We’re an accounting firm that puts down roots with our clients
The numbers that matter most to us aren’t on a tax return
70+
3
office dogs
Our Story
The roots that started Red Alder
Red Alder grew from a long-established accounting firm founded by David Oase.
As the firm developed, so did the way we supported our clients. The team expanded, relationships grew deeper, and our work began to reach far beyond annual tax returns and filing deadlines.
Today, we work alongside business owners throughout the year, helping them understand their numbers, think through important decisions, and plan more confidently for what lies ahead.
Red Alder reflects the firm we are now: an experienced, team-led business with a shared approach and a long-term commitment to the people we support.
Our name is newer than our roots. The experience, relationships, and care behind the work have been built over decades.
1978
Where it all began
1992
A new chapter, and a new name
2008
Through the downturn, together
David Oase CPA has been through hard seasons with clients. During the subprime collapse of 2007–2008, we sat across the table from business owners, families, and professionals trying to make sense of a financial world that felt unstable. We helped clients navigate cash flow, tax decisions, debt, and uncertainty that did not fit neatly into a spreadsheet. That experience still shapes how we work today. We do not disappear when things get complicated.
2014
Ken retired at 84
2017
QuickBooks Online, end to end
2018
A shift in gear
We began moving beyond traditional tax preparation and compliance work toward a more proactive advisory model. Instead of only helping clients look backward at what already happened, we focused more intentionally on helping them plan ahead, understand their numbers, make better business decisions, and avoid surprises before they became expensive problems.
2024
Continued expansion
As the firm continued to grow, we became more intentional about building the right team around our clients. That meant looking beyond geography to find talented offshore team members who could strengthen our capacity, improve turnaround times, and support more consistent service.
2026
Red Alder: the next chapter
Our name
Why we're called Red Alder
The red alder is a tree known not for showiness or size, but for what it does for everything around it.
It enriches the soil. It stabilizes the land. It creates the conditions for healthy growth without drawing attention to itself. Other things grow better because it's there.
That's the role we want to play for our clients.
We're not here to be the loudest voice in the room or the most impressive name on a business card. We're here to be the steady, grounded presence that helps you feel more capable, clear, and more confident in the decisions you're making.
Grounding
Resilient
Most of our clients don't come to us in a moment of calm.
They reach out when something feels off, when the numbers aren't making sense, or when a decision is coming and they're not sure they have the right information to make the right call.
The first thing we do is slow things down, listen, and figure out what's really going on.
From there, we work through it together. We're not just filing a tax return, but painting the bigger picture of what you're building and why.
How we work
The way we work, every day
Heart-first
Growing
Authentic
Adaptable
Playful
Legacy
Clarity
The people behind the work
We’re a tight-knit team with real lives outside of accounting.
That helps us better understand yours.
David is an army brat who lived in returned to Tucson in 1985 and graduated from the University of Arizona. He became a CPA in 1993 just after joining the firm. In his spare time he likes to visit caves all over the country.
He paints miniatures and crafts terrain for the “kids” Dungeons and Dragons games. He has also filmed over 100 sermons and cave events.
From the picturesque hills of Vail, Colorado, Chad has traded in his cowboy boots for balance sheets. A proud graduate of the University of Arizona with a degree in accounting, Chad brings a unique flair to the numbers game.
When he’s not crunching numbers, you’ll find him cheering for his beloved Arizona Wildcats, enjoying the company of his loyal German Shepherds or supporting his son’s martial arts journey.
Senior Accountant and licensed Enrolled Agent who specializes in individual and business taxation. She has a knack for making accounting feel a little less intimidating for both her teammates and her clients.
When she’s off the clock, Angelica is a proud mom of two, an amateur painter, a devoted stargazer, and a committed gamer.
Lucy is the first person you’ll meet at our office, and she makes everyone feel right at home. Born in California, she’s a Hello Kitty lover with a passion for hiking, traveling, and working out.
Vanessa is a seasoned Client Excellence Coordinator with over a decade of experience in sales and team management.
Beyond work, she enjoys weightlifting and caring for her growing wide collection of plants, from succulents to orchids.