Photographs © Scott Williams, ScottWilliamsPhotography.com
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Natalie Baumeister and Bobby Baumeister
Parker Turner
Reed Turner
Q: You have been a TSCPA member for more than 25 years, chairing and serving on a number of statewide committees, as well as on the Board of Directors. You have also served in executive leadership roles in the Fort Worth Chapter, including chapter president, and in roles with the American Institute of CPAs. Why is service in these organizations so important to you, and what has been the impact on you professionally? A: You know, the Fort Worth Chapter asked me to speak to its board recently on this very topic. I had to think about why … as you said, I’ve been doing this a long time. It’s become who I am, and I think that it’s the same for a lot of CPAs. I don’t know if it’s just part of our makeup; maybe a lot of the same type of people are drawn to this profession. I see CPAs of all generations who have this strong desire to give back. For me, some of this goes back to my parents. They gave back to their community and their church. My mom and dad are two of the most generous people I know, so I think that’s where it started. I learned young that you’re supposed to be generous with not just your money, but your time and your expertise. Also, in my very first job with Arthur Andersen, when I passed the CPA exam, they all said, “OK, you now need to sign up for membership in the Texas Society and AICPA.” It was just a given. My supervisor also said, “Now, we need to get you involved in the Fort Worth Chapter, and I don’t mean just being a member. I mean get you on a committee and get you involved.” And I’m like, “OK, what do I do?” I was 24 years old. Once I started (to volunteer), that was it. I’ve had something of an overachiever attitude all my life. (laughs) If I join something, I feel like I’m supposed to make it to the top. I’m not going to just become part of something for a minute; I’m going to stay and give it all I can give until I’ve done everything I can. That’s been my mindset from day one, and I’ve loved it. 32
Bill Armstrong was also responsible for getting me involved at the Texas Society. When I was 26, Kerry Balthrop (Andersen colleague) and I went out and formed our own firm. Bill was so proud. He watched me grow up. He went to high school with my parents, so he’s known me from the day I was born. His daughter lived in Fort Worth, so one of the times he was in town, he just dropped by our office to see it. While he was there visiting, he said, “You need to get involved in the Texas Society,” and I said, “Well, how do I do that?” He said, “Hang on.” And he picked up the phone and called Jim Smith, former chairman of TSCPA, and asked him to add me to a committee that they served on together. So that’s how I got involved. It took people informing me, inviting me. I’ve always loved what we do, what we stand for, how we help our members. Volunteering outside of the profession is the same kind of thing. It’s amazing how many organizations need a treasurer. (laughs) Nobody wants to be treasurer! So we kind of have a built-in seat on the board anywhere we are. I’ve been on the board of the Fort Worth Chamber of Commerce for many years. I started on the finance committee and worked my way up to treasurer. I was the first woman treasurer, still the only woman treasurer, and the second woman officer. So that has been a phenomenal experience, as well. I’ve learned so much about the Fort Worth community. In fact, I feel I’ve learned so much more than I ever gave back in any of these situations. Everything I learned being on the AICPA board … oh my gosh. I kept pinching myself when I’d sit in those rooms, wondering how I got there. I feel all of my volunteer experiences have certainly made me a better mom and a better partner in my firm. I can’t imagine a time in my life that I won’t be volunteering for something. It’s just too much a part of who I am. After this next year, I’m excited about the opportunity to volunteer for different things, maybe organizations that help children. Today’sCPA