Appreciating the certainty
When I look back on my retirement journey, I realize how grateful I am for KPMG’s mandatory retirement policy. At first, it may sound restrictive, but in reality, it provided tremendous clarity. There was no guessing game or awkward speculation for me or others about when I will retire. Everyone knew the timeline, and that structure made the transition clean and drama free.
The timing was especially meaningful for me because it allowed me to fully embrace time with myfamily. I was able to visit my parents far more frequently since my retirement than I ever could have while working. My father recently passed away at 101, and my 93-year-old mother still lives independently in St. Louis. My first grandchild, Sam, lives just 20 minutes away, and the simple joy of dropping by to see him, my son, and daughter-in-law is something I treasure deeply.
I was also able to take each of my daughters to see Taylor Swift in concert—one trip to Los Angeles and another to Dublin, Ireland. These are all moments you can’t get back, and retirement has given me the gift of time to fully experience them.
From boardrooms to burgers
I was fortunate that I already knew I’d be investing a lot of my next season energy into Shady’s Burgers & Brewhaha and The Fifth, the restaurants I cofounded with friends earlier in my career. Since I retired, we launched a catering company and a Mexican restaurant and are expanding to three Shady’s locations.
This venture has been an absolute labor of love. It’s not about the money—it’s about the people. I love mentoring young team members, like teaching our bartenders how to make a proper Mexican martini, and working alongside my close friends and fellow entrepreneurs. Recently, all five cofounder couples took a trip to Lake Tahoe, where we spent 95% of the time
relaxing and laughing, and just a little bit of time talking shop.
My years at KPMG prepared me well for this chapter. The business acumen, leadership skills, and problem-solving ability I developed there translate perfectly into running and growing a restaurant group. Working in the restaurant industry scratches that same itch for collaboration, coaching, and building something meaningful—just with a different product on the table.
Staying connected to KPMG
Even as I’ve built new connections through the restaurants, staying close to my former colleagues remains important to me. My MyNextSeason advisor encouraged me to be intentional about nurturing those relationships, and he was right—without effort, they can fade.
One way I’m staying involved is by joining KPMG’s Retired Partners Council and helping organize a golf tournament for retired Partners in Dallas. Opportunities like this allow me to maintain my connection to the people who shaped such an important part of my life.
Redefining productivity
As someone who spent over two decades building a career at KPMG, my biggest worry heading into retirement was whether I would still feel productive. We are wired to be productive beings, and I wondered how I would measure my days without client deadlines, early flights, or intense project work.
My advisor helped me reframe this concern. He reminded me to recalibrate what I define as a productive day. Some days, that might mean taking my dog for a walk, having lunch with friends, or playing a round of golf—and that’s perfectly okay. I’m finally getting my money’s worth out of the country club! Thanks to this mindset, I’ve been able to embrace this new season with energy and purpose.
The last piece of the pie
Looking back, one piece of advice I’d give to my preretirement self would be to start earlier in identifying a philanthropic mission that truly resonates with me. During my career, I was deeply involved with organizations like the March of Dimes and Junior Achievement, where I taught in classrooms for two decades and eventually served as Board Chair. Since retiring, I’ve been searching for that next cause. What I’ve realized is that it’s not about simply finding a board seat or prestigious organization—it’s about connecting to a purpose you genuinely care about.
Too often, people join boards because there’s an open spot or they feel obligated, but without passion for the mission of the organization, it’s hard to be effective. My advice to others nearing retirement is to start exploring before you leave work—volunteer, get involved, and figure out what inspires you. For me, this is the last piece of the puzzle that I’m still working to complete, and I’m looking forward to finding a cause that will allow me to give back with energy and heart.
A next season of firsts
For all the fun I’m having with the restaurants, my heart belongs to my family. Whether it’s visiting my mom, spending spontaneous Saturday nights over fajitas at my son’s house, or watching Sam grow and learn, these are the moments that matter most.
I’m especially looking forward to the day I can take Sam to his first Texas A&M football game and, of course, introduce him to his first Shady’s burger. I’ll guarantee it now: He will not be a vegetarian!