Mark Tanaka: Tax Partner

markt-profile

Q and A

Q. Describe your most memorable Armanino moment.
My most memorable moment was when I first walked into the office and realized that the group of people with whom I worked with were close friends. I really think we are accomplishing what we set out to do – servicing clients well and not getting caught up in the bureaucracy. Most of us came to Armanino for a reason. We wanted to accomplish great things in an ideal working environment. So my moment was walking through the office and seeing my colleagues and friends. That was a great moment.

Q. What’s your proudest moment?
My proudest moment was recently receiving my son – and holding him for the first time. My next proudest moments were seeing my first 10K footnote and being made partner.

Q. Make a prediction; describe your vision of the business future.
My prediction is that we’re going to live in controlled chaos. In the future, there will be an even greater increase of information available. We’ll have to manage and break down that information into useful pieces. We are currently in a period of time where we’re providing almost too much information. We’re going through an exhaustive level of detail to provide something that may or may not add any true value.

Q. Who is (or was) the most influential person in your business?
Her name is Marilyn Gagen, one of the partners in Hawaii who really took me under her wing and spent time to not only train me but also push me to go beyond what I thought I could really accomplish. She used to yell at me all them time but because she expected so much, it really pushed me to excel.

Q. If you could pass on a nugget of wisdom to aspiring accountants, what would that be?
Be ready for change. Take challenges as opportunities to learn. We are all working in a fluid and dynamic area that is exciting and challenging but at the same time it’s always changing.

Beyond the Boardroom

What do you do to relax when you’re not working?
Nowadays, I spend most of my time with my family (my wife and son), reading stories and taking walks.

Deserted island wish list:
I’d have to say my family, a good book, a can of SPAM and satellite television.

Favorite vacation:
My favorite vacation would be back home in Hawaii.

Quotable quote:
“To know that one life has breathed easier because of you is what it means to succeed.”

What are your hobbies?
Reading books to my son. Reading has always been a hobby, but now with my son it is more of a Dr. Seuss type of thing. Playing sports; golfing specifically.

What book(s) are you currently reading?
Clive Cussler – Treasure of Khan