Johnathan Daniel
ProAssurance
Birmingham, AL USA
"If you take a step back and observe, bring humility, come with a good heart every day, and come wanting to serve, things just have a way of working themselves out."
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Johnathan's work combines: Business, Numbers, and Working with Others
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Day In The Life
Skills &
Education
Advice for getting started
My dad was my biggest supporter but he did not want me to leave our small town to go away for college. I believe that if you have a dream, go after it. You should still listen to those you love if they doubt you. Digest their views and reflect on their doubts. Then use those doubts as a way to sharpen and enhance your position. Then, proceed with faith in pursuit of your dreams. Today, my dad is proud of me for having followed my dreams.
Here's the path I took:
High School
Associate's Degree
Heating, Air Conditioning, Ventilation and Refrigeration Maintenance Technology/Technician
Gadsden State Community College
Bachelor's Degree
Accounting
University of Alabama
Certification
Certified Public Accountant (CPA)
Certification
Certified Valuation Analyst
Life & Career Milestones
My path in life took a while to figure out
1.
My parents divorced when I was seven and my dad gained custody of me—he repaired appliances as a side job, so I often went with him on jobs and learned how to work at a very young age.
2.
I grew up in a small town, so career and mentorship options were very limited.
3.
In high school, I spent my summers working with my dad on service calls for heating, cooling, and refrigeration—I also completed courses at a community college while still in high school.
4.
Shortly after graduating high school, I got my HVAC (heating, ventilation, and air conditioning) certification.
5.
A man I was working for in my 20s convinced me to go to college for accounting, so I enrolled in the University of Alabama.
6.
I thought I would just get my accounting degree and then go back to HVAC, but I was offered a position at the Big Four firm PricewaterhouseCoopers (PwC) after graduating, and decided to take the job.
7.
I left PwC and joined another firm because I wanted to explore consulting and business valuation beyond auditing.
8.
I am currently the vice president and corporate controller of ProAssurance—I also continue to make an effort to keep my HVAC certification current and valid.
Defining Moments
How I responded to discouragement
THE NOISE
Messages from Parents:
You shouldn't leave home to go away for school.
How I responded:
My dad was my biggest supporter but he did not want me to leave our small town to go away for college. I believe that if you have a dream, go after it. You should still listen to those you love if they doubt you. Digest their views and reflect on their doubts. Then use those doubts as a way to sharpen and enhance your position. Then, proceed with faith in pursuit of your dreams. Today, my dad is proud of me for having followed my dreams.
Experiences and challenges that shaped me
My dad worked in maintenance and repaired appliances on the side. He taught me how to work and I didn't really have an urgency to go to college beyond getting my AA. I received advice later on that pushed me to go to college for accounting.
I got my HVAC certification and was working in that field. I went to college for accounting and thought I'd get my degree and go back to HVAC until I got an offer from a Big Four company that set me on the corporate accounting path.