Meet Thiel Accounting
Back Row L-R: Betsy Higginbotham, Dennis Thiel, Melissa Bradley
Front Row L-R: Lewis Thiel, Dan Phipps, Krista Krabel
Thiel Accounting was founded in 1983. Friendship and experience are the main factors behind our successful relationships with our clients. Our primary focus is to serve the needs of our clients and help them reduce their tax burdens. Since founded, our firm has continued to grow. We are a small enough firm to provide the quality of personal service you deserve and expect.
Thiel Accounting represents a large number of farmers and small businesses. We take great care of all our clients, and provide for them as much as we can. We are a known local leader in developing and maintaining quality practice standards for farmers, individuals, and small businesses. We enjoy providing our clients with the close, personalized attention that they are entitled.
Dennis enjoys serving others and working with the accounting team at Thiel Accounting. He has been especially happy sharing administrative duties with his new partner, Betsy Higginbotham, since January of 2022. In addition to her accounting expertise, she brings fresh vision and energy. With the addition of Lewis Thiel and Krista Krabel as tax preparers along with veteran Dan Phipps, Dennis believes the firm is keenly equipped to serve the public. Melissa Bradley is the icing on the company cake in terms of payroll and related services—the master of organization.
Partner
DENNIS O THIEL
A LABOR OF LOVE – As the sole proprietor of Thiel Accounting since 1983, Dennis is euphoric at how the firm has grown and matured over the years. Please take a look at the office timeline on this site to get a better understanding of the firm’s history.
EDUCATION
Bachelor of Square Dancing, Town & Country Square Dance, (his first official degree) at age 11.
Bachelor of Science in Mathematics, University of Illinois with Minors in Chemistry and Computer Science
Master of Business Administration (with emphasis in Accountancy), Eastern Illinois University
Certified Public Accountant (CPA) 1981
Illinois Certified Municipal Treasurer 1989
Certified Financial Planner 1991
Certified Municipal Finance Administrator 1995
AWARDS
Municipal Treasurers Association, US&C Service Award
Redhawk District of Boy Scouts of American, Award of Merit
James E West Fellow, National Endowment Award, Lincoln Trails Council
BSA Distinguished Secretary and Distinguished President Awards
Kiwanis Club of Paris 40 Year Legion of Honor Award, Kiwanis Club of Paris
University of Illinois Presidents Council, Life Membership
Partner
BETSY HIGGINBOTHAM
Betsy came to Thiel Accounting in 2013 as a staff accountant. While working here she has had many different responsibilities and rolls, Tax Accountant, Bookkeeper, Consultant, Sales Tax, and Payroll. In 2022 she became Partner of Dennis O. Thiel Accounting, LLC.
Betsy graduated from Paris High School in 2005, and she earned her Bachelor of Science in Finance from Eastern University in 2010. After accepting the job position at Thiel Accounting & Financial Services in 2013, she went back to Eastern Illinois University and got her Bachelor of Science degree in Accounting. In 2010, Betsy married Paris Alumni Jacob Higginbotham and they have two darling sons Leo and Logan.
<br><br>Betsy is dedicated to maintaining the greatness of her community. She helps with many Non-Profit and Service Clubs in Paris. You might see her teaching a Pop-up Spin Class at the local Rec Center or catch her organizing and heading up the annual Eiffel Tower Triathlon. She also is a dedicated Kiwanian and helps with The Pancake Tent at the Honeybee Festival and Peanut Days.
<br><br>She is an avid outdoor adventurer. When she is not working in the office, she spends her time helping her husband with farm duties, riding horses, running, biking, swimming, camping, fishing, hiking, kayaking, and spending time with her children. She and her husband also have several beehives surrounding Edgar County.
MELISSA BRADLEY
After wanting a change from working in the medical field for over 13 years, Melissa joined Thiel Accounting in January 2018 as a Receptionist and Payroll Assistant. She became Office Manager and Head of Payroll in July 2020. She handles the payroll for many clients, answers phones, and greets clients.
Melissa was born and raised in Paris and graduated from Paris High School in 1996. In that same year, she met her husband Brian, and were married in December of 1998. Their daughter Bailey was born in October of 1999. <br><br>Melissa obtained her Associated Degree in Applied Science in Medical Assisting and an Associates in Applied Science in Medical Coding from Indiana Business College in 2003. She became certified as a Medical Assistant through the American Association of Medical Assistants (AAMA) in 2003 and worked in Terre Haute, Indiana and Paris as a Certified Medical Assistant and Office Manager.
<br><br>She is an active member of the Omega Gamma Chapter of the Beta Sigma Phi Sorority here in Paris. She originally joined the Phi Epsilon Gamma group in 1998 for 2 years and then rejoined as an Omega Gamma in 2019. Her sorority is responsible for the Annual Easter Egg Hunt held at the Edgar County Fairgrounds where they stuff over 10,000 easter eggs with candy and tickets for small prizes for the kids to hunt. They also volunteer at Restored Hope in Paris and collect within their group monthly donations for nursing home residents with little to no families throughout the year. They help volunteer for Meal Trains for our fallen sisters. Her sorority sisters are a part of her family, and she loves to volunteer and spend time with them.
<br><br>In her free time, Melissa enjoys attending Dirt Track Races throughout Illinois and Indiana. She grew up watching and eventually working at Charleston Speedway in Charleston, IL where her stepfather, Mike Graves, was the announcer for over 35 years. Eventually, she met her husband there and became part of his Pit Crew. She also loves to scrapbook or craft in her spare time. She spends as much time as she can with her family and tries to attend every sporting event that her nieces are in.
LEWIS THIEL
In 2017 Lewis started working part-time at Thiel Accounting & Financial where he helped with the document imaging process. Now he still processes the document imaging, but he also prepares tax returns, information returns, and maintains the IT infrastructure at Thiel Accounting.
Lewis was born and grew up in Paris, IL. He attended Paris High School and before graduating he achieved the honor of becoming an Eagle Scout with Paris’s Troop 180. <br><br>Soon after he moved to Indianapolis where he attended ITT Technical Institute achieving an Associate of Applied Science in Computer Electronics. With his new degree he obtained a job with ESCO Communications in Indianapolis where he worked around central Indiana including The Carmel High School, Indiana University, and Greenfield City Power & Light. While at ESCO, Lewis helped assemble the audio/paging system for Lucas Oil Stadium.
<br><br>In the fall of 2008 Lewis was one of the many who were now unemployed. Unable to find work he moved back to Paris, but then in 2009 opportunity struck as a job interview with Citizens National Bank led him back to the career path as an IT Technician. He continued working with Citizens during their transition to First Farmers Bank & Trust helping bring in, configure, and maintain the new computer systems.
<br><br> During the summers he attends Ivy Tech Community College in Terre Haute where he obtained various certifications, and every year in the fall Lewis and the other tax preparers attend Tax School from the University of Illinois to prepare for the upcoming tax season.
<br><br>Lewis spends his free time with his family watching a good movie on the weekends, attending family functions in the park, school events at PHS & ISU, and making the yearly trip to Indianapolis in December to see the lights.
KRISTA KRABEL
Krista joined Thiel Accounting in February of 2022 and is now serving as a staff accountant.
During her tenure at Thiel Accounting, she has provided services as receptionist during tax season as well as handling bookkeeping and payroll clients. Krista will be serving tax clients in the upcoming tax season as a tax preparer.
She accepted a position with Frisse & Brewster Law Offices in 2007 where she worked as a paralegal for 13 years handling trust administration, trust funding and business planning clients.
Krista is a member of the National Association of Paralegals and the Illinois Paralegal Association. She is also a Quickbooks Certified ProAdvisor.
Krista and her husband, Rob, reside in Chrisman. She loves spending time with her three children, Lacey, Bryce and Karrington as well as her 3 grandchildren.
DAN PHIPPS
Dan has been a staff accountant with Thiel Accounting since 1986. While working full-time outside of Thiel Accounting, he has always helped prepare tax returns after hours. He meets with tax clients in the early evening allowing an option to customers who work during the day.
Dan graduated from Olivet Nazarene University in 1985 with a Bachelor of Science in Accounting. This is the same year that he married his wife, Mary Phipps. They currently live in Chrisman, IL
Dan graduated from Olivet Nazarene University in 1985 with a Bachelor of Science in Accounting. This is the same year that he married his wife, Mary Phipps. They currently live in Chrisman, IL
Dan is a Financial Representative for Country Financial and started working for them in 2008. He has his FINRA 6 & FINRA 63 licenses.
Dan and Mary are both outdoor adventurers and they both like to hunt deer in the fall. Dan also enjoys reading murder mysteries novels. Dan is a Financial Representative for Country Financial and started working for them in 2008. He has his FINRA 6 & FINRA 63 licenses.
Dan graduated from Olivet Nazarene University in 1985 with a Bachelor of Science in Accounting. This is the same year that he married his wife, Mary Phipps. They currently live in Chrisman, IL
Dan is a Financial Representative for Country Financial and started working for them in 2008. He has his FINRA 6 & FINRA 63 licenses.
Dan and Mary are both outdoor adventurers and they both like to hunt deer in the fall. Dan also enjoys reading murder mysteries novels. Dan and Mary are both outdoor adventurers and they both like to hunt deer in the fall. Dan also enjoys reading murder mysteries novels.