(Assistant Controller - Saint Louis Office) - For basically all his adult life, Adam Smith knew he wanted to work in accounting. He just needed the right opportunity.

Like anyone else’s life and career journey, there are turns along the way. Halfway into his senior year of high school, his father passed away. He witnessed his mother working rigorously to support the family, helping him internalize the value of worthwhile work. Yet he admits he lacked guidance.

To his credit, Adam (who now serves as the Datamax Assistant Controller out of St. Louis) worked the A+ scholarship in high school, which paid for two years of college. After attending a small college in his hometown, he transferred to the University of Missouri St. Louis…. where he took his first accounting class.

“There was something about working with numbers, making everything balance. That class was the first time that I was excited about my future and thought, ‘Yes, I can do this and make a career out of it,” Adam recalls.

Then came another turn: The 2008 recession.  This is where his Datamax story begins.  

What led me to Datamax?

After Adam graduated from college in 2008, the recession was looming. He sought an entry-level accounting position, but as he piled on the applications and interviews, the rejection letters followed.

“It was extremely difficult. Basically, everyone wanted three to five years’ experience; meanwhile, because of the recession, all these other staff accountants who had lost their jobs were seeking out the same roles I was,” Adam said. “I was going to a lot of interviews at that time and after each one, I rarely thought that I would like to work with the person interviewing me.”

Datamax was different.

“They took time to explain what the job was and all the benefits that I would be getting if I chose to work here. My second interview was with (Controller) Sheryl Scott, who has been my manager for the last 15 years now. She had an answer to every question I had and was very direct and genuine, which I appreciate. Asking questions on other interviews was filled with a lot of fluff and with people that seemed like they were putting on a façade. I remember thinking, ‘I hope I get this one.’”

My experiences at Datamax:

He did get the job. He started in Accounts Payable and today, as the Assistant Controller, handles property sales tax, analysis, AR boxes, and virtually all things accounting; Adam also covers for Sheryl and Purchasing Manager Brad Grohman when they are out.

He was surprised by the tenure of his fellow employees when he arrived. People had been there 10-20 years, he recalls, and many of those smiling faces are still here today. But when asked about his experiences at Datamax, Adam points to three benefits.

First, there’s culture.

“There is a sense of community and most people genuinely care about you and your family. There are questions all the time, not just here but at the other divisions as well: How’s Ashley (my wife)? How are the girls? How’s Archie (my Golden Retriever)? In 2017 my wife at the age of 31 was diagnosed with stage 3 breast cancer. It was a difficult time but everyone showed genuine concern for her and me. There were people asking if they could give me some of their vacation time or if they could do anything for us, make meals, pray for us, do something for our kids. They all ended up chipping in with the company and getting us a basket full of gift cards and various other things that really helped. The Admin team in Little Rock even sent a gift basket with lots of goodies. It’s something I will never forget and I’m eternally grateful for,” Adam said.

Secondly, there’s flexibility.

“I have 2 daughters Addison (9) & Ava (8) and there are a lot of school/sporting events to make. I live about 45 minutes from the office so I would miss a lot of them if I couldn’t leave a little early or take off certain days,” Adam said.

Finally, there’s expansion. In 2013, Adam was promoted to Staff Accountant.

“I remember having a conversation with (current COO) Steven Sumer. He mentioned plans to expand, to acquire other divisions, and grow the company. A few years later we did just that with the additions of Tyler/Longview/ Lufkin & many others in the past 10 years,” Adam said.

What makes me want to stay at Datamax?

Datamax is a successful company with an upward-trending future, Adam said. The evidence is there: Training, expansion, and the mentality to never focus on “good enough” but rather “strive to be better.”

But he also mentions how much being at Datamax has helped him grow as a person.

“It’s given me the confidence to stand up and know that I can make a difference in my community. I’m also the Treasurer for the (UGSA) Union Girls Softball Association & the ‘Chicken Fry Chairman’ for my kids’ school/church which means I’m in charge of the chicken frying portion of the annual fall festival. There are many meetings that I go to throughout the year and I would not have gone to those much less volunteered for a position if it was not for the success I’ve experienced at Datamax. To have a new process or a new program that you have been working on with your team be successfully implemented really makes you feel great,” Adam said.

As it turns out, along Adam’s career journey, his opportunity at Datamax was the ultimate turn for the best.