Last week you met Meagan DeWitt, the 2016 Jeff Small Pioneer Award winner and learned about her work as a Family Engagement Specialist at Lund. This week we would like you to meet the original pioneer Jeff Small himself.
Jeff Small was on the Lund Board of Trustees for 16 years, including 6 years as president. He was a dedicated and hard working board member who always was looking to the future and the continued success and security of Lund. He has been a Certified Public Accountant (CPA) since 1988 and also earned the designations of ABV – Accredited in Business Valuation, CVA – Certified Valuation Analyst, CFF – Certified in Financial Forensics. He has also testified in various courts around Vermont and New Hampshire as an expert witness in regards to financial and valuation issues. He also produced a course for the Vermont Association for Justice which focused on business valuation and financial matters in divorce proceedings for trial lawyers. Jeff graduated from the University of Vermont with a Bachelor’s Degree in Accounting in 1979. He worked for a small local accounting firm based in Montpelier, Vermont for 6 years, then a large accounting firm in Burlington, Vermont for 3 years. In 1987 he started his own accounting practice based in Burlington, Vermont. Jeff and his wife Martha reside in South Burlington, Vermont after living in Shelburne, Vermont for 25 years. In his spare time, Jeff likes to golf and has been a member at the Burlington Country Club for the past 25 years. Jeff has also served on the boards of: Spectrum Youth Services, Prevent Child Abuse Vermont, Vermont Children’s Trust and Very Merry Theatre. He is a valued and dedicated member of our community and, as a pioneer, is never afraid to break new ground for the benefit of his industry, his colleagues, or the many non profits he supports.
Here are his answers to the questions we ask of the Jeff Small Pioneer Award winner:
1.What did you have for breakfast?
Coffee and a kiss from my wife.
2. What pie are you near?
Cherry pie.
3. Describe the color yellow without using visual references.
Yellow is a translucent soothing peaceful feeling and a calming tone.
4. Who is your favorite pioneer?
Steve Jobs or Gordon Moore
5. If you had to unload a 747 full of jellybeans, how would you do it?
Spill them all onto the tarmac and then sort by flavor (typical accountant) and eat all the red ones.
6. How many cows in Canada?
More than in Vermont.
7. Tell me an inspirational story from your time at Lund.
Listening to Wanda talk about placing a child from the Project Family program when he has basically been given up on and then watching and listening to Lund employees talk about their work, and their selflessness.
Thank you, Jeff, for all your work for Lund and helping us to answer hard questions and blaze new trails.
