Cayce Lay Lamas ('17 MPACC)

Tell us about yourself.
A native Texan, I have lived all my life in the North Texas area. I grew up the oldest of three siblings in Grand Prairie, where I met my husband when he began playing middle school football with my best friend’s brother. Said best friend and brother conspired to make Chris ask me out once we were all in our twenties. We have been together almost two decades and currently reside in Grapevine, Texas, with our Pitbull rescue dogs, Pippa and Dottie. All four of us are very social and will travel just about anywhere for good food, good friends, and good music.

Why did you choose to attend UTA?
I was at a point in my chosen field of public service when a master's degree was going to be necessary to advance. I considered a master's in public administration versus the master's in accounting before deciding that being a certified public accountant (CPA) would not only help me then but be a great differentiator later in my career. I chose UTA for its more challenging accounting program to better prepare me for the CPA tests.

What drew you to a graduate degree in accounting?
I’d been working in a municipal finance department on the budget side for a few years and saw an opportunity to become more well-rounded by adding accounting technical expertise. Learning that side of finance was like learning a whole new language and more than doubled my usefulness. Plus, getting my master's in professional accounting prepared me to sit for the CPA exam, which came with a built-in opportunity to keep learning.

Describe your UTA experience. How did UTA help prepare you for your career?
Before enrolling at UTA, I was happy to take on any tasks to improve my technical skills and satisfy my curiosity, but juggling a graduate program, full-time job, and relationships forced me to reprioritize how I spent my time. I improved my delegation and time management skills and got much better at saying no to things that didn’t serve me. At work, that shows up in developing others and maximizing my efficiency and efficacy.

Describe your path to your current position. What have you learned along the way?
I stumbled into my career. I had been laid off a few times in the late aughts and was really in survival mode. I had a friend at the time working for a local government that called to offer me a temp job answering phones at the city hall and I stayed there for twelve years growing and learning anything I could. I’ve worked in finance, human resources, even fire, and signed up for any special projects or development opportunities. It started out as an attempt to make myself indispensable but made me realize that constantly seeking growth is my superpower; and the most effective way of learning for me is sharing that knowledge with others. Most importantly, I have learned how invaluable relationships are to my peace and my progress and that developing those connections is the most rewarding part of my job.

What drew you to your career path? Can you share any defining moments in your career that inspired you to continue your work?
Working for a municipality is one of the most impactful and multifaceted career choices available. Everything we do is to serve others in a community and subject to public inspection, so there’s a willingness to share information and an amazing camaraderie within the industry. On any given day, I know I’ve got a huge network I can reach out to for advice, assistance, or empathy for whatever situation I’m in.

The first time I experienced unsolicited help to do my job blew my mind. I was so used to working independently in the private sector and all of sudden I had what felt like unlimited resources. It was such an unexpected and hopeful interaction that I could see exactly how having that kind of support helps, how directly I could make an impact on others, and my mindset completely shifted. I have been fully committed to personal growth to the benefit of those around me ever since.

What's one lesson you learned at UTA that has stayed with you still today?
It’s really easy to take for granted everything you learn and how all your different experiences shape you until you get put to the test. The small, tedious details that chip away at your day build on one another, and it’s wild to see how far you can go when you’re constantly growing yourself.

What message do you have for the next generation of UTA graduates?
Find your community and make it your mission to support them. You’ll make a happy place in the world whenever you’re communicating with and contributing to others.

Anything else you would like to share?
Public service is the best!