Rising Star to Watch: VSCPA’s Top 5 Under 35
Niki White, CPA, ManagerYount, Hyde & Barbour, PC
Niki is one of five recipients of the 2010 VSCPA Top 5 Under 35 award.
In its inaugural year, this award elicited a remarkable response, and members of the volunteer selection panel said they were overwhelmed with the amount of highly qualified, impressive nominees. Although the competition was stiff, five top-notch young CPAs were selected as the first recipients of the Top 5 Under 35 award. They were honored at the 2010 Leaders’ Summit on May 14.
In the next decade, the CPA profession will be looking to current young professionals to lead the charge. Good thing there are some outstanding rising stars who are ready to shine. This year, the VSCPA launched a new award, Top 5 Under 35, to recognize young professionals who show particular promise.
Nominees excelled in one or more of the following categories: professional achievement, VSCPA or local VSCPA chapter accomplishment, community contribution, or dedication to the CPA profession.
Niki’s father is a logger in Pennsylvania, where she grew up. “The year I turned 10, I organized his shoebox,” Niki said. “I organized his shoebox of receipts into ledger sheets for his CPA to prepare his tax return. I liked the detail of it, so at the age of 10, I decided to become a CPA.”
Niki’s upbringing in a self-employed household also gave her a strong appreciation for small, community-focused businesses, which are the businesses she serves now. “How I was raised really shaped my life and determined how I do business.”
A 2001 Penn State grad, Niki completed six six-month internships to gain a broad perspective of her profession: international manufacturing, construction, behavioral health management, consulting, public accounting and banking.
Niki was the youngest member to serve on the VSCPA Richmond Chapter Board of Directors, on which she just finished her term as president. She has also served on the VSCPA Educational Foundation Board of Directors, and is a four-time Virginia Business Super CPA.
She has been published in Disclosures magazine and is an enthusiastic mentor for other young CPAs.
When Niki isn’t working, she enjoys spending time with her husband, Rob, and two children: Mitchell (4) and Mason (2) in their home in Montpelier. She and her husband enjoy car shows, and own a few antique cars of their own: a ’37 Chevy truck, ’66 Chevelle, and ’51 Ford Deluxe.
Niki also enjoys photography, and reading anything that has “absolutely no purpose or educational value whatsoever.” She looks forward to joining the board of Prevent Child Abuse Virginia in July.
For more information about Niki or to set up an interview, contact Dena Dickson at dena.dickson@yhbcpa.com or (804) 553-1900.