Lifetime Achievement
January 23, 2012
In January, we presented Griffith “Griff” Lewis with this year’s Silicon Valley/San José Chapter Lifetime Achievement Award. Griff, along with Alex Berger, founded Berger Lewis Accountancy Corporation in 1949. The firm has grown to 60 professionals in two offices (San José and Santa Cruz) and is well respected for its expertise and commitment to the community.
I met Griff through Rotary. In fact, he voted against my application for membership in the club! I guess he thought one CPA in the chapter was more than enough. Whenever I have brought colleagues to visit our Rotary lunches, Griff always insists they sit by him—and then tries to recruit them to Berger Lewis. Griff is a tireless community leader and contributor who has served as treasurer of our Rotary chapter for many years and always participates in our community service projects.
He has led through example and mentored CalCPA leaders, including Ben Towne, our chapter’s immediate past president. Although we’ve never been associated professionally, Griff has always made himself available to me when it comes to career advice. He is a regular attendee at Honorees Night and was kind enough to attend our most recent installation event. Griff has seen many changes in the way CPAs serve their clients and still takes care of the needs of several where he has maintained long-term relationships.
Griff has a level of loyalty and integrity that makes him a role model to those around him. This manifests itself in the lives he has touched in the Rotary Club of San José East/Evergreen, at Berger Lewis and in CalCPA.
The chapter honored Alex Berger with its first Lifetime Achievement Award in 2003 and it is fitting to now honor Griff, Alex’s longtime business partner.
Most of us know Vince Chin, our chapter’s program director for more than a decade. Vince has always gone above and beyond his job description and, when needed, has been kind enough to offer me advice on how to be a leader in this organization. He has always been there with an encouraging word and an outgoing personality that made him a perfect cheerleader for our organization.
Vince is facing some health challenges and, while he has told me that he is ready and willing to face these challenges, I’m keeping him in my thoughts and encourage you to do the same.