Deborah Adkins.

• Author: Raab, Marian
• Position: Balance sheet

When Deborah Adkins was corporate controller for a global consumer electronics company in the late 1990s, she had a personal challenge. As part of the firm's due-diligence team for target acquisitions, she had to spend extra time traveling because of her fear of flying.

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So, she took a weekend class to confront her phobia. Her "graduation flight," on Super Bowl Sunday 1998, was a round-trip between Ft. Lauderdale and Orlando, Fla. In the next year, Adkins logged 25,000 flying miles.

Goes By: Debbie; and my closest friends call me Deb.

Title: Partner, Forensic Accounting and Litigation Support.

Company: Cross, Fernandez & Riley LLP, a public accounting firm with offices in Orlando, Tampa and Winter Haven, Fla.

Born: Wood River, Ill., June 1957.

Spouse: Charlie Adkins, for 30 years.

Children: No kids, but lots of nieces and nephews to spoil!

Education Summary: B.S., Education, St. Louis Christian College, 1980; B.S., Business Administration, University of Central Florida, 1986; M.S.A., University of Central Florida, 1993; CPA, 1995.

Career Summary: Calibron Corp., Lake Mary, Fla., 1980-98, in various roles: Accounting Clerk, Divisional Controller, Divisional Vice President and Corporate Vice President and Controller; Tatum, Orlando, CFO and Partner (1999-2002); Ocean Design Inc, Ormond Beach, Fla., CFO and Treasurer (2000-02); Economic Forensics LLC, Longwood, Fla., Senior Vice President (2003-04); Deborah S. Adkins PA, Winter Park, Fla., President (2004-06); Cross, Fernandez & Riley LLP, Orlando, Partner, Forensic Accounting and Litigation Support (2007-present).

FEI Chapter: President, Central Florida Chapter; Vice President and Program Chair (2006-08); Membership Committee Chair (2003-06); Treasurer (2000-01).

Leisure Pursuits: I enjoy sharing a bottle of cabernet with good friends. I also enjoy trips to our beach house, where I can just read a good book or journal my thoughts into a manuscript. And, since I overcame my fear of flying, I've been enjoying traveling. My favorite destination is San Francisco, since I have family in Oakland, and can easily visit nearby Sonoma County wine country.

Time Management: I am always packing a lot of life into a little amount of time, and seldom have any time...