Meet TSCPA Member: Robert Rabon, CPA, MBA
It has been said that the CPA credential can unlock unlimited possibilities in one’s professional life, and for TSCPA Life Member Robert Rabon, CPA, MBA, that is exactly what happened. Beginning his career in accounting while he was completing his MBA in the 1980s, Rabon’s journey took him to positions at Tennessee Valley Authority (TVA) and Ernst and Whinney (now EY). Today, he is president at the National Center for Youth Issues (NCYI), and Rabon says his early accounting experiences have helped him in his current role. “Those experiences taught me to be analytical in my approach to the many issues you face in business, not just accounting,” he says.
An Entrepreneurial Mindset
Early in his life, Rabon began working by “mowing yards, cleaning windows at the local shopping center and selling papers” and says he has had an entrepreneurial mindset since a young age. “I’ve always had a good work ethic, liked selling things and making money,” he reflects. “I started my own landscaping business in high school, which I operated through most of my college years. So, I was sort of an entrepreneur early on in life. I loved the business side of it, as well.” Rabon credits his early interest in business, along with his father’s advice, with influencing his choice to major in accounting at the University of Tennessee at Chattanooga.
Major Influences
In addition to encouraging Rabon to major in accounting, Rabon’s father, along with his mother, played the roles of his biggest supporters as he began his professional career. “They didn’t have the money to help me with school but were my biggest fans and encouragers,” he says of his parents. “I had some really good teachers and professors along the way, too, who greatly encouraged me to stay the course.” He also cites his wife, Beth, as one of his greatest influences and supporters.
Professionally, Rabon says his first boss at Ernst and Whinney, Bob Lyons, made a major impact on him as a mentor. “He gave me lots of opportunities to succeed and pushed me hard to grow professionally,” Rabon says. “He’s the one who got me involved with TSCPA! He also pushed me to join community clubs, and the first one was Kiwanis. I am now a member of Chattanooga Rotary, and Mr. Lyons would be proud since he was a long-time Rotarian. He also got me heavily involved with Chattanooga’s United Way.”
On TSCPA Membership
Today, Rabon has achieved TSCPA’s Life Member status, with 40 years of membership in the society. Reflecting on his time in TSCPA, Rabon says becoming actively involved in the Chattanooga Chapter and at the state level helped him grow both professionally and personally. “I met so many wonderful individuals who gladly invested in my career and
encouraged me to set and reach high goals,” he says. “Many of those individuals have passed away, but I still recall them fondly and am thankful for their investment in me. I now enjoy encouraging the young professionals I work with!”
Favorite Advice
When asked about the best piece of advice he has ever received, Rabon again demonstrates the positive influence of his father, sharing, “On the business/career front, my dad used to say to me often, ‘Always work like you own the place, even when you work for someone else, and spend the owner’s money like you would your own. Never take their investment in their business for granted.’ I have followed his advice all throughout my career, and it has served me well.”
This article was originally published in the March/April 2025 Tennessee CPA Journal.