Mary Anderson Bruns
CURRENT WORK EXPERIENCE
In my private Mediation and Certified Public Accounting Practice, I work with Families and Individuals to help them resolve issues related to Business Dissolution, Foreclosure, Divorce and Paternity. In Alternative Dispute Resolution/ Mediation the goal is to create an environment in which there is a balance of power. The parties are encouraged to equitably and amicably resolve their issues voluntarily as opposed to going to court. Duties involve facilitation of the mediation session, listening and recording carefully the issues and concerns of both parties. I provide information and suggestions from outside resources to aid the parties in creating a plan to facilitate a positive outcome. Each mediation session ends in either an agreement or an impasse. The result is reported to the Court in that jurisdiction. As a CPA I also prepare Individual Estate, Gift, Partnership, Corporate and Non Profit Income and information Tax returns and have continued to do so over the last 29 years. I also consult with Individuals and Businesses regarding Budgeting and Debt Management issues.
In my private Mediation and Certified Public Accounting Practice, I work with Families and Individuals to help them resolve issues related to Business Dissolution, Foreclosure, Divorce and Paternity. In Alternative Dispute Resolution/ Mediation the goal is to create an environment in which there is a balance of power. The parties are encouraged to equitably and amicably resolve their issues voluntarily as opposed to going to court. Duties involve facilitation of the mediation session, listening and recording carefully the issues and concerns of both parties. I provide information and suggestions from outside resources to aid the parties in creating a plan to facilitate a positive outcome. Each mediation session ends in either an agreement or an impasse. The result is reported to the Court in that jurisdiction. As a CPA I also prepare Individual Estate, Gift, Partnership, Corporate and Non Profit Income and information Tax returns and have continued to do so over the last 29 years. I also consult with Individuals and Businesses regarding Budgeting and Debt Management issues.
Licenses & Certifications
Florida Supreme Court Certified Family, and County Mediator December 2000 to present
Florida Supreme Court Certified Circuit Civil Mediator July 2010 to present
DRC Mediation Certification #13359CF
Certified as a CPA in Maryland: 1990-present
Certified as a CPA in Florida: 2000-present
Certificate of Completion U.S. Bankruptcy Court Mortgage Modification Training pursuant to Administrative Order FLMB-201-3 Completed November 25th, 2013
Accepted as a Mediator by the Bureau of Licensing for the Florida Department of Financial Services/ Consumer Services Division October 12th, 2012
Certificate in Residential Mortgage Foreclosure Mediation Training pursuant to Administrative Order No. AOSC09-54 completed March 5th , 2010
Florida Supreme Court Certified Family, and County Mediator December 2000 to present
Florida Supreme Court Certified Circuit Civil Mediator July 2010 to present
DRC Mediation Certification #13359CF
Certified as a CPA in Maryland: 1990-present
Certified as a CPA in Florida: 2000-present
Certificate of Completion U.S. Bankruptcy Court Mortgage Modification Training pursuant to Administrative Order FLMB-201-3 Completed November 25th, 2013
Accepted as a Mediator by the Bureau of Licensing for the Florida Department of Financial Services/ Consumer Services Division October 12th, 2012
Certificate in Residential Mortgage Foreclosure Mediation Training pursuant to Administrative Order No. AOSC09-54 completed March 5th , 2010
PREVIOUS WORK EXPERIENCE
Seagrove Real Estate Exchange, Seagrove Beach, FL
Co-owned and operated a partnership which acted as a “Qualified Intermediary” for clients wishing to escrow funds to enable a 1031 real estate exchange.
Porath & Associates, Santa Rosa Beach, FL
Accountant / Closing Agent
Supervised and reviewed all accounting for the Law Firm. Prepared closing Documents for Real Estate Transactions.
Carr Riggs & Ingram, LLC, Destin, FL
Certified Public Accountant
Prepared of Gift, Estate, Non Profit, Partnership, Corporate, Pension, Individual and Informational Income Tax Returns.
O’Sullivan Creel LLP, Destin, FL
Certified Public Accountant
Prepared of Gift, Estate, Non Profit, Partnership, Corporate, Pension, Individual and Informational Income Tax Returns.
Catholic Archdiocese of Washington D.C., Washington D.C., Washington D.C.
Internal Auditor
Interviewed Parish Priests and Bookkeepers as an on-site internal auditor. Reviewed the accounting systems and internal controls as well as actual accounting write up work. Evaluated internal controls and accuracy of parish reports and journals. Made recommendations to the Director of Finance for improvements. Performed unplanned Parish Audits to investigate allegations of theft, fraud, embezzlement and mismanagement of funds.
Meck & Associates, Silver Spring, Maryland
Certified Public Accountant
Prepared Individual, Partnership, Corporate, Trust, Gift, Estate, Subchapter S, Nonprofit, income and informational tax returns. Worked with clients to teach individuals and their respective bookkeepers the software and accounting needs of the business.
Friends of the National Zoo, Washington D.C. (FONZ)
Assistant Controller
Performed all accounting for the Non Profit organization “FONZ” Friends of the National Zoo. This organization was devoted to the support of the National Zoo in Washington D.C.. Managed 13 employees responsible for cash, accounts payable and receivable as well as any and all other accounting functions of the organization.
KPMG Peat Marwick, Washington D.C.
Tax Specialist
Prepared income and informational tax returns for Individuals, Partnerships, Gifts, Estates, Trusts, and both chapter S and C Corporations.
University of Virginia, Charlottesville, Virginia
Accounting Graduate Teaching Assistant
Instructed undergraduate students on the “Principles of Accounting” for the McIntire of School of Commerce.
Seagrove Real Estate Exchange, Seagrove Beach, FL
Co-owned and operated a partnership which acted as a “Qualified Intermediary” for clients wishing to escrow funds to enable a 1031 real estate exchange.
Porath & Associates, Santa Rosa Beach, FL
Accountant / Closing Agent
Supervised and reviewed all accounting for the Law Firm. Prepared closing Documents for Real Estate Transactions.
Carr Riggs & Ingram, LLC, Destin, FL
Certified Public Accountant
Prepared of Gift, Estate, Non Profit, Partnership, Corporate, Pension, Individual and Informational Income Tax Returns.
O’Sullivan Creel LLP, Destin, FL
Certified Public Accountant
Prepared of Gift, Estate, Non Profit, Partnership, Corporate, Pension, Individual and Informational Income Tax Returns.
Catholic Archdiocese of Washington D.C., Washington D.C., Washington D.C.
Internal Auditor
Interviewed Parish Priests and Bookkeepers as an on-site internal auditor. Reviewed the accounting systems and internal controls as well as actual accounting write up work. Evaluated internal controls and accuracy of parish reports and journals. Made recommendations to the Director of Finance for improvements. Performed unplanned Parish Audits to investigate allegations of theft, fraud, embezzlement and mismanagement of funds.
Meck & Associates, Silver Spring, Maryland
Certified Public Accountant
Prepared Individual, Partnership, Corporate, Trust, Gift, Estate, Subchapter S, Nonprofit, income and informational tax returns. Worked with clients to teach individuals and their respective bookkeepers the software and accounting needs of the business.
Friends of the National Zoo, Washington D.C. (FONZ)
Assistant Controller
Performed all accounting for the Non Profit organization “FONZ” Friends of the National Zoo. This organization was devoted to the support of the National Zoo in Washington D.C.. Managed 13 employees responsible for cash, accounts payable and receivable as well as any and all other accounting functions of the organization.
KPMG Peat Marwick, Washington D.C.
Tax Specialist
Prepared income and informational tax returns for Individuals, Partnerships, Gifts, Estates, Trusts, and both chapter S and C Corporations.
University of Virginia, Charlottesville, Virginia
Accounting Graduate Teaching Assistant
Instructed undergraduate students on the “Principles of Accounting” for the McIntire of School of Commerce.
EDUCATION
University of Virginia, Charlottesville, Virginia
Master’s Degree in Accounting, 8/1988
Individual, Partnership, Cooperate, Trust and Estate, Income Taxation; Internal Auditing; Managerial Accounting; Financial Accounting; Business Law
University of Virginia, Charlottesville, Virginia
Bachelor’s Degree Anthropology
Anthropology, the study of cultures and belief systems has helped me tremendously in ALL of my professional work. To understand an individual’s belief system and how they are forming the conclusions they are arriving at has helped me to help them to succeed both in their business endeavors, as well as finding alternative resolutions to their disputes.
University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, North Carolina (Pre-Med Chemistry)
Chapman College, Orange, California (Social Work)
T.C. Williams High School, Alexandria, Virginia
University of Virginia, Charlottesville, Virginia
Master’s Degree in Accounting, 8/1988
Individual, Partnership, Cooperate, Trust and Estate, Income Taxation; Internal Auditing; Managerial Accounting; Financial Accounting; Business Law
University of Virginia, Charlottesville, Virginia
Bachelor’s Degree Anthropology
Anthropology, the study of cultures and belief systems has helped me tremendously in ALL of my professional work. To understand an individual’s belief system and how they are forming the conclusions they are arriving at has helped me to help them to succeed both in their business endeavors, as well as finding alternative resolutions to their disputes.
University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, North Carolina (Pre-Med Chemistry)
Chapman College, Orange, California (Social Work)
T.C. Williams High School, Alexandria, Virginia
Contracts for Mediation (past & present):
Collins Center in Tallahassee: Foreclosure Mediations
During each Foreclosure or Civil Mediation session we meet to discuss and resolve any disputes between the lender and the homeowner.
First and Fourteen Judicial Circuit in Florida — Family Mediation
As a mediator, I've conducted over one thousand eight hundred Family, Civil, and County mediations in Okaloosa, Walton, Santa Rosa, Escambia, and Bay counties.
During each family mediation session, we meet to discuss any or all of the issues of Shared Parenting, Child Support, Equitable Distribution, Alimony, Division of Assets and Division of Liabilities.
Collins Center in Tallahassee: Foreclosure Mediations
During each Foreclosure or Civil Mediation session we meet to discuss and resolve any disputes between the lender and the homeowner.
First and Fourteen Judicial Circuit in Florida — Family Mediation
As a mediator, I've conducted over one thousand eight hundred Family, Civil, and County mediations in Okaloosa, Walton, Santa Rosa, Escambia, and Bay counties.
During each family mediation session, we meet to discuss any or all of the issues of Shared Parenting, Child Support, Equitable Distribution, Alimony, Division of Assets and Division of Liabilities.
CIVIC ACTIVITIES (Past and Present)
Charter Member: Emerald Coast Mediation Association
Walton County Chamber of Commerce Leadership Program
Shelter House Board of Directors, Treasurer:
Okaloosa & Walton County Small Claims Court Mediation
Parent Volunteer at Oakland Terrace, Sligo Middle School, Butler Elementary, Bay Elementary and Seaside Schools
Parent Encouragement Program Montgomery County, Maryland
Parent Volunteer: Boy Scouts of America
Parent Volunteer: Girl Scouts of America
Charter Member: Emerald Coast Mediation Association
Walton County Chamber of Commerce Leadership Program
Shelter House Board of Directors, Treasurer:
Okaloosa & Walton County Small Claims Court Mediation
Parent Volunteer at Oakland Terrace, Sligo Middle School, Butler Elementary, Bay Elementary and Seaside Schools
Parent Encouragement Program Montgomery County, Maryland
Parent Volunteer: Boy Scouts of America
Parent Volunteer: Girl Scouts of America