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Some may say I was a precocious three-year-old, but my Dad, Rowan J. Helferty, Jr., would have said, “inspired,” because that’s exactly what he did for me.
When I was three, Dad took a huge leap of faith and bought a downtown Dunedin building for his law office, Rowan J. Helferty, Jr., Attorney At Law. The first time I walked into 315 Main Street—today, known as The Black Pearl restaurant—I knew I wanted to do the same thing: own my own business in the area. But what business would that be?
Well, it goes a little something like this:
At a very young age, I knew counting came easy to me. Dad would come home every night and pull all of his change out of his pockets and drop it on the table. If I could correctly add it up—which, because you all know I love a challenge, I always got it right—I got to put that change in my piggy bank.
Eventually, we took that well-earned money and opened my first bank account. A few months later, when my bank “short-changed” me, Dad encouraged me to write a letter to them advising I would take my business elsewhere if they didn’t correct their wrong. They did correct that wrong, and this memory of my dad is one of countless others forever stitched in my heart.
That change game with my dad went on for years until he passed away in 1980. While I was still a young child and our time together was cut short, his selfless devotion to his kids and family remains a part of us today. I’d give anything to tell him, little did he know, those moments we shared would impress upon me a lifetime of motivation, inspiration, strength and determination.
I could sit here for hours and write about how my dad inspired me to become the woman I am today. But for now…
Dad, you were right there with me when I cut the ribbon during the open house for my CPA firm, and you inspire me every day at the office when I walk by “Kristina’s Korner,” a space dedicated to you. Thank you for giving me every opportunity as a child to grow into the strong and determined woman and business owner I am today. You were, are, and will always be, my inspiration. I hope you’re making “snow angels” in the sand. I love you.
-Kristina
And then there's my mom - feisty, smart and the other reason I am the person I am today.
Almost immediately after my father passed away, my mom had to completely change careers so she could raise two kids as a single mother. She took on a straight 1099 commission position and over the next 14 years, Mom was the top sales “woman” each and every year. When I was 13, my mom’s CPA taught me how to maintain Mom’s monthly accounting; this priceless knowledge would save Mom a ton of money and was a great experience for me… especially when she got audited by the IRS and I was able to prove THEY OWED HER money! An accountant was born.
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