Careers in Accounting: A Major with
Countless Opportunities
Monday, October 26, 2026
Panel Discussion | 12:15-1:10 pm | Jepson Center Wolff Auditorium
Come learn about the versatility of an accounting degree from professionals who have followed very diverse career paths.
Free and open to all students.
Panel Members Include:
Kelly Garrett – Manager, Accounting Advisory Services at KPMG
Kelly is a proud Zag and received both her Bachelor's and Master's degrees in Accounting from Gonzaga.
After graduating from Gonzaga’s MAcc program in 2019, Kelly joined the technical staff at the Financial Accounting Standards Board (FASB) in Norwalk, CT as part of the Postgraduate Technical Assistant program. During her year at the FASB, Kelly was directly involved in the accounting standard setting process as a member of several project teams.
Kelly went on to join KPMG where she has built her career in the firm’s Accounting Advisory Services practice, first in Denver and now in Seattle. In her role as a director in the practice, Kelly provides technical accounting and financial reporting support to her clients, primarily in the technology and life sciences sectors.
She remains active with her alma mater as a member of Gonzaga’s Accounting Advisory Council.
Erik Swanson - Senior Financial Analyst for AgWest Farm Credit
Erik Swanson, CPA, is a Gonzaga University graduate and accounting professional with over twelve years of experience in tax accounting and compliance. Prior to joining AgWest Farm Credit, he worked as a Tax Manager at Moss Adams. His background includes federal, state, and international tax compliance and reporting, with a focus on middle-market businesses. He has also served as a nonprofit board treasurer and as an adjunct accounting instructor at Gonzaga.
Christian Parker – Special Agent, FBI
Mr. Parker is a CPA and graduate of Brigham Young University, where he received Bachelor’s and Master’s degrees in Accounting.
In 2001, Mr. Parker began working for Deloitte & Touche in Portland, Oregon, where he audited public and private companies and was licensed as a Certified Public Accountant.
In 2004, Mr. Parker was appointed a Special Agent of the Federal Bureau of Investigation. Mr. Parker has been assigned to the Dallas Field Office, FBI Headquarters in Washington, DC, and the Spokane Residence Agency, which is part of the Seattle Field Office. Mr. Parker has investigated financial crimes, public corruption, and civil rights violations for most of his 22-year career in the FBI.
Shianne Parker - Assistant Corporate Controller at Cowles Company
is a Spokane native and graduate of North Central High School and Gonzaga University, where she earned both her accounting degree and Master of Accountancy. She is a CPA, and she began her career with Moss Adams in Spokane. After three years in public accounting, she transitioned to the private sector as the Controller for American Drilling Corp. For the past nine years, she has served as the Assistant Corporate Controller at Cowles Company, helping oversee accounting and financial operations across the organization's diverse portfolio of businesses.