David Almonte, CPA, CGMA – 2019 40 Under 40 Honoree

• Eagle Scout
• The Community College of Rhode Island Outstanding Alumni Squire Award for Outstanding Professional Achievement – 2018
• AICPA Financial Literacy Media Tour (live TV and radio) – Spreading Financial Literacy Awareness and Education to 12+ Million Americans – 2016
• AICPA Legacy Scholar Coach – 2015-2017
• Rhode Island State Police Citizens Academy – 2015
• AICPA Leadership Academy – 2014
• Quoted in Various Local and National Media Outlets, Including: CNBC, CNBC + Acorns, US News & World Report, Kiplinger, Journal of Accountancy, AICPA.org, CPA2BIZ.com, Providence Business News, CGMA Leadership Report, and Investopedia.com
• Local and National Public Speaker – Accounting Fraud, Leadership, Financial Literacy
• FountainHead RI- Co-founder
• Vision of providing a platform for millennial engagement in Rhode Island (and beyond) to foster professional development, connect cross-generational leaders, and promote sustainability efforts to drive the next generation forward
• Community of 500+ in 3 years

What are you doing to make a difference in the profession, your community, the world?

A few years back I took on the mantra of “saying yes to anything that scares me professionally” and it has truly been life changing. Pushing myself outside my comfort zone daily has forced me to take on roles and say yes to opportunities that I would normally have run from in the past, such as being one of the faces for the AICPA Financial Literacy Commission in their nation-wide media tour in 2016, starting a not for profit, FountainHead RI, or seeing the need for a mentoring program at work and helping to create it from scratch.    

Favorite books/websites/speakers that you find influential:

• Books – 212: The Extra Degree by Sam Parker, Fierce Conversations by Susan Scott, Originals by Adam Grant, Unplug by Suze Yalof Schwartz, and Extreme Ownership by Jocko Willink and Leif Babin
• Speakers – Simon Sinek, Darren Hardy, Tony Robbins and Ernie Almonte   

What do you see yourself doing professionally in 10 years?

I would probably have better luck guessing who is going to win the super bowl in 10 years (probably still the Patriots) than answering exactly where I will be in my career in 10 years in the rapidly advancing world we live in today. What I can promise you is that I will continue to push myself outside my comfort zone and surround myself with individuals who will hold me accountable to pushing the limits of my personal growth. In 10 years, I hope that I have played a vital role in helping to shape the next generation of leaders. What is the point of climbing the world’s tallest mountain if when you get to the top and look around you are all alone? We must “lift as we climb” as we progress in our careers to pave the path for those who follow. 

What accounting conferences do you normally attend?

• AICPA Engage
• Past Planning Committee Member and Speaker – AICPA’s National Not for Profit and Governmental Training Program Conference

What websites/magazines do you use to keep up on news of the accounting profession?

• Journal of Accountancy
• Financial Management Magazine 
• CPA Practice Advisor
• AICPA – CPA Letter Daily
• Accounting Today
• Harvard Business Review

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See all of the “40 Under 40” honorees for 2019.