Local resident among winners in nationwide competition

A Union County business person has been named as a winner in a nationwide competition.

Certified public accountant Amy D. Mezo of Jonesboro won up to $20,000 in Intuit Inc.'s Power to Get More Done Stimulus Grant competition.

As one of 10 winners nationwide, Mezo will receive $10,000 in cash and up to $10,000 in Intuit products and services to help expand her business.

Others winners are from California, Florida, Pennsylvania, Vermont, New York, Colorado and Kansas.

"This grant does far more than help me," Mezo said.

"It gives me the opportunity to expand my business, which allows me to better serve the Union County community."

She is the owner of Amy D. Mezo CPA in Jonesboro. The business, which opened in May 2006 offers income tax preparation services for individuals, small businesses and large corporations. Mezo works with about 220 people.

In addition, the firm provides year-round bookkeeping and payroll services, financial statement compilation, and consulting and advising services to local businesses of all forms and sizes.

Since its opening, the business has experienced consistent growth.

"It's been growing pretty steadily in the last three years," Mezo said.

Mezo is an active member of the community through her involvement with Union County Women in Business, the Union County Chamber of Commerce and Shawnee Community College.

She is a lifelong resident of Southern Illinois and an alumna of Southeast Missouri State University in Cape Girardeau.

In her grant application, Mezo outlined her plans for using the funds to expand her existing accounting firm and to increase its contribution to the local community.

Her plans include:

•Adding a full-time staff position.

•Upgrading equipment and software for improved efficiency.

•Increasing the ability to offer internships to local students who are attending Shawnee Community College.

Mezo said she applied for the grant program in late April, but really didn't expect to be a winner.

"It was a complete surprise," she said. "I was shocked. I couldn't believe it."

Georg Gerstenfeld, vice president of marketing for Intuit's Accounting Professionals Division, said in a news release that tax and accounting professionals like Mezo play vital roles in the health of the country's overall economy.

"The caliber of each winner's application was extremely high, and the business plans that outlined how they would use the grants to foster economic growth were inspiring," Gerstenfeld said.

"I look forward to watching the winners put their plans into action," he added.

Intuit designed the Power to Get More Done initiative to help tax and accounting professionals either expand an existing firm or start a new one.

Judges evaluated more than 700 applicants based on the quality of business strategy, their need for the grant, the expected return on investment from the use of the grant funds, and the applicant's ability to implement the business plan.

Cosponsors included the National Society of Accountants, the National Association of Enrolled Agents and the National Association of Tax Professionals.

In addition to the grant competition, the Power to Get More Done initiative offers accounting and tax professionals discounts that they can pass on to their small business clients to help them save time and money.

Intuit Inc. is a leading provider of business and financial management solutions for small and midsized businesses.

Local resident among winners in nationwide competition