On the ground floor: Turning insight into impact

As a senior audit associate at KPMG, I had been looking for a way to give back to Chicago, but I wanted to maximize that impact by using my financial knowledge and analytical skills to provide real value. I got my opportunity in January of 2015, when KPMG selected me for an externship with Civic Consulting Alliance.

My primary assignment was to calculate the financial impact of the recommendations in the initial report released by the Illinois State Commission on Criminal Justice, the body created by Governor Rauner to safely reduce the prison population by 25 percent by 2025.

The project was an excellent professional development experience. I created a cost model from the ground up--- a first for me. (I also had to learn to discuss my findings in laymen's terms, as I was no longer surrounded by CPAs!) In the end, we succeeded in putting real dollar amounts to the initiatives that could completely revolutionize our criminal justice system for the better.

After my externship experience at Civic Consulting, I feel even more connected to Chicago and Illinois. Best of all, I brought my experience to bear in a way that helps to address the challenges facing my community. For that, I am very grateful to both Civic Consulting and KPMG.