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# Untitled
- URL: https://www.smdp.com/092905-story-20050929-3/
- Published: 2005-09-29T15:00:00.000Z
- Updated: 2026-10-23T07:50:07.000Z
- Author: Guest Author
- Tags: local, Downtown, #archive-import

*By Daily Press staff*

Gumbiner Savett Inc., a certified public accounting and consulting firm located in Santa Monica, welcomed five new members to their tax team in an effort to contribute to the relief efforts for victims of hurricane Katrina.

The CPAs were evacuated from the New Orleans firm, Ericksen, Krentel & LaPorte, L.L.P.

The Ericksen, Krentel & LaPorte offices were significantly damaged during the storm. They have been unable to return to see the full extent of the damage because there is still four inches of contaminated water at their downtown location. Prior to the storm, Ericksen, Krentel & LaPorte consisted of seven partners and approximately 30 staff located in the New Orleans area.

While the hurricane-ravaged firm is presently setting up interim offices in Baton Rouge, there was not enough work to spread among current staff. Introduced to Gumbiner Savett by their outsourced marketing firm, The Growth Partnership Inc., Ericksen, Krentel & LaPorte’s partners were pleased to temporarily relocate some staff members to the Santa Monica area in order to avoid lay-offs.

The relocated professionals include tax partner, Richard Mueller; tax manager, Gina Ruttley; tax seniors, Neal Morris and Stephanie Chauff; and tax staff, Dustin Doucet.

Gumbiner Savett worked with Oakwood Apartments to secure housing for the New Orleans staff. Oakwood offered the firm a discounted rate for the short-term leases. In addition, the local branch of Enterprise Rental Car provided significant discounts on vehicles for the team. Spectrum Health Club, located just across the street from Gumbiner Savett’s main office location, provided free memberships for each of the evacuees. Finally, accounting software giant, Thomson RIA upgraded Gumbiner’s user licenses to accommodate the new staff members at a reduced rate.

Headquartered in Santa Monica, Gumbiner Savett Inc. is one of the largest CPA and financial advisory firms in Southern California. In addition to traditional accounting and tax services, the firm specializes in strategic consulting including transaction support services for both buyers and sellers, general business consulting, valuation services, estate planning and information technology services. The firm employs more than 100 professionals in the Santa Monica area.

*Originally published in the Santa Monica Daily Press print edition on September 29, 2005.* [Read the original PDF.](https://s3.us-east-1.amazonaws.com/smdp%5Fbackissues/092905.pdf?ref=smdp.com)