Business

Business Profile: Lemonda & Associates

BARBARAELLEN KOCH PHOTO | Ellen Lemonda and her best friend Max at her office in Mattituck.

Owner(s): Ellen Lemonda

Year established: 2001

Location: 11775 Main Road, Mattituck

Phone: 631-298-2600

Number of employees: 4

Ellen Lemonda and her staff are mighty busy preparing tax returns at this time of year, but that doesn’t mean it’s all a grind.
“We view so many of our clients more as friends sharing stories with each other since we saw each other last,” Ms. Lemonda said. Many of them bring a treat for her standard poodle, Max, who greets them at the door, she said, “so he looks forward to tax season every year, too.”

Lemonda & Associates offers accounting and bookkeeping services including payroll and sales tax returns as well as personal and business income tax preparation. The firm’s computers have a state-of-the-art security system to protect clients’ personal information. The firm also offers electronic filing.

Ms. Lemonda was born and raised in Merrick. She and her husband, James, moved to Mattituck in 1987 to be closer to his job in Riverhead. “We thought the East End would be a great place to raise a family,” she said. “It turned out to be very true.”

James is now an auto salesman at Brown’s Jeep in Patchogue. They have two grown daughters and three grandchildren.

Ms. Lemonda first began thinking about a career in accounting while listening to her father’s stories about his part-time job preparing tax returns for a firm in Florida. She started work in the field in the 1990s and became a partner in an accounting firm in 1996. She established her own business at its current location in 2001.

Lemonda & Associates has been growing every year, she said. “We pride ourselves in giving personal attention to each and every client, whether they are businesses or individuals we see only once a year,” she added.

Her office manager, Sherry Steele, has been with the firm “since the beginning,” Ms. Lemonda said. “Her constant attention to detail enables us to provide the best quality work possible to our clients.”

Sheila Parrish Miles joined the firm this year as a tax preparer after many years in the accounting field. “She has complemented our office with her knowledge and dedication,” Ms. Lemonda said.

Maria Zahra and Ms. Lemonda’s daughter Michelle both work in the office during tax season. “The friendly, efficient manner in which they handle their jobs keeps our office running smoothly during such a busy time,” Ms. Lemonda said.

The office is open all year, Monday through Friday, from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., with hours in the evenings and on Saturdays during the tax season. Parking is available in the rear of the office.