Patrick Holmes,
B.S.B.A. in accounting, ’69

Alumni Commitment Award

As a transfer student to Central Michigan University, Patrick Holmes spent nights and weekends delivering pizzas and summers working in factories. This helped him develop a strong work ethic and the ability to see the “big picture” – two traits that have become hallmarks of his career.

After his rich CMU experience as a member of Alpha Kappa Psi and as an intramural football player and bowler, Holmes went to work briefly as an accountant for Kregel, Raterink, and Kingma. He joined the Air Force and spent three years in Germany. In 1973, he returned to Kregel, Raterink, and Kingma. In 1990, the firm merged into Rehmann Robson, which today is the 35th largest national CPA firm in the country and the second largest Michigan-based CPA firm.

“My biggest challenge was during the merger, which I helped facilitate,” Holmes said. “It went well. I spent a lot of time trying to focus on and guide the firm into the future.”

After the success of the merger, Holmes was asked to serve on the board of directors, and in 1992 he was elected chairman of the board – making him the third chairman in the company’s 52-year history, succeeding Jack Rehmann and Randy Robson.

“It was quite an honor because I was coming from the smaller company that had merged into the larger one. I credit it to my having been able to steer the company in the right direction and having stayed focused on the big picture,” Holmes said. “My goals now are just to enjoy what I’m doing and to help my clients by being the best advisor I can be.”

Holmes has stayed connected to CMU by serving on the accounting advisory committee and development board. Three of his five children have attended CMU, including his daughter Kim, a member of the gymnastics team. The CMU team has won four straight MAC championships.