Member Spotlight – Mary Fuller

   Mary K. Fuller, CPA
   Partner
   Shepard Schwartz & Harris, LLP

Identify your profession, company, position and primary responsibilities:

I am an audit and consulting partner with Shepard Schwartz & Harris LLP (SS&H).  SS&H is a leading tax, accounting and consulting firm serving privately owned enterprises.  I specialize in real estate audit, tax and consulting work related to shopping center, condominium conversion, industrial, and office properties.  I advise development entities and their owners, property management companies and investor partnerships on a wide range of real estate, audit, tax and forecasting matters.  I work with landlords and tenants relating to lease interpretation and I have served as an expert in landlord tenant litigation.  I also assist clients during the due diligence process when they buy or sell commercial real estate.

The part of my Career I find most gratifying is:

My clients are what keep me doing what I do.  I not only assist my clients with compliance work, but I like being there for them when they need someone to bounce around ideas and when I  am able to use my network and refer them to other people that I know.   Helping people is what drives me; whether it’s helping my staff, my partners, my clients, or my professional colleagues. 

The strongest influence on my professional career is:

I think there are many people that have influenced me during my career at different times.  I have to say my husband has been the strongest influence.  Although he gives me a hard time about working so much, he does support me with whatever I do and the decisions I make on a daily basis.  He has encouraged me to be my best and has supported me by helping with our daughters while they were growing up and I was pursuing my career. 

The traits I look for in my relationships:

Honesty, trustworthy, reliable, friendly, a sense of humor, a good listener

The best advice I’ve given is:

When my daughters were deciding what college to attend and what profession they wanted to pursue, I told them that they needed to find something that they enjoyed doing so much that even if they were not to get paid to do that type of work, they would still love doing it.  I did throw in a caveat that getting paid and supporting one’s self was a good thing.  I believe you need to have a passion for what you do.  I know I do.

 
The worst advice I’ve received is:

The worst advice I received was telling me that I didn’t need to prepare for a meeting and just show up.  I didn’t know anything about the client in advance and felt like I just stepped into the middle of someone else’s conversation.  I like to feel that I have added some value.  I am one to over prepare and try to anticipate my client’s questions before they ask.  I have never disappointed my clients by being over prepared.

When not engaged in professional endeavors, I:

I enjoy spending time with my family at our condo in Wisconsin and enjoying the outdoors.  I also like to garden, bake, decorate cakes and sew.

Books I’ve been recommending lately are:

I don’t usually have much time to read unless it is something relating to my professional development.  Recently one of my clients had recommended that I read “A Sense of Urgency” by John P. Kotter.  The book talks about change within an organization and one’s self.  In these unsettling and changing times, being willing to change is a necessity.

I am passionate about:

I am passionate about helping others; whether it is guiding and mentoring my daughters to be successful women, mentoring the younger people at our firm, mentoring college students, listening and helping colleagues, or helping my clients succeed with their businesses.

How long have you been a member of CREW and what makes you stay a member?

I have been a member of CREW since August 2007.  CREW is an excellent platform for women in the real estate industry to connect with other women involved in commercial real estate.  The educational programs are what first drew me to the organization, but the members are what have kept me involved.  The enthusiasm, professionalism, and camaraderie of the women within the organization are contagious.  Members are truly trying to help other members within their professional careers.  CREW helps women within the organization build long lasting relationships with others in the profession and provides the resources and support for women to succeed.  I am honored to serve as Treasurer and contribute to the organization.