Say Hello to Debra Barfield

Debra brings her bookkeeping expertise to The Dove Agency’s clients with meticulous transaction input and management and accurate account reconciliations. Debra graduated from Hope College as a Math and Science composite major and has spent her career in bookkeeping. Read on to learn more about her and the dedicated work ethic she brings to our team.

1. Give me a brief explanation of your role and the work you do at The Dove Agency.

My role at The Dove Agency involves managing clients’ financial transactions, including categorizing transactions within their financial platform of choice, balancing and reconciling accounts, answering questions related to vendors, QuickBooks and Studio Designer, and, at times, asking my own questions regarding account activity. My goal with each client is to manage their accounts in a way that allows them to focus on being creative and designing beautiful spaces for their clients.

2. What motivates you when things get busy or challenging?

I love it when things are busy and challenging because I’m not always sure how or when everything is going to come together, but I’m confident that it will. For me, the motivation lies in the finished product—how it will solve a problem, improve a situation, stretch my mind, creativity, and time-management skills, and, hopefully, make things smoother and more efficient in the future.

3. What’s a professional skill you’ve developed that surprised you?

I’ve always been process-oriented, but it has been surprising to see how this interest, skill, and ability have played out professionally. I love finding ways to implement processes that bring order to chaos, increase productivity, and enhance the workday. One of my favorite examples of this is creating color-coded Excel spreadsheets, with the colors changing based on the seasons and holidays. They keep me organized while adding a little creativity and color to my day.

4. What makes you proud to work at The Dove Agency?

The quality of work done for our clients, the cooperative and kind nature of those I work with, and the growth that has taken place in the company since I started in 2018.

5. What’s your favorite way to unwind after a busy week?

Spending time with my favorite people—my daughter and my friends! I love meeting up for dinner, catching a movie, visiting a coffee shop, attending a music event, or playing Mahjong. I also enjoy brewing a great cup of coffee or tea and settling in with a good book.

6. If you could live anywhere in the world for a year, where would it be and why?

There are so many places to choose from, but I think it would be fun to live in the city where I grew up—in a cozy cottage on Lake Michigan in Holland, Michigan. A place where I could experience all four seasons, enjoy a white Christmas, spend time with family, and become reacquainted with old friends.

7. What’s one thing on your bucket list you haven’t checked off yet?

A trip to Germany, where I could enjoy the Christmas Markets!