McGowan Guntermann

The firm of McGowan Guntermann evolved from a merger in 1993 of two of Santa Barbara's oldest and most prestigious accounting firms, McGowan Thompson Englert, founded in 1945 and Guntermann Thompson & Lanza, founded in 1954. Founded originally as sole practices, each firm grew steadily over the years and with the addition of partners and associates evolved into one of the Central Coast's most successful accounting and business consulting firms. The McGowan firm developed from the sole practice of Francis J. McGowan in 1945. From a single small office located in a space leased from one of his clients, Frank subsequently brought James Starlin and Milan Thompson into the firm. Kent Englert became a partner in 1975 followed by Scott Davis in 1990. The Guntermann firm evolved from the sole practice of Anthony Guntermann in 1954. In 1965 Robert Thompson came aboard as a partner followed by Joseph Lanza in 1987 and David Larson in 1990. Chris Reed became a partner of McGowan Guntermann in 1999, followed by Patricia Krout in 2001. On January 1, 2016, Richard Hilliard and Carla O'Neill joined the firm as partners. Richard and Carla had been providing accounting services via Hilliard O'Neill & Company in Santa Barbara for over 35 years.