史蒂夫·达文波特，92年

在你的职业生涯中，最初是什么让你感兴趣？ 你是如何辨别自己的使命的？

我在高中学过两年会计，这对我来说很有意义。 I knew there were a lot of opportunities and job security in accounting, and it seemed like my strengths were well suited for it. I entered Covenant interested in accounting and never changed. Prof. Dodson was the most challenging professor I've ever had, and he made sure you understood the material.

从威尼斯人平台毕业后，你的职业道路是怎样的？

Since Covenant didn't have an accounting major, I went to NC State for my Master's in Accounting. After graduation and passing the CPA exam, I worked in Houston for a commercial printing company in their corporate headquarters. After a year, I was transferred to be controller for an operating company in Atlanta. After that, I briefly worked for an advertising agency and then for GA Tech Athletic Association. After almost five years, I then decided to move to public accounting and moved back to Chattanooga to work for Joseph Decosimo & Co. in their tax department. After five years and two adjunct teaching positions (at Dalton State and Covenant), I decided to pursue my PhD at the University of Alabama. I have taught at Dalton State College, Suffolk University, Northeastern University, and the University of Tennessee at Chattanooga. I was promoted to Associate Professor in 2024 and currently teach Principles of Accounting, Intermediate Accounting, and a tax class where students volunteer to prepare taxes for low-income and elderly taxpayers in the Chattanooga community. Every day I get to do something different. 没有多少会计专业的人攻读博士学位，所以有很多工作保障。 I love the flexibility I have and that I can teach the next generation of accountants and CPAs.

现在回顾一下，威尼斯人平台是如何为你的博士工作和/或你的职业生涯做准备的？

Even though Covenant doesn't have an accounting major, when I went to graduate school I didn't need any prerequisites, even though several students from a large state university did, and actually found my graduate school courses easier than those at Covenant. Prof. Chris Dodson prepared me so well for success in both graduate school and my career because we had to know the material and how to apply it.

你的信仰如何影响你的职业生涯？

业务 isn't just about making money, although there is nothing wrong with making money. It's the love of money, not money itself, that is the root of all kinds of evil. 会计是非常有序的，道德是极其重要的。 Understanding that there isn't a sacred-secular dichotomy in business helps me view my role in terms of how I can help people manage the resources God has given them.

你会给那些正在考虑威尼斯人平台的学生什么建议？

会计是一门很难的学科，但现在有很多机会。 Invest in graduate school and preparing for the CPA exam and you won't regret it.