Publishers Note: Intuitive Accountant will be providing in-depth coverage of the educational sessions to be held at Scaling New Heights between April and the event. The features are designed to give you, the ProAdvisor, a good understanding of as many of the sessions as we can cover leading up to this one of a kind event. Gary
Tommy Harrington, a provider of training and application development with Microsoft Excel for over 25 years, will be presenting five different training sessions at the Scaling New Heights conference in order to demonstrate to Excel users (at any level of expertise) and those who supervise Excel users how the right training can make using Excel more easy and effective. While attendees are bound to learn from an expert in the subject, they’ll also be able to meet someone who is very passionate about his job. When asked what he hopes to gain from speaking at Scaling New Heights, Tommy responded, “At 69 years of age I’m happy to be anywhere doing anything. Really I enjoy sharing my Excel knowledge with others. I love seeing the ‘lights go on’ when someone realizes the amazing things that Excel can do to save them time and effort with my shortcuts and techniques. That’s my job and my hobby!”
On a regular basis Tommy helps high-end Excel users with onsite training and project development for many Fortune 500 Companies, universities, and large hospitals. When asked more about his history with Excel, Tommy explained his humble beginnings and the experiences that got him to where he is today.
He said, “I started using Excel as the president of a small financial institution and decided very quickly that Excel was my first love. Then almost 25 years ago I left the banking industry and started my own company to provide training, consulting and application development with Microsoft Excel. A few years after this, two great things occurred in my life: I was discovered by North Carolina State University’s Computer Training Unit then became an instructor for them and the North Carolina Association of CPA’s asked me to present a session at one of their conferences. While still running my own business, I was a contract instructor at NC State’s Computer Unit until I retired in 2009 as senior Excel instructor and I have now presented hundreds of sessions for the NCACPA.” The NCACPA awarded Tommy their Outstanding Professional Speaker of the Year Award in 2006, 2009, and 2011. He also speaks in other states, most recently for the Virginia Society of CPA’s and the Indiana Society of CPA’s.
Those who attend one or more of Tommy’s five training sessions will benefit by being able to:
- Learn how to get much more done in much less time with Excel
- Learn shortcuts to save hours of time
- Gain an understanding of the many undiscovered uses for Excel in accounting situations
- Learn how to solve many of the problems encountered when working with Excel and other programs
When asked to explain how attendees will learn these different ways to use Excel in his sessions, Tommy said, “Excel has great features to benefit many professions. Over the years I have narrowed Excel’s commands, functions, shortcuts and tips to those most beneficial for accounting professional and financial managers. I have even come up with new techniques for getting the jobs of these accounting folks done quicker and easier. I have designed my sessions to provide shortcuts, tips, and techniques that help all Excel users to get much more accomplished in much less time.”
Attendees for these sessions will also be able to have a unique experience where learning Excel won’t just become easier, but also more enjoyable.
Tommy explained this by saying, “I always explain Excel without technical jargon and in easy to understand language (with a North Carolina Outer Banks accent like Andy Griffith). AND I always make sure my seminars are FUN! I had to attend too many boring seminars when I was a banker. For any level of Excel user, my seminars are always enlightening and entertaining.”
Tommy also explained that he has designed all five of his sessions to increase the productivity of any Excel user.
He said, “These sessions will teach functions, formulas, and commands that some may have never used, but their real goal is to increase productivity. If I don’t increase the productivity of everyone that attends my Excel sessions by at least 200%...I have not done my job.”
With these benefits, attendees will also get for free what he gives anyone who attends his sessions: his future assistance for any Excel problems or questions. When asked about this service, he said,
“I will be saying at some point in each of my Scaling New Heights sessions, ‘You don’t need me today. You need me when you’re back at your desk and have an Excel problem or question. Please check my Excel manuals that you receive free with each session. And then if you still need help, email me. I would love to help and it’s really no problem.’ I have communicated this to everyone I have spoken to or trained in the last 25 years and I get on average 12 emails each week with questions on Excel. I have answered each of these questions and helped thousands. I enjoy this . . . remember Excel is really my hobby and I love sharing my knowledge.”
Publisher's Note: Mr. Harrington's classes will be held on 6/16 @ 12:10, 2:30 & 4:20 and 6/17 @ 12:10 & 2:30
CRYSTAL HOLDEFER is a freelance writer and editor with former experience as an editorial assistant for the North Carolina Literary Review and as a writing consultant at East Carolina University’s University Writing Center. She graduated East Carolina University with an MA in Technical and Professional Communication and a BA in English and Theatre. Crystal works out of Greenville, NC, and can be emailed at holdefer18@gmail.com.