5 Questions For: Eric Jones
In this edition of 5 Questions For…, Eric Jones, Office Managing Partner of our Sacramento office and US veteran, talks to Erin Connolly-Kriarakis, Senior Marketing Manager in Roseland. Eric served on active duty in the U.S. Air Force from 1987 – 1989 before launching his career in accounting and continued to serve in the Active Reserves until 1993. Eric shares his journey from Air Force to CohnReznick, his greatest influence in life, and reflections on how we can truly honor America’s veterans.

I attended a junior college to play baseball and soccer, but I wasn’t sure at the time whether school was right for me. I signed up to join the Air Force after finishing my freshman year. In the Air Force, I was assigned a job in supply, which was tedious work. That helped me see the importance of applying myself, so I started taking college classes at night to work toward my degree. I finished school after I completed my Active Service with the Air Force.
My first job was with the State of California’s Board of Equalization, where I worked with the cigarette enforcement team investigating and auditing businesses that weren’t paying taxes on cigarettes. That work helped me move into the California Department of Justice, Bureau of Narcotics Enforcement, as an Investigative Auditor. Part of my work involved investigating drug dealers and accompanying Special Agents on drug busts and search warrants (wearing a bulletproof vest!). I interviewed criminals in jail and assessed seized assets. I even got to work on a case with IRS Agent Jeff Novitzky, who led the BALCO bust and connected Barry Bonds to steroids.
I eventually passed my CPA exam and started working at a small firm that merged with Moss Adams, then did a four-year stint with Deloitte before landing at CohnReznick.
