About Edie

Edie is currently a Senior Partner in the Certified Public Accounting firm of Baylis & Company PA,  in Lakeland, Florida. She focuses her professional practice in financial accounting and auditing engagements, as well as complex estate and trust planning.

She was raised in Lakeland, Florida, attended Lakeland Senior High and is a graduate of Florida Southern College, where she received her degree in Accounting and was designated the Most Outstanding Accounting Major in her senior year.  After her graduation from FSC, Edie worked for an international accounting firm, starting as the first female in the Tampa office.  In 1980, she founded her firm and has continued as key partner since that time.

Edie has been active in civic and community affairs most of her life, devoting substantial volunteer time to many charitable organizations, at the local, regional and national levels.  She has served as the Treasurer of the National Board of Directors of Campfire, Inc, Chairman of the Board of the United Way of Central Florida, President of the Polk County Chapter of the FICPA, President of the Leadership Lakeland Alumni Association, President of the Polk County Estate Planning Council and in a leadership capacity in many other charitable and not-for-profit organizations.

Edie also served as a Governmental Appointee to the Regulatory Council of Community Association Managers (of Florida).  She has also been involved in politics at the county level, narrowly being defeated for a seat on the Polk County School Board in 1996, running as a Republican.  In 2005, Edie made a successful run for the Lakeland City Commission and is currently serving a four year term.  Edie has worked in a number of local political campaigns as a volunteer and/or Treasurer and has served as the President of the Polk County League of Women Voters.

Edie is married to Stephen W. Baylis who is also a CPA and one of her partners in the Firm. Edie has one son, Todd, a computer software engineering graduate of Florida State University. Todd returned to Lakeland after graduation and runs Cipher Integrations, Inc. and QGiv, Inc.

Professional Experience

Senior Partner at Baylis & Company PA CPAs
Internal Audit - Lakeland Regional Medical Center
International Accounting Firm

Community Involvement

Lakeland City Commissioner
Polk County Transportation Planning Organization
Leadership Lakeland Alumni, Past Chair
United Way of Central Florida, Past Chair
Lakeland Vision Steering Committee
Camp Fire USA Sunshine Council, Past Chair
Camp Fire USA National Board, Past Treasurer
League of Women Voters, Past President
LRMC Foundation Board, Past Chair
Children’s Home Society, Past Treasurer
Dixieland PTA, LHS Band Parents
Lakeland Chamber, Past Vice Chair
Polk Businesses for World Class Education, Past Vice Chair
Women in Business Council
Leadership Lakeland Class IV

Professional Activities

Estate Planning Council of Polk County, Past President
American Institute of Certified Public Accountants
Florida Institute of CPAs, Past Chapter President
Phi Chi Theta Women’s Business Honorary
Florida Regulatory Council of Community Association Managers

Professional Accounting Experience

City Governments/Special Districts
County Governments and Public Utilities
Charitable and Religious Organizations
Hospitals, Physicians, Dentists and Veterinarians
Colleges and Charter Schools
Citrus Cooperatives and Agriculture
Construction Contractors

Education

Florida Southern College
BA Accounting – Most Outstanding Accounting Major
Licensed Certified Public Accountant – Florida
Certified Financial Planner â„¢