Partner Spotlight – Jim Fries

Jim has been in the public accounting industry for over 16 years and has been with Brown Edwards for 10 years.  He is an assurance partner based in our Harrisonburg office and he specializes in working with employee benefit plans and not-for-profit organizations, including foundations, healthcare entities, community action agencies, and other social service organizations.  Jim also has experience in a wide range of other industries, including manufacturers, utilities, cooperatives, construction contractors, and physician practices.  He is a member of the firm’s peer review services team, providing quality reviews to regional public accounting firms around the country.

A magna cum laude graduate of Virginia Tech, Jim has a B.S. Degree in Accounting and a Master of Accountancy degree.  He lives in Harrisonburg with his wife and two kids.

Let’s ask him a few questions:

Where are you from and where did you grow up?

Winchester, Virginia.  My family first moved to the area in the 1730’s.

Do you have any hobbies? If yes, tell us about them.

Reading.  Mostly history, biographies, and Christian apologetics.  My son and I love to go geocaching.  It gets me out and active.  I love watching old westerns and listening to history’s greatest 80’s rock band, Huey Lewis and the News.

What is something people would find surprising to learn about you?

We recently took in an exchange student from Germany.  She is a black belt in a form of Israeli martial arts and she is also a member of Mensa.  This means she can easily kill me and is smart enough to cover it up.  I need to watch my step.

What do you consider your best quality or trait?

The thing I’m most proud of is my humility.

What is the best advice you ever received and from who?

“Everyone else in the world knows something that I don’t know.  Therefore, everyone in the world is my teacher.”  – Danny Whetstone, Baptist evangelist

If you could be a superhero what would be your superpower?

I’m already incredible enough. I don’t need more powers (See my best trait, above 🙂 ).

What is your favorite food?

Mom’s baked macaroni and cheese

What famous figure (living) would you most like to meet and why?

Condoleezza Rice. When she was secretary of state, I once saw her receive a question from a Russian reporter. Rather than waiting for the translator, she responded to the reporter in Russian. I’ve always been impressed by her.

What do you think is your biggest contribution to the Brown Edwards team?

I believe that I have a very good technical grasp of the standards, but approach every question from a practical standpoint to add the most value to the client.