Before the master’s of accountancy degree became popular in the late 1970s, many accounting-minded University of Denver business students earned their MBA. That was the case for Larry Tomsic (MBA 1976), an alumnus who resides in Punta Gorda, Florida. Long before he became a CFO, Tomsic studied on the DU campus and worked as a graduate teaching assistant, tutoring 90 students every quarter.
Tomsic spoke with the School of Accountancy team about his time as a student and his post-graduate success.
What did you enjoy most about getting your degree from the University of Denver? Any highlights of your college career you would like to share?
I am grateful DU helped me financially or I would not have been able to attend the university. My students were the highlight of my experience. Due to the luck of the draw and my students’ hard work, I had the privilege of teaching the best class of the year. Every student received a C or better, most earned As or Bs, and not a single student dropped the class.
My MBA gave me a well-rounded education. After I graduated, I wanted the opportunity to teach to find out if I wanted to pursue work as an educator. The next year I taught accounting classes at the University of Delaware, and I taught an accounting class at Nevada State College in 2015.
How has your DU education benefited you in your career?
Having the MBA degree gave me many job opportunities. I also earned my CPA certificate in Delaware, Colorado, Nevada and Florida, which also gave me more job opportunities. I learned from teaching how important it is to provide a positive work environment to help employees and companies succeed by growing and prospering.
Tell us about your career. What led you to your current point? What do you find enjoyable, rewarding and/or interesting about your professional life?
I am retired but still open to new job opportunities. I was a value-added CFO for companies listed on the New York Stock Exchange, NASDAQ and Paris Stock Exchanges, and enjoyed training people and helping them grow and prosper. My elevator pitch was two lines; “Larry Tomsic, CFO. Making Ca$h and Profit$ Grow.” The dollar signs are important, and those two lines were printed in green on my business cards. “Value Added” means I usually, on an annual basis, earned the company more money than I was paid. I was very good at hiring, training and retaining employees, with an 89% hiring success rate at the company where I worked the longest. An employee never quit due to my job performance and none of the companies where I worked were sued due to my work actions. I also was never sued in my personal life.
What are your hobbies and interests?
For many years, I have enjoyed helping people and organizations, such as my church, Jaycees, MDA, Leukemia Society and Rotary, as a member, officer or president. I am still very healthy and active and have completed over 300 running events, from 3 miles to a 26-mile marathon and 120 sprint triathlons in the last 25 years. My best sports accomplishment is that I finished every race I started. I also hike, am a certified scuba diver and climbed Mt. Kilimanjaro. I was photographer for my Rotary and running clubs, and some of my photos are published in four books. I have traveled to 91 countries and look forward to visiting at least nine more countries.
What are your plans for the future?
I am open to helping companies on a part-time basis as a member of a Board of Directors, CEO or CFO.