Darlene M. Davis
Principal
Davis Associates, CPAs
When I was in high school looking for a summer job, I searched through the classifiedads and noticed
that there were tons of classified ads for accountants. At the time I did not know the difference between an accounting clerk,
accountant, or CPA. I just figured that if I went to college and majored in Accounting, chances were good that I could get
a job when I finished school.
It wasn't until I became involved with the National Association of Black Accountants
(NABA), as a student member, that I realized obtaining a CPA was even an option. I would attend their functions and interact
with accountants who were CFO's, Audit Directors, Accounting Managers, and Entrepreneurs running their own CPA firms and businesses.
They energized and motivated me. I wanted to be just like them when I grew up. The people who influenced me the most in the
organization were not "just" accountants, they were CPA's. As I developed relationships with them, they stressed
to me the importance of achieving the top credential that the profession had to offer. At that point I made up my mind that
becoming a CPA was the only option since I had decided to enter the accounting profession. From observing and interacting
with the professionals in NABA I knew that if I became a CPA, I could take my career to any level I wanted. To date my observation
has been right on target. I have done public accounting, been in industry, an auditor, a manager, a CFO and now an entrepreneur.
Becoming a CPA has been the best career choice I have ever made.
