August 22, 2024
WHERE WERE YOU BORN / RAISED
I was born in Fayetteville, NC. Both of my parents served in the Army at Fort Bragg – my Dad served as a physician (a Captain) and my Mom was a nurse. My parents, along with their four young kids, subsequently moved to CA in the mid-1950’s so that my Dad could to start his medical practice there (he always regretted not having moved to San Diego instead!)
EDUCATION
I graduated with a BS in Accounting from Cal State Northridge in 1974. The job market was extremely tight at that time, so I started working on my Master’s Degree, and got within three units of obtaining my MS when I was offered a job at a CPA firm. Since I had a job, I never went back and completed the one remaining class needed for the MS degree!
MILITARY SERVICE
None.
CAREER
My wife says that I’m a comedian and am available for hire! But unfortunately, that won’t pay our bills!
But actually, I was hired at a large local CPA firm in Beverly Hills (Braverman Codron & Co.) in 1975, became a Tax Partner in 1986 and remained there until year 2000. Back then the Partners wore many “hats”, so I also became certified as a business valuation specialist and headed both that and our litigation departments, co-managed our financial reporting department and also served as our technology partner.
Our firm subsequently merged in year 2000 with the 10th largest CPA firm in the country (Moss Adams) and I served as a Tax and Business Valuation Partner in their West L.A. office through 2003, at which time I decided to leave (after so many years at a local firm, I found the large firm to be much too corporate there for my liking) and started my own practice as a sole-practitioner. I’ve had my own firm since then (my only employees have been my dogs!), but after nearly 50 years of practicing, my dogs and I decided that it was about time to retire, so I’ve only got a small handful of clients remaining.
HOW DID YOU END UP ON THE CENTRAL COAST
My wife (Stephanie) and I were married in 1986 and adopted two baby girls (Lindsay and Amy). After they graduated and we became empty-nesters, we decided that we’d had enough of Los Angeles and started looking at smaller towns in which to retire. I discovered SLO while taking my daughter to look at colleges, and decided that it was a wonderful place to live. My wife didn’t need a whole lot of convincing! So, we bought a home here in 2015 (after experiencing unexpected SLO home sticker shock!), sold our home in Studio City, and made the move up here the following year.
HOBBIES / INTERESTS
I’ve always enjoyed playing and watching team sports (especially basketball and baseball), but bad knees and a bad back now limit my participation in those, and other, activities. However, I do enjoy playing various sports with my teenage granddaughter whenever possible. I’m also a diehard Dodger, Clippers, Rams, and Chargers fan. I also enjoy carpentry (I built a greenhouse for my wife’s succulent collection), and working in the garden. In addition I thoroughly enjoy the peacefulness of kayaking (I’m now the proud owner of three kayaks…my wife thinks I’m nuts!) Lastly, I recently purchased a couple of ukeleles and am in the process of teaching myself how to play.
NOTABLE ACCOMPLISHMENTS
This tall, skinny guy who couldn’t jump was selected as Athlete of the Year in my senior year in high school (I guess was considered to be much taller back then!) I suppose that another accomplishment is not yet having drowned while solo kayaking!
FAMILY
My wife and I actually were in the same grades at the same middle and high schools, but barely know that the other existed. But many years later Stephanie was hired as a CPA at my first accounting firm, one thing led to another, and we were married in 1986. We purchased a home in Studio City where we raised our two daughters (Lindsay and Amy). We also have an amazing teenage granddaughter (Akira). We’ve had numerous dogs over the years (golden retrievers and labradors), and presently have a very special labrador named Phoebe who is a huge part of our lives and my very best bud.