Carrying a Legacy Forward
The story of Hedden Tax Prep begins with Ellen Hedden — a mother, a mentor, and the heart of our family business. For more than 40 years, Ellen helped families and small businesses in Toms River, NJ with their taxes, carrying forward the bookkeeping tradition her own mother, Rhoda Willenberg, started decades earlier.
Ellen had a gift for numbers, but even more than that, she had a gift for people. She believed every client deserved the same care she would give her own family — and she poured herself into the work with honesty, compassion, and a heart of gold. What began as helping friends at the kitchen table became a thriving family practice built on trust.
“Mom had a knack for numbers and a heart of gold. What started as helping friends and family on the kitchen table grew into the family business it is today through hard work, compassion and a desire to put people first. For her, it wasn’t just about numbers on a page. It was about people, their dreams, their livelihoods and making a difference.” – Nicole Hedden
Today, though Ellen has passed, her spirit lives on in everything we do. We’ve carried her values forward: honesty, understanding, effective communication and always putting people first. We specialize in working with small businesses, property owners and individuals who need our guidance.
Make no mistake, like most firms we are laser focused on the numbers and the best outcome possible. However, when you sit down with us, you’re not just another client, you’re family and we’ll look after you like mom taught us to.
Three Paths, One Legacy
Nicole & Kurt’s Story
As Ellen’s children, Nicole and Kurt grew up in the family business. From watching their grandmother Rhoda calculate numbers by hand, to sitting at the kitchen table as their mom prepared returns late into the night, they learned that tax work was never just about forms — it was about people. Nicole eventually worked alongside her mom for more than 15 years, while Kurt spent years by her side before pursuing real estate. Together, they inherited not only Ellen’s skill with numbers, but also her belief that every client should be treated like family.
Andrea’s Story
Andrea’s path to Hedden Tax Prep came later. Adopted at birth, she reconnected with her birth family in 2019 and discovered not only an aunt and cousins, but also a calling. With 20 years of experience in marketing, technology, and business consulting, Andrea began training under Ellen and Nicole and quickly realized she had both the knack and the passion for tax work. She later launched her own practice in Colorado — Stick Figure Tax Pros — and ultimately merged it with Hedden Tax Prep to strengthen the business and honor Ellen’s legacy.
Our Shared Story
Today, Hedden Tax Prep represents the weaving together of these paths. Nicole, Kurt, and Andrea bring different experiences but share one mission: to carry forward Ellen’s values of honesty, care, and treating every client like family. Each return we prepare is more than just numbers — it’s part of a story that began at a kitchen table and continues today with the same heart and dedication.