Brandon Emilio stepped in as Orange County CFMA treasurer in early 2020, not knowing how an unexpected pandemic would alter his first year as a board member. But, despite its challenges—hitting pause on the organization's regular networking events—Brandon never misses an opportunity to connect with other members and attend regular events.
We interviewed Brandon to learn more about how his involvement with CFMA and career as a CPA continue his family's legacy in the construction industry.
It runs in the family
As an assurance manager at CliftonLarsonAllen (CLA), managing small subcontractors to multi-million dollar general contractors, each day brings something new—especially given CLA's robust background in auditing, bookkeeping, financial and succession planning, and tax services. "Before the local firm where I started my career merged with CLA, I was less exclusive with the construction industry. After the merger, my role became largely focused on construction," he says.
But Brandon's first immersion with construction professionals dates even further back—his grandfather owned a general contracting business, where his mom was in accounting, and his dad, project management.
"When my dad grew in his succession planning skills, he took over. I remember getting my hands dirty (literally), being out in the field, and watching my dad. To earn money during Summer breaks, I'd dig ditches and pour concrete for the business. My dad's interest in teaching me the value of having an education paid off. I learned practical job skills and later went to college for my Master's in accounting, allowing me to carve my own path.”
Back to the glory days
Brandon’s understanding of Orange County’s CFMA glory days is purely word-of-mouth. When he took over for the previous treasurer, he didn’t anticipate his first official event, the Golf Classic, would be bare bones. “That year’s Golf Classic was small, roughly 50 people. Although it was devastating to know why the turnout was minimal, it was nice. I checked people in, managed money, and collected payments for raffle tickets—as the treasurer does—but the intimate turnout allowed me to get to know some of our organization more personally,” he explains.
Although live events experienced a brief pause, one thing remained steady: CFMA’s guiding materials to help members pass their CCIFP exam. “I recall taking the live review course in 2020, a day-long event where OCCFMA leaders go through the manual (called The Book), breaking down complex topics. The Book is massive, so walking through it with other members is valuable.”
The Orange County chapter plans to host another review event this year, but with an extra layer of value: total reimbursement once a member passes the exam. “Regardless of when one of our members passes the exam—any member type—we’ll reimburse ten people during the current chapter calendar year.”
Going beyond Orange County
During this new era of lifted mandates, Brandon is hopeful that the next phase for Orange County’s CFMA will be even better than before. “As mentioned earlier, I’m ready to see the glory days again, and by glory days, I mean steady growth for our organization. I believe that the development people experience from being part of a quality construction networking group is second to none,” he says.
But Brandon has higher hopes than getting Orange County members involved at a deeper level—he sees a clear opportunity to open the organization’s doors to neighboring cities that don’t have a local chapter. “Many of our members are deep in the heart of Irvine, but we’re aware that there are construction finance professionals in Los Angeles and other nearby cities that crave a similar place to learn, gather, and grow,” he explains. “I want to see our numbers skyrocket. We’re more than regular networking and social events, although those are often my favorite part of this gig. Newly formed connections often lead to referrals, benefiting individuals and their businesses long term.”
Create your own legacy
CFMA is the only organization solely dedicated to construction financial professionals. Whether you’re new to the industry or a seasoned veteran, your participation will make a difference for years to come. To learn more about joining your first event for free or offering your time as a volunteer, check out the Orange County CFMA website. Then, follow us on LinkedIn.