Josh Billiard, CCIFP, is a familiar face around CFMA, whether you know him from presenting regionally, through CFMA's online courses, or at an Annual Conference & Exhibition. He took time out from his schedule to answer some questions so we could get to know him better. Check them out:
Q: What is your favorite movie?
A: My favorite movie is “Goodfellas.”
Q: What are you reading right now?
A: Right now I’m reading “The Worst Hard Time” (a book about the Dust Bowl).
Q: What’s the best piece of advice you’ve ever received?
A: The best piece of advice I’ve ever received is, "If you can control it, do it with all of your might. If you can't control it, don't worry about it and let the chips fall where they may."
Q: When did you become a CFMA member?
A: I became a CFMA member in 2013.
Q: What is your favorite part of your job?
A: My favorite part of my job is working with my colleagues and clients on unique/complex issues.
Q: What is your least favorite part of your job?
A: My least favorite part of my job is time tracking!
Q: What energizes you at work?
A: It energizes me at work when I see the joy from newer colleagues when they accomplish something and the lightbulb turns on when they begin to understand something new (attain their CPA/CCIFP, finish their first professional presentation at a conference, learn how to analyze and evaluate a WIP schedule, etc.).
Q: What is something you can never over-invest in?
A: You can never over-invest in training and development of people. Even if you know a person won't be in the profession for the long-haul, it's a win-win when time is invested in your people.
Q: What is something that you learned recently that impressed you or blew your mind?
A: Something I learned recently that impressed me/blew my mind is the true magnitude of $1 trillion. If you line up $1 bills lengthwise out from the service[1] of the Earth, $1 trillion would extend past the sun.
Q: What is one thing you have to have with you in meetings?
A: One thing I have to have with me in meetings is an agenda that's followed.
I assume they mean center of the earth?