Photos: William Knuttinen and Michael Morones
Morones & Knuttinen, LLC - 2011 Client of the Year
"Counting Successes in the Numbers Business"
At first glance you might not have imagined Mike Morones and William Knuttinen as successful business partners.
Take a second look, and listen to some history, and you will find that their successful CPA firm is a reflection of their successful relationship.
Morones and Knuttinen opened their CPA firm in 2002 after working together for a brief period in Tucson and becoming friends. They become the youngest CPAs in Silver City, taking big pay cuts and opening the door to the challenge of becoming business owners.
"There is a great need for CPAs in Silver City," explained Morones. "We are beginning to turn down work and so are others."
For a small town, owning a CPA firm meant building a customer base and getting to know your community. "I believe the last CPA firm to open, was us nine years ago," said Knuttinen. "We have doubled in size."
Prior to opening their doors in downtown Silver City, the pair sought the assistance of the Small Business Development Center at Western New Mexico University.
"We used the SBDC for research," said Morones. "They guided us in providing information needed before opening."
In 2002, Morones & Knuttinen, LLC opened in downtown Silver City at the same site of a previous accounting firm. The new business took a gamble knowing that despite the need for more services, individuals and businesses would have to take interest in their firm.
"Competition does exist, but is cordial, among the CPA firms in town," said Knuttinen. "Every CPA knows each other and in fact recommends certain ones as niches have developed."
"Mike and I were the youngest CPAs in town when we started and probably still are some of the youngest," added Knuttinen. "Being of the younger generation, we have learned to adapt to changes quicker and using the new technologies to our advantage."
Both are active outside of the firm in several community organizations. Morones is a member of the local and state SBDC Advisory Boards. They continue to meet the challenges of a growing business in a community with great CPA needs.
Southwest Small Business Development Center
Western New Mexico University
Besse-Forward Global Resource Center
817 West 12th Street
P.O. Box 680, Silver City NM 88062
Voice: (575) 538-6320
Fax: (575) 538-6341
Deming Office
Mimbres Learning Center
2300 East Pine
(575)546-6556 x106
International business information:
www.NMIBA.com
Office hours: 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. Monday through Friday
Staff
• Director:
• Business Advisor:
• Special Projects:
• Administrative Assistant:
Partners
IBA (International Business Accelerator)
575-589-2200
Southwest Office of Regional Data
575-538-6320
Western New Mexico University
575-538-6336
Silver City-Grant County Chamber of Commerce
575-538-3785
Town of Silver City
575-538-3731
New Mexico Economic Development Department
1-800-374-3061
Mimbres Region Arts Council
575-538-2505
Arts and Cultural District Coordinating Council
575-534-6343
