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Meet the Fortitude Tax & Accounting Team

At Fortitude Tax & Accounting, we believe great client relationships start with people, not numbers. Our team is more than accountants—we’re partners who bring decades of experience, personal dedication, and a passion for helping service professionals thrive. From proactive tax planning and bookkeeping to business entity setup and S Corp strategies, we’re here to give you clarity, confidence, and a financial foundation that supports your growth.

We specialize in tax and accounting for therapists, bookkeeping and tax planning for Realtors, rental property accounting for landlords, and tailored solutions for service-based businesses. No matter your profession, our team is here to help you build clarity, confidence, and a strong financial foundation.

Melissa Calwell, CPA, EA
Founder & Co-Owner

Hello There!

I’m Melissa Calwell, CPA and Enrolled Agent, with over 30 years of hands-on accounting and tax experience. I started Fortitude Tax & Accounting with the belief that small business owners deserve more than just a tax return — they deserve a proactive partner who helps them build financial confidence.

Over my career, I’ve worked in both the private sector and public accounting, giving me a unique perspective on how businesses grow, scale, and sometimes stumble. That experience drives my passion for helping therapists, Realtors, landlords, and other service-based professionals simplify their finances and maximize their tax savings.

At Fortitude, my focus is on proactive tax planning, business entity setup, S Corp analysis and reasonable compensation studies, and scalable bookkeeping systems. I love helping clients not only stay compliant, but also create a strategy that supports their life goals and gives them peace of mind.

Outside of work, I’m a wife, mom, and creative at heart. I love helping others, traveling, crafting, and capturing life’s moments through photography. I also know firsthand the resilience it takes to build a business, and it’s my privilege to walk alongside our clients as they do the same. Fortitude isn’t just our name—it’s how we live, and how we serve.

Darby Calwell
Operations & Co-Owner

Darby has lived many lives before Fortitude—and every one of them adds to the unique perspective he brings to our firm. From serving in the United States Marine Corps to working in customer service, sales, and office management roles across multiple industries, Darby’s career has been built on resilience, adaptability, and a “can-do” attitude.

He spent over a decade with U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services mostly in Salt Lake City, where he managed office operations and supported staff in serving the public. Alongside that role, Darby built his own successful DJ business in the Salt Lake area, entertaining at nightclubs and private events for more than 30 years. His talent and energy earned him recognition as one of the area’s top DJs, being voted “Best DJ” multiple years in a row. Later, he added even more variety to his career path with work in transportation and other industries—each eclectic experience adding to the depth of perspective he brings to Fortitude today.

Today, Darby plays an integral behind-the-scenes role at Fortitude, supporting marketing, operations, and the day-to-day details that keep our clients taken care of. He is a Service-Disabled Veteran who never shies away from hard work and is always looking for ways to make people smile.

Outside of work, Darby is happiest spending time with our family, cooking and perfecting recipes for Darbeque-his creation of BBQ sauces and rubs , golfing, or off-roading in the dunes. He is my true soulmate and the steady support that allows me (and our daughter Dyllan) to shine in our client-facing roles.

Dyllan Bronkowski
Office Manager

Dyllan is truly my right hand here at Fortitude and the cheerful, helpful voice our clients know so well. With a background in customer service, healthcare, real estate, and administrative operations, she brings a unique mix of skills and a passion for keeping things organized and running smoothly. For the past three years, she has grown into an indispensable part of our team, and I regularly hear compliments about how much clients enjoy working with her.

Recently married, Dyllan Calwell is now Dyllan Bronkowski—and she is committed to making tax & accounting her lifelong career. She is currently studying for the Enrolled Agent exam, furthering her expertise so she can continue to serve our clients with excellence. Dyllan thrives in detail-oriented environments, has a natural love for numbers, and is dedicated to helping people make sense of the things that don’t make sense.

Outside of work, she’s competitive and adventurous—whether enjoying the outdoors or her other passions: true crime podcasts, reading, and relaxing with vanilla iced coffee (lots of cream!). Family is central to her life, and she loves spending time with her husband, their two dogs, and a lively crew of reptiles.

Why Our Team Matters

At Fortitude Tax & Accounting, we’re more than a firm — we’re a family business. Darby and I built Fortitude together, and now our daughter Dyllan has joined us to carry it forward. Working side by side as a family has taught us what resilience, trust, and teamwork really mean, and that’s exactly what we bring to our clients.

We know the challenges of building something from the ground up because we’ve lived it ourselves. That’s why we treat our clients like family too — showing up with loyalty, care, and long-term commitment to your success.

We’re proud to call Stansbury Park, Utah home, and while we love serving our local community, our reach extends nationwide. Whether you’re a therapist in private practice, a Realtor growing your real estate business, a landlord managing rental properties, or a service professional running your own company, you’ll always have our family in your corner.

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