Women in Leadership Profile
[PICTURED L-R]: JENNIFER IWATA | TERRA VAN ZANT | BOBBIE HALES | LINDA GEERY | PEGGY VANDE VOOREN | SARAH ELLIS
Gilbert CPAs
“As a woman,
seeing what
you can be is a
Opportunity for all
F
ounded in 1984, Gilbert CPAs provides explains, “From the beginning, founding
traditional audit, tax and consulting partner Thomas Gilbert focused on providing
services, but also has a refreshing not- opportunity to talented individuals regardless
so-traditional aspect — six of the firm’s 11 of gender, which established the progression
shareholders are women. That’s a 55 percent we’ve seen at Gilbert and our current culture
ratio of women to men in an industry with an of valuing talent and skill foremost.”
average of 26 percent among firms of equivalent
size, and only 21 percent at larger firms.
Women typically bring qualities to a firm that
it may otherwise lack. “Any time you can add
Shareholders guiding Gilbert CPAs today diversity to any group, it will broaden your
include Peggy Vande Vooren, Sarah Ellis, perspective on identifying, addressing and
Terra Van Zant, Jennifer Iwata, Bobbie Hales solving issues,” Hales says. “Men and women
and Linda Geery. “I’ve seen a distinct increase often have inherently different styles of
in percentage of women interviewing to enter communication, and we have a great balance
the profession over the years,” says Hales, of communication styles here.”
who is a shareholder and directs recruiting
efforts. “It’s a more balanced representation
from a gender standpoint now, but as
statistics indicate, there is still a heavy
percentage of male shareholders, especially
in firms outside of California.”
great motivator.
With our
representation
in leadership,
women coming
into our firm can
project exciting
possibilities for
themselves.”
— BOBBIE HALES
Shareholder | Gilbert CPAs
For young women stepping into this field
to be able to see where their career can take
them is a great professional motivator. At
Gilbert, having a large number of women in
management provides the women coming
up through the firm a strong visual of their
Gilbert CPAs breaks the mold with women in potential and shows them a bright future
leadership positions, with a reason dating back of possibilities.
to the firm’s roots. Vice President Linda Geery
Relax. We got this.
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2880 Gateway Oaks Dr #100
Sacramento, CA 95833
916.646.6464
gilbertcpa.com
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