Influential Woman · CPA and advisory firm

Lisa Cribben

CPA

Partner, Valuation and Transaction Services, Hawkins Ash CPAs

Green Bay, WI

3Awards received

Certifications · Degrees · Memberships

Degree Bachelor's degree with major in accounting and minor in finance Degree Graduated 1992 Cert CPA Cert Certified Management Accountant Cert Certified in Business Valuation (American Society of Appraisers) Cert Certified in Business Valuation (AICPA) Member American Institute of Certified Public Accountants (AICPA) Member Wisconsin Certified Public Accountants (WICPA)

Her Story

About Lisa

I've had essentially four jobs since I graduated college in 1992. My first job was as an accountant that did a lot of different things in a public utility company, and that gave me a good sense for business. When I had my first child, I asked if I could go part-time, and they said no, so I decided to find a place where I could do what I love and work four days a week. I moved to Wiffle, where I did enjoy the merger and acquisition area and the transactions, M&A transactions and valuations, so I went to Wiffle working four days a week and doing what I loved, essentially full-time but 32 hours a week on average, as I raised my kids for like 10 years. I stayed at Wiffle for about 25 years. Now I'm in my current role for three years at Hawkins Ash, where I'm in charge of the valuation and transaction services. That involves not only managing people, it's client service projects, working with clients on their valuation and transaction services needs, and then being the strategic voice for what the firm should do as far as the consulting services. I enjoy the variety - I like to do something different daily, and when you're in consulting, you get a lot of variety. You get to help people and do a lot of variety of things.

Quick Facts

IndustryCPA and advisory firm
Based inGreen Bay, WI
Specialty Valuation of businesses, Mergers and acquisitions, Consulting services
Volunteers with Board member of Salvation Army in Green Bay, Wisconsin, Previously on YWCA board
- Active in Catholic Church

Her Interview

Ten minutes with Lisa

01What do you attribute your success to?

I would say probably not giving up, and just being strategic. I look at things more in the long run rather than in the short run. When I do things, I do them more thinking about what the long-term impact might be. So I would say this probably has gotten me to where I am, but also probably not giving up.

02What’s the best career advice you’ve ever received?

The best career advice I've ever received is when people would say, do what you love in a job, because then it's not really work, it's part of your life. You know, shoot for the moon, do what you love. I do enjoy what I do. I like helping clients.

03What advice would you give to young women entering your industry?

I would say, trust your gut, and do what you love. It's not all about the money, it's sometimes about doing the things that you're passionate about and you like to do. You can find that in really any job. Sometimes your passion doesn't always have to be in the company, it has to be in how you do it, and finding that passion in life as well. You know, just having a balance between work and life.

04What are the biggest challenges or opportunities in your field right now?

Probably finding the replacement for the baby boomers who are going to be retiring. And also trying to figure out how to interact and utilize artificial intelligence in the best way that continues to keep the high quality of work that we want to maintain.

05What values are most important to you in your work and personal life?

I would say honesty is important to me, just having - I prefer people to be honest with me and having good, candid conversations. Caring about other people in the work world, I think, is important as well. Not just looking at it from your perspective, looking at it from a global perspective, and what's right for not just you, but what's right for the common good and the company as a whole.

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