[Congressional Record Volume 154, Number 56 (Wednesday, April 9, 2008)]
[Senate]
[Page S2815]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                    RECOGNIZING BERRY, FOWLES & CO.

 Ms. SNOWE. Madam President, as tax time is once again upon us, 
I recognize the contributions that small businesses have made, and 
continue to make, toward ensuring that our Nation's financial sector 
operates in a fair and effective manner. In particular, I must 
highlight a Maine business that has excelled in taking care of both its 
customers and employees. Berry, Fowles & Co., a small, full-service 
accounting firm located in Falmouth, recently earned the prestigious 
distinction of being named the 2007 Small Business Best Place to Work 
in Maine.
  The ``Best Places to Work in Maine'' program is sponsored by the 
Society for Human Resource Management Maine State Council, in 
partnership with several other entities, including The Employment Times 
and the Maine State Chamber of Commerce. Awards are issued in 
categories of large, medium, and small businesses operating in Maine, 
and determinations are based on employer benefits and policies, as well 
as employee responses to satisfaction surveys.
  Berry, Fowles & Co. is clearly deserving of this acknowledgement of 
its remarkable steps to maintain its employees' well-being.
  Doing business under various names since 1915, Berry, Fowles & Co. 
has consistently impressed its clientele by adhering to a strong set of 
core values, including a philosophy of empowerment and community 
involvement.
  Offering an array of services, including auditing, accounting, and 
tax preparation, Berry, Fowles & Co. serves cities and towns, 
businesses, individuals, local governments, and nonprofits across 
Maine. The company offers free consultations for its services, from 
personal financial planning to small business accounting.
  The company's Web site is an invaluable source for both the client 
and the public. Replete with a plethora of financial guides on 
investment, tax, and business strategies, the Web site provides readers 
with clear and comprehensive information. Additionally, the site 
contains links to a number of calculators that compute everything from 
college and retirement savings to the monthly payment of an auto loan. 
Combined with an online newsletter proposing perceptive counsel in a 
number of areas, Berry, Fowles & Co.'s Web site is a goldmine for the 
financially curious.
  While the company's services are wide-ranging, what positions Berry, 
Fowles & Co. so well in today's fast-paced world is the time it takes 
to appreciate and celebrate the work and welfare of its 16 dedicated 
employees. Berry, Fowles & Co. provides its workers with a wide range 
of benefits, including health and life insurance, cutting-edge 
technology, and a retirement pension plan. And while all of us may 
cringe at the thought of April 15, the employees at Berry, Fowles & Co. 
know firsthand the stress that comes with a tax filing deadline. That 
is why the company has designed a tax-season wellness program for its 
employees, which includes enjoyable games and giveaways, healthy 
snacks, Saturday lunches, and even massages! To me, that certainly adds 
up to a great place to work!
  Over the past century, Berry, Fowles & Co. and its predecessors have 
made a name for themselves by helping others succeed financially. Now, 
the company is attracting just recognition because of its sound efforts 
to support its employees. Berry, Fowles & Co. lays claim to a 
distinctly successful business model that presents all small businesses 
a magnanimous example upon which to draw. I congratulate the team at 
Berry, Fowles & Co. and wish them well at tax time and beyond.

                          ____________________