Melanie Russell:
CLASS OF 1981
John Taylor Collegiate High SchoolClass of 1981
Winnipeg, MB
Melanie's Story
A brief summary of the past 30+ years since JT...challenging. So here are the highlights. So after high school, I went to U of M and obtained my BComm(H) majoring in accounting. I worked at Price Waterhouse (now PWC) in Winnipeg in the summer of my third year and again after completing my undergrad degree. I wrote my CA (Chartered Accountant) in 1986 and then moved to another CA/CPA firm in Toronto (now KPMG). I ultimately completed a number of other designations including the Chartered Business Valuator (CBV) while at large CA/CPA firms, working in the treasury department of a bank (international travelling - lots of fun pre-kids) and other industry positions, and finally setting up my own valuations, litigation/dispute resolution, forensic accounting and corporate finance practice in Toronto (Kalex Valuations Inc.). I have been heavily involved in the education area for years (taught at various universities part-time, professional development programs, writing, etc.) and do some presentations for various groups relating to valuations, finance and accounting. I got married in 1987, and have four children ranging in age from 14 to 20. It looks like my seco...Expand for more
nd daughter is following in my footsteps to become a CA/CPA, and finished her first year at the Ted Rogers School of Business majoring in accounting and finance. My entire family is still in Winnipeg and I return for visits on an infrequent basis since we now have a place in Florida. (No, I have no plans to retire - EVER!)
When my kids were young, I don't recall having any spare time between dealing with them and my practice. Now that they are all teenagers, I seem to have a bit of extra time (which as anyone knows who has or had teenagers, means time to restore parents' lost sanity). In my downtime, I spend time at the gym volunteer-instructing various classes (boxfit, muscle works/bars and plates, bootcamp) and cycling, as well as with various professional organizations focusing on professional development and education. I also love heading to my annual shopping/Broadway trip to NYC with my eldest daughter, and to Florida with the family.
Hard to believe how the time has flown by. it was nice to see some alumni at the May 2014 JT reunion, but unfortumately I got stuck in a trial in Toronto and didn't get to the Friday night social until almost midnight.
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