Name: Elizabeth Hale
Twitter: @eecpa1
Facebook: @eeCPA
Instagram: @eecpaplc
LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/company/eecpa
Website: https://eecpa.com
Age: 53
Title: Founder and CEO
Married/Single: Single
Kids: Three kids; 28-year-old daughter, 21-year-old son and 16-year-old daughter
City you live in: Scottsdale
A typical day in my life includes… I’m an early riser, and most mornings you can find me sweating it up at F45. After working out, I head back home to shower, change and then head off to the office around 6:30 a.m.
At work, I wear many hats, so I’m constantly calling, texting and emailing with clients, working with my wonderful staff through training, questions and work reviews, and handling any urgent or emergency matters that arise. I’m truly talking to people all day long, and while I try to get out of the office by 5 most nights, I sometimes work through the evening.
After I get home from work, I’m ordering food and spending time with my kids. I occasionally log back into work to prep myself for the next day, but if not, you’ll find me reading or watching Suits (my latest obsession).
I was born… I was born in Rochester, N.Y.
My favorite thing about Arizona… I love all things outdoors, especially Arizona’s constant sunshine and open blue skies. I’m constantly looking for things to keep me outside, whether getting some swimming in at the pool or hiking one of Arizona’s beautiful trails.
I’m listening to… Simon Sinek’s podcast! It’s very inspiring and all about leadership. When it comes to music, my taste is pretty eclectic – I’ll listen to most pop tunes from the 70s to now. Rihanna is one of my all-time favorites, but I also enjoy the Bee Gees, Prince and Queen, among others.
My family… I have three kids, who are a massive part of my world. My oldest daughter is 28 and lives in Nashville with her spouse. My 21-year-old son is following in my footsteps and currently works with me at eeCPA while also going to school for accounting. And my youngest is 16 (already a junior in high school this year) and currently taking modeling classes. Though both of my parents have passed away, I do have two brothers, who both live in New York, as well as four nieces and nephews.
If I could have dinner with anyone, it would be… Certainly Steve Jobs, though Simon Sinek is a close second!
One thing I cannot live without… You will not find me without a cup of black coffee in my hand – Starbucks Italian Dark Roast, to be exact.
When I was younger, I wanted to be… An attorney! But when I realized how much schooling was required, I instead switched to accounting – ultimately, it was definitely the best decision for me, and I love my career today.
I’m inspired by… Brand-new, creative ideas, clever problem-solving methods, and watching others succeed.
The one person who motivates me is… My children! They’re technically three people, but no one inspires me quite as much as they do.
If I could change anything in the world, it would be… The United States education system. I did a short stint of schooling in Toronto, and I have to say, Canadian education is vastly different and, in my opinion, more effective than my experience as a student in the U.S.
I think it’s so important to recognize just how much teenagers are capable of today. And with so much modern technology and knowledge at our fingertips, we should be tapping into young people’s professional inclinations much earlier than we currently are.
I would love to see the U.S. consolidate learning to target specific student interests, similar to how young Olympians are trained in their respective disciplines. This would allow students to focus more readily on paths that interest them instead of forcing them to take standardized, irrelevant courses. I could see year-round programs that leverage apprenticeships giving young people so much more confidence and workforce readiness than our current educational systems and solving so many societal problems we see today.
The perfect day would be… Waking up and getting a good workout in, followed by reading near the pool and spending lots of time outside in the sun. I’d love to then jet set off to a new place, somewhere coastal, where I can explore, try new restaurants and lounge on the beach.
My first job was… Selling greeting cards door to door when I was just 8 years old.
My favorite escape… Reading a good novel (usually a New York Times bestseller or something on Oprah’s list) or a book about leadership and business topics, watching drama movies or a crime TV show, and traveling somewhere new.
My life… Sometimes I jokingly refer to my life as organized chaos – but truly, it’s so very full! I love nothing more than having a good conversation with my kids while running errands around town, and while it seems like I’m constantly in motion, I feel it’s more beneficial productivity than just busy-ness. I’m a doer, so when I’m active, I feel I’m my best self. My relationships are also so important to me, and I’m so thankful to be surrounded by good friends, an amazing work team and my loving family.
I’m currently working on… At eeCPA, we’re currently in the process of developing a rockstar training system (which definitely feeds into my passion for education). The goal of this new system is to accelerate the pace and depth of learning as well as support comprehensive mastery so that employees can more quickly become independent in their accounting practice. This really helps young professionals problem solve effectively without impacting work quality and increases their confidence in their work along the way.
Always… I always, always double check! Whether it’s my numbers (as my grandpa used to say, never use the calculator without the tape!), my door locks or my curling iron, I always double verify to make sure they’re correct, locked and unplugged, respectively.
Never… I absolutely never get to inbox zero – email is a constant in my life! But that said, I also never leave someone hanging. If you reach out to me, you will always get a response and follow up.
Favorite Quote… I have two:
“I’m convinced that about half of what separates the successful entrepreneurs from the nonsuccessful ones is pure perseverance.” – Steve Jobs
“Energy and persistence conquer all things.” – Benjamin Franklin
Biggest Dream… On the personal side, my dream is to have a house on the beach with a fleet of jet skis. Professionally, I truly want to create and leave a lasting legacy for my kids.
My Pet Peeve(s)… My greatest pet peeve is when someone is unresponsive or does not follow through with something they said they would. Communication is so critical to everything we do in life!
Bio-on yourself/company: Elizabeth Hale is the visionary founder and CEO of eeCPA, a leading accounting resource in Scottsdale. With over 30 years of experience, Elizabeth is a trusted advisor and strategist who transforms growth-minded companies by demystifying complex accounting challenges.
From her entrepreneurial ventures as a child to building and selling a wholesale distribution center by age 30, Elizabeth understands the challenges business owners face and how to overcome them. She has built eeCPA’s range of services to support driven and unconventional entrepreneurs in achieving their goals. Additionally, she is the founder of The Cash Source, providing hard money lending to individuals and businesses.
Elizabeth is a published author, sought-after speaker, and respected financial expert, sharing valuable insights on maintaining cash flow, improving profitability, and staying ahead of technological advancements. She holds a Bachelor of Science in Accounting from St. John Fisher College in Rochester, N.Y.
Elizabeth’s leadership has had a transformative impact on eeCPA’s clients, guiding them toward greater revenue generation and financial success. She is also deeply involved in the community, including hosting an annual Charity Day, in which she helps businesses maximize their charitable contributions while also generously benefiting local nonprofit organizations.
Through her mentorship and guidance, Elizabeth empowers her team at eeCPA to excel, fostering a collaborative and supportive workplace culture. Under her leadership, eeCPA experienced remarkable growth in 2022, with a 47% increase in top-line revenue and a 50% expansion of the employee count. Elizabeth’s dedication to mentoring extends to her employees, helping them achieve their goals and providing valuable guidance along the way.
