Faculty Focus

MORE THAN NUMBERS

by Megan Duncan ’14

HANK

TAJKOWSKI, CPA, CLU, CHFC

Tajkowski believes accounting isn’t just about numbers. “It’s communicating and being able to collaborate and solve problems. It’s not like you’re just sitting at a desk wearing a green visor.” After graduating in 1992, Tajkowski spent four years in St. Louis at Ernst & Young, one of the largest professional networks in the world. He then moved to Chicago in 1996, opening a firm with a former QU classmate as a CPA doing taxes and accounting. Then he transitioned.

Using his accounting background as a foundation to help people and businesses plan for the future, Tajkowski became a legacy builder. For the last 20 years, he has focused on family estates and putting people in the driver’s seat for their investments and retirement.

“I am looking outside my office on a busy street in Chicago, and people are walking fifteen feet away from me right now. Every single family, every single business, and every single person I see - no matter what age - I know I can help them because of my experience and because of what I studied. That is a good feeling.”

Tajkowski appreciates the many professors who helped him find a home in the accounting department and the overall experience at QU. “I think the support and opportunities you get at a small school are important ...There was just something about it. I’m very grateful for that opportunity. And I’m not the only one because, after 160 years, it’s still going.” CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNER™ AT WEALTH LOGIC SOLUTIONS

CHARLES

WOODS, CFO, CPA

Chuck Woods started in public accounting at Peat Marwick Mitchell, now known as KPMG. Through his contacts at Quincy University, Woods later moved on to work with a Fortune 500 company holding various controllership positions in different divisions. “I spent the majority of my career (20 plus years) at a variety of CFO positions for public businesses and had a very successful career. All of it started with those stepping stones beginning with QU.” Woods knew early on his major would be business-related and soon realized that accounting would be transferable across many different industries within his career, including not-for-profit, banking, and manufacturing.

“I’ve gotten to work for places around the world with a lot of different organizations using the accounting skills I learned at Quincy University. It opened doors to me.”

Woods' favorite thing about his career hasn’t been calculating numbers, but learning what he could do with numbers. For Woods, it’s about making people’s lives better.

“It’s helping businesses and people be successful and providing for their families. It’s not just about making money but providing jobs and helping the communities that I have been part of.” VICE PRESIDENT AND CHIEF FINANCIAL OFFICER AT JO-CARROLL ENERGY, INC

TORI

WELLMAN, MBA,CPA

For Tori Wellman, accounting is about relationships.

“I had Dr. Vicky Eidson for my three years at QU. It has been so nice to have her as a resource and someone to reach out to who is well known in the community. We also have a little Facebook group where she posts accounting-related jobs.”

From her time on the basketball court to her time in the classroom, Wellman’s connections at Quincy University have continued to impact her career. After moving and working in the accounting department at a bank in Kirksville, Missouri, Wellman received a phone call from Coach Garber, her previous coach at QU, asking her to return to Quincy University as a graduate assistant. She accepted the position in 2017, and during the two years she was there, Wellman completed her CPA exam and earned her master's degree. She enjoys the versatility of her job. In 2019, Wellman joined Gray Hunter & Stenn, LLC, an accounting firm in Quincy. She worked remotely for a year in Nehalem, Oregon, only miles from the Pacific Ocean. Two months ago, she returned to work in the Quincy office. “I work for a public accounting firm which is different from private accounting, but it’s nice because every day I am doing something different, and it’s not monotonous. I work on both the audit and tax sides, so I’m always learning. The constant changes and new experiences are probably my favorite parts.” CPA AT GRAY HUNTER STENN LLP