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Accounting Spotlight: Robert Jeffrey

By: Dezaray Barr

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Robert Jeffrey retired from the Marines in Feb 2001.

Robert Jeffrey received his bachelor’s degree in accounting from Portland State University in Oregon. He then received his MBA from Indiana Wesleyan University’s (IWU) graduate program in business, and he graduated in 2006.

Jeffrey was led to IWU because he was seeking a degree from a Christian university. It seemed to be tradition in his family to attend a Wesleyan university. “I was accepted for the Graduate Degree program by my Employer, the Defense Finance and Accounting Service, Department of Defense. I knew that future promotions or opportunities would be slowing down unless I showed the dedication to further education and willing to accept greater responsibility,” he said.

When accepted into the graduate program, Jeffrey was working in Cleveland, Ohio in accounting operations. “I wanted something that allowed me to be mobile,” Jeffrey explained. “Being an online student at IWU simply was not easy since I was working full time as well. The online program did allow me to participate with group classmates as my time allowed.”

Before finishing the program, Jeffrey relocated to Pensacola, Florida as a Lead Systems Accountant for the Defense Information Financial Information System.

During his time at IWU, Jeffrey enjoyed discussing issues on spirituality. “Some of the course work required study where our text books included authors like C.S. Lewis and John C. Maxwell,” he said. “I

believe that if people use leadership practices doing the right thing by their employees, they can’t go wrong and that respect/appreciation will go a long way.”

 

In 2007, Jeffrey was offered a position by his employer as the Director of Navy Accounting Division in Japan. “When I left under orders after staying five years, the Department of Defense gave me orders for the MacDill AFB as the Navy Marine Corps Staff Accountant. The employees that worked under my supervision in Japan were sad to see me go, as was I,” Jeffrey shared.

Now, Jeffrey is retired, but he continues to stay in contact with colleagues and is up-to-date in the specific field. “I enjoy retirement and spending time visiting with my children, grandchildren and other family members,” Jeffrey shared. “Traveling is often on my annual schedule, and I am thinking of living abroad part-time. I would love to have a job that will allow me to write about new adventures in my travels for a travel magazine or something… maybe to teach English and Business abroad.”

 

 

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Written by Dezaray Barr, PR Specialist for the Alumni Office. Dezaray is a junior Strategic Communication, Journalism and Honors Humanities triple major at Indiana Wesleyan University in the John Wesley Honors College. Visit Dez’s website at www.dezaraybarr.weebly.com.

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Accounting Spotlight: Kevin Crawford

By: Dezaray Barr

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Kevin Crawford

Kevin Crawford graduated from Marion College, now Indiana Wesleyan University, in 1985 with a double major in Business and Music Business. Crawford attended Wesleyan churches most of his life, but he came to IWU to study under Professor Jerry Franks.

“I had a great experience at IWU, Marion College at the time,” Crawford shared. “It was whirlwind four years that fortified my work ethic, established deep friendships, grew my spiritual life and transformed my life.”

Crawford said that his time at IWU involved more spiritual growth than just chapel services or religion classes. “Growth happened through the interaction with the professors where they shared what was going on in their own lives with us while taking a sincere interest in what was going on with who we were,” he said. “My overall college experience taught me so much and gave me the foundation that I have been able to build on, that has allowed me to be successful both in my career, as a husband, father, now grandfather and in my spiritual life.”

During his time at IWU, Crawford’s greatest influence was studying under Jerry Franks. “Jerry (as he always had us call him) was so much more than a college professor,” Crawford shared. “He was a mentor and a friend that taught me spiritual and life lessons that still influence my life today. We stayed in contact even after college, where he was always so supportive of my business career and journey, even until his death in 1989. My college experience is best told through the influence that Jerry made on my life.”

Now, Crawford is an accountant in a small firm, where he specializes in payroll. He works with over 30 clients across several states. He also does general accounting and consulting work for several business, preparing over 250 personal tax returns each year.

Crawford and his family in Washington, DC.

In 2000, Crawford had to put the life lessons he’d learned into action like never before when his brother was murdered. “I had to rely on faith and trust in God like I never thought I would have to,” he shared. “I had to find out all that it takes to know what forgiveness really means. We ended up adopting my brother’s 14-month-old son and raising him, watching him learn to navigate all that life had thrown him. We had to endure a criminal trial, newspaper headlines and way too many court hearings.

“But through it all, we learned at a very deep level what God’s grace was all about, how family and friendship can help you overcome, and that God is always faithful. As James 1: 2-4 states, ‘Consider it pure joy, my brothers and sisters, whenever you face trials of many kinds, because you know that the testing of your faith produces perseverance.  Let perseverance finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything.’ But just as important is what Romans 8:28 teaches us: ‘And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to His purpose.’”

Crawford is still an active trumpet player and plays in several groups across many different styles of music, including leading his church praise band and orchestra. He played in a local symphony orchestra for 15 years and enjoyed playing in a local brass ensemble. He has been married to his wife, Lori, for 33 years. Together, they have three children and two grandchildren. He has been the treasurer of his church for nearly 25 years, and he loves to spend time boating and water skiing.

If Crawford could give IWU students advice, he’d tell them the same thing he told his three kids when they headed off to college: “Study hard and get involved in as many groups and activities as you can without forgetting to have fun. The most important lessons you will learn in college will not happen while you are sitting in class; they will be the life lessons you will learn interacting with your friends, classmates and professors and the knowledge that you can overcome obstacles.”

 

 

 

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Written by Dezaray Barr, PR Specialist for the Alumni Office. Dezaray is a junior Strategic Communication, Journalism and Honors Humanities triple major at Indiana Wesleyan University in the John Wesley Honors College. Visit Dez’s website at www.dezaraybarr.weebly.com.