The deadline to nominate someone for a 2026 40 Under 40 award is TODAY! Use this form and nominate a young professional today. Take a look at this profile of Joshua Guay, a 2025 40 Under 40.
What do you wish more people understood about your field or industry?
A lot of people assume we just focus on financial reporting, budgeting, cash flow forecasting, etc. but really accountants should be viewed as strategic partners who help shape the company vision and future. Our role is to ensure financial decisions align with the long-term goals of the company.
What is one cause or issue that you’re especially passionate about, and why?
Serving community and giving back — I’ve been able to do this through volunteering with our township fire department and volunteering time with local youth sports programs. It’s important to provide opportunities for the next generation and protect and serve the communities we live in.
What’s the best piece of advice you’ve ever received, and who gave it to you?
Communication has always been a weakness for me — so I would say the best advice regarding this area for improvement in myself came from West Point Major General Malcom Frost during TLDG (Thayer Leader Development Group) training who told me how important it is to communicate not so you are understood, but so you cannot possibly be misunderstood. That stuck with me, but I still have a lot of work to do to improve!
What’s a failure or setback you experienced that ended up being a stepping stone to something greater? In my career, I have had situations where I had moved on and in each case it did end up as a stepping stone to a better opportunity and a greater challenge — so I’ve been able to continually learn and grow every step of the way.
What legacy do you hope to leave, both in your career and in your community?
To provide a simple answer to a complex question, just leave it better than I found it. That would be true for any company I have the opportunity to work for and for the community I live and raise my family in.
