As an auditor, not everyone will like you. That is the nature of the job. I have found if I treat others as I would want to be treated, demonstrate my good intentions, and strive to use a calm tone of voice, my outcomes are enhanced. This helps me make recommendations, give competent counsel, and impact the company in a real and measurable way.

I have grown in many ways since I began at Ford Motor Company in 1995, but I remain rooted in my family and the Midwestern values they instilled in me. 

I was recruited right out of the University of New Mexico to Ford Motor Company’s Ford College Graduate Program.

Acceptance into this program meant that Ford allowed me to travel and work in various departments, which was a perfect opportunity for a curious kid who liked to learn. 

I enjoyed everything I was able to put my hand to, but found a home when I rotated into the General Auditor’s Office.

I found that my natural curiosity and desire to learn made me an excellent fit for analysis and that Internal Audit was a place where I could make a difference for the company. After an audit, I could make valuable recommendations and measure the impact my efforts had on the bottom line. I embraced this role, and I believe, excelled in it.

During my 11 years at Ford, I worked as an Internal Auditor in the General Auditor’s Office – Financial and Treasury Division/Global Audit and Control. I also worked as an Internal Control Coordinator/S-OX Analyst while assigned to Automotive Component Holdings Inc., LLC (a 100% Ford owned manufacturing subsidiary). I was also a Financial Analyst for Global Operations and in an advanced Manufacturing powertrain engine plant utilizing Japanese inspired quality controls and a Zone Manager in Ford Sales Division and in customer service for Ford Fleet National Sales.

I audited complex corporate entities, including the following:

• Ford Motor Credit Company branch locations in North America
• Ford Customer Service Centers
• Ford Credit National Attorney Network
• Ford Credit National Collection Agencies
• Ford Money Market
• Automotive Components Holdings Inc., LLC (another 100% Ford owned manufacturing subsidiary).

Ford also allowed me to work with global markets. I provided critical financial analysis and personnel reporting for Ford Motor Company World Headquarters in the Ford Asia Pacific and Africa Division. At the time, Ford’s fastest-growing global markets included: China, Japan, Thailand, Philippines, Vietnam, India, South Africa, Indonesia, Taiwan and Australia. This necessitated that I work with a variety of time zones at all day and night hours.

I thoroughly enjoyed my time with Ford Motor Company and look back upon it with enormous pride. I feel as though I contributed a large portion of my professional life to Ford and in return, Ford made an equally large contribution to my life. I loved the team members I worked with – many of whom remain my close friends to this day. I enjoyed the travel, the hard work and the growth I made personally and professionally while working at Ford Motor Company.

Above all else, I value my family. So in 2007, when my parents retired to Arizona and fell ill, I left my home in Michigan to care for them. This was a personal decision and not a professional one. I am happy to report that my parents are now well (we were able to build them a support network and get them set up with the services they needed.) I found other positions in Arizona that I enjoyed, and that enabled me to continue my growth as a professional.

Since 2007 I have primarily worked for the University of Arizona and then Pima Community College. I began as a senior auditor at U of A, then made a lateral move to Pima, where I ultimately became the Director of the Office of the Internal Auditor.

At Ford, there was a structure to everything we did as auditors. There were protocols, reports and systems for how we went about our work. When I switched to academia, I had to adjust to the higher education culture with different protocols, reports and systems. It was a new and challenging role, and one I am proud to say I succeeded in.

I developed risk assessments, performed complex internal audits of many of the college’s functional areas. I developed audit reports for senior administration, the College Board of Governors, Finance and Audit Committee and the Arizona Board of Regents Audit Committee. I also held an advisory role to the group that implemented new information technologies with a $90 million budget.

I loved the opportunity to be an innovator, to improve my communication skills and to grow as a leader. Some of the department heads I worked with had never been audited, and as you might imagine, were not sure why they needed to be. Eventually, I helped them understand my purpose, the scope of an audit, and our outcome. My recommendations helped me become a trusted advisor to my co-workers.

Kia is a world-class innovative South Korean global automotive manufacturer with 2023 global sales of 3.1 million vehicles, 788 United States Kia dealerships, and 91.81 trillion annual revenue (Korean won).

Next up on my adventure through life was an exciting new role with Kia. Located just one state away, in the great and beautiful state of California. I developed very positive, meaningful, and strong working relationships with my fellow Kia America Team members across the organization and excelled in my role as National Manager, Internal Audit, at Kia America, Inc. I was honored to lead the transformation of the Kia America Internal Audit Team into a world-class innovative audit organization in partnership with the Kia Team, including senior management. I became a trusted advisor and agent of change to enhance our Kia processes on all levels in my role. 

I managed all functions of the Kia Dealership Audit Team nationally and the Corporate Audit Team (Head of Internal Audit) including developing new audit risk assessments, planning, fieldwork, and reporting with coverage for 784 Kia dealerships. I was a successful Team Leader who managed seven (7) Kia Dealership Audit Team members and two (2) Kia Corporate Audit Team members, including managers and senior auditors. I completed a record number of Kia dealership audits in 2023, 131 audits, and reported the audit results to Kia Senior Management and Kia dealership owners.

I expanded the external whistleblower NAVEX Global EthicsPoint hotline and incident management software. I also successfully managed, utilized, and enhanced the customized AuditBoard OpsAudit Internal Audit management system for Kia dealership audits to improve efficiency of audit processes and audit findings data.

I always welcome new opportunities, unique challenges, relationships, and adventures that lie ahead in my innovative unconventional life. 

I’m exploring new opportunities to grow both professionally and personally by forming new meaningful relationships in the future.