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Jeffrey Curtiss

Committee Chairman
KBR, Inc
Houston, TX

 

Jeffrey Curtiss is living proof that sometimes success is simply a matter of channeling your energy to the right places. Just consider how he spent his time in high school. “I was a bad boy,” he says, talking about all the trouble he used to get into – everything from riding motorcycles to shaking down classmates for money.

All of which may come as a surprise to anyone who knows him now. Jeffrey is the chairman of the audit committee for KBR, Inc., one of the largest and oldest construction and engineering firms in the world, with nearly 60,000 employees. He’s had executive positions in several large, successful companies. He’s also the president of the Houston chapter of Financial Executives International.

How did he overcome his bad-boy tendencies? “Persistence and a commitment to excellence often wins over talent and even genius,” he explains.

Becoming a CPA was the perfect fit for Jeffrey. “It’s a unique profession that offers an opportunity to meet and interact with people from all types of cultures and backgrounds,” he says. “It’s a lifetime learning opportunity. You’re never too old if you’re continuing to learn.” Plus, it can help you focus all that restless energy on the right things. In Jeffrey’s case, that’s probably good for everybody.

Got questions of your own? Ask a CPA.