At VWC Your success
is our success.
We are trusted CPA’s located in Washington—with clients around the world
For over 50 years, VWC, P.S. has been quietly working behind the scenes, helping our clients achieve their unique definition of success. We’re not just about filing tax returns, preparing financial statements, or estate planning – we’re about creating long-term partnerships built on integrity, respect, and collaboration. That’s why many of our clients leave other firms and stay with us for decades.
WHY CLIENTS CHOOSE VWC AND STAY
At VWC, our CPAs do more than the basics. Our clients stay because they know we care. We’ve built our firm on the principles of honesty and transparency, setting high standards for everything we do. We don’t just tell you what you want to hear, and we don’t expect you to sugarcoat things either. True consultation happens when real conversations take place, where both sides listen and speak openly. We believe in consistently doing what’s right – for you, your business, and your family.
AT VWC COLLABORATION IS AT THE CORE
Collaboration isn’t just a buzzword here—it’s how we operate. We take the time to understand your full situation and provide solutions that genuinely work for your needs. Our team of dedicated professionals will always be on your side of the table, working alongside you as partners. Whether it’s your personal finances or your business, we’re committed to being your advocates, helping you move forward with confidence.
OUR PARTNERSHIP APPROACH
Every CPA and member of our team at VWC is committed to delivering personalized solutions that fit your goals. Our partners aren’t distant figures issuing instructions; they’re accessible, offering guidance, and working alongside you to ensure success. Our entire firm is built on the idea that success isn’t just about money—it’s about doing the right thing and keeping your best interests at heart, always.
COMMITTED TO YOUR SUCCESS
At VWC, we don’t measure success by profits alone. We don’t pinch pennies or sacrifice quality to make more for the partners. Instead, our CPA’s focus on fulfilling our promises—to you and to each other. We’re committed to helping improve your business, your family’s financial circumstances, and your life. Our goal is to make a difference that’s noticeable beyond just the numbers on a spreadsheet.
We’re not just your CPAs—we’re your advisors, your sounding boards, and your partners. When others are watching the clock, we’re pulling up a chair for meaningful conversations. We’re here to help you achieve real success, with a commitment to care, integrity, and genuine collaboration.
WHY CHOOSE VWC?
- We have over 50 years of experience serving clients around the world.
- We are a trusted team that listens, collaborates, and delivers tailored solutions.
- We embrace a client-first philosophy focused on long-term partnerships and success.
- We have an unwavering commitment to honesty, integrity, and transparency.
CONTACT US TODAY. WE’D LOVE TO HEAR FROM YOU.
If you’re looking for trusted CPA services located in the Seattle area—with global clientele, reach out to VWC, P.S. We’re here to be your trusted partners in your financial success.
OUR VALUES
INTEGRITY. RESPECT. COLLABORATION.
We set high standards for ourselves, and we value honesty and transparency in everything we do. We aren’t here to just tell you what you want to hear, and we don’t want you to sugarcoat things either. True consultation can’t happen without real conversation. We listen and we speak the truth because we respect our clients and our team members. We believe in relentlessly doing the right thing.
Collaboration is a way of life here—among our staff and with you. We want to hear everything you care to share, so we can get a full picture of your situation and your needs. Our goal is to be objective, consistent advocates for your interests. We’re always on your side of the table, never across from you.
OUR PEOPLE
PARTNERSHIP WITH PURPOSE.
Everyone at VWC is committed to working together and delivering personalized, thoughtful solutions that fit your needs. That philosophy permeates our entire structure: partners offer collaboration and guidance, not dictates and distance. Tell any one of us where you want to go, and we will all commit to helping you get there.
The key to our success? We are not primarily driven by money. No one pinches pennies just to make more for the partners. Everyone keeps the best interests of our clients in mind at all times. We follow through on our commitments—to you and to each other—without letting money dictate how we do business. It’s how we all achieve real success.
ADRIENNE NORDLAND
Partner, Audit and Accounting
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Adrienne brings a wealth of experience to VWC’s Audit and Assurance department, which she has led since 2017. Before joining the firm, she worked as a Controller for a closely held, family-owned business and spent years at another local firm. Highly regarded for her problem-solving skills and ability to communicate complex financial details with ease, Adrienne is passionate about building lasting relationships with her clients.
A Washington native and UW grad, she spends her free time watching her two sons play basketball, enjoying the outdoors, and traveling with family and friends.
DON CARLIN
Partner, Tax
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Don has been a trusted advisor to business owners and high-net-worth families since joining VWC in 1995. With experience at both national and regional CPA firms, he has a deep understanding of financial strategy for closely held manufacturing and distribution companies. As a key leader in VWC’s Family Office practice, Don takes a hands-on approach to helping clients define and achieve their financial goals.
When he’s not guiding clients through complex financial decisions, Don can be found tending to his rare collection of dwarf conifers and Japanese maples—or cruising in his vintage 1969 Datsun Roadster on a sunny day.
LEE JOHNSON
Partner, Business Management
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Lee joined VWC as its first employee six months after its founding in 1975. With an MBA from Columbia University and a keen strategic mind, he leads VWC’s Entertainment Business Management Department—one of the only practices of its kind in the Northwest. Over the last 50 years, Lee has been a trusted advisor to world-renowned entertainment clients, helping them navigate the business side of their art.
Lee recently celebrated 50 years of marriage to his wife, Helen. Together, they spend time at their Lake Tapps cabin, coach their grandkids in sports, and enjoy competitive waterskiing—because numbers aren’t the only thing he’s mastered.
RACHELLE HOUGHTON
Partner, Business Management
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Rachelle fell in love with accounting at just 15 years old and never looked back. After years of experience in private and public accounting—plus a partnership at a local firm—she joined VWC in 2011. As the head of our Business Management department, Rachelle collaborates closely with our client account managers to provide highly tailored financial services to high-net-worth individuals and closely held businesses.
She’s known for her sharp expertise, hands-on approach, and ability to make even the most complex financial matters feel manageable.
STEVE POLIS
Partner, Tax
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With 46 years in the industry—including 31 at VWC—Steve is a wellspring of knowledge and insight for his clients. Many of them have been with him for decades, a testament to his commitment and expertise. Whether it’s tax strategy, financial planning, or navigating international financial matters, Steve thrives on solving problems and providing practical solutions. If he doesn’t have the answer immediately, his extensive network of specialists will.
When he’s not in the office, you can find him on Whidbey Island, watching the ships go by or casting a fishing line from the shore.
MELINDA JOHNSON
Partner, Audit and Assurance
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Melinda, a Pacific Northwest native, earned her Accounting degree from Western Washington University in 2006 and has been a pillar of VWC’s Audit and Assurance department ever since. She oversees audits, reviews, and advisory services for closely held businesses, with a specialty in Employee Benefit Plan audits. Clients appreciate her meticulous attention to detail and the way she makes financial oversight feel seamless.
When she’s not helping businesses thrive, Melinda enjoys traveling, reading, and spending time with her family, friends, and two beloved dogs, Milo and Marley.
CHASE CARLIN
Partner, Tax
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Chase represents the third generation of public accountants in his family, bringing both a deep-rooted passion and a modern perspective to his role as the head of VWC’s tax department. His clients range from high-net-worth families to large, closely held businesses, and he thrives on breaking down complex tax strategies into clear, actionable solutions. Chase is known for his responsiveness, practical insights, and ability to make tax planning feel less overwhelming.
Outside of work, he enjoys writing novels and spending time with his wife and three boys.