Step into the world of Benay Enterprises, your go-to ally for top-notch accounting and bookkeeping services, right here in the heart of Maine. Nestled in two quaint coastal towns, we’re not your run-of-the-mill number crunchers; we’re the financial architects crafting tailored solutions for your success. We transcend the ordinary bookkeeping experience, offering a symphony of financial solutions to elevate your enterprise. Benay is on a mission: to liberate you from your fiscal tangles, letting you steer your ship towards prosperity. Unwind, let us handle the financials, and watch your venture set sail onto the seas of triumph.
Welcome to the Benay experience – where your financial success meets its cheerleader!
I think it’s really important that Merrilee works so closely and with other cooperative spaces in Portland. She really understands our specific needs and also the Maine culture. Dawn has always approached our business as more than just numbers and stats, but in a way that has been kind and understanding and innovative to match the creative needs of our very creative and unique business.
Benay not only handles my books as bookkeepers, but they also are consultants and confidants. They handle my accounts payable and receivable and they’ve made my life as a business owner incredibly easy.
Benay has been excellent to work with.
We just love that they really have a local presence.
I feel like we’re a team, even though they’re not here every day, Benay makes my job easier because I don’t have to worry that the bills aren’t getting paid.
Benay clears a path for us to focus on the most important things. Benay Enterprises helps my world go round.
With Benay’s help, I’m able to focus on what I love; connecting people in Portland with local restaurants and retailers and getting their favorite food and drinks delivered.
Chief Executive Officer
Dawn became the president of Benay Enterprises, Inc. in 2010, upon the retirement of her business partner and father, Neil Reshen, founder of Benay.
Dawn Reshen-Doty has been managing businesses for over 25 years and during that time has handled the financial affairs of over a dozen corporations, publishing houses, and individuals. Ms. Reshen-Doty joined Benay in 1990, after working several years with the Travelers Relocation Division of General Electric as a relocation specialist for the Asian business community. Prior to that, she worked for the international real estate firm of Julian Studley as Assistant Manager of their Asian Division. She previously managed the New York office of Fujitsu, Ltd.
Dawn became the president of Benay Enterprises, Inc. in 2010 upon the retirement of her business partner and father, Neil Reshen, founder of Benay. She is also the founding partner and publisher of For Beginners, LLC, publisher of the For Beginners series, a graphic non-fiction book line.
Prior to 1985, Ms. Reshen-Doty lived in Japan and worked for the Japanese Ministry of Education as a grammar school teacher, where she was able to expand her knowledge of Japan and the Japanese language.
She holds a BS in Foreign Service from Georgetown University’s School of Foreign Service and was a White House intern to Thomas Beard, Special Assistant to President Jimmy Carter.
Chief Operating Officer
Newly promoted from the role of Director of Business Development, Merrilee is also Editorial Director at our publishing company For Beginners LLC. A resident of Gorham, Merrilee runs our Portland office.
Merrilee Warholak began her career as Publicity Director for a Danbury, CT-area book publisher. While finishing her English degree at Western CT State University, she joined Benay Enterprises as an intern, which helped her develop a strong knowledge base of both business and publishing.
Over the years, Merrilee has helped Benay expand in many directions as Director of Client Relations—incorporating new companies; royalty preparation for Benay’s publishing clients; negotiating author/publisher contracts; and licensing foreign translation rights including numerous New York Times bestsellers.
While continuing to assist in managing the daily operations of Benay, Merrilee helped Benay’s reach extend into the world of publishing as Editorial Director at For Beginners LLC (formerly Writers and Readers Publishing). Merrilee’s passion for the written word found its realization in overseeing the For Beginners’ publishing process in its entirety.
Merrilee achieved a lifelong dream to live in Maine when she moved to beautiful Gorham with her husband, son, dog, and now, chickens. She is now the Chief Operating Officer of Benay, and runs the Portland branch. In her spare time, she volunteers, hikes, swims, skis – anything to enjoy the beautiful outdoor wonders of Maine.