After working in bookkeeping and in controller roles as an employee for 16 years, Habitat Homeowner Liz Carnall started to think about branching out on her own. “I thought that one strategy for developing my own tax business would be to find an accountant who was retiring and see if I could take over their clients as they wound down. I found an accountant who was retiring, and who was actually looking for an exit plan and we set up an arrangement that worked for both of us.”

As clients transitioned over, Liz also acquired new clients and on January 1, 2022 Liz incorporated as LizCo Tax. On July 1, 2022, Liz signed a lease on an office in downtown Nevada City. As an enrolled agent, Liz is licensed by the Internal Revenue Service as a Tax Specialist.

Liz is delighted by her new business, which gives her more freedom, the opportunity to make more money, and more flexibility to be available for her children.

Since incorporating as LizCo Tax, Liz has found that she is busier than anticipated. “The business is growing faster than I had expected, which is great!”

“Being a Habitat Homeowner definitely had an influence on my decision to start my own business,” says Liz. “Having a stable home and mortgage payment freed my mind. I have less stress and more emotional energy.” 

When Jennifer Cordova was a young girl in Phoenix, AZ her mother considered applying to become a Habitat Homeowner. “My mom ultimately decided not to apply, but from a very young age I was aware of Habitat and how Habitat can help families.”

When she relocated to the East Coast, Jennifer got involved in volunteering for Habitat. Her volunteer service inspired her to become an AmeriCorps service member, where she served in the Dover, Delaware ReStore. Upon finishing her AmeriCorps service, Jennifer joined the Dover Habitat as the Homeowner Services Director.

“Basically, I fell in love with Habitat’s Mission,” says Jennifer. “I am so impressed by the families who persevere to become homeowners, and by what homeownership means to families and communities.”

Jennifer has been with Nevada County Habitat for about two months and she has hit the ground running. Street of Dreams will return live in September, and Jennifer is working to make this a wildly successful event.

When not at work, Jennifer is pursuing a Masters of Public Policy from Arizona State University, and loves spending time with her family, which includes two boys, 12 and 14 years old. “They are like night and day – so different,” she says. “We work to find activities that everyone will enjoy. Right now that includes trying different food trucks!”