About Us

Rachel A. Bell, CPA, MT is President of R. Bell & Associates. Rachel has been with the firm since 2011 and has extensive experience in tax and tax planning for high net worth clients and closely-held businesses, as well as trusts and estates. She services clients in various industries including health care, professional services, real estate, construction, oil & gas, manufacturing, and retail. She obtained her Master of Taxation Degree from the University of Denver’s College of Law Graduate Tax Program in 2014. Rachel also holds a Bachelor’s Degree in Mathematics from Fort Lewis College and a Master’s Degree in Accounting from the University of Colorado at Denver. After working for several years in the Denver area, Rachel has been back in Durango since 2007.

Rachel is a member of both the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants (AICPA) and Colorado Society of Certified Public Accountants (COCPA).

Rachel and her husband Chris have two active sons that keep them very busy. The family spends the winters skiing and the spring/fall months on the soccer fields. Rachel is an avid runner, biker, and skier.

Jeana Walston, CPA is the senior tax manager with R. Bell & Associates and has been with the firm since 2014. Jeana has more than 25 years of experience in providing quality accounting and tax services to closely held businesses, charitable organizations and individuals. She was the founder and owner of a public accounting firm in Texas for over 16 years. Her experience includes providing accounting, tax and advisory services to a wide range of businesses including, multi-million dollar construction contractors, movie theaters, retail, and healthcare providers. She has extensive experience with trust and estate planning and compliance.

She has worked with both Subchapter C and S corporations, general and limited partnerships, limited liability companies, individuals, non-profit entities, trusts and estates, including consolidated and multistate tax returns. Prior to owning her own firm, she worked for a South Texas regional accounting firm primarily performing audit, tax and bank compliance engagements involving trust and non-profit organizations. Jeana is licensed to practice in Colorado and Texas and is a member of the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants.

She has served on numerous non-profit boards providing experienced management and compliance guidance. She feels her biggest achievement is her grown children. She has a son that graduated from the United States Naval Academy and is currently a Naval Officer and Pilot and a daughter who graduated from Texas A&M and has a Masters in Accounting and is working for large CPA firm in Denver.

Jeana is thrilled to have an opportunity to live and work in such a beautiful community. She enjoys gardening, hiking, snowbiking, cooking, drinking local micro-brews and spending time with her dog Suzie-Q and friends.

Kelly Pritchard, CPA, is a senior tax accountant with R.Bell & Associates and has been with the firm since 2018. Kelly completed her accounting education at Fort Lewis College in 2008 and subsequently has spent ten years working in the tax department at EKS&H, LLLP, a large regional public accounting firm based in Denver. She has specialized in tax preparation and tax planning with closely-held pass-through businesses and their owners with a concentration in the health care, real estate, manufacturing, and retail service industries.

Prior to studying accounting, Kelly graduated from Whitman College in Walla Walla, Washington, with a B.A. in French Literature and spent a year teaching English in France. Kelly is a member of the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants and the Colorado Society of Certified Public Accounts. She is an active member of the First United Methodist Church of Durango, and is a member of the Professional Women's Network of Durango.

Kelly has two young children and enjoys running, hiking, yoga, and reading in her free time.

Erika Jeffs is a tax accountant with R. Bell & Associates. Erika graduated from Fort Lewis College with a B.A. in Accounting in December 2018 and she subsequently passed the Certified Public Accountant exam. Erika has participated in two accounting internship programs at local businesses. Erika also has a B.S. in Mathematics from the University of Wyoming in Laramie. Prior to her pursuit of a career in Accounting, she worked in the banking industry for six years as a loan processor. Erika received the 2018 Colorado Society of CPAs Golden Key and the 2019 FLC School of Business Administration Outstanding Accounting Student awards. Erika is a member of the Young Professionals of Durango.

After earning her first college degree, Erika embarked on a number of bicycle tours including rides from Wyoming to Seattle and to Flagstaff. After passing the CPA exam she spent a month biking through Europe with stops in Amsterdam, France, and Germany.

Erika and her husband moved to Durango in 2012 and fell in love with the community and mountains. She enjoys all forms of cycling, hiking, reading, and yoga.