When Barb Skinner, owner of Barb Skinner Bookkeeping, attended Scaling New Heights through the support of the Accounting Cornerstone Foundation (ACF) scholarship, she was still in the early stages of building her business.

Based in Portland, Oregon, Barb had launched her bookkeeping firm in 2023 while raising young children at home. Like many new entrepreneurs, she was juggling family responsibilities while working part-time to grow her business.

Even though she had already found a niche she loved, supporting fitness and nutrition coaches and outdoor industry startups, questions about the future of her firm lingered.

Could she build a sustainable business serving smaller clients?
Would being “just a bookkeeper” be enough to succeed?
And how could she confidently explain her work schedule while raising young kids?

Those questions created moments of doubt.

The conference would help change that.

The Starting Line: Building a Business While Questioning the Path

Before attending Scaling New Heights, Barb knew the type of clients she wanted to serve. What she was still figuring out was how to build a business that fit both her professional goals and her personal life.

“I work part-time while I have young kids at home,” Barb shared. “And I was constantly feeling the need to explain or justify that to clients and colleagues.”

At times, she wondered if she would need additional credentials like becoming an EA or CPA to truly establish credibility.

Like many early-stage firm owners, she was searching for reassurance that the path she was building could work.

She first heard about the ACF scholarship through Kate Johnson’s Bookkeeping Side Hustle community. The opportunity almost felt too good to be real.

“I thought it sounded too good to be true, that they would really cover all those expenses for a newbie.”

Still, the list of educational sessions at Scaling New Heights was too exciting to ignore.

“So even though I thought it was a long shot, I applied anyway.”

The Turning Point: Redefining What Success Looks Like

At Scaling New Heights, Barb discovered something powerful: there is no single model for building a successful accounting practice.

“There is such variety and diversity within accounting practices,” she said. “Different goals, services, clientele, and expertise.”

For the first time, she began to release the idea that her business had to fit someone else’s definition of success.

“I realized I am not ‘less than’ for building a business around the clients I’m passionate about serving,” Barb explained. “And I’m not less than for building a business around the priorities of my life.”

Several conversations during the conference helped reinforce that shift in thinking.

At one point, when Barb referred to herself as “just a part-time bookkeeper,” multiple peers quickly stopped her.

“They gently suggested I change the way I talk about myself and my work.”

One moment stood out in particular. During dinner with the ACF board, Barb repeated the phrase again, and received an answer she will never forget.

“Nayo said, ‘No, no, you run a boutique lifestyle firm.’”

That simple reframe changed everything.

Inspiration, Mentorship, and New Possibilities

The conference also allowed Barb to meet Kate Johnson, whose work had originally inspired her to start her bookkeeping business.

Years earlier, Barb had heard Johnson speak on a podcast about launching a bookkeeping firm while raising children, without a traditional accounting background. That story sparked the idea that Barb could do the same.

Meeting her in person and attending her session on one-to-many offerings was another major moment.

Combined with insights from Dena Martin’s session on serving micro-clients, Barb realized she could design services that supported the exact clients she cared about most.

It was confirmation that her niche was not a limitation, it was a strength.

After the Conference: Turning Ideas Into Action

After returning home, Barb immediately began building on the ideas she discovered at the conference.

One of the biggest outcomes was the launch of a new initiative: The Cash Fit Community.

This program is designed for fitness and nutrition coaches who want to handle their own bookkeeping, providing them with live office hours, resources for year-end reviews and 1099 filings, and tools for budgeting and financial organization.

“I can’t wait to see it blossom in the years to come,” Barb said.

She also began working with Charlotte Hanington, a marketing and branding specialist for accountants she met at the conference. Together, they are building resources to support the growth of the Cash Fit Community.

Barb also continued investing in her education, reading recommended books from the conference, joining Nancy McLelland’s Ask a CPA group, and even signing up for another conference.

“I wouldn’t have spent the money to attend another event if I hadn’t seen firsthand how powerful this one was.”

Confidence to Build a Business That Fits Her Life

Beyond the tactical changes, Barb returned home with something even more valuable: confidence.

She no longer feels the need to apologize for the type of business she is building.

Instead, she sees the value in designing a firm that aligns with her life, her passions, and the people she wants to serve.

“I realized that being a great bookkeeper — and continuing to deepen that expertise — is a worthy calling.”

Why In-Person Learning Matters

For Barb, the most powerful moments at the conference happened outside the formal sessions.

Conversations at lunch tables and between presentations allowed her to ask questions, share experiences, and hear perspectives from professionals across the country.

“It helped shape my understanding that we all bring different backgrounds, goals, and hopes into our work,” she said.

Those interactions reinforced an important lesson.

“There is not one mold we should all try to fit into.”

Receiving the scholarship itself was deeply meaningful.

“Affirmed. Believed in. Worthy.”

Paying It Forward

Barb believes the impact of the Accounting Cornerstone Foundation extends far beyond a single conference experience.

“Look at what it did for me,” she said. “This group of leaders is trustworthy, full of integrity, and committed to lifting newcomers into the profession.”

Her advice to anyone considering applying for a scholarship is simple.

“Go for it. You have nothing to lose.”

Barb herself applied more than once before receiving the scholarship — and even the interview process made a lasting impression.

“To have a leader in the industry affirm you and the path you’re on is a wonderful thing.”

If she had to summarize the experience in one sentence, Barb says it best:

“Showing up for others is the only way they can show up for you.”