Leader of the pack; CalCPA's new chair is driving change.

• Author: Damien B.M.

CalCPA's 2008-09 Chair Greg Burke likes to get up close and personal with the world around him. For the past 24 years, he's worked at John Waddell & Co. CPAs, where they emphasize one-on-one contact with the business owners they serve. During his time out of the office, one of Burke's favorite activities is taking nothing but the necessities into the wilderness for some intimate time with nature. And his favorite mode of travel? Motorcycle.

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"There's something about traveling on a motorcycle," he continues. "You feel the temperature changes, you smell the smells--the sense of motion is more involved because you're moving your body with the turn. It's an entirely different experience of moving through the scenery--you feel like you're part of it. as opposed to traveling through it in a box. That appeals to me."

Burke plans to bring his immersive, hands-on style to his recent appointment as CalCPA chair. "Much of what I'm hoping to accomplish is communication and listening," he says. "I want to meet a lot of members and listen to their input. I think it's going to be a very worthwhile and fulfilling year."

As CalCPA's leader, Burke also can feel the changes--and challenges--the profession is facing, much like he can sense change while riding through various climes on one of his two Harley-Davidson bikes. "Even though the profession is facing many challenges, that brings many opportunities too, and I think there's a lot that can be achieved."

The Hometown Boy

Burke's current firm is nestled on the lush banks of the American River, in an office park decked out in wood and surrounded by trees. It's a relaxing atmosphere, to say the least, and the Sacramento heat doesn't seem to penetrate through the greenery, leaving the area cool and inviting. It's no surprise Burke lives only six miles from the office with his wife, Jean, who he has been married to since February 2000.

Burke was also born and raised close by, in the "midtown area" of Sacramento, only a mile and a half from the Capitol. His mom was originally from Phoenix, and his Dad moved to the area from Green Bay, WI. Burke attended Jesuit High School, which he still remains a part of by serving on the board of the alumni association. "I really appreciated the education I received there. It put me in good stead for college and everything since."

Burke started his college education at University of California, San Diego, for two years, before transferring to University of California, Davis, His first college roommate was big into backpacking and got Burke hooked on it. "He and I are friends to this day and have done numerous backpacking and climbing trips in the mountains," says Burke. "I used to spend one or two weeks of the year in the mountains. One of the bigger adventures was spending 10 days on the John Muir trail. We hiked from the Devil's Postpile all the way down to Mt. Whitney, which was probably my longest trip in terms of mileage covered."

Ironically, Burke never took an accounting class in college. He received a degree in Environmental Economies and Policy Analysis. "It was an agricultural individual major--in other words. I wrote my own major to get out of school because I wasn't disciplined enough to do any of the traditional majors," he jokes. "It was a combination of economics particularly the analytical part of it, because I started life...