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Age: 38
Job title: Partner
At work: I am an audit partner for Cherry Bekaert LLP in the Virginia Beach office serving alongside roughly 80 professionals. I provide audit, accounting and business advisory guidance to growing middle-market clients in the Hampton Roads area on diverse accounting and financial reporting matters.
Home and family: I grew up in Virginia Beach and attended Tallwood High School and now reside in the Great Neck area of Virginia Beach with my wife, Ashley, two boys, Bryce (6) and Blake (2), and our dog, Eeyore.
Volunteer activities: I’ve had the great honor of serving as a Triton as part of Court 48 for the Virginia Beach Neptune Festival, where we serve as ambassadors for the annual Neptune Festival. I’ve also been involved with local organizations, such as Virginia Beach Vision and Volunteer Hampton Roads. I have attended the Polar Plunge, where the Cherry Bekaert team annually raises money to support the Special Olympics. Nationally, I am a member of the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants and the Virginia Society of Certified Public Accountants.
Inside Business
Motivating factor: My goal has always been to build upon the great attributes my parents and grandparents have instilled in me and to pass them along to my boys as they grow.
Advice to young people: Set goals, achieve and then go bigger.
Professional goal in five years: I hope to continue my current trajectory in the business world while also becoming a more involved member of Hampton Roads.
The one thing I’d change about Hampton Roads: I’d like to see the collaboration between the seven cities continue to improve. I think we are on the right track and the future is bright for the area if we continue to work together as a collective region.
Region’s biggest asset: The Port of Virginia is the third largest port on the East Coast by container volume and will soon have the advantage of the deepest and widest ports. The future is bright for the Hampton Roads region as we continue to grow with the Port of Virginia. I am here because of my dad working in the industry and have had the opportunity to see firsthand how amazing this asset is for the region and the state of Virginia.
Downtime: Spending time with my family, enjoying all that Hampton Roads has to offer and playing golf.
What really gets under my skin: When people aren’t genuine.