Bio

David Rhode, CPA, is managing partner at Vaco Raleigh, LLC, where he is a member of the core management team which sets the firm’s strategic direction and oversees day-to-day business operations. David manages client and candidate relations in Vaco Raleigh’s accounting and finance practice.

David has more than 20 years of experience in accounting and finance and graduated cum laude from St. Norbert College in DePere, Wis., with a bachelor’s degree in accounting. He began his career as an auditor, spending four years with a regional CPA firm in Wisconsin specializing in manufacturing, transportation, wholesale, distribution and banking clients. After public accounting, David spent two years as an assistant controller for a multi-location distribution company and then 12 years with a $10 billion Fortune 100 environmental company, where his roles included senior division controller, division vice president and controller, and regional sales manager.

Prior to joining Vaco, David was the consulting division director for a multi-billion dollar national recruiting firm in Raleigh. He was recognized at the company’s annual worldwide awards ceremony as a top producer and leader for five years in a row. David spent six months servicing Vaco’s national accounts and single-handedly spearheaded the opening of Vaco’s office in Charlotte, N.C., before returning to his home market of Raleigh, where he and Sid Mitchener established the Vaco Raleigh office in 2004. David was named Vaco’s national top producer in 2007.

Active in several community organizations, David was one of the founding members of the Research Triangle chapter of the National Association of Corporate Directors (NACD), whose mission is to promote effective corporate leadership through educational programs and services that address the professional needs of corporate directors, boards and other stewards of business entities. He served on the NACD Research Triangle board for three years. For two years, he was on the board of the local chapter of Financial Executives International. He also has served as treasurer of his homeowners association and his church.

A native of Manitowoc, Wis., David resides in Cary.

Wind in My Sails. "Vaco keeps the wind strongly in my sails.  I am a part of a company which allows me to service my former profession in a very useful way.  Vaco’s culture enables me to move quickly and creatively to help the consultants and candidates who rely on me for new opportunities. "