Chris Pembrook, CPA, CGAP, CFA “Life moves pretty fast. If you don’t stop and look around once in a while, you could miss it.” ~Ferris Bueller

For Chris Pembrook, CPA, CGAP, CFA, a manager with Crawford & Associates, P.C. in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, his greatest personal achievement is his family. “All parents hope to provide opportunities

for their children to have what they may not have had and to turn out better than they ever were,” Pembrook said. “I have been blessed to see that my sons, while being typical boys, are already learning to put the needs of others before their own.” Pembrook’s sons – Riddec, age 8, and

Chris’s Trail mix If I weren’t a CPA, I would be a: Film critic

One thing I won’t be caught dead doing is: Eating a salad

One thing on my bucket list is: Visiting Fenway Park

My nickname is: “Rain Man” March/April 2016 CPAFOCUS 25

Madden, age 4 – actively participate in school fundraisers to help those in need. Riddec, along with his classmates, raised $40,652 for the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society through a month-long fundraiser, Bald for Our Buddy. He also participates in his school’s Boosterthon, a fun-run to raise money for his school. Both Riddec and Madden participate in Pennies for Pasta, a nationwide program that benefits The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society’s School & Youth Program. Last year the program raised a record-breaking $4.2 million. “While I would like to take credit for

their ability to give to and care for others, it is definitely a job for more than one person,” Pembrook said. “My wife, Lindsey, a kindergarten teacher, has instilled her personality and giving attitude upon our entire family.”

Pembrook and his wife have been married

for 11 years and attended the same school in Holdenville, Oklahoma, as well as the same college, East Central University in Ada, Oklahoma.

“My dad lived on the block behind her mom’s house,” Pembrook said. “Her best friend married my best friend and they set us up while we were attending college.” Pembrook said another achievement was

becoming a public speaker for CPE events. “Chris has taken a leading role, both

locally and nationally, as a recognized speaker at various CPE programs over the past two years,” said Frank Crawford, CPA, president at Crawford & Associates, P.C. Pembrook, an OSCPA member for six years,

is a member of the Governmental Accounting and Auditing Committee and has presented at its Government Accounting and Auditing Conference. Additionally, he has given presentations to

the West Virginia, Mississippi and Oklahoma State Auditor’s Offices; the Arkansas Office of State Finance; the Kentucky Association for Government Accountants; the National Association of State Auditors, Comptrollers and Treasures; and Thomson Reuters. “Anyone that knew me growing up would

never believe I could speak to large audiences, or any audience, for a single minute, let alone a full day,” Pembrook said.