Who is Don Starr the person?

My personal philosophy is based on several premises. First, real satisfaction is gained from helping others. Second, life is an interesting journey – sometimes more interesting than can be anticipated – with opportunities that we mould into positive or negative experiences and outcomes. Third, learning makes the world more interesting. Given that, working with businesses and tax issues seems to be natural, providing challenges at least every time U.S. Congress is in session.

Childhood and early adulthood were spent in Southern California. I received a Bachelor in Arts degree in Philosophy from California State University at Long Beach. After two years in the military, I worked in computer operations. Dissatisfied with the impersonal aspects of data processing, I left and went into real estate, ultimately obtaining my broker’s license.

In 1975, my wife and I moved to Washington State. We felt then – even more so now -- that this area of northwest Washington offered many advantages and opportunities due to its location in the "Cascadia" corridor, between Seattle and Vancouver, Canada. It also was a more attractive environment to raise children than southern California. We settled on some acreage and have a small herd of beef cattle. Our children were involved in 4-H and FFA, raising sheep, pigs and cattle as projects. We all learned a lot. While my son pursued his interests in both music and science, my daughter danced for about 13 years. I remain involved in the dance as a director on the Pacific Dance Ensemble Foundation. My children are now at the University of Washington concentrating on the sciences. My wife is an elementary school teacher. Learning never stops around our house, even in the evenings.

I continued in real estate as an Associate Broker, for several years, however, due to a fascination with numbers (I originally began college in the sciences), I went back to college at Western Washington University, and received a Bachelor of Arts degree in Accounting. After about two years with a local Certified Public Accounting firm, I passed the CPA exam. In 1985 I formally began my public accounting practice.

During the journey to my own practice I worked in a variety of jobs, from banks to construction and "cold call" sales. These experiences have given me a better understanding of business, as well as myself.