Adapt. evolve. achieve.
Where we started, how we grew, and what we learned along the way.
Industry Standard wasn’t built from one job, one industry, or one point of view.
Over the years, I’ve worked with small businesses, corporations, local governments, and community-based organizations from just about every side of the table.
I’ve been the employee trying to make the process work. The manager responsible for leading a team. The business owner making the decisions. The board member asking the questions. And the CFO responsible for making sure the numbers actually mean something.
Each role taught me something different. Together, they shaped the way we work today.
Experience from more than one seat
For more than 20 years, I’ve had the opportunity to work in tax, accounting, finance, and advisory in a variety of roles, including::
- Tax Advisor, planner and preparer for individuals, businesses, and nonprofits;
- CFO, Business Consultant, and strategist for private corporations;
- Accounting and Financial Division Chief (Treasury Manager) for local government;
- Chief Financial Officer for nonprofit organizations;
- Controller, Accountant and Auditor for government, nonprofit, public and private companies.
I also earned a Master of Accounting and Financial Management along the way.
The titles matter less to me than what came with them: seeing how financial decisions actually play out inside an organization, not just on a spreadsheet or tax return.
Then came Industry Standard
Industry Standard started over 10 years ago as a solo practice.
Then it became two guys working out of a garage with fewer than 10 clients.
Today, we’re a team serving hundreds of clients across the country from our offices in Old Town Clovis.
A lot has changed since those early days.
What hasn’t changed is the reason we do the work.
We believe good accounting and tax work should do more than keep you compliant. It should help you understand where you are, recognize opportunities, make better decisions, and plan for what comes next.
That’s where Adapt. Evolve. Achieve. came from.
It isn’t just a tagline. It’s how we think about our clients, our firm, and the work itself.
Things change. Businesses grow. Organizations evolve. Tax laws shift. Priorities change.
Our job is to help you adapt when you need to, evolve when the situation calls for it, and keep moving toward what you’re trying to achieve.
Still growing. Still learning.
Industry Standard looks very different today than it did when it started.
And that’s a good thing.
We’ve learned a lot, added great people, expanded the work we do, and become much clearer about the kind of firm we want to be.
We’re not trying to be everything to everyone.
We want to work with individuals, businesses, and nonprofits who value good information, thoughtful advice, and a relationship that goes beyond filing forms and producing reports.
If that sounds like the kind of relationship you’re looking for, we’d be glad to talk.
Adapt. Evolve. Achieve.
Warm regards,
Marc Velez Young, MAFM, CFIP, CRTP
Founder and CEO, Industry Standard Inc