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Linn-Benton Community College accounting student Chris Patterson has overcome obstacles while finishing LBCC on the way to transferring to Oregon State University. Read his story.

Meet Oregon’s resilient community college accounting students, balancing ambition and real-world responsibilities.

In today’s competitive business environment, employers in all professions and industries—including CPA firms—are constantly seeking ways to enhance their performance, innovation, and overall effectiveness. One often-overlooked strategy is the inclusion of neurodiverse employees, particularly those with Autism Spectrum Disorder. By tapping into this underutilized talent pool, CPA firms not only can address skill shortages but also bring unique perspectives and strengths to their teams.

Even as the climate for diversity, equity, and inclusion remains volatile, the near- and longer-term impacts of DEI on the accounting profession amplify shared accountability.

CPA firms are constantly seeking ways to enhance their performance, innovation, and overall effectiveness. One often-overlooked strategy is the inclusion of neurodiverse employees.

Celebrate Hispanic Heritage Month with Alondra, Oscar, and Rubi Ruiz Contreras and discover how a shared love for problem solving and cultural values shaped their identity and career paths.

In celebration of Hispanic Heritage Month, Sabino Arredondo of Wilcox Arredondo & Co., articulates the value of representation in the accounting community, "If we can provide young Hispanic professionals with the opportunity to hear success stories of CPAs that they can identify with, it may inspire them to follow in their footsteps. I love to share my story, and I will never forget where I came from. If my story can inspire other Hispanics, I am proud to share it".

From cherished family traditions to navigating the complexities of identity in the workplace, Roy Matsunaga of Deloitte & Touche LLP sheds light on his journey and commitment to elevating AANHPI voices in professional spaces.

Get to know Shubha Joshi and learn about her journey from software engineer to owner of her own CPA firm, Shubha Joshi CPA LLC, Portland. Her story embodies empowerment and entrepreneurship, inspiring others to break barriers and pursue their dreams.

Meet Bashir Khanani of Synthes Medical Surgical Equipment & Instruments Trading LLC, a Pakistani-born, Muslim CPA from Oregon, who shares insights on how his cultural identity shapes his professional path.

Discover how Laura's multicultural background influences her professional journey, from leveraging diverse perspectives in the workplace to navigating career pivots with resilience.

Meet Crisanto Agtani, a dynamic leader at Macri, LLC. Through his involvement in Oregon's Filipino community and OSCPA, he shares insights on identity, resilience, and an empathic approach to service.

Cierra Leopoldino of REDW LLC lives by the Hawaiian motto "Malama kekahi i kekahi," meaning to care for one another. With this ethos and her Hawaiian roots, she cultivates professional landscapes that prioritize collaboration, respect, and a strong sense of community.

Meet OSCPA member Taylor Larson, Senior Tax Manager at Empirical Wealth Management and Board Treasurer for Saturday Academy. Taylor's approach, rooted in her Chinese American heritage, redefines client relationships and community engagement.

Meet Megan Howe and discover how she breaks barriers in the CPA profession as a deaf accountant at Hungerford Nichols CPAs + Advisors. When she's not crunching numbers, she is advocating for inclusivity and diverse success in the workplace. Reprint permission from Second Wave Media. Article by Kym Reinstadler.

Cultivating a diverse and inclusive workplace requires commitment. Is your organization up to the challenge?

Join us in celebrating Jennifer Gragg, a rockstar mother and newly licensed CPA at CliftonLarsonAllen! As a rising professional, Jennifer is exhilarated by the endless puzzles of accounting. However, navigating the complexities of work-life balance as a woman in accounting can be tiresome.

For our final Black History Month feature, we are grateful to honor Charles Wilhoite. As seasoned industry leader, Charles watched the CPA profession blossom from counting diversity with 10 fingers, to a community full of opportunities. Through his time working with clients, peers, and non-profits, Charles discovered the secret to becoming a superhero, "If young Black students, adults, and professionals can see me, I guarantee that some of them will believe they can be me—not special, but visible—a superpower that is wonderfully contagious".

To celebrate Black History Month, we are excited to spotlight Grace Charles, an OSCPA member that embodies "paying it forward". As mentor to her peers at McDonald Jacobs, Grace redefines the workplace by centering cultural authenticity and resilience.

In celebration of Hispanic Heritage Month, Seleste Sanchez emphasizes the strength in diversity and paints a vibrant picture of what community means to her culture, "I believe that one of the most powerful messages that Hispanic culture can offer to the rest of the world, is that by working together you can achieve greatness."