Thielen & Associates was launched in 2004, based on a collaborative idea from our Managing Director, Paula Thielen, and her adult children Jeremy Thielen, and Marisa Thielen Fugate. Their entrepreneurial vision was to create a full service accounting and financial services firm that would not only allow them to share their accounting experience and knowledge with individuals of the public, but also assist fellow entrepreneurs in their visions and establishment of their own successful businesses.

They believed that they could establish a firm that valued relationships, and they felt that by viewing every client relationship like a partnership; their success would be a direct result of the client’s success. They committed to providing close, personal attention to each client, and took pride in giving the clients the assurance that the personal assistance they received came from years of advanced training, technical experience, and financial acumen. Their continual dedication of time and resources in professional continuing education, state-of-the-art technology, and extensive business relationships is indicative of their commitment to excellence.


Paula Thielen

Paula prides herself in the practice of helping her clients pursue their individual financial goals and supporting them in the process of making sustainable business decisions. She has assisted many companies in their financial success and believes that her corporate clients can be mindful of people and the planet, while making profits. As she explains, “We care about our clients and want them to be able to create wealth while minimizing future risks and maximizing economic, environmental, and social value.”

As a Certified Public Accountant, Paula has over 30 years of experience in the accounting profession, both in private industry and in public practice. Past industry positions have included CFO, Corporate Controller, Vice President of Finance & Operations, and Director of Finance. She is CPA licensed in both California and Arizona and has attained the Personal Financial Specialist designation, through a combination of extensive tax experience with comprehensive knowledge of financial services. She holds both Series 7 and Series 66 licenses.

Paula’s educational background consists of a Ph.D. in Human & Organization Development, an MBA in Finance, an MS in Organizational Behavior & Development, an MA in Human & Organizational Systems, and a BS in Business Administration & Management with an Accounting Concentration. Her doctoral research has been on good corporate citizenship and the triple bottom line of sustainability.

She is a member of the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants (AICPA) and the California Society of CPAs (CALCPA). She donates her time to the non-profit organization Silicon Valley SCORE, a resource partner with the U.S. Small Business Administration, which provides free and confidential small business advice for entrepreneurs. She also teaches finance and accounting in MBA Programs at local colleges. In her spare time, she enjoys spending the day at the ball park cheering on the San Francisco Giants along with her husband of 39 years, and playing with their young granddaughters.


Jeremy Thielen

Jeremy brings more than 10 years of experience to our clients as a staff accountant and makes a point of putting each client he interacts with at ease. He takes the time to respond to their bookkeeping and taxation questions and ensures that when their conversation comes to an end, the client has a simpler way of understanding some of the ins and outs of collecting the proper data that we would need. He notes, “We partner with each of our clients to provide a framework for getting organized and remaining that way so that they are always prepared for tax season, and accounting deadlines.”

With business skills and leadership ability essential to helping clients implement accounting software and selection, process payroll, prepare tax plans, and assist with tax services, Jeremy aspires to open up and maintain the communication channel with each client. He also specializes in instituting best business practices and helping clients maximize their competitive advantages.

Jeremy specializes in taxation, has completed the required accounting and business education in order to sit for the California State Board CPA Exam, and is in the process of attaining his CPA license.

He donates his time to various non-profit events such as the Association for the Developmentally Disabled annual dinner, the Bettencourt Memorial Golf Tournament, and the Gilroy Junior Golf Program. In his spare time he enjoys traveling with his wife and daughters, as well as polishing up on his golf game.


Marisa Thielen Fugate

Marisa utilizes her leadership ability in managing people, projects, and processes, and serves as a voice for our clients. She maintains meticulous standards for the work products of the firm. Her strengths include sound business judgment, as well as the ability to communicate quickly and effectively. As she explains, “Accounting plays a role in every aspect of your financial life, whether personal, corporate, or estate. We value our role as trusted advisors and require that our work be delivered with a personal and professional touch.”

She ensures that when the client’s work comes in it receives priority, and is delegated properly in order to assist the clients in managing their accounting deadlines with the utmost professionalism. In addition, she brings more than 8 years of experience to our clients as a staff accountant, specializing in bookkeeping and assisting in tax services.

Marisa has a Bachelor’s degree in Communication from the University of California, Santa Barbara. She has earned recognition in Accounting and Bookkeeping. She has completed the Accounting and Business education necessary to sit for the California State Board CPA Exam. She also holds both Series 6 and Series 63 licenses.

She has supported various local non-profit organizations that specialize in the education of children, including her former elementary school, and organizations that provide food and shelter to homeless animals. In her spare time, she enjoys traveling and cooking with her husband, family, and friends, and spending time with their two Beagles. She also receives a constant stream of entertainment from her young nieces.


Daniel Yslava

Daniel holds a strong background in Accounting from his past Financial Analyst positions where he spent much time auditing record keeping for companies and their internal departments. He has a comprehensive knowledge of creating cost schedules and booking appropriate adjusting entries based on variance analysis reconciliations. His experience is also in the Information Technology (IT) sector. Daniel brings more than 8 years of experience to our clients as a staff accountant, assists with tax services, and makes a point of looking at our clients' books with the ultimate precision. He states, “The value of having accurate accounting information in order to make informed decisions in your business is immeasurable. Being able to provide our clients with that powerful tool for growth and success is especially satisfying.”

Daniel has a Bachelor’s degree in Business Administration and Accounting from San Jose State University. He has completed the Accounting and Business education necessary to sit for the California State Board CPA Exam, and is in the process of attaining his CPA license.

He supports various non-profit organizations including the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society's Team in Training, the La Visionaria Guild of Children’s Hospital Central California, and the Relay for Life American Cancer Society. He has a passion for cooking, enjoys the performing arts, and traveling. He loves watching football, but primarily is a Pittsburgh Steelers fan. He also enjoys rooting on the Golden State Warriors.


Sandy Ortega

Sandy brings more than 11 years of experience as an Administrative Assistant within professional accounting and law firms. She’s held past positions with top tier accounting firms in the California Bay Area, and is a positive and proactive team player. She serves as first contact for our clients and ensures that they are comfortable and are receiving immediate assistance. She notes, “Throughout my professional career, I have learned that the first line of contact and first impression of the firm are extremely important. We pride ourselves in being personable, friendly, proactive, and highly responsive to our clients' needs. To be part of that role is very rewarding for me.”

She donates her time to various non-profit organizations that specialize in feeding and clothing the homeless. She is an avid San Jose Sharks fan, enjoys photography, cooking, and relaxing at home with her cat, as well as spending some of her weekends playing for a local downtown San Jose Softball team.