My Winthrop Experience

Roy Weathers '89 appreciates that life, sometimes, comes full circle.

Weathers remembers sitting in an introduction to accounting course and listening to a guest speaker who was a partner at PricewaterhouseCoopers, LLP talk about the company and the accounting field. Now, more than 20 years later, Weathers, who is now a partner at PricewaterhouseCoopers, visits campus to talk with Winthrop students.

A first-generation college student from Blacksburg, S.C., Weathers praises his former professors and mentors who inspired and encouraged him throughout his time at Winthrop. After graduation, Weathers earned a master's degree in accounting from Clemson University and began his career with PricewaterhouseCoopers, LLP. He worked in the company's Atlanta, Ga., office before moving to New York.

In 2002 he was named partner and has earned a series of promotions. He serves as the New York Metro Region Tax Leader and is a member of the company's Extended US Tax leadership team.

"It's a great deal of responsibility," said Weathers, who oversees more than 1,000 employees. He has learned that his leadership skills can be tested even in unforeseen circumstances. "During Hurricane Sandy I had nearly 1,800 people in my area that had to be accounted for. We made daily calls to check on employees and got them into hotel rooms if needed." Much of his leadership skills he learned at Winthrop. "I learned what it takes to thrive and inspire, and I also learned that you never know the impact of what you say on someone," he said.

Weathers notes that he is constantly aware of what he learned at Winthrop: those lessons inspire him to be innovative, humble, selfless and a team player.

Having been back to campus roughly a dozen times since graduation, Weathers, who is married with two children, constantly is amazed at the Winthrop of today. "It's fantastic and there's so much to be proud of: the great vision, great execution, strong momentum and strong academics really stand out," said Weathers.

Weathers also was instrumental in helping create the College of Business and Technology's Accounting Mentorship and Professional Development (AMPD) program for underrepresented students in the accounting field. The funding for the program was provided in part by PricewaterhouseCoopers.

Now when he visits a Winthrop classroom, there's one phrase that Weathers always tells them: "you can go anywhere from here."

Headshot photo credit: Steve Friedman