Corporate Partner since 2002
Q: Your NAWBO SEVA Committee and Board Positions:
A: Currently Corporate Partner Board Advisor. Previously CEDC, Finance, Special Events.
Q: Thank you for being an active partner and advocate for NAWBO SEVA. Can you tell our readers why you are so passionate about the organization?
A: I believe that, for most people, to dream the big dream and believe it is achievable, they need to see someone they can relate to already achieving some form of it. For me, that meant I needed to see Women leading active roles in running and owning their own businesses. While I admire those who chose the home-based business route to success, my career choices were such that I knew I'd be working outside of the home. So I knew the issues would be different and I needed to see others balancing work/life/home and family with some sort of success. I didn't have anyone in my family to model this for me, and the women partners that were at our firm had all come to their careers and success through a less than traditional path. NAWBO gave me the opportunity to see other women who had achieved what I want to achieve. As members of NAWBO, we have a great opportunity to encourage the entrepreneurial spirit in all women. We need to demonstrate that sometimes it's okay to be a little bit selfish. By that, I mean to demonstrate that when we achieve our personal dreams, we may be able to take better care of our children, our spouses or our parents, but we won't know unless we try.
Q: Based on your experience, what do you see as the most important thing a member or corporate partner can do to grow with NAWBO SEVA?
A: I believe there are actually two things. The first is to actively participate. If a member or corporate partner merely pays the annual dues, they will find the relationship unsatisfying. However, if they actively participate, they will develop new opportunities for both the chapter and their own personal development.
The second thing, which is particularly important for corporate partners, is to be realistic in your expectations. Most corporate partners have a return on investment mentality. This turns into a simple calculation of new and existing clients that are members, and their related revenues vs. cost to participate. However, I believe if you look at it in a development sense, the payoff is much more than the dollars and cents. By continuing to participate in NAWBO, Goodman has been fortunate enough to pick-up some clients, but more importantly, we have assisted in the development of businesses that may not be clients now, but may be in the future. In addition, our corporate partner membership has assisted in my personal development, evidenced by my recent admission to partner.
Q: Can you describe the key business services and solutions Goodman & Company provides?
A: We provide a vast array of services. In the traditional CPA firm arena, we offer accounting, financial statements, tax return, IRS audit support, bookkeeping, payroll, retirement plans and similar services. However, we are really so much more than just a CPA firm. We help businesses with various tax credit programs; we can assist with hiring accounting and executive level personnel; we can assist with outplacement; we have consultants that help with business planning; we offer internal audit services for larger corporations; we have a software support division that can help with software selection and implementation; we have experts in business valuation and litigation support - we offer a truly diverse field of services.
Q: In a few sentences, what makes Goodman & Company services unique?
A: While we are a large firm, each office operates as independently as possible. This means that we can service the clients in the local market, regardless of their size. We actively encourage our partners to act as a team leader/point of contact and bring in the field experts as necessary. This provides for continuity of relationships to our clients, while still providing them with the vast area of services that are offered by the entire firm. This also allows us to become specialists in a particular industry or service. I like to say that I enjoy the complexities of my piece of the pie inside and out, but I don't need to eat the whole pie, I just need to know who is in charge of that piece of pie.
Q: Which city in Hampton Roads do you call home?
A: I live in Chesapeake (Western Branch), but I spent the first 38 years of my live in Virginia Beach. For the most part, I am a regionalist and Hampton Roads is home.
Q: What do you like to do when you're not working?
A: Cook, watch TV, play piano
Q: The last really great book you read that you'd like to recommend to NAWBO SEVA members and partners?
A: Winning Every Day: A Game plan for Success by Lou Holtz. I know, I know, an inspirational book by a sports figure! Why? Keep in mind that I grew up with 2 brothers and a father that were obsessed by football. I kind of like the game and read it. Anyway, it really is a good inspirational book that describes how his principles can be applied in many different circumstances.
Q: Someone you admire and why?
A: My Grandmother, Rachael England Stansbury Christiansen (deceased). Granny was a very opinionated woman that didn't let anything stop her. Her father died when she was young and she and her mother basically lived off the kindness of other family members. She left home, became a nurse and took care of herself at a time and place when women were lucky to graduate high school and were expected to marry young. Becoming a professional was NOT the norm. She married late in life (considering she was born in 1912). When she married my grandfather, he was a widow with 4 kids. She helped him raise his children. She had her first and only child when she was 30, again late in life for that era. She became a widow in 1963 and was widowed longer than she was married. But again, she never felt sorry for herself and never felt like she had to change who she was. I miss her dearly, but I am grateful for the love and support and for the example she set.