Eric Schwefler is extensively involved in the high technology community on the Central Coast. He is a founding member Softec: the Central Coast Software and Technology Association Board of Directors. Eric served on the board for eleven years and currently is director emeritus. Additionally, he created and for better than a decade he presented at the Central Coast High Technology Companies Symposium. Eric has also sponsored and coached for various venture capital forums. In 2008, Eric received the Softec Impact Award for his years of contributions to the technology industry.
Eric is a Partner in Caliber Accounting and Tax, LLP. His specific areas of expertise include complying with corporate, individual, trust, and partnership tax law; planning tax strategies on an international, multistate, and local basis; researching complex tax issues; representing clients on audits by the IRS and various state taxing authorities; auditing all aspects of financial statements for public, private, and governmental entities; planning audit strategies; preparing financial statements and the required disclosures for the above entities; and consulting on accounting and auditing related issues. Primary clients served include large international and multistate corporations, closely‑held entities, and financially diversified individuals. Although the clients served operated in a variety of industries, the majority operated in the software, telecommunications, and high technology manufacturing industries. Before forming Caliber Accounting and Tax, LLP, Eric was with the regional accounting firm of Barbich Longcrier Hooper & King and the international accounting firm Deloitte & Touche.
In addition to his work in public accounting, Eric was a founding partner of The DocuTeam in San Luis Obispo. The DocuTeam is the premier document storage, retrieval and management service provider on the Central Coast.
Eric is also an organizer of American Principle Bank and currently serves as the Chairman of the Board of Directors. American Principle Bank was founded in 2007 after the Board raised over $42 million in capital. Eric and the other organizers created a business-oriented bank serving San Luis Obispo and Northern Santa Barbara Counties that combines a robust technology platform and a concierge service philosophy.
Eric graduated summa *** laude with a B.S., accounting, from California Polytechnic State University, San Luis Obispo. In addition, he has an M.S. in taxation with Honors from San Jose State University. Eric also received national honors on the Uniform Certified Public Accountant Examination (the Elijah Watt Sells Award for Performance with High Distinction). Other professional and academic honors earned by Eric include the Outstanding MST Graduate Award, San Jose State University; the Scholastic Achievement Award, Cal Poly School of Business; the Academic Excellence Award, Cal Poly School of Business; the Accounting Faculty's Exceptional Achievement Award, Cal Poly; the Delta Sigma Pi Scholarship Key, Cal Poly School of Business, and the Central Coast Chapter of the California Society of CPA's Achievement Award. Eric was also recognized in 2002 by the Pacific Coast Business Times and in 2006 by the San Luis Obispo County Tribune as one of the top twenty businesspersons under the age of forty in the San Luis Obispo, Santa Barbara and Ventura Counties.
Eric served on the Board of Directors for First Bank of San Luis Obispo until its acquisition by Pacific Capital Bancorp. He also served as chairman of the regional advisory board for Pacific Capital Bancorp.
Eric has been a financial accounting instructor at Cal Poly San Luis Obispo. Additionally, he has had numerous accounting and tax articles published in professional journals and newspapers.
He is a member of the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants and the California State Society of Certified Public Accountants.
His community involvement has included being a member of the Economic Vitality Corporation of San Luis Obispo County Board of Directors, the Sierra Vista Regional Medical Center Governing Board, the Executive Association of San Luis Obispo Board of Directors, the San Luis Obispo Exchange Club, the Foundation for Community Design Board of Directors, the American Heart Association Board of Directors, the Cal Poly Accounting Discipline Advisory Board, the San Luis Obispo Chamber of Commerce Emerging Technologies and E-Commerce Committees, and the Santa Maria Valley Economic Development Association. He also coaches and referees youth soccer.