Meet the ABS Team
Erin Larson
FOUNDER + CEO
My love of small business and the ability to have a direct impact on the success of a company led me to start my own consulting firm specializing in service to professional services, retail, and wellness-based business owners. Bringing my 25 years of experience in accounting and financial management roles across a broad range of industries, my greatest joy as a business owner is helping you succeed in your business.
- I hold a Master of Science in Accountancy from Bentley University in Waltham, Massachusetts, and a Bachelor of Science in Business Administration from the University of Southern Maine in Portland.
- I am a Certified Management Accountant (CMA).
- While I started my career working in finance for a Fortune 500 semiconductor manufacturing company, and I credit that experience as the foundation for my future work, I was drawn to working in a small business setting where I could have a seat at the table. My experience working with small businesses now spans 20 years and well over a dozen industries. I have held positions including financial analyst, controller, finance manager, CFO, and consulting manager.
- Outside of ABS, I am passionate about animal rescue (“Dog” is my love language), traveling, and warm weather.
- Fun Fact: I’ve always been a businessperson at heart. As a child my play-of-choice was a retail store. I gathered items from our house, set them up in the basement, and sold them to imaginary customers. I was thrilled when, at age 11, I received an NCR cash register for Christmas. As a high school senior, I was interviewed by the local newspaper for their “A Day in the Life” column and asked what I wanted my career to be. My response was “CEO.”
Maura Malia
CONSULTANT
I am passionate about helping other business owners understand their businesses and use their financial information to make better business decisions. I know salon, spa, wellness, and fitness industries from multiple aspects of working as a practitioner, running the operations, managing the financials, and everything in between.
- I hold a Bachelor of Arts degree in Biology from the University of Southern Maine in Portland.
- I am a Licensed Massage Therapist and I hold various certifications in the wellness industry, including NASM Certified Personal Trainer, UESCA Running and Triathlon Coach, IIN Health Coach. I also hold a Bookkeeper Specialist Certification.
- I owned and operated a day spa for 16 years. After selling my spa, I became a Certified Strategies Coach and coached salons and spas with Strategies Salon and Spa Coaching & Education.
- I love running, live music, dogs, being in community, and spending time with family and friends.
- Fun Fact: I have seen the Dave Matthews Band live over 75 times and counting.
Paul Andrews
COO
My role at Align Business Services is to make the staff efficient and effective, allowing them to serve our clients better. I've worked in the financial services industry for publicly traded companies for over 27 years, with areas of excellence in human resources, information technology, customer experience, and process improvement. I enjoy improving work processes, reducing expenses, and improving the customer experience.
- From 1980 to 1986, I worked as the executive assistant for a member of Congress in Washington, D.C. After retiring from my career, I also worked as the Executive Director of a private non-profit high school in Maine that helps students at risk of not finishing their high school education.
- I am a native of Maine. I graduated from the University of Maine at Orono with a B.A. in Political Science.
- In my free time, I enjoy trying new recipes, entertaining my family and friends, traveling, reading, gardening, and volunteering in the community.
- Fun Fact: I’ve been to the top of the dome of the U.S. Capitol, where the Statue of Freedom sits.
WE’RE CREATIVE
WE’RE PASSIONATE