Service Partners
SPIRE has established professional service relationships with a number of top firms, seeking relationships with established partners who are willing to furnish consultation and services to the organization on a fully or partially pro bono basis.
Legal
Legal services for SPIRE are provided by Lew Miller, founding partner of the firm Ward, Miller and Geyer, LLC. Mr. Miller has worked extensively in retail development for more than twenty years. Lew attended the University of Missouri, obtaining a degree in Biology Education in 1984, and attended the University of Utah College of Law, graduating in 1988 as a member of the Order of the Coif and also served as an associate editor on the Utah Law Review and earned three AmJur awards. Following law school, Lew joined the Real Estate department of O'Melveny & Myers, where he primarily represented lenders in secured transactions. Lew returned to Utah in 1992 and joined the real estate law group of American Stores. Lew has also worked as a Director of Real Estate for Einstein/Noah Bagels in the initial roll out of that chain's stores in the Western U.S. In 1999, American Stores was acquired by Albertson's and Lew, together with his former law school classmate Mark Geyer, started Geyer & Miller, which focused primarily on representing Albertson's, Sav-on and Acme in building grocery and drug stores in the Northeast United States, Arizona and California. In 2005, Geyer & Miller merged with Curtis R. Ward to form Ward, Miller & Geyer. Following the acquisition of Sav-on drug stores by CVS in 2006, Lew represented CVS in a number of southern California transactions, as well as expanding his practice to represent developers. Lew is admitted to practice in both California and Utah. Lew offices in Salt Lake City, Utah, although his practice is primarily in California. Lew has two children, is actively involved in refugee issues and is a member of Mensa.
Accounting
SPIRE's accounting services are provided by Carpenter, Petersen & Associates, a full-service CPA firm. Carpenter Peterson offers a wide range of services to businesses and individuals to assist them in reaching their short and long-term financial goals. The firm offers the expertise of a large firm with the accessibility and personalized service of a boutique firm. Carpenter, Petersen & Associates is lead by John Carpenter, CPA and David Petersen, CPA. John has practiced public accounting in Southern California for over 25 years and has experience in a broad range of tax and financial issue. Dave has served the Southern California business community for over 17 years providing a spectrum of expertise in many areas of specialization. The firm also maintains a full complement of associates with 10-25 years of experience in the professional CPA domain.
Banking
The depository bank of SPIRE furnishing the organization with treasury management services is Commercial Bank of California. Commercial Bank of California, based in Costa Mesa, officially opened for business on May 15, 2003 as the state's highest-capitalized independent start-up bank. Formed by some of Orange County's most prominent businessmen, Commercial Bank of California is a full-service bank offering clients all of the traditional deposit and lending services found at much larger institutions, along with the convenience and innovation of internet banking, while maintaining the customer service approach of a local bank.
