Contact Us

Main Office

  • 2101 Brookstone Centre Parkway
  • Suite 100
  • Columbus, GA 31904
  • Main Number: 706-322-5482
  • Fax: 706-322-0591
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David J. Bass, CPA

Managing Partner
  • Office: 706-322-5482 ext. 124
  • Mobile: 706-332-0188 ext. 124
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Born and raised in Columbus, Georgia, David joined Fountain, Arrington, Bass, Mercer & Lee, P.C. in 1977 after graduating from Columbus State University (formerly Columbus College), with a Bachelor of Business Administration and Accounting. After passing the CPA exam in 1980, he became a partner and is now the managing partner.

David specializes in:

  • Tax Preparation Services
  • Non—Profit and Trust Taxation
  • Business Advisory Services
  • Compilation, Review and Audits
  • Business Consulting
  • Tax planning for businesses and individuals

He has served as past Treasurer for Glenwood School, Hope Harbor, Russell County Child Advocacy Center, Russell County Shelter for Battered Women and he currently serves on the board of House of Heroes of the Chattahoochee Valley, and the Supervision Committee of Kinetic Credit Union.  He is a member of the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants and the Georgia Society of Certified Public Accountants. 

David enjoys spending time with his family, golfing, and traveling.

Laura Toms, CPA

Audit Partner
  • Office: 706-322-5482 ext. 135
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Laura graduated from Columbus State University (formerly Columbus College), with a Bachelor of Business Administration. She began her career in 1997 with Fountain, Arrington, Bass, Mercer & Lee, P.C. and became a partner in 2014.  

Laura specializes in:

  • Tax Preparation Services
  • Audit Engagements
  • Auditing Employee Benefit Plans
  • Financial Statement Audit Services
  • Non-profit Accounting
  • Income Tax Planning and Compliance

Laura manages the firm’s audit department and staff to ensure compliance with current accounting pronoucements, establishes staff budgets for accounting and auditing engagements and serves as technical reviewer on all engagements.

She is a member of the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants; Georgia Society of Certified Public Accountants; Rotary Club of Columbus; Board Chair, Girl Scouts of Historic Georgia, and Past Treasurer; Trustee for Building Endowment Trust, and past Board Member for the Crisis Center of Russell County.

Laura enjoys spending time with her three children, family, and friends.  She enjoys traveling, zip lining, boating on the lake, as well as the Braves and Georgia Bulldogs.

Scott Wacter, CPA

Partner
  • Office: 706-322-5482 ext. 131
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Originally from Macon, Georgia, Scott graduated from Georgia College, Milledgeville, GA in 1993 with a double major in Accounting and Management.  He joined Fountain, Arrington, Bass, Mercer & Lee in 2003 and became a partner in 2014.

Scott specializes in:

  • Tax Preparation Services
  • Business Advisory Services
  • Business Consulting
  • Financial Statement Audit Service
  • Non-profit and Trust Taxation
  • Medical Practice Accounting

Scott is a member of the Georgia Society of Certified Public Accountants and American Institute of Certified Public Accountants.  He serves on the board of the Columbus Youth Soccer Club.

He enjoys spending time with his family, traveling, hiking, camping, and swimming.

William A. Arrington, CPA

Partner Emeritus
  • Office: 706-322-5482 ext. 130
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Raised in Columbus, Georgia, Alan attended Georgia Tech to major in Electrical Engineering.  After one year he realized that was not the career for him.  He transferred to Columbus State University (formerly Columbus College) to study accounting.  At the time, Columbus College was only a 2 year college.  Upon receiving his Associate degree he attended the University of Georgia where he graduated with a BBA in Accounting. 

Through the ROTC program at UGA Alan was commissioned into the US Army.  He was stationed at Fort Gordon, Georgia and an Army school in Monmouth, New Jersey.  He served in Vietnam from 1966-1967 finishing his Army career as acting Post Signal Officer at Fort Eustis and Fort Lee, Virginia.

After completing his military service, Alan worked for the Kendrick Companies in Columbus, Ga. as Comptroller for 3 years.  In 1970, he joined D. Clyde Fountain (Fountain & Baker, CPA).  He became a Certified Public Accountant in 1976 and was offered and accepted a partnership position with the then new firm, Fountain and Brogdon, CPA.  Alan went on to receive his Master of Accountancy.

Alan specializes in:

  • Tax Preparation Services
  • Business Advisory Services
  • Business Consulting
  • Financial Statement Audit Service
  • Non-profit and Trust Taxation
  • Medical Practice Accounting

Alan has served on various boards within the community over the years.  While away from work he enjoys spending time with his wife, Penny, to whom he has been married 58 years.

John J. Lee, CPA

Partner Emeritus
  • Office: 706-322-5482 ext. 138
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After serving  in the Special Forces in the United States Army, John attended Georgia Southwestern College in Americus, GA, where he received a Bachelor of Science with a major in Business.  He later earned a Master of Business Administration from Columbus State University (formerly Columbus College).  After graduation he moved to Atlanta, Georgia to work for the Internal Revenue Service, later transferring to Columbus, Georgia.  John joined Fountain, Arrington, Bass, Mercer & Lee, becoming a partner in 1987. 

John specializes in:     

  • Tax Preparation Services
  • Business Advisory Services
  • Business Consulting
  • Financial Statement Audit Service
  • Non-profit and Trust Taxation
  • Medical Practice Accounting

 Since being in Columbus John has been active with the Boy Scouts, Development Authority of Columbus where he served as Vice Chairman.  He also served on the Board of Columbus Health Resources, Inc., a division of Columbus Regional Healthcare System, Inc. He is also a member of the Rotary Club of Columbus, where he was a Paul Harris Fellow (2), Will Watt Sustainer and Paul Harris Sustainer.  He is active in the Columbus chapter of Certified Public Accountants where he was President and on the Board of Directors of the State Society of Certified Public Accountants.

John enjoys spending time with his family and friends and loves to travel with his lovely bride, Gail.

Leslie Turner

Staff Accountant
  • Office: 706-322-5482 ext. 125
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Leslie graduated from Auburn University with a Bachelor of Science in Accounting.  She began her career with the firm in 2017.

Leslie specializes in:

  •  Client Bookkeeping and Payroll
  •  Medical Practice Bookkeeping

She is a member of Westminster Presbyterian Church and enjoys spending time with her husband and children.  She also enjoys cooking and knitting.

Jennifer Williams

Senior Accountant
  • Office: 706-322-5482 ext. 148
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Jennifer graduated with a Bachelor of Business Administration from Columbus State University (formerly Columbus College).  Upon graduation, Jennifer began working with the firm in 1996.

Jennifer specializes in:

  • Tax Preparation Services
  • Financial Statements
  • Client Bookkeeping and Payroll
  • Medical Practice Bookkeeping

During her off time, Jennifer enjoys spending time with her family and traveling.

Stephanie Ervin

Staff Accountant
  • Office: 706-322-5482 ext. 141
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Stephanie graduated from Troy University, Phenix City, AL with a Bachelor of Business Administration with an Accounting concentration.  She also received her Master of Business Administration, with an Accounting concentration, from Maryville University, St. Louis, MO.  Prior to joining Fountain, Arrington, Bass, Mercer & Lee, P.C. in 2022, Stephanie served as the Finance Officer for Domestic Violence Intervention Center, Opelika, Al.

Stephanie specializes in:

  • Individual Tax Preparation Services
  • Budget Planning
  • Auditing Non-profit Entities
  • Client Bookkeeping
  • Grant Writing and Reporting for Non-profits

She enjoys spending time with family and friends, hiking, reading, bike riding and traveling.

Kimberly Barnett

Bookkeeper
  • Office: 706-322-5482 ext. 147
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Kim holds a degree in Business Administration Technology.  She has earned several certifications which include Foundation Accounting, Microsoft Office Application Professional, Microsoft Word Application Professional, Microsoft Excel Applications and Administrative Support Assistance.  Kim started with the firm in 2022.

Kim specializes in:

  • Bookkeeping
  • Payroll
  • Payroll Returns

When away from work Kim enjoys reading, sewing, cooking, and music (harp).

Andrew Smith

Staff Accountant
  • Office: 706-322-5482
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Andrew joined the firm late in 2023.  A recent graduate from Columbus State University with a degree in accounting, he specializes in client accounting work, preparation of individual and business tax returns and tax research.  Andrew plans on securing his master degree in accounting from the University of Auburn in the near future.

Laurel Sinks

Office Manager
  • Office: 706-322-5482 ext. 146
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Laurel joined the firm in October of 2023 as the Office Manager.  She is responsible for compliance and HR issues within the firm, handling the financial affairs of the firm and working closely with the partners on various business matters. 

Laurel is an avid crafter and enjoys spending time with her husband and two Newfoundland dogs.

Regina Porzio

Administrative Assistant
  • Office: 706-322-5482 ext. 154
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Regina studied at Columbus State University (formerly Columbus College).  She began working with the firm in 1997.

She specializes in:

  • Client Payroll
  • Billing/Administration

Regina enjoys spending time with her son and furbaby, Luna.  She also enjoys gardening, traveling, and watching UGA football, GO DAWGS!

Cindy Waycaster

Secretary
  • Office: 706-322-5482 ext. 100
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Cindy has been with the firm since February 2009.  She handles scheduling appointments, routing telephone calls and working with clients on a daily basis.  She is also instrumental in our tax processing department in assembly of various federal and state tax returns.

In her time away from the office she enjoys reading and spending time with her grandbabies.