Lynn Taylor’s path to her eventual career, and newest role as a Board member for VersAbility Resources, started when she earned a scholarship to North Carolina Agricultural and Technical State University in Greensboro.
“North Carolina A&T is a Historically Black College and University. At the time, they were trying to build up their accounting program, so they sought high school students who were doing very well,” she said.
Taylor, who attended Richmond Community High School, was one of those students. Though she hadn’t planned on a career in finance, she earned a scholarship to study accounting, and the rest is history.
“Luckily, I actually enjoyed that particular field of study,” Taylor said. “It worked out for me — it was a good fit.”
After graduating with a bachelor’s degree in accounting, Taylor landed a job at Peat, Marwick, Main & Company (which later became KPMG) in D.C., where she worked for four years. During her time there, she became a licensed Certified Public Accountant, or CPA. She then relocated briefly to New Jersey, where she gained experience in internal auditing and SEC financial reporting.
She and her husband started a family, and she eventually settled back in Virginia, making their home in Newport News. Not ready to go back to full-time work with two young children at home, Taylor contacted KPMG to see if they had any clients who needed part-time accounting support.
“One of the partners recommended me to Mr. Jack Ezzell – his company, Zel Technologies (ZelTech), was an audit client at the time,” Taylor said. “Mr. Ezzell was a graduate of North Carolina A&T as well, and he gave me the opportunity.”
Taylor provided work part-time for ZelTech – a solution-based company that provides mission-critical services to the national defense and enterprise sectors – for several years before transitioning to a full-time resource once her children were older. The timing was perfect because the Hampton-based, Veteran-owned company was growing.
After becoming full-time, Taylor rose through the ranks.
“I was the Accounting Manager, moved up to Controller, then served as Vice President of Finance and Human Resources, followed by Chief Financial Officer. For the past two years, I’ve been serving as President,” she said. “I just continued to grow with the company.”
Taylor has been at ZelTech for almost 30 years and loves what she does.
“The thing about the accounting industry is that it really prepares you to take on a leadership role in any kind of company,” she said. “Working in a small company, you get to do more of all of the things. When you work in the finance department of a small company, you’re involved in everything – you’re involved in the payroll, the billing, the reporting – and then as I got to do more in the organization – I was involved in strategy sessions, and important meetings and engaging with different people behind the scenes – and all of that experience has helped me get to where I am today.”
Taylor also appreciates the family environment at ZelTech.
“You just can’t get that at a large corporation,” she said.
Taylor is bringing her years of accounting and management prowess to VersAbility’s finance committee, where she’s looking forward to helping the nonprofit grow and invest.
As a long-time community supporter, Taylor is excited to join VersAbility’s Board.
“Mr. Ezzell has been involved with VersAbility for many years, and he’s always talked about it and the tremendous work the organization does,” she said.
Taylor, who’s involved in several community organizations such as GO Virginia Region 5, REaKTOR, the Newport News Youth Advisory Council, and the Peninsula United Way, said she’s looking forward to making a difference with VersAbility.
“When I was a kid, I grew up in a disadvantaged community, so there were people and organizations that helped kids like me and made a difference in my life. So anything I can do to connect with people or to help someone else, that’s what I like to do.”
