Camille Lockhart

Both seem to be natural fits for Lockhart, who joined BKD in 1992 as a staff accountant. She has since received several promotions, and cites becoming a partner in the firm as her proudest accomplishment.

“As one of the leaders of the firm, I’m proud to set an example for others coming up through the ranks, and I appreciate all that I’ve learned from those who have influenced me,” she said.

Lockhart said she has an open-door policy, often helping individuals who need guidance to meet challenges and reach their goals.

“Many times, we write out or discuss their goals, and I share my experience in how I accomplished mine,” she said.

As for how she reached her goals, Lockhart said the first step is to realize and accept that the see-saw ride of life won’t ever balance itself, but that balance comes through the choices each person makes.

“Second, if you wake up and you regret something about yesterday, you change it immediately. Don’t live with regrets, because you never get that time back,” she said. “And lastly, you have to want it!”

Throughout her time with BKD, Lockhart has compiled several achievements, including serving on the firm’s nursing facilities executive committee. She’s also involved with the firm’s planned-giving and matching-gift programs that help support accounting schools at area colleges and universities.

In 2005, she was nominated to serve on a six-member, firm wide task force to examine BKD’s growth in relation to retention and recruiting.

“I was the only woman to serve on the task force throughout the firm nationally,” she said.

After developing a new firm wide program, Lockhart was one of two individuals selected to speak at BKD’s national leadership conference.

In addition to her work with BKD, Lockhart is the vice president of Wright and Sons Farm Inc., a three-generation family business with more than 3,000 acres in southeast Missouri. She oversees the farm’s daily finances and operations.

Lockhart also has volunteered to serve with several community organizations, including Friends of the Zoo, Girl Scouts of Dogwood Trails Council Inc., Junior League of Springfield and the Springfield Ballet.

Personally speaking

As a young child, what did you hope to be when you grew up?

I wanted to be a waitress when I was little. I would buy my own ticket pads to take orders and collect any unused placemats at restaurants so I could go home and pretend to have tables to wait on.

Please tell us about your family.

I have been married to Alan for more than 10 years. We have two wonderful children, Olivia, 7, and Kent, 3. My husband has his own business, so we both balance full-time careers and our family.

Besides your parents, who do you consider a mentor or role model?

The partners at BKD have been the greatest role models in my career. Over the years ... I have been given the opportunity to be exposed to all their different talents. They all have their own individual strengths that I am able to learn and grow from them as I move through my career.

Tell us something about you that most people probably don’t know.

I swam competitively for 10 years and went to the Junior Olympics. Freestyle and butterfly were my best strokes.

If you had an entire day without any scheduled obligations, how would you spend it?

Of course, with my family. However, if it was during the kids’ naps, I would be at a spa![[In-content Ad]]