Jeff White
Volunteer Excellence Award
Julia Shiota, MNCPA communications coordinator | October/November 2024 Footnote
It’s impossible to pin down Jeff White, CPA to just one professional niche — because he’s done it all!
“Who would have thought that someone with a CPA would have a stint in the world of commodity trading and beta-testing software that allowed us to do these trades,” he said with an infectious laugh. “Who would have thought that getting a CPA license would make me the perfect guy to guide a real estate investor through their deals?”
From a young age, Jeff knew he was interested in business and that interest led him to a few unexpected — but deeply rewarding — places.
That same broad interest dictates his approach to professional and civic involvement, which is made obvious after a quick glance at all the committees and task forces he has been a part of during his nearly 30 years as an MNCPA member, including a stint as board chair. His passion for the profession has even drawn him beyond the borders of Minnesota, working on initiatives that touched on professional standards and continuing education for the Joint AICPA/NASBA CPE Standards Committee.
“One major initiative when I was board chair was increasing the diversity of the people in the accounting profession, specifically CPAs,” he said. “We still need more CPAs who can not only understand the nuances of the diverse cultures within the communities we serve, but also use that understanding to provide culturally competent and relevant services, which comes through lived experience.”
Jeff was also instrumental in the development and launch of the MNCPA Scholars Program. In addition to sitting on the MNCPA Foundation Board, Jeff has been a member of the D&I Advisory Committee that has supported the Scholars Program since its inception.
Connecting all these activities is Jeff’s unwavering dedication to making the profession a better, more welcoming place to all.
“Diversity is not just about the color of your skin,” he said. “I am obviously a Black man, but I am also gay. I bring both of those experiences with me wherever I go — how can I not? I strongly believe if you let people show up as themselves, they will be able to shine and perform to the best of their abilities.”
