There are times when something that seems like no big deal can lead to an opportunity that  lasts a lifetime. That was the case with Sandy Shoemaker, Missouri State, who had a scheduling conflict and wasn't able to attend a (Deltasig rival) business fraternity event with a college friend. Instead, she saw an invite to a Delta Sigma Pi event another evening and decided to attend. 

"I was hooked," Shoemaker says. "Everyone took me in from the beginning and that was that." 

So, a schedule conflict led to a lifetime of friendships and support from Deltasig, and the Fraternity is better for it - Shoemaker has given back through many leadership roles, including serving as a Foundation Trustee and through significant financial contributions to Delta Sigma Pi. 

Business from the beginning
Shoemaker's interested in business started before college. "It's a tribute to my mom," Shoemaker says. "She made all of us take an accounting class in high school, and I found accounting came naturally to me. It's a language I understood."

She also understood the importance of networking, and said she started collecting business cards as a kid (and still collects them today). "I'm an outgoing person, which is not typical for accountants," Sandy says, adding her involvement in Delta Sigma Pi has helped her build her business relationships. 

"When I look back, Deltasig let me learn how to network in a comfortable environment. I learned how to build a network and keep it going. My closest friends to this day are my brothers.

The combination of accounting and interpersonal skills has helped Shoemaker succeed and is something she cultivates in people who work with her.

"Have an interaction; have a conversation. That can be the best way to find out if there's something not proper in the company's books," Shoemaker says. "When you're looking for something wrong in the company's books, sometimes you can't pull it out of the numbers, but you can see it in their faces."

A people-focused career
Shoemaker continued her focus on building personal relationships when she started her career, avoiding big accounting firms and joining a regional company in Waco, Texas. 

"I wanted to get close to the people and get close to my clients," Shoemaker says. "This has stuck with me throughout my career."

A few years later, Shoemaker had the chance to work for accounting firm EKS&H's Denver office. In addition to being a great professional opportunity, the Denver landscape captivated her. "It was two weeks before Halloween and there was snow on the mountains - it was absolutely gorgeous," she says, adding she took the job before she boarded her flight home.

The enterprising brother helped expand the firm, starting with 70 people and growing to 700 before a recent merger with Plante Moran. She attributes the growth to strong partners who cared about the firm's people, which was something clients could see.

"We have a team of great accountants, but I think the common denominator is that we have people who want to connect and learn the story behind the numbers," Shoemaker says. "There needs to be a human touch to the process."

Balancing more than books
Shoemaker also believes that keeping life in balance has been essential to her success. She credits partners who encouraged her to take time off with showing her how to build a healthy culture.

"Even after 30 years in business, you still need to be able to step away and take a break," Shoemaker says. "It's important to keep yourself in balance."

She continues to enjoy Colorado living when it's time to recharge, enjoying a glass of wine with friends on her deck overlooking the region's famous red rocks. "Being with friends is really the best thing ever for me," Shoemaker says.

Having good mentors has also helped Shoemaker throughout her career. Among them is Delta Sigma Pi Lifetime Achievement recipient and PGP Norm Kromberg. "We've been friends since 1991. He's always there to give support and also challenge me to dig deeper."

Shoemaker has also mentored others throughout her career, particularly supporting women in their business careers, and was recognized as an Outstanding Women in Business nominee by the Denver Business Journal.

"I feel like when I started out, I did a lot of things wrong. I put in too many hours, missing out on stuff that I regret now," Shoemaker says. "Being successful in business means taking the time to do things that matter. People will respect you more if you do."

She also advocates for adding more women to board positions. "If there's a board with one woman on it, you're checking a box. With two women, the men on the board think the women will talk to each other. But with three or more women, you're getting a true mix of opinions and ideas," Shoemaker says.

Cutting edge accounting
When asked what's going to change in her industry in the coming years, Shoemaker says technology in revolutionizing the industry. "Our world is going to get turned upside down in the next five years," Shoemaker says. "If you look at any business, you're seeing the goods and services that business offers being delivered through technology. We are turning to technology-based auditing processes. We can do stronger, better and more through work with better data analytics for our clients. Technology presents new opportunities for fraud, but better ways to catch anomalies within datasets."

Giving back
Shoemaker has supported Delta Sigma Pi throughout her career. "It's just something very important to me. Getting involved with Delta Sigma Pi changed my life and I felt I had to give back. I have a chance to pass on what I learned, and use my professional skill sets to help the organization raise money and be sustainable," the Leadership Foundation Trustee Emeritus says.

She also supports Economic Literacy Colorado. This group helps give teachers the resources to know how to teach financial topics. "This helps our kids get the skills they need to be contributing members of society," Shoemaker says. "Things like balancing a checkbook or buying a house, everyday decisions not covered in school."

Brother Shoemaker also was recently appointed by Colorado Governor Jared Polis to the Colorado Employee Ownership Commission. Her four-year term will focus on developing and advancing employee-owned businesses.

A great example of an engaged alum, the busy brother plans to build on her success while staying in touch with the lifelong friends she made in Delta Sigma Pi, a journey that started with a chance visit to an event decades ago.

"This organization has given so much to me -- it's made a difference both personally and professionally throughout my life." 

By: Rob Pasquinucci