HFC welcomes Gopi Patel, lifelong learner and problem solver
HFC Accountant Gopi Patel has always been good at numbers.
“Many people in my family are in the accounting field, and I’ve always wanted to be in an office job,” said Patel. “I also have a strong math background, which made accounting a natural choice.”
Patel has been working with HFC Accountant Melissa Kurtz, whom she will replace when Kurtz leaves HFC at the end of the summer.
“Melissa has already shown me a lot and is helping ensure a smooth transition, and there is still a lot more for me to learn,” said Patel. “Her guidance has been very helpful.”
Excited to be part of the HFC team
The eldest of four, Patel was born in India and is fluent in English, Hindi, and Gujarati. She immigrated to the United States in 2007 and lives in Canton with her husband and their son, 16.
Patel attended high school overseas. She also earned both her bachelor’s and master’s degrees in mathematics overseas from Sardar Patel University in India. She subsequently earned her bachelor’s in business administration from the University of Michigan-Dearborn.
Patel has worked in accounting for about 10 years. Prior to joining HFC, she worked at AAA Life Insurance Company in Livonia for nearly two years and at Community Alliance in Ypsilanti for nearly two years. HFC is her first foray into higher education.
“It’s exciting to be part of a new team during a time of transition,” said Patel. “I was attracted to HFC because it offers a wide variety of programs. My son will soon need to attend college to earn an associate degree. I also feel that if I ever want to take additional courses like programming, HFC would be a good place to do so.”
Lifelong learner who enjoys solving problems
Patel reports to HFC Director of Financial Accounting Ryan Leright, who is also new to the College.
“Gopi and I started at HFC on the same day,” said Leright. “From day one, Gopi has brought new ideas, fresh energy and has a shared vision of team success. I am glad she is a part of the team, and I know she is going to have a major positive impact at HFC.”
The most challenging aspect of Patel’s job is learning everything as quickly as possible.
“If I don’t learn it today, I might not be able to meet my responsibilities tomorrow,” she said. “I’m looking forward to becoming more familiar with everything so I can perform my duties effectively. The best part of my job is that I already have experience in accounting, and I enjoy working with numbers and solving problems.”