Her Story
About Tina
Tina Shepherd founded True Horizon Advisory, LLC, a financial consulting and advisory firm based in Canby, Oregon, after more than 25 years of doing the real work of corporate finance, accounting, and operations — not just observing it from the outside. She helps business owners understand their numbers, strengthen their financial foundation, and make decisions with confidence instead of guesswork. Her work spans financial statement compilation, financial analysis and reporting, bookkeeping, KPI dashboards, financial integrity assessments, budgeting, cash flow management, and operational finance.
Tina's interest in accounting started in high school and carried her through community college and Portland State University, into a career that's taken her deep into construction, manufacturing, and service businesses. Along the way, she's taken on progressively broader roles in accounting, finance, operations, and human resources — including Finance Manager at High Bar Brands and accounting and HR roles at Premier Manufacturing Company, where she built a real understanding of financial operations, cost analysis, reporting, and the way business processes actually work day to day.
A turning point came during a stretch with a startup, where mentors pushed her to see her own potential and taught her how to take feedback and grow from it — lessons she still carries into how she works with clients today. After stepping away from the corporate world to care for her father, Tina returned to her passion for finance and launched True Horizon Advisory in 2026. Now, she's focused on giving business owners clear, practical financial insight — working alongside business owners and the CPAs and fractional CFOs already in their corner, not around them.
Tina's approach is grounded in integrity, honesty, humility, and a genuine commitment to continuous learning. She believes accurate numbers are only the starting point — real financial clarity comes from understanding what those numbers actually mean, and how they can guide better decisions. She's also passionate about building a positive work culture and creating mentorship opportunities for professionals coming up in the field, passing along the lessons that shaped her own path.
Outside of work, Tina spends her time outdoors — fishing, taking road trips, and gardening with her husband and their dog (child) Roscoe "The Rascal," a "mini" Australian Shepherd with a decidedly "maxi" personality.
Her Interview
Ten minutes with Tina
01What do you attribute your success to?
I attribute my success to the CFOs and CPAs who recognized potential in me that I didn't yet see in myself, and to the business owners and managers who gave me a seat at the table across every side of a growing business — not just finance. A business's success is the sum of all its parts, and finance is simply how you measure whether each part is actually working. The personal and professional investment my mentors made in me taught me to value myself, my skills, my time, and my family. Everything in balance.
02What’s the best career advice you’ve ever received?
The best career advice I ever received came from one of my mentors when I was young and still developing professionally. At the time, I was very sensitive to constructive criticism, and he told me, "Tina, I know your potential, and I will step on your feelings to help you see it." That advice had a lasting impact on me and taught me the importance of humility, emotional maturity, and being open to feedback. I think when we're young, we forget that we don't know what we don't know — and it's easy to take constructive criticism personally instead of seeing it for what it is: a means to growth. I learned that I cannot allow my emotions to dictate how I respond to challenges or criticism; instead, I need to remain open-minded, listen, learn, and continuously strive to grow both personally and professionally.
03What advice would you give to young women entering your industry?
My advice to young women entering the industry is to stand confidently in who you are as a person, trust your knowledge and abilities, and be dutiful about keeping a healthy work/life balance. Keep an open mind, seek out mentors who can challenge and support you, and remain willing to learn from those around you. Be clear about where you want to go and what you want to accomplish, but hold that vision loosely enough to let it evolve — the goal isn't to follow a fixed plan, it's to keep moving toward a horizon that shifts as you grow, both personally and professionally. Most importantly, lead with integrity and honesty, and never compromise your values along the way.
04What are the biggest challenges or opportunities in your field right now?
One of the biggest challenges for me personally is stepping outside of my comfort zone and putting myself out there. Although I am naturally an introvert, my work often requires me to confidently communicate my value, build relationships, and promote what I bring to the table. I have learned that embracing this challenge is also an opportunity for growth, pushing me to become more confident, strengthen my communication skills, and continue developing both personally and professionally.
05What values are most important to you in your work and personal life?
Integrity and honesty are the two values that matter most to me, both personally and professionally. I believe in being truthful, dependable, and consistent in my words and actions, while treating others with respect and fairness. These principles guide how I build relationships, make decisions, and approach my work, and they are values I strive to uphold in every aspect of my life.
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