Professional Achievement Award

Trisa Clemons, 2020

Trisa J. Clemons, a first-generation college student, decided to pursue her accounting degree after taking Accounting 201 with, Dr. Frank Plewa. “Dr. Plewa spoke to me after class one day and suggested that it would be a good fit encouraging me to pursue it,” said Clemons, who took his advice, declaring her major after successfully completing a few more accounting courses. Clemons completed her accounting degree at Idaho State in 1993, later finishing her Master of Business Administration (MBA) with an accounting emphasis in 1995.

Today, accounting has proven to remain a good fit for her as she was recently promoted to Pacific Northwest (PNW) Professional Practice Partner in auditing for the Big Four accounting firm KPMG. In this role, Clemons oversees risk management and audit quality for five offices in the PNW region, including their offices in Seattle, Portland, Salt Lake City, Anchorage and Boise. “Being one of 36 leaders across KPMG’s U.S. Audit Practice is my proudest career accomplishment to-date,” said Clemons.

In addition to her new role, Clemons reached another impressive landmark in 2020 as she was named the Professional Achievement Award (PAA) recipient for the Idaho State University College of Business. The PAA is the highest college-level award given at the University, recognizing one outstanding alumnus per college each spring. “Being a 2020 [PAA] recipient for the College of Business was a great honor for me,” said Clemons, who has maintained a connection with the College for many years as a member of the Leadership Advisory Board. “Through that board, I’ve had the opportunity to meet and get to know many of the College’s great alumni. It is quite special to be honored in this way given the other alumni I have met and knowing the high achievements of so many others.”

Clemons, a Shelley, Idaho native, credits much of her success in her career to her time at Idaho State. “It is difficult to summarize in a few sentences everything that my education at the Idaho State College of Business did for me,” said Clemons, noting that it was the advice of a caring professor that led her to choose accounting as her career path. “My accounting professors, in particular

Dr. Ken Smith, encouraged me to see my own potential and pursue a public accounting career with one of the Big Eight (now Four) firms. Without that encouragement, I don’t know that I would be where I am today.” Clemons said her education also made it possible for her to pass the Certified Public Accountant exam, which has been an invaluable asset to her career. “Ultimately, I was well-prepared to interview, land my first position and perform successfully throughout my career to get to where I am today.”

Clemons has also served on the Board of the Northwest Children’s Foundation and the Leadership Committee for the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society’s Man and Woman of the Year Campaign. She was named “Woman of the Year” for this organization in 2018. She is also a member of the American Society of Certified Public Accountants and the Washington Society of Certified Public Accountants. Clemons resides in Seattle with her husband, Chris, and two children, Connor and Chloe.