Forward Janesville - TheReport - Fourth Quarter 2018

I can’t say I have any true regrets, but knowing what I know now perhaps I would have learned to golf earlier. Or better. It’s not a myth—a lot of business happens on the golf course! Our family has a lot of traditions. Some are what you might expect, others might surprise. For example, my daughter and I are Black Friday masters. It’s serious. We prepare for weeks. We have a binder, a schedule. We dress up in matching outfits. Crazy matching outfits. Could we buy most of what we get the week before or after? Probably. But it’s great bonding time, so much fun. HOW DID I GET HERE? s u c c e s s • c h a l l e n g e s • l i f e l e s s o n s • e d u c a t i o n • c a r e e r • f a m i l y • i n s p i r a t i o n s Everyone is different; respect their differences. As a woman, I know we often face different challenges—working around childcare, etc.—but no matter the difference, all it takes is respect and perhaps a little creativity to make a workplace work for everyone. If we embrace the differences, we will succeed at helping each other become the best we can be, which is a win-win for all. 1 2 3 People don’t believe it when they hear I have been with the same firm my entire career. It started in high school when I took an accounting class and then visited Virchow Krause as part of a career day. The culture of the office was so welcoming. I had never considered public accounting as a career until then. When I first got involved in the community, I gravitated toward some of our community’s wonderful non-profits, like United Way and JPAC. A few years ago I joined the Forward Janesville Board to get more involved in economic development. I had no idea how much they were involved with. Today, they are focused on so many key workforce and development efforts. It’s what will keep us moving forward, building a community that offers things to attract and retain residents and employees. So much has already happened, and so much is on the near horizon. It’s a very exciting time. Because I am an accountant, people sometimes assume certain things— like being boring, number-crunching and conservative. They might be surprised to know how much I love going to Las Vegas. The food, the shows, and even a little gambling. It’s like an adult Disneyland, no clocks, no responsibilities! What happens in Vegas stays in Vegas. • { LIFE LESSONS } When we have free time, it’s usually family time. Camping (well, glamping, camper- style!), being outdoors, visiting great supper clubs. Ishnala is one of our favorites. We try to go a few times a year at least. We also enjoy cruising. This year my husband and I celebrated our 30th wedding anniversary on a cruise. LYNN GARDINIER PARTNER, CPA, CMA BAKER TILLY VIRCHOW KRAUSE, LLP I hate to sound cliché, but get involved. Being a public accountant, getting involved was part of my job early on, as everyone was expected to expand their referral networks and give back to the community. Later, however, you realize that one of the real benefits is the long-standing, cherished relationships you build. A mentor shared with me that the secret to success was learning when to say yes, no, and wow. That really impacted me. Know when it’s important to say yes, learn that it’s okay to say no, and, when you take something on, get excited about it and genuinely say “wow.” • • • { EDUCATION } 1986-1990 University of Wisconsin–Whitewater Bachelor of Business Administration in Accounting Whitewater, Wisconsin { WORK EXPERIENCE } 1991-PRESENT Partner, CPA, CMA Janesville Office Market Leader Janesville Office Manufacturing/Distribution Leader Baker Tilly Virchow Krause, LLP Janesville, Wisconsin 18 • W W W . F O R W A R D J A N E S V I L L E . C O M Family means everything to my husband, Smokey, and me. Our moms, our brothers and sisters, our children—we all still live close enough to spend a Sunday watching the Packers together or meeting in the Dells for a weekend at the cabin. Nothing is better. Especially now with a three-year-old grandson and another on the way!