DON GURSEY.

• Author: GIRARD, JANE

Distinguished by Personality and Integrity

The offices of Gursey Schneider & Co. LLP are flush with personality, not just a single expression of taste--each employee's individual personality permeates their space. As you weave your way through the halls, you'll find one office filled with UCLA memorabilia, another that displays the many fruits of world travel, while yet another shows off a love of antiques. People at Gursey Schneider express themselves.

Don Gursey is no exception. Step into his southeast corner office that looks out at Century City and you'll see yet another unique expression of personality. Here you'll find a photo gallery of Gursey's four children--Darlene, 39, Greg, 37, Nicole, 29 and Kim, 28--as well as his longtime sweetheart Marlene Burdman. This glimpse at the 2000-01 CalCPA president's personal side tells you that Gursey is a family man. A box of cigars and frequent sailboat references provide a peek at how he prefers to spend his free time. The television running CNBC in the corner and the piles of paperwork uncover yet another side to Gursey's personality, while the twinkle in his eyes tells the rest of the story. Add a firm handshake and plenty of quick wit, and you'll know without a doubt: Don Gursey is a charmer.

DEFINING HIS NICHE

Gursey, a West Los Angeles native and UCLA graduate, never set out to be a CPA. "I wanted to be a businessman," he says. "My father used to take me to work with him where he manufactured coffee makers and I became fascinated with business. I loved the deal." Even after passing his CPA exam, Gursey didn't plan to practice accounting. Although an afficionado of numbers, Gursey confesses, "I was more fascinated with business than taxes or auditing."

Since the accounting profession didn't have quite the niche he was looking for, Gursey created one for himself. "I've always loved law," he says. So, when an office opened up in a suite filled with lawyers shortly after Gursey opened his own practice, he moved right in.

"I started working on some of their cases and became even more intrigued by the field," notes Gursey.

The attorneys were eager to use the young accountant's services, and Gursey was interested in learning everything he could. Soon, a new opportunity knocked at Gursey's door and he hasn't looked back since.

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