In the Spotlight with Jim Church
Tell us about yourself.
I am not too comfortable with this question but here it goes. I am married and our family includes three daughters, two sons-in law, and five grandchildren. I articled with our former firm and have practiced with the firm since. I enjoy being a trusted advisor, the technical aspect of our work, and being in business. For me, the combined three aspects of what we do here at our firm is motivational, satisfying, rewarding and, yes, even fun on most days.
Has there been anything positive you have witnessed/seen from the recent crisis?
Firstly, the whole situation has reminded me, and I am sure many others, of just how grateful we should be for so many things including where we live, health, the ability to earn a living, our families and our colleagues and clients just to get started. We have all struggled to stay connected and to communicate well. But, our IT team has made it possible to actually communicate better with each other especially when at a distance whether caused by COVID or otherwise; and we have learned the new skills required.
Tell us about an accomplishment that shaped your career.
Fortunately, I became aware early that I wanted to pursue public accounting in much the way I have done. I have been patient about that and when decisions arose along the way I focussed on the long-term.
What does "Now, for tomorrow" mean to you?
From my perspective “Now, for tomorrow” reminds me to choose what I do today and make the decisions I have input on with a view to the future.
What opportunities do you foresee for the firm in the next few years?
We really are one of a kind. We continue to provide personal hands on service that one would expect from a mid-sized firm. But we have the bench strength of both our offices including expertise beyond the typical firm. In addition we work closely with our other Baker Tilly firms across the country and around the world. This combination allows us to provide meaningful solutions for our clients today and as their needs and size changes.
