Mike Gracik Receives Innsbrook Rotary Awards

Congratulations to Mike Gracik, who was honored with the 2014 Innsbrook Rotary Business Leadership Award.  Mike has been recognized for his outstanding leadership in business, commitment to high ethical standards, and dedication to the community. In honoring Mike with this distinction, his award included recognition as a Paul Harris Fellow of The Rotary Foundation.

Spotlight from the Innsbrook Rotary newsletter:

As introduced by John Dracos

This is our 20th year of presenting this award, given to an individual who has made a significant contribution to the Innsbrook community through their business leadership and community involvement.  Recipients exemplify the values of Rotary by actively and consistently demonstrating the true meaning of service above self.

Mike Gracik, managing partner at Keiter, a large regional CPA firm here in Innsbrook oversees the firm’s strategic direction and growth initiatives, as well as working with some of the firm’s largest clients across various industries.  Mike joined Keiter in 1991 and his clients benefit from his 38 years of professional experience and tax insights.

Mike gives back to the community by serving on the boards of J. Sargeant Reynolds Community College Education Foundation, the Virginia Blood Services Society of 100 (honoring blood donors who have donated 100+ times), and the advisory board of VCU Massey Cancer institute.”

During his acceptance speech, Mike explained that he learned a strong work ethic early on at his father’s filling station. He lives by the motto that if you take good care of your clients, everything else will take care of itself.  The principles he values most are as follows:

• The three most powerful words are “please” and “thank you”
• Always look out for your people, don’t ask them to do what you wouldn’t do
• The client is always right – at least most of the time
• Be quick to admit mistakes
• There is no substitute for face to face contact
• Share the credit (with thanks to Colin Powell)
• Remain calm

Mike stated that “our tax system is a mess”.  There has been a new tax bill every year for the past 30 years. He encouraged us to write our elected officials who need to provide legislation to fix the system.