Blazing a Trail
Current position and employer: Retired CEO of the New Jersey Society of Certified Public Accountants
Degree and Major: B.S. Accounting, M.B.A.
Affinity or Alliance: Black and Latinx Alumni Network for Community and Equity (BALANCE)
How did your Lehigh experience inform your career?
I came to Lehigh to major in engineering but quickly realized it wasn’t for me. I moved over to the College of Business and had a great experience during my time there, both as an undergraduate and as a graduate student.
What was the most challenging thing you’ve faced since graduating?
Going into the workplace. When I started out working for Price Waterhouse [now PricewaterhouseCoopers], there were only a couple of folks of color there. I was concerned about promotion opportunities. But I did a good job and made myself known to senior management, and it all worked out. It was also a challenge becoming the first person of color to head up the New Jersey Society of CPAs. After 23 years in that position, I think I did pretty well.
What excites you right now?
Since retiring earlier this year, I’ve been thinking a lot about how we can promote the accounting profession and encourage young people to become CPAs, especially people of color. The number has flatlined since 1968 to only about 3% people of color. With the huge amount of growth in minority-owned businesses, it would be great if the number of CPAs of color kept pace with that.
What advice would you give current Lehigh students?
First, work hard, because college is difficult — it’s a big stepping stone from high school, even if you’re a straight-A student. Second, connect with people. I’ll forever be in debt to a professor who helped me map out my career. Lehigh has a great student-teacher ratio, so there’s opportunity to connect.
What keeps you connected to Lehigh?
I’ve really enjoyed being involved on the committee to find President Helble and both as a trustee and trustee emeritus. I’ve hosted some events with BALANCE and worked with the dean of the College of Business. I’d like to see us do a better job of recruiting minority faculty.