Cheryl Lawson
Controller
I have worked as the Controller for The Next Door since December, 2007. Many people ask me what am I in control of, or what does a Controller do? Basically, I keep track of all financial aspects of the agency.I was born in Oregon, as were both of my parents, and I grew up in Milwaukie, Oregon. My first job was an entry level mail room position at the Portland Branch of the Federal Reserve Bank of San Francisco. I worked there for 6½ years, moving up to the highest position a woman without a college degree could achieve at the time. I became determined to go back to college.
A few years later, I moved to Eugene and attended Lane Community College and the University of Oregon, graduating with a Bachelor’s Degree in Accounting and Business. I went to work for a regional CPA firm, and then realized that I did not want to be a CPA. Naturally, this led me to move to Maui to swim, surf and lay in the sun. None of those pay well, and I ended up as the Assistant Controller for a construction company. I then moved to Washington State to do more of the same thing.
While in Washington, I became involved in a faith-based substance abuse program and found that I really enjoyed helping people overcome their problems. The time came to move back home to Oregon. I saw an ad for the Controller position at The Next Door, did some research on the agency, and liked what I saw. Here I am!
In my spare time, I volunteer for Hood River Adopt-A-Dog where I started out as a foster parent, then became a dog walker, and now have been promoted to Adoption Counselor. I match the right people with the right dog. Woof!
Here are some quotes I like:
"Accountability and support are the ladders that lift us up from life’s pits."
~Dave Ramsey
"Tell me, and I’ll forget. Show me and I may not remember. Involve me, and I’ll understand."
~Native American Saying