Scholarship Spotlight: Ethan Stephens

Who or what inspired you to get where you are today or who would you like to thank?
I've got a couple of people who have inspired me. Firstly, Joseph Lewis of Isler CPA in Eugene, Oregon I job-shadowed Joseph for a couple weeks during my senior year of high school as a part of our graduation requirements. Joseph gave me lots of great advice and a glimpse into the world of public accounting. Secondly, I would like to recognize my uncle Grant Stephens. Grant is a Certified Financial Planner at Fidelity Investments. His work inspired me to begin looking for careers in the financial sector, ultimately settling on accounting. 

How will you define success as a CPA?
As a CPA, I will measure success by the satisfaction of my clients and the reputation of my firm. Whether I decide to start my own practice or join an existing firm, it's important to me that my place of work is held to a high standard and viewed upon positively by the community. 

What are you most passionate about?
I have always enjoyed helping people by solving problems. I love working on complex issues and developing strategies to resolve them. My dream role as an accountant would be to work full-time dealing with special issues that require unique solutions.