Have You Met?

Armando Roman’s recital of his non-profit endeavors is a fascinating mix of diverse cultures. From the Jewish Family and Children’s Services, to the Native American Advisory Council, to the Arizona Hispanic Chamber of Commerce, this bilingual Hispanic CPA has successfully tapped into the many ethnic groups that make up the rich cultural diversity of the Arizona community. “We don’t just talk corporate diversity at ROMAN & COMPANY CPA'S, P.C., we truly practice it. Because we have such a diverse staff, a client – an Indian tribe – has a running joke with me that we’re the United Nations”. He is also proud of his professional practice in that “We always compare ourselves to the best CPA firms out there and by doing so, we continue to improve processes, operations and client service. We continuously improve the overall quality of the practice”.

Armando is particularly enthused about the firm’s relationship with the Tohono O’odham Nation, a federally recognized Indian tribe located in rural Arizona. Tohono O’odham is the third largest tribe in the United States after the Cherokee and Navajo Nations. They are also only the second tribe in Arizona to found a Native American college for higher learning, in operation for the last six years. Armando serves on the Community College Capital Campaign Committee, devotedly working to raise money for building a permanent campus for the school.

Public radio was the first recipient of Armando’s nonprofit work. When he arrived in Phoenix shortly after graduating from college he wanted to do something for the community. He started reading for Sun Sounds of Arizona, which features volunteers reading magazines and books that are recorded on tape for visually impaired persons. Fourteen years later, he became one of three founding members of Friends of Public Radio Arizona, which was incorporated to raise money and awareness for the benefit of Arizona public radio stations KBAQ and KJZZ. Friends of Public Radio Arizona also supports Sun Sounds.

Other nonprofit organizations that Roman belongs to are Maricopa Health Foundation, ASU West School of Global Management and Leadership Business Advisory Council, and AZ Society of CPAs. Armando laughs that “As a CPA, I’m usually appointed treasurer of any group I belong to!”

Armando is the proud father of three children. He says he “devotes weekends to the family. We just enjoy hanging out together in the back yard.” He grew up as the third child of a family of four boys. Working summers in the family concrete business, digging footings and shoveling concrete was “Too physical! It was good motivation for me to go to college.” Through his focus and innovation, many Arizona nonprofits have benefited from Armando Roman’s dedication and expertise.

What are your volunteer activities? Friends of Public Radio Arizona, Jewish Family and Children’s Services, Maricopa Health Foundation, Maricopa Community Colleges Native American Advisory Council, Arizona State University West School of Global Management and Leadership Business Advisory Council, Arizona Hispanic Chamber of Commerce, Tohono O’odham Community College Capital Campaign Committee, Arizona Society of Certified Public Accountants.

Which social event is your favorite? Kids’ birthday parties – I have as much fun as the kids.

Favorite Restaurant? Ayakos – their fresh scallops and hot tea are great.

Who is your hero and why? Michael Dell. He started an incredibly successful company at a very young age. He was a pioneer who went against the grain and won.

If your life were a movie, who would you want to play your part? A new face, a no-name actor.

What gives a woman/man style? Sincerity.

Do you have any Pets? One Akita, lots of bunnies and western banded geckos.

When you move, what will your home tell its next owner, about you? Simple, functional, desert living with minimal yard work.

What words describe you best? Focused, determined, thorough, detail oriented, innovative.

What words would you like others to use to describe you? Smart, do-er, hard working, responsible, dependable.

What was your first job? Digging footings and shoveling concrete during the summer in Yuma.

What is the trait you most deplore in others? Complainers who complain about their situation but do nothing to improve it.

What is your greatest indulgence? Technology. I have the best technology at my company and at my home office.

What is the greatest gift you have ever given and received? Greatest gift received is my 3 kids; greatest ongoing gift is that I get to be their Dad. Greatest gift I’ve given is a portable cassette player, spare batteries and about a dozen books on tape that I gave to my wife’s grandfather, an avid reader. His Alzheimer’s had progressed making his hands shake so much that he couldn’t hold a book anymore to read.

What or who is the greatest love of your life? I love to be with and do things with my family.

What is your current state of mind? Life is good; the best is yet to come.

What do you consider to be your greatest achievement? Founding and establishing ROMAN & COMPANY CPA'S, P.C. and AXIOM Financial Resources, Inc. as proud members of the Arizona business community. It has taken 11 years of my life to build these professional services firms. We now serve clients all across the United States. We have successfully developed a Native American Services Division, which has worked with 18 of the 22 Native American tribes in Arizona over the past 10 years. A more recent achievement is my free lance business writing, which I started three years ago. I am now a business writer and columnist for Los Angeles-based La Opinion, the largest Spanish language newspaper in the United States, the second most read newspaper in Los Angeles after the Los Angeles Times. Other magazines and newspapers in Texas, New York, Florida and Arizona also carry my business articles.

What is the quality you most like in a man? Honesty.

What is the quality you most like in a woman? Sincerity.

Favorite books / Writers? I read business books, all kinds of business books by various authors.

What one thing would you change about yourself? I am improving my written and spoken Spanish language skills. I will have this done by December 31, 2005.

What is the best advice you have ever received? Spend time with your kids while they’re young.