Welcome, 2011!

More than a new year, it marks my ninth year at Tronconi Segarra & Associates LLP, a certified public accounting and business consulting firm located in Western New York.

When I first joined the firm back in January 2003, we were relatively small, having approximately 35 employees. Currently, that number sits around 85. So you can imagine that I've seen many young professionals launch their post-college lives just as I did, faced with the monumental decision of what they ultimately want: a "career" or a "job."

"Career" is defined as an individual's course or progress through life and usually pertains to remunerative work. "Job" is defined as a regular activity performed in exchange for payment. Our world needs both. This is why it's so important to know yourself and be honest with yourself about what makes you happy - now, and down the road. I believe that our region offers a fantastic venue for young professionals to pursue and reach their career goals and create that perfect work-life balance that so many of us seek.

Several of my friends and colleagues, many of whom fit both "career" and "job" definitions, have held multiple jobs and titles at various employers in Western New York. Perhaps they haven't found the right employer/employee fit or the right career path yet. It's not a perfect science. Some are lucky enough to find it right out of the gate.

Once I was sure of the field I wanted to enter, my thought process went something like this: Do I want to work at a large, regional firm or a smaller, local firm? (There can be advantages and disadvantages to both.) Do I stay in Western New York or move away? (Have I done my homework about the opportunities that exist both here and in other cities? Could I adjust to living away from family and friends, coming back home only once or twice a year for a visit?) Do I want to try and make a career in public accounting or eventually work at a private company? First things first. None of these questions can be answered without a potential employer in the mix to get a better picture of exactly what you are, or aren't, choosing.

In 2002, before graduating from college, and after numerous interviews and eventually (thankfully!) multiple job offers in hand, I could begin to answer those important questions. As luck would have it, I had two close friends and soon-to-be co-workers at the predecessor firm of Tronconi Segarra. After a series of interviews with a variety of individuals within the firm, and with many questions asked and answered on both sides, I made my decision.

After all the questioning, pondering and finally deciding - what comes next? Enter the reality of life in the workforce. While many young graduates often start their post-educational lives with a job, I knew this was the start of my career. How did I know? My new employer "fit" the vision I had in my mind about what working life would be like.

Among the firms I interviewed with, Tronconi Segarra suited my personality best, and I felt most comfortable when talking with them. I wanted more than a job, and they offered me a career path. I also knew my career was only going to be as successful as I made it. Simply coming to work at 8:30 a.m. and leaving at 5:30 p.m. would not measure up to the firm's expectations for a staff accountant who set his sights on the corner office.

How did I start on the path from entry level to - well, hopefully one day - the corner office? I found one answer to that question in an organization designed to bring young professionals together and promote the accounting profession : the Young CPAs, a subcommittee of the New York State Society of Certified Public Accountants. Every major city in New York state has a chapter, and within a couple of years, I found myself chairman of the Buffalo chapter. Although considered a major city in New York, I've always thought of Buffalo as a small town ... one where the theory of 6 degrees of separation seems to be more like 2 degrees of separation. Networking in Western New York is what you make of it. Whether you're a CPA, lawyer, banker or insurance broker, there are plenty of events and opportunities to expand your network and grow as a professional.

It is fair to say that while a large portion of my daily routine is influenced by my firm and my clients, I purposefully make time for activities and things that I find interesting and that benefit both me and the community. I became involved with the Taste of Buffalo in 2003 through the Young CPAs as a volunteer and am now on the board of directors and the treasurer of the event. It's the nation's second-largest food festival promoting Western New York. Not only do I feel a sense of pride by serving a charitable organization here in Western New York, but I've met people through my involvement that have become good friends and even new clients - none of which would have been possible without my choosing to become involved. Really involved.

Could my career have been as rewarding outside of Western New York? Probably. But the possibilities that exist here, together with support of friends, family, co-workers and the community (and a little bit of luck), seem to be the perfect formula to starting and growing a successful career as a young professional in Western New York.