We are deeply saddened by the unexpected death of Holland partner, Anne Porter, on July 6, 2023. Anne spent her entire professional career at De Boer, Baumann & Company. She began as an intern in 1997 and quickly advanced within the firm, becoming a partner in 2014. She was a driving force in the exceptional culture we have here, and she truly embodied all of our core values. Her passion for our clients, as well as for our staff, was very apparent.
Anne held many roles within De Boer, Baumann & Company. She was in charge of hiring interns and new staff, and was able to maintain close relationships with them throughout the onboarding and training process. She was passionate about the many nonprofit organizations in our community, leading our firm’s Not-For-Profit niche team. Anne was also involved with nearly all of our firm’s audit clients, and her expertise made her a natural choice for our Accounting & Auditing committee, which she chaired for many years. Anne was impeccably organized, and was very comfortable leading team trainings and other company meetings. Anne was an excellent mentor, providing both technical knowledge and “soft skills” training to younger staff members. Within our firm, Anne really was capable of nearly any task.
Despite being very gifted in the technical aspects of accounting, Anne was not content sitting at her desk all day. Anne was very social and outgoing, being the first person to sign up for a work potluck or to attend a staff member’s wedding or BBQ. She made beautiful baby blankets for many staff members’ children and grandchildren. She was able to pull out the perfect shot at golf outings right when it was needed. Anne was approachable, compassionate, kind, honest, hard-working, and fun.
In addition to her work within De Boer, Baumann & Company, Anne was also very involved in our community. She served on the Board of Directors for many non-profit organizations over the years, including Ready for School, Kids Food Basket, and Tulip Time. Anne also volunteered her time at her beloved church, First United Methodist Church of Holland.
Anne was very close with her parents, Jeff & Mary, her brother Chris and his family, and her feline roommate, Java.
Anne will be deeply missed, and we are committed to honoring her memory by continuing her passion for the clients and staff of De Boer, Baumann & Company.