Bob was born and raised in Spokane, Washington and attended
Gonzaga Preparatory High School from 1960 through 1964. He
then moved to Seattle and attended the University of Washington
from 1964 through 1968, receiving his Bachelor of Arts degree in
Business Administration (Accounting concentration) in 1968.
After a tour with the U.S. Army, he returned to Spokane in 1970
as a staff accountant in his father's accounting firm, Batty &
Forsgren, C.P.A.'s. He sat for and passed the C.P.A. exam (with
the second highest grade in the State of Washington), in
November of 1970 and became a partner in the firm in 1972.
While attending to normal duties of his position, Bob attended
Gonzaga University and received an M.B.A. degree in 1978. More
recently, he obtained the AICPA's P.F.S. (Personal Financial
Specialist) designation in 1991.
Bob is a past member of the WSCPA's Estate Planning
Committee and was Co-founder and the First Chairman of the
WSCPA's Personal Financial Planning Committee. Bob was a
Director, Officer and President of the Spokane Chapter of the
WSCPA's and received the Chapter's first "Exceptional Chapter
Development" award in recognition of his part in establishing a
local Chapter committee structure for the Spokane Chapter.
Bob is past president of the Spokane Estate Planning Council
(having served previously as Vice-President, Secretary and
Director) and a past Trustee of the Spokane Area Chamber of
Commerce. He is a former member of the AICPA PFP Division's
Executive Committee and is a former Chairman of its Practice
Subcommittee. In January of 2002, he received the AICPS's PFP Division's "Distinguished Service Award" recognizing his valuable participation in the division's activities over 15 plus years.
Bob is currently President and Managing Shareholder of Batty,
Erlandsen & Associates, P.S. - the successor entity to Batty &
Forsgren, C.P.A.'s. Batty, Erlandsen & Associates, P.S. serves
clients from offices in Spokane, Washington. Bob specializes in
personal financial planning with an emphasis in tax and estate
planning. Bob is partner in charge of services for a number of
major Spokane area closely held businesses and provides
accounting and consulting services for them in that capacity.
Bob is married, enjoys the company of his wife, Sharon, and
three children. He is an avid (though not always effective), hunter,
fisherman and antique car enthusiast.
