CHELSEA RICELANG
Connecting with the outdoors, people, and those in need.
Chelsea Ricelang is a certified public accountant with Maher Duessel.
1. Why did you choose to make Southwest PA your home?
I’m from Butler, Pennsylvania. I went to Penn State for college and returned to Butler afterward. I have quite a large family that lives in the area and can’t imagine not being here to spend time with them. It’s a joy to watch my nieces and nephews grow. I also really enjoy the changing seasons, which has kept me here.
2. Tell us a little about your family.
My wife and I have known each other since high school and we reconnected after college. We have a 5-year-old Pitbull named Kali and two cats, Koda and Maui. They are all very spoiled. We also have 23 nieces and nephews we love and spoil.
3. How did you choose the career you’re in today?
I’ve had a love for numbers since I was a child. I can remember being very excited to balance my father’s checkbook when I was young. I decided to go to school for business but was unsure where that would take me until I took an introductory accounting course. It came very naturally to me and I decided that I would obtain my CPA license.
4. What do you love most about your job?
I love the people. I work for a public accounting firm and we have a great group to work with. I also have a variety of clients from different nonprofits and governments throughout the region, so I connect and work with new people quite regularly. It keeps things interesting, and the day-to-day activities are never the same.
5. What are some of your hobbies or favorite things to do outside of work?
I love being outdoors. My wife and I really enjoy kayaking and hiking. Recently, we’ve been making more of an effort to travel across the United States to see different cities and hike in National Parks.
6. Why do you volunteer with United Way?
United Way does such a great job identifying those who are most in need within our communities. They make it a priority to get resources out there. Opportunities to volunteer seem almost endless and there are a variety of ways to get involved. Anyone can find a project they are passionate about and jump right in to make an impact.
7. What is your favorite United Way memory?
I really enjoyed going to the Butler United Way office to sort and pack personal hygiene products for women who have been victims of domestic violence. The statistics around domestic violence cases are so alarming. I was grateful to be able to help out these women in this way.
