DWC CPAs and Advisors is pleased to announce the following promotions. We congratulate these exemplary professionals as they represent our core values of integrity, quality, and community investment and core purpose to help our clients, people, and communities to be better.
Seth C. Knighton, EA, to Tax Manager
Seth began his accounting career with DWC’s tax office in 2017 and is licensed as an enrolled agent. He has since had the opportunity to work with a diverse range of clients across various industries. He has attained expertise in trusts and estates and is passionate about supporting clients in real estate, automotive, and healthcare sectors. Seth also cares deeply about fostering the future of accounting by supporting the training of new staff, and participating in events that help Colorado Mesa University students network with local accountants.
In addition to his client work, Seth is actively involved in his local and professional community. He is a member of several professional associations such as the Colorado Mesa University Grand Valley Young Alumni Chapter and the Young Professionals’ Network of Mesa County.
Darby Russell, ACMA, CGMA, to Bookkeeping Supervisor
Darby’s accounting and bookkeeping career spans nearly a decade with private business experience and DWC CPAs and Advisors. She collaborates with the firm’s tax and bookkeeping teams to deliver comprehensive services to a diverse clientele in multiple industries. She enjoys sharing her knowledge and experience, helping to foster her team’s growth.
Darby holds a bachelor’s degree in accounting and a master’s degree in organizational leadership from Colorado Christian University. She holds the Associated Charter Management Accountant (ACMA) and Chartered Global Management Accountant (CGMA) designations, awarded by the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants (AICPA) in association with the Chartered Institute of Management Accountants (CIMA).
Ana Hurlburt, CPA, to Tax Senior
Ana became a part of DWC’s Glenwood Springs team in 2022. She focuses primarily on tax preparation and planning for small and medium-sized businesses, especially acquiring expertise in the real estate sector. She also handles tax returns for a variety of individuals and nonprofit organizations.
Originally from Chisinau, Moldova, Ana holds a bachelor’s degree in public services and a master’s in accounting and auditing from the Academy of Economic Studies of Moldova. She is a member of the American Institute of CPAs and the Colorado Society of CPAs.
Sydney R. Trichler, CPA, to Audit Senior
Originally from Littleton, CO, Sydney ventured west to attend Colorado Mesa University, graduating in December 2022 with a bachelor’s degree in public accounting with a minor in Spanish. Sydney began her career in public accounting in January 2023, and she joined DWC’s audit and assurance team in January 2024.
Sydney has experience in providing assurance and accounting services such as financial statement audits, reviews, compilations, and client accounting services to clients in various industries including construction, financial institutions, governmental special districts, healthcare, nonprofits, retail, and employee benefit plans subject to ERISA audit requirements, including 401(k) plans, 403(b) plans, and health and welfare plans. Sydney is a member of the American Institute of CPAs and the Colorado Society of CPAs.
Ana Carbajal Barahona to Audit Senior
Ana, a native of Houston, Texas, discovered her passion for Colorado and its Western Slope while pursuing her education at Colorado Mesa University (CMU). During her time at CMU, Ana was actively involved in the Ambassador Program, where she ultimately served as Co-President. She graduated in May 2024 with a bachelor’s degree in public accounting.
Ana began her career with DWC as an intern while still attending CMU and transitioned to a full-time role as an audit team member upon graduation. She has developed extensive expertise in attest and accounting services, including financial statement audits, reviews, compilations, and agreed-upon procedures. Ana works with clients across a wide range of industries, such as colleges and universities, construction entities and other contracting businesses, financial institutions, food service, governmental special districts, healthcare (including behavioral health), nonprofits, and employee benefit plans requiring ERISA compliance. In addition to her audit work, Ana contributes to business valuation projects, collaborating with credentialed valuation analysts at DWC. She is a member of the Colorado Society of CPAs.
Diane E. Petelo to Audit Senior
Diane, a Western Slope native and graduate of Palisade High School, earned her bachelor’s degree in public accounting and master’s in business administration from Colorado Mesa University (CMU) in May 2023. While attending CMU, she began her career with DWC as an intern and transitioned to a full-time role as an audit team member upon graduation.
Diane has cultivated expertise in attest and accounting services, including financial statement audits, reviews, compilations, agreed-upon procedures, and client accounting services. She serves clients across a broad range of industries, such as financial institutions, healthcare (including behavioral health), life and health insurance, nonprofits, real estate (including rental properties), retail, software as a service (SaaS), transportation, and employee benefit plans subject to ERISA compliance, such as 401(k) plans, 403(b) plans, and health and welfare plans. Additionally, Diane has experience performing indirect cost rate audits for engineering firms and other entities contracted with state departments of transportation. She is a member of the Colorado Society of CPAs.
