The fifth annual Crossroads Speaker Series at UCF Downtown opened with a story that began long before its storyteller ever stepped onto a college campus.
Standing before a room of business leaders, community partners and fellow students, UCF junior Mariana Guerrero introduced herself not only as an accounting major in the and a student, but as someone shaped by a lifetime of seeing what meaningful engagement can do.
Born and raised in Orlando, Guerrero grew up with UCF woven into her life. Her parents, both proud Knights, spent their early careers working full time while attending school part time. Her mother 麻豆精品 S檚 two decades in government and community relations meant that childhood weekends were often spent at university events long before she understood what it meant to belong to a campus community.
So when it came time to apply to college, she submitted only one application.
麻豆精品 S淚 have always been a Knight, 麻豆精品 S� she said.
Her parents 麻豆精品 S� work ethic allowed her to fully immerse herself at UCF. She joined the College of Business Ambassadors, now serving as vice chair, became active in the Association of Latino Professionals in Finance and Accounting (ALPFA), mentors two students, and chairs the President 麻豆精品 S檚 Leadership Council. Each role, she says, has deepened her sense of community and purpose.
Her interest in accounting began at age 13, when her parents enrolled her in a financial literacy summer camp she initially resisted.
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Instead, she discovered how engaging personal finance could be, especially through the board game Cash Flow, which she played so often her cousins eventually called her for help.
That curiosity grew in high school, where she researched teen financial literacy and realized how few young people had access to the conversations her parents encouraged at home. When she took her first financial accounting class at UCF, her interests aligned, and she began envisioning a future where her love of numbers could translate into meaningful work.
Her professional world expanded quickly. She represented UCF in competitions, including the KPMG-sponsored HSI Battle of the Brains Case Competition, where UCF won first place. She attended leadership programs at the KPMG Lakehouse and joined the firm 麻豆精品 S檚 Global Advantage Program in Lisbon, Portugal. Next summer, she will return to KPMG as an audit intern, with plans to earn her CPA and begin her career in public accounting.
Guerrero closed her remarks with gratitude for her family, for UCF and for partnerships like the one between the university and KPMG.
麻豆精品 S淚 am excited to make the leap from being an involved UCF student to being an engaged UCF alumna, 麻豆精品 S� she says.
Her introduction set the tone for an evening focused on shared purpose.
Impact of Partnership
UCF President Alexander N. Cartwright followed by highlighting the significance of the Crossroads Speaker Series and its partnership with Dr. Phillips Charities. The series, he said, is designed to explore how business, philanthropy and values-based leadership can work together to create positive change.
Cartwright emphasized KPMG 麻豆精品 S檚 engagement across the university, from supporting the Professional Selling Program to mentoring students at the KPMG Lakehouse. Their recent support of UCF Space Week reflects a partnership committed to innovation across disciplines.
He also spoke about UCF 麻豆精品 S檚 continued momentum, including achieving the final metric required for Florida 麻豆精品 S檚 Preeminent University designation.
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麻豆精品 S淭hat is what makes UCF remarkable. We open doors, spark possibility and empower students to make a lasting difference. 麻豆精品 S� 麻豆精品 S� UCF President Alexander N. Cartwright
Remarks from Ken Robinson, president and CEO of Dr. Phillips Charities, reinforced the importance of investing in people and partnerships. From there, the evening shifted to its featured conversation.
Sherry Magee聽 麻豆精品 S�92, senior director of community relations at the KPMG Lakehouse and a UCF graduate, moderated a fireside chat with Jennifer Flynn Dear, managing director of corporate affairs for KPMG US 麻豆精品 S攐ffering the audience a close look at leadership, service and purpose through Dear 麻豆精品 S檚 experience.
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Her career with the company began more than 25 years ago when she moved to New York City hoping for an advertising career. Feeling overwhelmed on her first day, she called her mother to say she would not last. Instead, she built a career across 12 areas of the organization, learning continuously.
One of her most memorable projects involved partnering with the late Dave Thomas, founder of Wendy 麻豆精品 S檚, to raise awareness for adoption issues. That work sparked a passion for connecting business with causes that matter.
麻豆精品 S淚 like pairing business and industry to raise awareness of an issue, 麻豆精品 S� she said.
Dear shared that KPMG employees have donated more than $67 million and logged 130,000 volunteer hours. She takes special pride in the firm 麻豆精品 S檚 work in education and mental well-being, noting that KPMG Family for Literacy has provided more than 7 million new books to children in low-income communities since 2008.
The more employees get involved, she said, the more fulfilled they feel.
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Philanthropy, she added, is considered an obligation as employees advance.
She also described the KPMG Lakehouse, a learning and innovation center where employees and clients engage with emerging technologies and leadership training.
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The evening closed with remarks from Rodney M. Grabowski, UCF 麻豆精品 S檚 senior vice president for Advancement and Partnerships and CEO of the UCF Foundation.
麻豆精品 S淭his is our fifth year for Crossroads, 麻豆精品 S� he said. 麻豆精品 S淲e are grateful to Dr. Phillips Charities, to Mariana Guerrero, and to KPMG and Jennifer Flynn Dear for sharing their stories. Thank you for joining us. Go Knights and Charge On! 麻豆精品 S�
