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Achieving financial goals

Donna Chapel, ‘84

As a certified public accountant and financial advisor, Donna Chapel finds satisfaction in helping clients reach their financial goals — whether that is putting kids through college, planning for retirement or helping people through difficult transitions.

After graduating with an accounting degree from Mesa in 1984, Chapel worked at Dalby, Wendland and Company. In 1987, with a local economy still reeling from the oil shale bust, she and her husband, Tom, decided to move to the Front Range so Tom could pursue a master’s degree in geotechnical engineering. Chapel worked for certified public accounting firms in Fort Collins, and in 2004 founded her own wealth management company.

“Listening to clients’ goals and helping them plot a path to achieving their goals has made for an amazing, fulfilling career,” Chapel said.

Giving back to the community is important to the Chapels. Tom’s a Larimer County Search and Rescue volunteer, while Chapel served 10 years with the Fort Collins Chamber of Commerce, as well as on other boards such as the Community Foundation of Northern Colorado.

After their U.S. Marine son returned home from serving in Afghanistan, the Chapels co-founded Veterans Compass, a nonprofit based in Ft. Collins that helps veterans access community resources. She currently serves as board chairperson.

Additionally, the Chapels established two scholarships in their children’s names – the Jessica Dean Scholarship for students planning a teaching career, and the Joshua Chapel Scholarship for students who served in the military, with a preference for combat or Marine veterans. Chapel founded a third, Finish Line Scholarship for college attending military veterans whose GI benefits have run out and who need a little more financial assistance to complete their education. Finish Line scholarships are given out twice a year.

Chapel credits her hometown college for providing her with the skills to launch her own successful career. “It was a great education,” she said. “I got such individualized attention in the accounting department. They were such good people. It was a great opportunity.” •

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Written by Sharon Sullivan