July 09, 2012
Walter Daszkowski ’94CBA believes in taking a chance. And so
far, his strategy speaks for itself.
Never the shy type, this forward-thinking alumnus always
seemed to know that taking decisive action was one of the best ways
to make a difference for himself and others. During his Senior year
on the Staten Island campus he served as President of the Executive
Board of Student Government, and his interactions with both
students and administrators helped him to develop the skills that
would prove so important when he entered the professional world
after graduation.
“The opportunity to be involved in student organizations,
especially Student Government, gave me what I needed to succeed in
business,” he said. “I got a great education at St. John’s, and not
just in the classroom. Being part of campus life was an experience
that really got me started in the right direction.”
Daszkowski is Founder and Partner of Daszkowski, Tompkins and Weg,
a CPA firm with expertise in accounting, tax preparation and tax
planning, with an emphasis on doing financial planning for
individuals. He is a former Executive Board Member of the New
York State Society of Certified Public Accountants and the former
President of the Staten Island/Brooklyn Chapter of the New York
State Society of Certified Public Accountants.
Although modest about his accomplishments, he is particularly proud
that he was able to start his own firm as a young man, and credits
St. John’s with helping to make it happen.
“I went straight out of St. John’s with my Accounting degree, and
after working for a large firm for only three years while I was
studying for my CPA exam, I went out on my own. I was actually only
25 years old at the time. I took a gamble and started my own
business right up front, and now that I’m 39 I’m in a position that
many people don’t reach until they’re in their 50s.”
Located within walking distance of the University’s Staten Island
campus, there is no doubt that Daszkowski’s firm reflects his
ongoing connection to St. John’s. Both of his partners are alumni,
as is a full-time CPA staff member. During any given semester,
there’s a good chance that a student-intern from St. John’s can be
found there as well.
In addition to the personnel, the University’s influence extends
into the very philosophy of the firm. Daszkowski has never
forgotten the values that he learned as a St. John’s student, and
has made them a part of his professional as well as personal
life.
“I’ve always tried to go by the rules that I learned at St.
John’s,” he said. “The idea of reaching out to others and treating
everybody with respect, that means a lot to me, and the people who
work in the firm all still abide by that philosophy. At my firm we
care about our clients. Our clients become our friends all the
time. That’s another great thing that I really appreciate about St.
John’s – not only do you get a good education but you also come
away with a set of values that stay with you for the rest of your
life.”
Those values were one of the reasons that Daszkowski has assumed a
leadership role in the Staten Island Economic Development Council
(SIEDC), a non-profit organization that promotes the economic
development of the local community and strives to improve the
overall quality of life on Staten Island. In addition to serving as
a way for him to use his business expertise for the greater good,
it’s also a way to put the values that he learned at St. John’s
into action in a very real way.
“This is my third year as a Cabinet Member at SIEDC,” he
said. “The Cabinet is right under the Board of Directors level. Our
job is to promote the economic development of Staten Island, but we
also do charitable fundraisers. It’s important for me to give back
to the community, and I do that through promoting local businesses
and also by participating in charitable programs like Toys for
Tots. Giving back is something I learned at St. John’s, and if
there’s any way that I can help to make a difference for others,
I’m happy to do it. I’m pretty sure that St. John’s will always be
a part of me.”