Megan Applegate has found success in La Porte through her community and her career. A native of Michigan City, Applegate currently serves as Certified Public Accountant for La Porte through Applegate and Company CPAs and enjoys serving the La Porte County community through professional and personal means.
Applegate was born and raised in Michigan City and attended Michigan City High School. After completing her high school education, she moved away to earn her master's degree at Indiana University and eventually moved to Wisconsin to pursue her career.
"I moved away but my family was back home and I wanted to be with them," says Applegate. "I also saw at the time that Michigan City was on the rise and my father wanted to slow down at his firm, so it was the perfect opportunity for me to come back."
Now working as a CPA at Applegate and Company CPAs her daily responsibilities require her to multitask a variety of objectives, all of which remain important to La Porte County.
"I have a variety of tasks that I am involved with every day," says Applegate. "I take care of any emergencies that pop up as well as work with 45 non-profit clients. I help them understand their numbers and it's my job to relay info to help them understand all of their options. Whether they are corporate or individuals, we try to help all of them."
While many may have negative images of people working with finances being awkward and unsociable, Applegate represents the opposite of this and embraces the opportunity to meet new people.
"I love working out of my own office and meeting clients in their own office and interacting with them," says Applegate. "I'm quite the opposite of being socially awkward, I love meeting people."
Working in La Porte County and Michigan City has been an asset to Applegate's business and personal goals, citing the people within the community as incredibly passionate and wanting to make their community a better place.
"Being able to work with my clients has allowed me the opportunity to spread the word of positivity throughout the community," says Applegate. "I really like being in Michigan City. It allows me to get to know my clients and getting them involved in their community, especially the younger people."
When she's not working as a CPA, Applegate is setting aside her free time in the interest of her community as she volunteers her time as both a volunteer firefighter and medical responder for Long Beach Fire Department.
"Honestly, I have a hard time sitting still," says Applegate. "I love doing things that make me happy and I love helping people. Whether it's physical like running into a burning building or using numbers to help people, it’s what I love doing."
Her love for helping people is the drive in Applegate's life but no matter what route it takes her, it must always involve being a CPA, as according to her, it's a part of her very being.
"I think I was brainwashed my entire life to want to do what I am doing now," says Applegate. "I can still remember being in preschool and the teachers asking me what I wanted to do and I told them that 'I was going to be a CPA in my daddy's office'."
For now, the weather is warmer and the cold is finally beginning to recede. This means Applegate's busy time can begin to slightly fade and her more active roles can now be focused on enjoying the nicer weather away from the office with friends and family.
And for Applegate, there is no better place to enjoy both successes in a career and success in life than in Michigan City.
"I loved my experience at Michigan City High School as well as all of the wonderful things that are currently developing. Thanks to Mayor Meer we have Artspace and the always growing and improving Franklin area," says Applegate. "It's a contagious positive vibe that makes me proud to be here and I'm sure there is going to be a lot more happening in the next five to ten years."