|
|
|
       
|
 Navigator of the Profession – Nancy Finegood
Nancy told us at Leaders’ Edge that people are always asking the question, “You left paradise for Michigan?” Her answer: “I tell them that Michigan is just another type of paradise. You just have to look a little harder to find it.” Q. What made you decide to go into the accounting profession? I was working on my MBA with a concentration in human resources while I was working as a bank teller. It was a small bank and the treasurer noticed that I had an inclination and interest in accounting (I could unravel any transaction and really understood a debit from a credit!). She offered me half-time work in her department while still working half-time as a teller. Soon after, I changed my major to finance and accounting. When I left that bank, I was the assistant treasurer. Q. For people that are not familiar with the Michigan Historic Preservation Network, could you tell us a little bit about it? MHPN is a statewide non-profit organization that advocates for our historic places to contribute to our economic vitality, sense of place and connection to our past. Since our founding in 1981, we have educated communities on the critical role of preservation in economic development, assisted in the creation of dozens of local historic districts, led the charge to establish a state rehabilitation tax credit program, provided technical training for building trades and created a network for preservationists to exchange ideas. Our preservation services include field services, coaching, workshops and technical information as well as small grant awards through the Michigan Preservation Fund. Q. How would you describe a typical day on the job? No day is typical. That is one of the reasons I love my job so much! My day starts at 5:45 a.m. when I check my work email from home. My day at the office starts at 7:30 a.m., (after four cups of coffee) when I spend a few minutes going over the day’s agenda with my assistant and checking emails again. I often get calls from property owners asking if there are grants available to restore their properties. I sit in on MHPN committee meetings from fundraising to education to historic resource council (sometimes more than one in a day). I meet with members of the various coalitions that we are members of. I advocate at the Capitol for historic tax credits. I research and write grant proposals. I check my emails again. I write a speech or prepare a presentation. In the evening, I attend a presentation or a fundraiser. I check my email at home. I crash!! Q. What makes your job great? I have the opportunity to travel around the entire state to meet people who are passionate about saving historic resources like bridges, schools, churches, homes and landscapes. Also, I have an amazing, inspirational, dedicated staff that work really hard and make me look really good. My board of directors allows me the flexibility to make independent decisions and start new, innovative programs. Q. Explain any obstacles you had to overcome to get to where you are today. My biggest obstacle was time. It took me 10 years to complete my MBA, while I worked full time and raised two sons. Then it took me another two years of additional accounting courses to be able to sit for the CPA exam. Q. What are your major professional accomplishments? I have worked in the non-profit arena for almost 15 years and consider myself a “change agent.” So often, non-profits are run by professionals in the field, but without any administrative or financial experience. As executive director of the St. Croix Landmarks Society, the island-wide preservation organization, I ran three historic museums, a library and archives, and an education program. When I arrived there, they were borrowing from their endowment every month for payroll. When I left three years later, they were paying back their endowment. I have been the executive director of the Michigan Historic Preservation Network for the past nine years. In that time, staff has grown from one to six and our budget has nearly quadrupled. I have obtained funding to hire two MHPN shared field representatives, covering the entire state of Michigan. I have worked in cooperation with the National Trust to establish the first Preservation Services Fund grant program for the State of Michigan. In honor of my accomplishments at MHPN, I was awarded an Honorary Affiliate Membership by the American Institute of Architects Michigan. MHPN also received the annual Organizational Excellence Award from the National Trust for Historic Preservation. Q. What interests or activities are you involved in outside of work? I am training to run a 5K in June. I used to run, but broke my foot in five places (ouch) four years ago and I have just started training again. I also recently started volunteering for Ele’s Place – A Healing Center for Grieving Children. Ele’s Place works with children (and their parents and grandparents) to help them through the grieving process. I took my grandson there when he was three. They support and comfort children without asking for anything from their families in return. Q. What advice would you have for those considering entering the accounting profession? Don’t give up! I actually dropped my first accounting class at Wayne State University. It took an unlikely mentor to help me understand the principles of accounting and encourage me to continue. Accounting simply makes sense. Everything has to balance. Q. Are you reading any books right now?
A rather eclectic variety of music…Ray Charles, Allison Krauss, Jack Johnson, show tunes, Mariah Carey, Beth Nielsen Chapman and the Beatles. Q. Any guilty pleasures?
I can’t imagine doing anything else. I guess that I would be volunteering full time and traveling through my bucket list in my spare time. My list is quite expansive: Wyoming, Montana, Ecuador, Peru, Australia, Africa, Israel (again), Greece (one more time to different islands). Top
|
 |
  |
||||||||||||||||||
|
| PO Box 5068 Troy, MI 48007-5068 Phone: 248.267.3700 Fax: 248.267.3737 E-mail: macpa@michcpa.org | |
