This week we feature Young Professional Cherika M. Wheatley
Cherika M. Wheatley was placed on the path to a successful accounting career early in life. She was a studious individual, ranking among the top of her graduating classes and had much encouragement from her mentors.
Born on Tortola, Cherika migrated to St Thomas, USVI with her family at a fairly young age. Her return to Virgin Gorda was sudden; however, following the passage of Hurricane Marilyn that destroyed her family's home in St Thomas.
“After I relocated back to the BVI…It was a transition back in the day, yes, because I mean, after living in St Thomas all my life, it was a transition to move back home and I went to a private Christian school in St Thomas and then I would come here and I went to a public school in Virgin Gorda,” she told us.
Asked if she would have ever returned to the Virgin Islands if it were not for the hurricane she said, “That's a good question…I hope so would have been my best response.”
Through the challenges of adapting to public school life with hundreds of students, having come from a private Christian school in St Thomas, Wheatley persevered and graduated from Bregado Flax Educational Centre in 1998 as Salutatorian.
‘I got my early start because of three men’- Wheatley
Upon graduating high school, she got her first job with CCP Consultancy Services and it was there she said she got started in her accounting career.
“I got my early start because of three men; Glen Harrigan, Vanburn Maduro, and the late Joseph Roberts…they taught me accounting, they taught me how to be a team leader, how to work hard and to succeed, how to always put my dreams and goals forward,” she explained.
These three men, she added, “set the foundation for who I am today, there is no excuse”.
Summa Cum Laude
She took the advice of her mentors and continued her academic journey, attending and graduating from the H. Lavity Stoutt Community College (HLSCC) with an Associate’s Degree in Accounting.
From there, she attended the Universidad Interamericana in Puerto Rico and graduated Summa Cum Laude with a Bachelor’s Degree in Business with a concentration in Accounting.
Her mentors, she reminisced, were always a source of encouragement, as the instilled in her that she was a good person and would become an overall great individual in life.
“And I guess it was true,” she said.
Accounting apprentice to entrepreneur
It would seem that coming back to the Virgin Islands set her on a path to the success she now enjoys. Today, Cherika is the owner of Chermontley’s in Baughers Bay, Tortola.
“We are an admin and brokerage firm here in the British Virgin Islands. We have been open full-time for the past five years but I’ve been doing brokerage and admin services for over 15 years,” she explained.
She previously worked with ADC Construction for a number of years.
Wheatley is still a member of the Lion’s Club but due to her busy schedule decided to take some time off.
Make your dreams possible for yourself- Wheatley
“Consistency is key and gratitude is most definitely a must,” she advised the youth continuing, “I get up every day and I come to my job. I've never been late, I'm always here, I'm always around.”
People she added have confidence in consistent people.
She also encouraged persons who may have a dream, a plan or a goal to “just try it and don’t think about it…you have to try and go and make it possible for yourself”.
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25 Responses to “This week we feature Young Professional Cherika M. Wheatley ”
Heart of gold! I know I distance myself but I appreciate you, and I thank you for dealing with me in a genuine way! Stay up.