Heather Williams was named Sarasota’s 2016 Young Professional of the Year at the 26th annual Frank G. Berlin, Sr. Small Business Awards back in June. The 36-year-old  shareholder at Kerkering, Barberio & Co. has been living and working in Sarasota for six years. She received her bachelors in Accounting and Finance at University of South Florida – Tampa and her Masters of Accounting in Taxation from Florida State University. We were curious to get to know more about this young professional and reached out to her to find out more about what made her the perfect candidate for this year’s award.

How did you end up in Sarasota?

My husband, Jeremy was born and raised in Bradenton. After college, we lived in Charlotte, North Carolina for seven years.  There, I worked for the fifth largest accounting firm, Grant Thornton.  In 2010, we decided to relocate and move to Sarasota to be closer to family.

How did you come to be with Kerkering, Barberio & Co.?

When we decided to move to Sarasota, I wanted to make a home at a firm that was locally or regionally owned and offered specialty services and technical expertise that I was accustomed.  At that point in my career, I was a tax manager and wanted the opportunity to work with other professionals who specialized in certain areas of tax.

Now at KB, I work with the estate, trust and individual tax segments providing estate and trust, income tax planning and consulting services.  Additionally, the firm offers a broad diversity of tax, audit and accounting services to businesses and individuals.  With that, I have the opportunity to work with others who specialize in areas that can be advantageous to the clients we serve.  KB offers much flexibility to its employees and continues to be a place that I love to call my work home.  Not only do I get to work with great people, I am also proud of the support the firm gives back to the community.

What is your current role at the company?

I became a Shareholder (owner) in January 2016, which was a huge milestone for me.  From the beginning of my 15-year accounting career, I’ve been working towards ownership.

What other roles do you take on other than your day job?

I serve on the board of the Lakewood Ranch Business Alliance, participate on USFSM College of Business Accounting Advisory Council and Joint College of Business Faculty/Advisory Board and a member of the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants, Florida Institute of Certified Public Accountants, Southwest Florida Estate Planning Council and The Greater Sarasota Chamber of Commerce Young Professionals Group.

As an athlete growing up, my daughter loves theater, dance and art. I’ve convinced her to give basketball a try. I am a currently coaching my fourth season of girls basketball as volunteer coach at the YMCA Lakewood Ranch.

I recently joined the Forty Carrots Family Center board that is making a difference in Sarasota/Manatee by providing parenting programs and focusing on early childhood environments and education. I feel very fortunate and honored that I have the ability and opportunity to serve causes that are near and dear to me.

Having three children ten and under, I have been fortunate to serve in many volunteer roles at their schools and theater art programs.  I am a long-standing volunteer at my children’s school, serving as Past PTO President, creating events, raising funds, grant writing and helping in simple ways. With parent volunteering being low, it is necessary to continually step-up for the children who are not as fortunate as mine.  It is gratifying to know that my contributions help.

As part of the USFSM community and serving as an Adjunct Professor and participating on the College of Business, Accounting Advisory Council and Joint College of Business Faculty/Advisory Board, my relationships with faculty and other accounting professionals are an important aspect of attracting and recruiting qualified candidates to KB and producing quality students who are ready to enter the Sarasota/Manatee workforce.

What do you enjoy most about teaching accounting at USFSM?

While often juggling school, life and work, I enjoy the opportunity to be in the classroom with college students who have lots of aspirations and big dreams and bring them real-world experience by sharing some of the steps in my personal and career journey.  I try to make accounting more interesting and meaningful in hopes of converting a few more accounting majors.

How did you find out you were a finalist for the YPG of the year?

I received an email from the Sarasota Chamber advising me that I was a finalist.  I was excited and hoped to make it into the top three. I put a lot of hard work into every organization that I ever served, am currently involved with, including community boards and professional committees and purely roll-up-my-sleeves volunteering over the past six years.

What did winning mean to you and how did it feel?

Winning the award was such a huge recognition for all of the things I do in our community professionally and personally as well as being a mother, role model and mentor. I was elated to be honored with such an award and to represent Kerkering Barberio & Co.

What do you do in your spare time in the area?

What is spare time?  I am happily married and a proud mother of three active children who keep me on the go. When I am not working or volunteering, I enjoy spending time on the boat fishing with my family and making yearly scrapbooks of my children’s lives.

Starting in mid-2015, I made a pledge to become healthier. I have always been active, but I wanted to prove that I could incorporate some consistent exercise into my weekly routine.  As busy parents and career minded professionals, it’s easy to neglect time for ourselves and our health. I find that when I am leading a healthier lifestyle, I feel better, my mind is sharper, I have more energy for my family and I am ready for the next adventure. For over a year, I have consistently set aside weekly time to make it to the gym or be active outdoors. I have set strength and endurance goals to help me stay focused on improvement during this process.  Our children mimic what we do, co-workers notice our routines and, to inspire others, I want to set an example that health and nutrition are very important.

Why should young professionals stay in this area?

I think working in Sarasota can provide great opportunities to work with other professionals that are experienced and driven.  I have been fortunate to work with very bright and technical professionals as well as many who have coached me along the way.  I have reached out to the leaders in my firm and other professionals in my circle to continue to learn how to grow, develop and strive to meet my goals.  I think Sarasota/Bradenton is a great place to live and raise a family; our family spends countless hours boating in the bay.

What is the best piece of advice you would give young professionals in Sarasota?

I would say to continue to aspire and make deliberate choices concerning opportunities that you will pursue and those in which you will decline.  I have learned that these choices impact every area of your life.  Tomorrow is a new day.  Go all out with no regrets; life is too short.

I attribute my success by giving credit to having a family support network, collaboration with my husband and the drive to get it all done (never mind the lack of sleep or the late hours I keep).  If I am showing up and giving both aspects of work-life the same energy, then I have done my best for that day.

The question I am asked often is “How do you do it all?” My answer is, “I just do.”  I make commitments, and I honor them.  My priorities include family, health, career and community. I am driven to follow through on all of them.  I have learned I can’t achieve all of my goals 100% of the time perfectly; it’s a juggling act.  My work, home and volunteer schedule changes every six months or more often.  I have learned to be adaptable and patient knowing that every goal or aspiration can’t happen all at once.