Today we’d like to introduce you to De’Shonda Lucas.
De’Shonda, can you briefly walk us through your story – how you started and how you got to where you are today.
My story was originally difficult to write because it’s been a difficult complex story. I am a first-generation college graduate. Not only did I graduate, but I have also excelled. My mother always told me to reach for the stars and it was okay to fall on the moon.
I graduated from GA Southern University in 2000 and became an auditor for the state of GA, gave birth to my “Ladybug” in 2003, married professional football player Al Lucas in 2004, became a widow in 2005 and then went back to school and got my masters from GA College & State University. I continued to work as an auditor for another two years until in 2009 when I resigned because my daughter who was now being raised as a single parent had the odds stacked against her.
I started Premier Asset Inventory, a company that completed residential and commercial inventories to document assets in cases of fire, flood, theft, and disaster. I then opened up Premier Taxes & Accounting where we service small business owners on a larger scale in areas of taxes and accounting. We utilize or knowledge, skill, access, and strategic partners throughout our global community to help business owners succeed. I recently took the exam to become and IRS Enrolled Agent which means I will be granted unlimited rights to practice on my client’s behalf before the IRS.
In 2018 Premier CEO Services was launched. Through Premier CEO Services, we are in charge of uniting all financial services. Just recently in 2019, we began to offer insurance services to our clients as well to support our Tax Planning Division!
We’re always bombarded by how great it is to pursue your passion, etc. – but we’ve spoken with enough people to know that it’s not always easy. Overall, would you say things have been easy for you?
Not at all, however perseverance has been key. After I lost my husband, I suffered a great deal with grief and the strain of single parenting but I promise my faith is what has gotten me through. It was my faith that when there were spurts of no work that as long as my daughter was in a great place it was all worth it.
Often times, I was only able to work part-time so that I could be a full-time mother and I did just that. I gave her all of me and it’s been more than work.
In 2012, I had open-heart and during that time, before my surgery, I closed my business, prepared my home, and most of all my daughter. I remember one day driving from Home Depot to get flowers for the house so that when both sets of my parents came, it would be beautiful, God spoke and said, “You will be fine because you’re here to be her mother”. All I needed was a touch from God to restart my heart when stopped and that was just what I got.
I’m here and she is magic. Mariah is 16 years old, a senior in high school and the owner of two small businesses; IconicXBeauty where she sells mink luxury hair and The Entrepreneur’s Playground, an exclusive “members-only” networking and support alliance for young entrepreneurs ranging from ages 15-21.
So let’s switch gears a bit and go into the Premier Taxes & Accounting and Premier CEO Services story. Tell us more about it.
I am a true believer that in order to be accountable for finances of our businesses, we must be able to understand financial documentation and that is what I spend my time doing educating my clients, not just pushing numbers out. How long can we continue to let small business owners operate a business without having an actual accountant? And if there is one, how dare that accountant not take to the time to educate their client on the numbers, or even worse, how long will that business owner continue to be too busy to “mine their business”? How opportunities will continue to be missed because of a lack of sound financial accountability? How many minority and disadvantaged business owners continue to let their piece of the pie spoil in the table because they won’t focus long enough to utilize their own tool and the tools of others to succeed? Premier Taxes & Accounting is the answer to questions like that. We utilize or knowledge, skill, access, and strategic partners throughout our global community to help business owners succeed.
Premier CEO Services is where Premier CEO’s Unite & so do their finances. Too often in business, each financial leg is standing on its own. We have to create a system where the Business Consultant, Business Banker, Bookkeeper, Accountant, Tax Preparer, Tax Planner, Real Estate Agent, Insurance Agent, and Financial Advisor all sit at the same table. In a system like this, “The Future Is Premier”!
Has luck played a meaningful role in your life and business?
I don’t consider myself lucky at all but I am most definitely blessed! Through no greatness of my own self but my willingness to become better every day God blesses me. I accept my losses and learn from my lessons, and I continue to grow another day.
I specialize in Accounting & Taxes but I’m most known for my love for people and because of that, my clients can connect with me; this is the thing that also sets me apart from others. I believe in supporting my clients and showing up for their events. I want to know the whole picture of their lives because if I know where they are going, I am a great guide to get them there. I am constantly at different training events, I share with my clients; “the more I learn, the more they save”. My office is a no-judgment zone.
The worst things in my life created the best in me. I grew up in a home of domestic violence. I am now strong supporter of the Still Standing Alliance. I made a decision early on to be present as a mother which is why I only worked during school hours when my daughter was young. I have made being a single parent become the best thing in my life because I had the opportunity to raise her exactly as I desired with no compromise.
Pricing:
- Business Set Up Services $325 – $625
- Monthly Accounting Services $175 – $3,000
- Tax Services $225 – $750
- Coaching & Consulting $450 – $5000
Contact Info:
- Address: 4284 Memorial Drive Suite C
Deactur, GA 30032 - Website: www.premeirtaxesandaccounting.com
- Phone: 7707131099
- Email: dwlucas@premiertaxesandaccounting.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/deshondalucas/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/premiertaxesandaccounting/
- Other: https://www.linkedin.com/in/de-shonda-lucas-ceo-mba-aba5712b/
Image Credit:
Nicole Tyler Photography
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