As an outdoor enthusiast, this Client Spotlight is near and dear to my heart. I am delighted to introduce to you Mera Cardenas of Canalway Partners. If you’ve ever had the pleasure of biking or walking the Towpath Trail that weaves throughout Cleveland, you can thank Canalway Partners as they are the chief fundraiser for the Towpath Trail in Cleveland and Cuyahoga County. They take the lead in strategic decision making, grant writing, and community outreach. Canalway Partners also hosts many events throughout the year that encourage people to spend time outdoors exploring our great city. The board and staff of Canalway Partners recently celebrated the opening of a new section of the Towpath Trail in the Tremont neighborhood. (See photo below.)
Tell me more about your business: Canalway Partners is a non-profit cultural heritage organization. We are one of the founding organizations for the Ohio & Erie Canalway National Heritage Area. As such, we tell the stories of how the Canal, and specifically Cleveland, contributed to the growth of the nation. We celebrate our industrial heritage and the natural systems that connect us to Cuyahoga Valley National Park and communities along the Towpath Trail. We do that through a variety of projects like the Towpath Trail & Canal Basin Park, programs such as an annual community cleanup called RiverSweep, and a series of running and cycling events.
What is your biggest challenge? Being a small non-profit has many bugs and features. You get to work on a lot of different projects… but then you also have to work on a lot of different projects. We’re very nimble and our small staff and board have to be generalists to get everything done to fulfill our mission.
What led you to call BudgetEase? What do you find helpful about having someone else to do your bookkeeping? Since we have a generalist mindset, we really need a specialist like BudgetEase. As the executive director, I rely on your team to not only handle the regular bookkeeping tasks but also to make sure we’re following best practices to recognize revenue and file our grant reports. 
We are always excited to meet new clients. If you're looking for a bookkeeping service or help with your QuickBooks, please call!
