Q. Who is/was the most influential person in your career?
I have two, Tom Gard and Andy Armanino. I worked with and learned a lot from Tom at the firm he and I worked with before it merged with Armanino McKenna. After we joined Armanino McKenna, I had the opportunity to work with both Andy and Tom. Given that Andy is the Managing Partner and the best marketer I have ever seen, and Tom is the partner in charge of Audit and likely the most well-rounded auditor I have worked with, it is difficult to imagine two better mentors. The opportunity to have worked and continue to work with two great partners has provided me with firsthand experiences that are hard to come by. These relationships have been invaluable to my career.
Q. Who is/was the most influential person in your life?
My grandmother. She took me in as a child and gave me something for which I’ll always be indebted to her—opportunity. She always led me to believe that I could achieve great things, and she sacrificed to make sure that I had every opportunity to do so.
Beyond the Boardroom
What do you do to relax when you’re not working?
Hang out with my kids, play softball and basketball, and watch some TV.
Favorite vacation:
I have two - Disneyland with my wife and kids and either Las Vegas or Hawaii with my close friends.
All-time top 5 CDs:
- Def Leppard – Hysteria
- Motley Crue – Decade of Decadence
- Aerosmith – Greatest Hits
- Bon Jovi – Slippery When Wet
- Van Halen – 1984
Word that best describes you:
Driven
Quotable quote:
"With hard work, one can achieve great things."
What keeps you up at night?
The well-being and security of my family, and knowing that they depend on me in so many ways. It’s likely to keep me up at night for years to come.
Favorite film(s):
- Weird Science
- Harry Potter Movies
- Wedding Crashers
- Superbad
- Transformers I & II