Meet DDH Chief Growth Officer T. Deon Harmon
Meet DDH Chief Growth Officer T. Deon Harmon
Deon Harmon is a partner and Chief Growth Officer at Davis Davis & Harmon LLC. As the “voice of the customer,” Deon is responsible or sales management, strategic partnerships, distribution channel management, and customer service. Mr. Harmon has 23 years’ extensive experience in sales tax system implementation, reverse sales and use tax audits (refund recovery), tax research and
planning, audit defense and preparation of state sales and use, federal and state income and franchise tax returns.
Please tell us some information about yourself.
I’m originally from Oklahoma City, OK. I graduated from Langston University (Langston, OK) in 1994 with a BA in Accounting. Married to LaQuita Harmon for 23 years, with two sons, De’Vion (19 yrs) and Deuce (17 yrs).
What made you interested in tax law?
My first professional job was in the income tax group with a Big 6 firm in 1994 in San Francisco, CA. I’m originally from Oklahoma City, OK. I became homesick or lovesick depending on who’s telling the story and decided to take a job with the Texas Comptroller Tulsa Audit office as a Sales/Use tax auditor. I’ve been in sales/use tax since 1995, and I’ve been married to the LaQuita for 23 years now (If the story is told from the Lovesick angle). One of the best illnesses in my life!
How long have you been at DDH? 10 years
What motivates you? Independence is my motivation. Independence provides the flexibility for me to continue achieving my goal of being happy and fulfilled in life. It allows me to choose which portions; I want to divide my time regarding; work, family, or service to others.
What’s your vision for success and failure? I feel as if I’m successful now, but to be a bit more specific, I would like to be able to have DDH survive my founding partners and me. I would love for DDH to provide independence to someone else and become a new example of what a professional services firm emulates. Failure at this point only comes if I lose my independence.
If you didn’t have to work, what would you be doing? I would be coaching basketball.
How do you handle bad situations? Wusaah… Lol! I try to stay calm and keep moving forward. If you think about it, bad situations are usually short term. Most of the time, a bad situation feels worse than it is. That’s why remaining calm and moving forward works for me. It allows me to get past what I perceive to be wrong and move through the reality of the situation, which, in most cases, is more uncomfortable than bad. Being uncomfortable is the beginning of growth. Once you get passed that awkward moment, you’ve generally learned something, whether it be what or what not to do, and you often gain more confidence in yourself.
Who is your role model, and why? That’s easy, and I guess typical, My dad, Ivan Harmon. He is the father I strive to be. He was always there for me and still is. He even guides me to make the changes of things that he wished he would have done differently. I also think I turned out okay. He would always tell me, “A strong man is a man that knows his weaknesses,” and “The King of the castle knows when to listen to his Queen.” He and my mom are the shining examples for LaQuita and myself. Work hard, persevere, Love and enjoy FAMILY!
Name a project or accomplishment you are most proud of? Becoming a named partner of DDH is a considerable accomplishment. Still, I’m proud that it is a firm that genuinely provides a work-life balance, and a family-first philosophy makes me walk with my “Chest Out.” We have a firm built on the background of our experiences as minorities and embraces our culture and shows that it can be successful and exist in Corporate America.
What is your spirit animal? Never much thought about this, but I have always related myself to a cheetah. I like to be quick and flexible enough to change directions when needed.
What is your most profound goal? A happy and fulfilled life. I’m happy! I’ve learned that the dollar bill does not define fulfillment for me. I have found profound gratification that I have seen in being a Partner in a firm that resembles me, being married to my college sweetheart, and growing beyond shallow to a closer understanding of unconditional love. I’m honored to serve the multiple youth athletes and to train in basketball. Most of all, my two boys watched them achieve their dreams and grow as young men. I have found that the joys of life are taking the time to appreciate what is irreplaceable. Money is the one thing that comes and goes, and that type of volatility can’t measure happiness.
“At DDH we strive to partner with our clients and become Trusted Business Advisors.”
T Deon Harmon
About Davis Davis & Harmon LLC – Sales Tax Experts: Headquartered in Dallas, Texas, Davis Davis & Harmon LLC – Sales Tax Experts specializes in sales/use tax refund recovery and audit defense. Our team of consultants is comprised of former Big 4 sales tax consultants and state sales tax auditors. Each of our consultants has 15 to 20 years of experience, providing our clients with access to a highly specialized team of sales/use tax professionals. At Davis Davis & Harmon, LLC we are committed to maintaining the highest standards in our talent pool. We work hard to meet our clients’ needs by ensuring that you view our firm as an extension of your company and a member of your team.
For sales/use tax compliance questions or audit-related concerns, we are here to help!