Alumni Focus - Tammie Eichmann ('86)

Tammie Eichmann (‘86) recently came back to SCLA to speak in Mr. Plath’s Applied Financial Mathematics class about careers in accounting. We loved hearing her path from SCLA to adulthood and going back to college in her thirties.

What does St. Croix mean to you?

St. Croix was and is an excellent school that not only focuses on developing students’ minds but their entire being.  Students are able to learn in a positive, Christ-centered community where staff and teachers truly care about, and support, the whole student. For me personally, St. Croix was a key component in developing a great foundation I could build on after graduation as I made my way through college and my career journey.   

What was your favorite St. Croix memory?

After four years at St. Croix it’s hard to choose just one favorite so I’ll give you a few. I remember Homecoming week festivities like playing powder-puff football and trying to see how many of us would fit in a huge car – we even had shorter students laying on the dash. I also was part of the first St. Croix bowling team and vividly remember our excitement as we beat Cooper in the playoffs since we were unknown and very much an underdog team. Most of the memories I have are just the daily interactions with classmates – lots of laughter and fun times that continue to have an impact and bring a smile to my face.

Did any specific SCLA teachers make a positive impact on you?

Many of the teachers made a positive impact. Pastor Luebchow was my Latin teacher who loved writing stories for us to translate about cyclops, and he just always had a way of teaching that made you want to learn.  To this day I still say “Anna et Marcus in Italia est” and “tu, tui, tibi, te, te.”  He also had a beautiful Charger or Challenger – I think we were all shocked that a Pastor could drive a sweet muscle car.

Mr. Greschner was another teacher that had a strong impact. He taught Physics and I still think of him every time a train goes by and I feel compelled to shout “Doppler Effect!” He made a challenging class interesting and a lot of fun.

What encouraged you to pursue accounting, and how did you end up where you are now?

During my first foray into college, I was a sociology major with an emphasis on criminology. I was very close to graduating but decided to get married and “Go back to school later…” Getting married meant mortgage, car payment, and a lot more respect for my parents who made “adulting” look easy.  

I took the first job offer (a laser printer manufacturer), and from that point I always seemed to gravitate toward numbers. Even though my roles were not finance or accounting related I would track various metrics or have ideas for reports that would help management better understand the business. 

As I reached my mid-30s I was bored and had no real path for advancement, especially without a 4-year degree, so I decided to go back to school. When thinking about a major this time around I opted for accounting since it was closest to what I was actually doing. I went to school on weekends and worked full time during the week and after 2.5 years I had my Bachelor’s in Accounting and began working on passing the CPA exam.  

I ended up where I am now, Deloitte, because of my horses. I was chatting with a lady at the barn where we both rode and she asked why I wasn’t working in accounting. I explained I had no traditional accounting experience and she suggested I look at job openings at Deloitte since the firm does a lot of things that aren’t traditional accounting. So I did and  have been there 16 years helping corporations determine the appropriate tax deductibility of meals and entertainment expenses. 

What are your hobbies and interests?

My husband and my primary hobby is Geocaching (www.geocaching.com). It is best described as a world-wide scavenger hunt using billion dollar satellites to find Tupperware in the woods. Don’t get me started, I could talk about this hobby all day long – it has been the best way for two “nerds” with desk jobs to get outside and move. We even plan our vacations around where old or unique geocaches are hidden and this hobby has taken us to some really amazing places we otherwise might not have ever found.

I love to travel and see new places and learn about their cultures and history. When staying closer to home, I enjoy hiking, reading, spending time with my horses, dog, and cats, and of course binging Netflix, Disney, etc.