Her Story
About Dawn
I loved math in high school, which initially led me to pursue electrical engineering. However, I discovered I didn't like that level of math, so I backed up a little bit and went with bookkeeping and accounting instead. That decision 35 years ago shaped my entire career path. My core values as an accountant are integrity, being very personal with the people I work with - I love to get to know my people - and having a high regard for their business. I make it my hobby, really. One of my greatest challenges is marketing and getting to know people, trying to help them with their problems. I work on getting to know how they work and changing how they think to save them money and save them taxes. I overcome these challenges by getting close to the people and learning more about their personal lives as well, so that I can help them with their professional life. Dawn Rowland, who is a CPA, has been very influential as a mentor, especially in this latter part of my career, particularly with making sure that I keep my beliefs and my work-life balance in check. The best advice I've received is to make sure you balance work and life, because work can try to take over, whether you work for yourself or work for somebody else.
Her Interview
Ten minutes with Dawn
01What do you attribute your success to?
God and family have helped me to be successful.
02What’s the best career advice you’ve ever received?
The greatest piece of advice I've received is to make sure you balance work and life. Work can try to take over, whether you work for yourself or work for somebody else. This advice has been reinforced by my mentor, Dawn Bowlin, who is a CPA and has been very influential, especially in this latter part of my career, with making sure that I keep my beliefs and my work-life balance in check.
03What advice would you give to young women entering your industry?
Stay true to yourself. Stay true to your beliefs.
04What are the biggest challenges or opportunities in your field right now?
The greatest challenges within my role are probably marketing, for one, but I would say probably just getting to know people and trying to help them with their problems. Getting to know how they work and changing how they think to save them money and save them taxes. I overcome these challenges by getting close to the people and learning more about their personal lives as well, so that I can help them with their professional life.
05What values are most important to you in your work and personal life?
My core values are integrity, being very personal with the people I work with - I love to get to know my people - and having a high regard for their business. I make it my hobby, kind of thing. I believe strongly in maintaining work-life balance, making sure that work doesn't take over. Outside of work, I enjoy spending time with my family - my husband and son both race cars on asphalt, so we go to the races. I love riding side-by-sides with my kids and going to my grandkids' ball games, whatever they may be, whether it be softball, or volleyball or cheer, or whatever. I have 3 granddaughters - 16, 12, and 8 - so they keep me busy and grounded.
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