travelling.

Something unique about me is my passion to succeed and make a difference. One result of this passion was receiving a handwritten letter from Terry Fox’s Dad for the funds I raised for Cancer research. I also received the Founders award in grade 9 from the Nellie McClung program for consistently demonstrating “vision, initiative, determination, commitment and growth, by making myself and those around me be the best that they can.” Which is what I also strive to help our clients do.

My career at Spurrell & Associates began in August 2022. I decided to join Spurrell & Associates because the values of the firm align with my personal values. I have recently enrolled in the CPA program as a CPA Candidate to expand my education further. During my time at Spurrell & Associates, I have gained experience in bookkeeping, outsourcing as well as year end tasks. I enjoy helping clients #BEATTHEODDS and watching our clients improve and grow while becoming the best that they can.

Taieb Mziouid

Taieb Mziouid

Social Media Manager

Ty in the house, the guy who kicked it off with Spurrell and Associates back in 2020, doing the social media dance. Now? Proudly steering the ship as the office manager.

I was born and raised in Morocco, Took a leap across the map to the Philippines in 2022 – new office, new challenges. Why? Testing my limits, seeking new adventures.

So, what keeps me pumped about this place? It’s simple – Spurrell and Associates isn’t just a workplace; it’s a family. We grow together, and I’ve seen it unfold. Started from the ground up, now running the show.

The real deal? This place cares. We’re big on promoting from within, celebrating each other’s wins. It’s not just about the job; it’s about being part of a company that genuinely cares for its people.

And when I’m not here? You’ll probably find me in the ring, ready to take a punch, or lifting some weights. Because if I’m not at Spurrell, I’m where the action is.

Vinnie Siojo

Vinnie Siojo

Administration Manager

My name is Vinnie, a single mom of 5. I came to Alberta in 2008 as a foreign worker. My first job here was as a room attendant for 9 months in one of the hotels in Sherwood Park. I got the opportunity to move to Fantasyland Hotel as housekeeping supervisor. I became a permanent resident in 2014. This gave me the opportunity to sponsor my 3 minor children in the Philippines.

Professional Experience and Credentials

I started working at the age of 18. Almost all of my work experience is in the hotel industry. I also worked in the UAE for 2 years as a Housekeeping Supervisor. When I was still a foreign worker here in Canada, I decided to study. I received my diploma in Hotel and Restaurant Management in 2009. During the pandemic, I decided to take Accounting and Payroll Administration Program. It was a friend who encouraged me to study again. I had my practicum at Spurrell & Associates CPA. This was the start of my career switch from hotel to office.

Something That Is Unique About Me

I don’t think there is something unique about me. I just want to see a clean and organized workplace at all times.

Where Are You Going in Your Career

I am planning to have my own business. And I want to travel and see the beauty of other countries.

Why Do I Want to Work Here

The reasons why I want to work here are the teams, the chance to meet businesspeople and learn more from them.

Pedro Roche

Pedro Roche

Web Developer

I was born and raised in Santa Clara, Cuba, where my passion for computers and technology was ignited. My first computer, an IBM ThinkPad T20 with a 6GB hard drive and 128MB of RAM, was my window into this fascinating world. When I was 12, my family moved to Canada, exposing me to more advanced technology and further fueling my interest. Throughout my school years, I balanced my time between gaming with friends, dabbling in HTML website creation, and playing football.

Following my childhood dream, I enrolled in NAIT’s Computer Engineering Technology program, where I gained a deeper understanding of computers and the intricacies of software and web development. I’ve built numerous custom PCs and created various useful programs.

In June 2022, I began working at Spurrell & Associates as a Web Developer. My experience here has been enriching, as I work closely with clients and a skilled marketing team. This role has given me insights into the importance of business marketing, especially for small businesses and how they can #BEATTHEODDS​.

At Spurrell & Associates, I have refined my skills in creating attractive, functional websites that are optimized for SEO, enhancing their visibility to potential customers. Managing the websites entirely, I’ve also become adept at handling DNS records and server-side controls.

Outside of work, I continue to enjoy video games, stay active at the gym, and cherish the time spent with family and friends.

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