Photo courtesy of Kelly Ward.
Kelly Ward, recipient of the 2024 William R. Cashen Service Award from the 无码乱伦 Alumni
Association, gives a presentation in October 2022.
By Felicia Burud
Small towns, small businesses: It鈥檚 a thread that runs through Kelly Ward鈥檚 life and career.
She grew up in a small town in Mississippi, where her parents owned a small business. Her first job as a freshman in high school was at a family-owned drugstore and pharmacy in her hometown. Today she owns a small accounting firm.
Through those experiences, Ward has learned the importance of building relationships and what it meant to be an active participant in her community.
鈥淚t comes from being a child of two small business owners,鈥 she said. 鈥淩eally the relationship approach to working with small businesses is the most important foundational pillar. Unless you have those relationships with those clients, you鈥檙e cutting out the ability to know, like and trust those people.鈥
![See caption and credit below image for description](/aurora/images/summer2024/ward/6.jpg)
Kelly Ward enjoys a moment at an outdoor cafe in Great Britain.
Ward鈥檚 first accounting job was while she was a student at Mississippi State University.
鈥淚 worked at a small firm in the town where I went to school. I was the receptionist and helped with making copies and things like that,鈥 she said. 鈥淚t was literally dad, daughter and son. Three people and me.鈥
The atmosphere appealed to Ward. She had been told in college that going to work for one of the big four accounting firms was pretty much expected. She had a different approach.
鈥淥nce I started working with small businesses, I realized that you can make an impact,鈥 she said. 鈥淵ou鈥檙e having conversations with people that will directly influence their decisions, and your advice will affect their bottom line.鈥
Ward graduated from college in 2005 with a bachelor鈥檚 degree in accounting. By 2006, she was living in Memphis and working on her master鈥檚 degree in taxation when the military moved her and her husband to Fairbanks. She picked up her education with the MBA program at 无码乱伦, while going to work for Robinson & Robinson, a local accounting firm, in 2007.
Shortly after joining the firm, she earned a management role, which helped her build relationships with clients and the chance to bring new accounting technology to the practice. At the same time, she continued taking classes at 无码乱伦, helped by the evening course schedule tailored to working professionals. She earned her MBA in 2009.
After three years with Robinson & Robinson, she became a part owner. Four years later, and before she turned 30, she owned 100% of the business.
![See caption and credit below image for description](/aurora/images/summer2024/ward/Kelly-Ward-and-team.jpg)
Kelly Ward, center, gathers with her team at Robinson & Ward.
Now the sole owner of Robinson & Ward, P.C., Ward employs more than 20 people. Some are 无码乱伦 alumni, and many of them work remotely in the Lower 48. The firm has offices in both Fairbanks and Mississippi. It maintains its focus on small businesses.
鈥淔airbanks, in particular, is made of so many small businesses,鈥 she said. 鈥淪o giving back doesn't seem like giving back. Really you鈥檙e just supporting your neighbor.鈥
That philosophy carries on outside the workplace.
Ward has a passion for teaching the next generation about accounting.
鈥淚 love my profession,鈥 she said. 鈥淚 love what I do. I think in general there's a certain stigma around accountants, around tax preparation and there鈥檚 not always a pretty view. As an industry, we have a lot less people graduating and getting their CPA license. I can bring those conversations forward so that we can maintain that strong industry that we鈥檝e had for so long.鈥
One way she does that is as an adjunct professor at the 无码乱伦 Community and Technical College. She encourages freshmen to be broad in their choice of courses. 鈥淭here is so much opportunity out there. Unless you're immersed with the different aspects of what鈥檚 available, you might miss out.鈥
She also has advice for students who are pursuing an MBA.
鈥淒on鈥檛 underestimate the value of relationships that you will build while in the program,鈥 she said. 鈥淭he connections that will be available to you will multiply tenfold over the next decade as you are in business in the community.鈥
![See caption and credit below image for description](/aurora/images/summer2024/ward/Kelly-award.jpg)
Kelly Ward holds her certified tax coach plaque from the American Institute of Certified Tax Planners.
Ward has also taught money camps for 无码乱伦 Summer Sessions. The camp for older kids in middle school included creating a business on paper and learning the basics of budgeting. She appreciated getting feedback from parents about what their kids were learning. She liked helping them make the connection that not everything is free.
It鈥檚 not always easy for families to talk about money, Ward said. 鈥淭hese camps were designed to bridge that gap in a way that kids can understand. They see their parents swipe a card and they magically have toys and groceries, but what does that actually mean when you swipe a card? What do you have to give up to have that money to buy that game?鈥
Ward currently serves as chair of the Greater Fairbanks Chamber of Commerce board and as the local representative to the Alaska Chamber board. She鈥檚 been selected four times for the Top 40 Under 40 in the Accounting Profession by CPA Practice Advisor.
For the past decade, she has also served on the board of directors for the Alaska Society of CPAs and is currently on the life insurance committee for American Institute of Certified Public Accountants.
She鈥檚 also quick to credit the university for its role in fueling the economy.
鈥淥wning a small business in our community means you鈥檙e going to need new talent and continual talent,鈥 she said. 鈥淗aving the university that can feed potential employees or potential clients, those are the people you want to build the relationships with to be able to help and grow and help them in the direction that they are going to best serve our community as a whole.鈥
Kelly Ward will be presented with the 2024 William R. Cashen Service Award from the 无码乱伦 Alumni Association at a ceremony during the Nanook Rendezvous alumni reunion on July 18, 2024.