Martin Werbelow LLP: Timeline 2000

From the day of its founding in 1952, Martin Werbelow has always been growth oriented. Over the years, the firm has continued to evolve and grow with the Pasadena community in which its success is so closely connected. The following timeline takes a look back at over 50 years of existence and some of the important milestones.

'05: Donald Westenhaver, Jr.

'08: Erich Rail

'09: Michael Tao

2001
The firm signs a 5-year extension on its building lease at Gateway Plaza, extending its presence in one of the premier office locations in the Lake Avenue business district.

2002
Dave Beringer is named to a 3-year term as statewide treasurer for the Professional Fiduciaries Association of California. Martin Werbelow LLP receives a “clean opinion” of our accounting and auditing practice in the recently completed Peer Review and concludes that the firm complies with the quality control standards of the AICPA. The firm purchases software to allow audit engagements to go “paperless”, seeing this as the first step in taking the firm’s practice and technology into the 21st Century.

2005
Pete Hidas retires as a partner of Martin Werbelow and takes a long-awaited summer bicycling trip across the United States (see photos). Donald Westenhaver, Jr. is admitted as partner in the firm. The partners have a retreat in Newport Beach where they discuss long-range planning strategies into the 21st century. As part of the firms 3-year Peer Review program, the firm once again receives another unqualified opinion from the AICPA.

2006
Sue Applegate retires as a partner of the firm. The firm renews and signs a new 10-year lease for its 9th floor offices in the Gateway Plaza which will extend Martin Werbelow’s occupancy term in the building to 25 years and ultimately surpassing the 18 years spent at our Green Street location.

2007
Martin Werbelow purchases and completes implementation of Document Management Software allowing the firm to move further into the “paperless” environment. This is a natural follow-up to the firms paperless audit software and is seen as a significant step in meeting the firm’s information technology initiatives. In the Fall, Martin Werbelow and its partners and associates are honored by the Pasadena Community Foundation for 41 years of dedicated service to the Foundation and the Pasadena community.

2008
The partners of Martin Werbelow LLP elect Erich Rail as the firms new Managing Partner. Erich takes over the helm from Steve Boyer who served in that capacity since 1992. Erich, who joined Martin Werbelow in 1987 and has been a partner since 1996, becomes the firm’s third managing partner in the last 36 years.

2009
After 31 years as a partner of Martin Werbelow, Steve Boyer retires from the firm. Michael Tao is admitted as a partner of the firm. The new partner group, including Erich Rail, David Beringer, Donald Westenhaver, Jr., and Michael Tao, has a retreat in La Quinta where they discuss development strategies for the future success of the firm.

In conjunction with Martin Werbelow’s participation in the AICPA’s 3-year Peer Review program, the firm receives the highest “Pass” rating on their System Review Report, confirming continued compliance with professional standards of quality control for the accounting and auditing practice.

< Back to the 1950s

Events of 2002
Pennsylvania miners are rescued after spending 77 hours in a dark, flooded mine shaft in July; Anaheim Angels win the World Series.

'05: Pete Hidas

'06: Sue Applegate

'09: Steve Boyer