Listen: Mary Taylor Ohio by the Numbers, Ohio by the Heart — 27:22

Since taking office on January 8, 2007 as the first Certified Public Accountant to serve as Ohio’s Auditor of State, Mary Taylor has been making impressive progress toward holding state and local government more accountable while rooting out fraud, waste and abuse of taxpayer dollars.

Among her professional accomplishments during this time, Auditor Taylor was named one of "Ohio’s Most Influential CPAs" for 2008 by the Ohio Society of Certified Public Accountants. She was elected to serve on the governing council of the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants and was one of three women selected to represent the United States as a delegate to the 52nd session of the United Nations Commission on the Status of Women.

Prior to becoming Auditor of State, Taylor was elected to two terms in the Ohio House of Representatives where she served on the House Finance, Ways & Means, and Education committees. Taylor began her career in public service as a city councilwoman in Green, Ohio. She and her husband Don have lived in Green for the past 21 years. The Taylor’s have two sons, Joe and Michael, ages 18 and 15.

Auditor Taylor began her career in the private sector at the national accounting firm of Deloitte and Touche, after receiving her bachelor’s degree in accounting and master’s degree in taxation from the University of Akron. Taylor began her career in 1990 with Deloitte and Touche. She joined the regional firm of Bober Markey Fedorovich & Company in 1994, where she was director of the firm’s tax department and senior manager of the employee benefits practice.

Taylor was honored as a 2008 recipient of the University of Akron’s Dr. Frank L. Simonetti Distinguished Business Award. The award was created by the University of Akron College of Business Administration Alumni Board in 1987 to honor distinguished alumni for their achievements in business and significant contributions to their communities. She has also been honored by the National White Collar Crime Center, as recipient of its 2008 Member Agency Award for Excellence.

During Taylor’s service in the state legislature, she received the Watchdog of the Treasury Award and the 2006 National Federation of Independent Business Guardian of Small Business Award. Taylor is a 2003 graduate of the Bowhay Institute for Legislative Leadership Development, a program offered by the Midwestern Office of The Council of State Governments. In addition, Taylor was an adjunct professor at Walsh University, where she taught accounting courses.