Trusted guidance since 1996.

Deborah founded Dees Gardner, CPAs as a sole proprietorship in January 1996 in Mansfield, after earning her CPA license in 1991. With more than three decades of Louisiana practice — much of it spent serving public and community-based organizations — she leads the firm's governmental and nonprofit audit & assurance work.

Her Certified in Financial Forensics credential supports the firm's forensic accounting and fraud examination engagements, where independence, documentation, and clear communication with counsel and agencies are essential.

Beyond the practice, Deborah serves on multiple nonprofit boards throughout the region — an extension of the community work that led to her induction into the Louisiana 4-H Hall of Fame.

Maura joined the firm in 2004 and has been a partner since the 2017 reorganization as Dees Gardner, CPAs, LLC. She holds a bachelor's degree from Centenary College of Louisiana and an MBA from LSU-Shreveport.

Maura's practice is primarily focused on tax — preparing and planning for individuals, closely-held businesses, pass-through entities, and the estate, trust, and gift engagements that often grow out of those relationships. In addition to her CPA license, she holds the Certified Fraud Examiner credential, which supports the firm's forensic accounting, fraud examination, and litigation-support work alongside its audit & assurance engagements.

Outside of work, Maura and Michael are raising three boys, and she serves on multiple nonprofit boards throughout Northwest Louisiana.

Michael joined Dees Gardner, CPAs in 2017 after graduating from LSU. His practice is primarily focused on audit & assurance, specializing in engagements for governmental entities and nonprofit organizations across DeSoto Parish and Northwest Louisiana. He also handles tax preparation for individuals and closely-held businesses and day-to-day bookkeeping and accounting work.

Michael leads the firm's custom software development work — designing and building internal tools, process automations, and client-facing applications that streamline accounting workflows.

Michael loves coaching youth sports including football and lacrosse.