Renda Burkhart, 1976 alum of the UT College of Business Administration, has earned the 2012 Distinguished Accounting Alum Award from the college’s Department of Accounting and Information Management.
“While many (graduates) have made contributions to the profession, Distinguished Accounting Alum recipients have demonstrated the highest level of professional and personal excellence throughout their careers and have built their companies and/or significantly improved the organizations and communities they have been a part of,” said Bruce Behn, head of UT’s Department of Accounting and Information Management.
Previous recipients have included Jim Shelby (2009), Herbert Rhea (2007), Emerson Fly and Ed Boling (2004), and Bill Snodgrass (1998).
Burkhart is the founder and president of Burkhart and Company, P.C., an accounting firm that offers financial, accounting, and tax consulting and compliance services to entrepreneurs and individuals. In 1985, she co-founded Concorde Technologies, Inc., which provides integration of information system technologies and software solutions in specialized commercial environments. She was the company’s president through 1996.
Before becoming an entrepreneur, Burkhart worked in the tax division of Arthur Andersen and Company, eventually becoming a tax manager.
“Now that I am entering the next phase of my professional career, I am open to all the possibilities my life and work can hold,” said Burkhart. “My professional career has opened the doors to rich and enduring relationships with clients, colleagues, and community leaders.”
Burkhart is committed to the Knoxville community; she is vice chair of University Health Systems and a board director for the Cornerstone Foundation. She is a member of the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants, the Executive Women’s Association, and Cedar Springs Presbyterian Church. She has held offices and chair positions with the East Tennessee Foundation, United Way of Knoxville, and the Knoxville Chamber of Commerce.
Burkhart maintains an avid interest in leadership development. After participating in the inaugural class of Leadership Knoxville in 1985, Burkhart joined with others to form a leadership forum for under-40 rising leaders, known as Nucleus Knoxville. She enjoys hosting discussion groups in her home that are centered on books, interesting issues, or just good fellowship.
Throughout her career, Burkhart has remained active with UT. She has served on the Development Council, the Accounting Roundtable and has chaired the Chancellor’s Associates, which acts as a bridge builder between “the town and the gown.” Today, Burkhart’s UT connection remains firm and ranges from sports fan, to recruiter, to loyal alumnus.
—
C O N T A C T :
Cindy Raines (865-974-4359, craines1@utk.edu)