In Tax Performance Engineering, I lead tax process automation and optimization engagements. Generally, the aim is to leverage desktop robotics, automation and visualization tools to help make our clients more efficient, accurate and transparent. While I’ve only been with BDO for about two years, this has been the best employment arrangement for my skills, temperament and interests. Prior to joining BDO, I spent eight years in industry plus a few years at two global professional services firms.
benjamin rackley
Tax Performance Engineering Managing Director
Tell us about your role at BDO and career path to date.
This fact, along with a college professor’s insistence, motivated me to become a CPA. Many Black students, including me, are pushed toward STEM. (I started in computer science and changed to accounting). I theorize STEM success is seen as more probable — success in accounting can be viewed as unattainable in pockets of the Black community, given the lack of representation. The lack of representation then influences how young professionals feel welcomed.
Historically and currently, Black people are
under-represented in the accounting profession.
How has this impacted you?
I find the unbridled resilience and determination of small children inspiring. It doesn’t matter how many times they fall — seconds later, they’re back at it until they get it. It’s fascinating!
Who or what inspires you?
I derive my pride from the successes of people with whom I’ve shared space and time. I’m very proud to be a Black CPA, but I might be even prouder to have completed the moral character certification for my daughter’s godmother when she became a CPA. I’m proud the people who’ve worked with or for me in various roles are thriving and considered invaluable components of their teams. In short, I’m most proud of the success occurring in my orbit. I believe success is wildly contagious.
What achievement are you most proud of?
As a Tuskegee, Alabama native (where the infamous syphilis study occurred) and as a veteran, I’ve witnessed health disparities play out in living color. There’s no substitute for being informed and advocating for yourself. We need to be armed with facts about our family medical history and areas of medicine where African Americans have been historically undertreated or overmedicated. We also need to engage our families and arm them to advocate on our behalf in the event we are incapacitated.
This year’s Black History Month theme is health and wellness. Data shows there can be disparities in healthcare equity. How do you advocate for your
(or your family’s) health?
I imagine people would be surprised to learn of my love for bass guitar and, more specifically, my love for ‘70s funk music. It annoys my wife, but I maintain a small collection of bass guitars in my “bass-ment.”
Personally, I don’t think I’m that good, but my daughters do a great job of boosting my self-esteem. Then again, I’ve always been my own biggest critic!
What’s something about yourself that might surprise others?
I have a passion for fitness and encouraging others to find their own strength and desire to stay active. I’ve been certified as a personal trainer for over 10 years and used to teach an outdoor bootcamp designed to encourage other moms to prioritize
their health.
What’s something about yourself that might surprise others?
My family and I take our health seriously. We stay active as a family and are advocates for our health in a number of ways. For example, I serve on health and wellness committees through my sorority.
We are intentional about aligning ourselves with organizations
that promote health and wellness within the Black community
and beyond.
This year’s Black History Month theme is health and wellness. Data shows there can be disparities in healthcare equity. How do you advocate for your
(or your family’s) health?
In 2018, with the support of my husband and two children, I fulfilled my dream of graduating from law school. Although I took the nontraditional route, I will never forget the feeling of walking across the stage at Washington University School of Law in St. Louis. Each step was filled with humble gratitude for the support of my family and the incredible journey we all undertook to fulfil my dream.
What achievement are you most proud of?
Resilience inspires me. It comes in many forms and stories — from the endurance and continued fight for equality for marginalized groups to the public figures that use their sphere of influence for good. It’s easy to dim your light in a sea of darkness, but to show up, be true and persevere regardless of what comes your way is an incredible and admirable trait.
Who or what inspires you?
The lack of representation is something that is felt in a number of places. I believe those of us in the profession (in whatever capacity) have the responsibility to first honor ourselves and bring the best work ethic and product that we were made to bring. I also believe we have the responsibility to show up as our authentic selves, just as any other professional, without being burdened by the need, desire or resolve to overcome the disparity singlehandedly.
Historically and currently, Black people are
under-represented in the accounting profession.
How has this impacted you?
I began my time with BDO as the Southwest regional marketing director where I had the opportunity to work with tremendous professionals as we worked to strategically position BDO in the region. I have since transitioned to a national role where I support five incredible industry groups on the national industry marketing team. In each role, I have had the pleasure of serving, learning and mentoring and I am excited about making a lasting impact at BDO.
Tell us about your role at BDO and career path to date.
Industry Programs Marketing Director
corrie brock
As someone who grew up on the island of Jamaica, people are often surprised to learn that I can’t swim. But I have learned to ski!
What’s something about yourself that might surprise others?
After learning more about heart disease in minority populations, I worked with [Assurance Experienced Senior] Joseph McDonald and the Boston BDO Counts team to fundraise as an office for the American Heart Association Boston Walk. I’m also more health conscious now than I was five years ago, trying to work out often with Peloton or Orangetheory.
This year’s Black History Month theme is health and wellness. Data shows there can be disparities in healthcare equity. How do you advocate for your
(or your family’s) health?
Receiving an academic scholarship to Fairfield University. Without it, I couldn’t have afforded college in the U.S., as I grew up in Jamaica and my family didn’t have the needed finances. Fairfield changed my life — it was where I met my wife and became a first-generation college graduate.
Another was successfully passing the CPA exam, which I didn’t complete until my fifth year in the profession due to my later start and failing one section a few times — so the key is to persevere.
What achievement are you most proud of?
My family is a huge inspiration to me — especially my daughters. They make me strive to be someone they can be proud of!
Who or what inspires you?
With a small Black population in accounting, I’ve been deliberate in seeking mentors and allies. I want to mentor young professionals and join the movement to increase representation. To do so, I had to have a successful career myself. To help achieve this, I’m mindful of a quote once shared with me: “Live by design, not by default.” I also develop relationships, learn from others and discuss how we can collectively contribute to improving representation in the profession, especially as CPAs.
Historically and currently, Black people are
under-represented in the accounting profession.
How has this impacted you?
I provide technical support to regional engagement teams on accounting, auditing, reporting and risk matters, among other things. Prior to this, I led internal inspections and supported issuer audit teams as a subject matter expert — which I continue to do for the Northeast region. I joined BDO in April 2020, and previously worked at the PCAOB and spent 10 years at another global professional services firm in both client service and a national audit management development program.
Tell us about your role at BDO and career path to date.
Professional Practice Northeast Assistant Regional Technical Director
greg turner
Accounting was not my first thought for a career. I thought I was going to be a doctor at one point in my life.
What’s something about yourself that might surprise others?
My family (husband and two children) is highly active. We keep my daughter involved in sports and activities that keep her busy and her mind sharp, such as dance and Taekwondo. We push self-care, such as listening to your body and what it needs and scheduling time to focus on yourself. During the pandemic, we’d walk and ride our bikes together — something we need to get back to. Not only was it good exercise, but it was great bonding time, which is also necessary for your health and wellness.
This year’s Black History Month theme is health and wellness. Data shows there can be disparities in healthcare equity. How do you advocate for your
(or your family’s) health?
In my family, I am the first to have obtained both my undergraduate degree and MBA, as well as become a CPA and hold a leadership position within a well-established firm as well as other outside organizations. I believe I have broken a generational cycle that was used to accepting the past as the norm. My achievements breathe hope and guidance that we should and must always be our best and fight for the right to be acknowledged at our best.
What achievement are you most proud of?
My family inspires me. They are the reason I do what I do. I want my children to know they can do and accomplish whatever they desire with hard work and dedication. They keep me motivated to be successful in everything I do and never give up.
Who or what inspires you?
I’m often the only African American female in meetings, and initially I struggled to find other African Americans in executive leadership roles to help me on my career path due to lack of representation. But I found allies who believed in me, helped me stay focused and encouraged me. Because of this, I try to ensure I connect with other BDO African American employees as well as those we’re recruiting to help them on their journey. The journey isn’t easy, but you can persevere with support.
Historically and currently, Black people are
under-represented in the accounting profession.
How has this impacted you?
I joined BDO in 2015 through an expansion and was part of the Business Services & Outsourcing practice from 2015–2020. I moved to the Private Client Services (PCS) Tax practice in May 2020 to focus on outsourced accounting specifically for our PCS team as the practice lead over the Houston Private Client Accounting Services (PCAS) group. I also lead our Houston office’s Multicultural Alliance group.
Tell us about your role at BDO and career path to date.
Private Client Accounting Services (PCAS) Managing Director
carla wilder
Around age 12-13, my mom asked my contractor uncle to take me to work with him so I could “learn a thing or two.” I did “gopher” work: getting tools, lifting lumber and moving piles of shingles. Over the years I learned many skills including carpentry, tiling and masonry work.
When I started in public accounting, I purchased a fixer-upper, and co-workers and clients were surprised at the projects I did on my own. I’ve tiled an entire house and remodeled bathrooms. This is all thanks to my mom!
What’s something about yourself that might surprise others?
The Bahamas’ healthcare system isn’t the best and leads many Bahamians, including me, to not trust medical professionals’ advice.
For example, my father-in-law was diagnosed with bladder cancer in the Bahamas and was told his bladder must be removed. My wife and I used our resources to find a bladder cancer specialist to evaluate him in Chicago. He’s now cancer free and kept his bladder! We look back and wonder how different his life would’ve been if we weren’t able to advocate for his health.
This year’s Black History Month theme is health and wellness. Data shows there can be disparities in healthcare equity. How do you advocate for your
(or your family’s) health?
I’m most proud of graduating from college. Neither of my parents went and my dad didn’t finish high school because he had to start working at 13. They worked hard and sacrificed a lot for us, but I needed to pay for college myself. I worked in construction for two years to save for part of my tuition. In college I also worked a part-time job while taking a full credit load. I even did a busy season internship while taking classes. It was tough, but I graduated in three years and got a great job!
What achievement are you most proud of?
My wife has always been my inspiration. She encourages me to be better, whether it’s my personal health and well-being, or career. She reminds me constantly that we only have one body and one life to live and taking care of yourself, eating well, exercising (your body and mind) are all important. We’re high school sweethearts, and even at that young age, she inspired me to push myself. I know I am a better person today — and in a much better point in my life — because of her.
Who or what inspires you?
I initially didn’t think much about diversity at work until my stint in Connecticut when I noticed the office’s racial makeup didn’t reflect the city’s diversity. When I was promoted to senior manager, a co-worker (a Black woman) said, “It’s nice to finally see a person of color on the management team.” I realized in the first management meeting I was the only person of color and started to become keenly aware of the lack of diversity. This inspired me to try to do more to make a difference.
Historically and currently, Black people are
under-represented in the accounting profession.
How has this impacted you?
I’m a Chicago Assurance partner and the Central region’s Assurance healthcare industry lead. My path has been an interesting one that took me through four states. I started with another global professional services firm in a small office in Florida and then moved to Connecticut. While there, I landed an opportunity in that firm’s national office in New York City. After that, I spent a few years in a small town in Ohio before joining BDO
in Chicago.
Tell us about your role at BDO and career path to date.
Assurance Partner
jevon knowles
