Meet Our Team

Wendee Essex, CPA

Wendee was raised on a ranch near Volborg, Montana where her family raised wheat and cattle.  She was very active in 4-H and FFA in Powder River  County during high school.  She graduated from Montana State University with a degree in accounting and came to Stallard and Associates in 1998, becoming a partner in 2001.  Wendee is married to Aaron who is a teacher at Washington Middle School and together they have two boys. TJ and his wife Justine, and Tyler who all live in Cheyenne, WY.  Wendee’s hobbies include traveling, quilting, and reading.

Yvonne Lufborough (Pluhar), CPA


Yvonne was born and raised in Miles City. She attended Montana State University-Bozeman and obtained her accounting degree in May of 2002.  Yvonne worked in private accounting until coming to our practice in December of 2006.  In 2011 and 2012, she sat for and passed all four parts of the CPA exam.  On January 1, 2013 she joined us as a partner in the firm.  Yvonne's husband, Beau, is a local contractor and they have three children Ryder, Dakota and Charley. They enjoy spending time at Hell Creek State Park on Fort Peck Lake in the summer.

Tad Torgerson, CPA

Tad joined Stallard & Associates in September, 2013. He has a diverse background in the areas of accounting, tax, budget, and management. Prior to joining the firm, he served as an Executive Budget Analyst with the North Dakota Office of Management and Budget (Governor’s Budget Office), Vice President for Finance and Administration at Miles Community College, Staff Accountant at a local CPA firm, and an Auditor with the North Dakota State Auditor’s Office. Tad has an Associate of Arts Degree from Miles Community College, a Bachelor of Science in Accounting Degree from Dickinson State University, and a Master’s of Public Administration from the University of Montana.  He has been a Certified Public Accountant since 1999.  Tad is happily married to his college sweatheart Rene and has three school-age children; Ray, Olivia, and Emily.  Family time is devoted to kid's activities, especially youth rodeo.

Ginger Carpani
​Accounting Technician 

Ginger was raised in Baker, MT. She attended college at Montana State University-Billings and graduated with a degree in Accounting. She worked in private accounting in Payroll and as an assistant Controller in Billings until 2009, when she moved to Miles City to become a Controller for a local business. In 2013 Ginger joined the team at Stallard & Associates and is the Treasurer for a local non-profit. Ginger is married to Adam, who is a Mill Operator at Stillwater Mine in Nye, and together they have 2 boys, Wyatt and McKade. As a family they enjoy hunting, fishing, and camping. 

Jenny Kiltie
​Accounting Technician

Jenny joined our team in January 2015 as an intern completing her A.A.S. in Small Business Management from Miles Community College where she graduated Valedictorian in May of 2015.  She has since stayed on with us, and is currently pursuing her Bachelor’s in Business Administration and Accounting through MSU Billings’s online program. She is married to Shane Kiltie, and together they have three young children, Ryker, Kieran, & Luther Alec.
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Whitney Smith
Accounting Technician 

Whitney joined our team in August 2017 as a receptionist. Since then she has moved into the accounting technician position. Whitney is a graduate of Miles City and resides here with her family. She is married to Woody, who works for John Deere, and together they have three boys, Clancy, Caleb, and Weston. Whitney enjoys spending time with her family, camping, watching movies or anything where they are all together. She also loves watching her kids participate in sports, Caleb in basketball and baseball. Clancy in Tennis and choir, and Weston in T-Ball. ​

Jessie Dufner
​Staff Accountant 

Jessie, a native eastern Montanan who grew up on a farm near Lindsay (between Circle and Glendive), joined Stallard & Associates in December 2017 after working for more than 15 years in the higher education sector. Throughout her time in higher education, she worked at the University of Mary in communications and admissions. In 2002, she began working for Miles Community College which included time as a financial aid director. In 2006, she took an opportunity to open a branch office at MCC for Student Assistance Foundation where she helped families with college planning and financial aid assistance. Returning to MCC in 2008, Jessie worked in management on the student affairs side and became the vice president of enrollment and student success in 2012 which she held until leaving in December 2017. Jessie received her bachelor’s in science from the University of Mary in 1998. In 2006, she completed her master’s in business administration from the University of Mary. Jessie and her husband, Erik, have one son, Jerek. They enjoy following Jerek’s activities, especially karate, basketball, and football.

Amanda Makelky, Receptionist 

Amanda was born and raised in Miles City. Before joining our team, Amanda worked for Avitus Group as an Administrative Assistant. She currently volunteers with her church’s high school youth group and enjoys painting and crafts.