By Niki Gregoriou
Pres., Sandra G. Johnson, CPA, P.C.
Pres., Bellmore Chamber of Commerce
Exec. V.P., Long Island Center for Business and Professional Women
Phone: 516-409-1120
Fax: 516-409-1394
Some people devote themselves to a single cause, goal or mission, and work tirelessly to achieve it. Look up the word “multitask” in the dictionary, and you may see a picture of Sandra Johnson. Rather than devote all her time to a single endeavor, she has worked toward three separate goals. What’s more, she has achieved all of them. She has successfully started her own accounting firm, worked her way up to the title of president of the Bellmore Chamber of Commerce and become the executive vice president of the Long Island Center for Business and Professional Women.
After majoring in accounting at SUNY Old Westbury, in 2000 Johnson decided to open her own accounting firm in Bellmore. “I needed more flexibility in my life and my work hours,” Johnson says.
Her firm offers accounting, business consulting and tax services. The office also provides bookkeeping, business startup preparation, payroll preparation and tax planning, as well as other services tailored to corporations and individuals. Her main goal is providing a service that is affordable. Her firm is also dedicated to helping small businesses advance in today’s competitive business world.
It’s no secret the business landscape has been radically altered since her firm’s inception, but the ability to adapt to the ebb and flow of different economic issues has been Johnson’s strong suit. Has there been a shift in business? “Yes and no,” she says. “The business shift has increased with the bad economy, but the cash flow has been the challenge.”
While she was building her accounting firm, Johnson joined the Bellmore Chamber of Commerce and the LI Center for Business and Professional Woman. Both allowed her to get involved in the community. “Some goals of the Chamber of Commerce are to increase visibility for small business, provide a voice for small business in government, educate members, and offer networking opportunities,” she says. “The chamber helps the local economy through their biggest annual street fair in October. Over 100,000 people gather in Bellmore during this event to share business exposure,” says Johnson, explaining the Chamber’s recent event.
Completing the trifecta, Johnson also holds the position of executive vice president in the LI Center for Business and Professional Woman. “Their goals are to expedite advancement of woman in business,” she says.
Johnson is also is a member of the New York State Society of CPAs (NYSSCPA), the National Conference of CPA Practitioners, Association of Certified Fraud Examiners, and the Community Wellness Council of Merrick and Bellmore.
Not only does Johnson donate her time to help insure the future growth of LI business, but she also keeps herself busy as an adjunct professor in accounting, previously working at Five Towns College in Dix Hills and SUNY Old Westbury. She has also taught seminars at Hofstra, SUNY Farmingdale and NYSSCPA. While recognition was never her endgame, Johnson’s active participation in Long Island’s business community earned her the 2007 Small Business Person of the Year award from the Nassau Council of Chambers of Commerce.
