David Frizzell shares reaction to recent NFIB award

David Frizzell opened his own accounting firm in 2015, crediting the decision as "the best thing he's ever done." As president of David Frizzell CPA, P.C. and member of the National Federation of Independent Business, his journey as an entrepreneur saw recognition from those around him when he recently received NFIB's 2025 Small Business Champion Award. To Frizzell, it is crucial to recongize the importance of small businesses. "Small business can be very rewarding, but sometimes it can be a little isolating as well, and it's important to be with other small business people to share those experiences and have a voice," he said. "One small person doesn't have much of a voice, but you put many of us together, and we do. We help not only ourselves, but the community, and we do that because small business is the economic engine of our nation and our economy locally." Frizzell said his experience in his craft goes back to his University High School days when he was president of the Junior Achievement program and the classes he took. "After taking the bookkeeping class which was taught by professors at ETSU when I was at University High, it just clicked," Frizzell said. After graduating from Georgetown College in Kentucky with his bachelor's degree and working in Cincinatti for a time, Frizzell said he found his way back to Johnson City where he for a firm that merged with Dent K. Burke Associates, P.C. before he began his own practice. "When Dent K. Burke Associates merged with Brown Edwards, I had the opportunity to buy my office back out," he said. "That made sense for me and my clients. My practice has a more small business and small client orientation, and it was just a better fit for myself and my clients." Frizzell's care for his business and his clientele are just part of the reasoning for receiving the award. His dedication as a member of the NFIB Leadership Council and Tax Advisory Council also show his passion for other small businesses, with his role reviewing state tax proposals to see what impact could be made on small business owners. His membership with NFIB caused him to grow a friendship with Jim Brown, NFIB Tennessee state director, who nominated him for the award. Frizzell said his reaction to receiving the nomination, let alone the award itself, was a high honor. "Jim Brown is just the finest person," Frizzell said, smiling. "That he would think to nominate me for this award among all the other fine small business people that he knows, I'm just so honored and grateful. I've learned so much from him." Frizzell added his role at the NFIB has aided in his personal work as well, growing his business with all he has learned. "Being a part of the National Federation of Independent Business has greatly improved my practice and made me a better accountant," he said. "Anything I can do for them is wonderful and being recognized is something I never expected." The award is also something represented in the work Frizzell does. He shared his responsibility as a CPA allows him to advocate for small business owners, acting as a middle man for the best opportunities and decisions for his clients. "I would say almost any accountant, particularly a certified public accountant, would consider themselves to be a champion of small business," Frizzell said. "We're not supposed to take sides with the small business against the IRS, but we're supposed to put the business's best foot forward. If there are gray issues, then we help the small business identify those, explain it to them, and where there are elections to be made – and there's a lot of elections to be made in the law – we help them try to make the best decisions that we can." Since receiving the Small Business Champion award, Frizzell said many have shared their support and happiness on his recognition, with clients and other small business owners reaching out or visiting his office to give their congratulations. He added his wife – and biggest supporter – shared her happiness for his recognized work. "We've laughed a little bit about it," he said with a chuckle. "She said now I don't have to write my obituary because it's already drafted. She has enjoyed sharing it with her friends." While the honor of receiving the award is something Frizzell has enjoyed, he said having the opportunity to be connected with the people in his community is what makes everything he does worthwhile. "It gives me the opportunity to do a lot of things for the community," he said. "To support my church, to support my Rotary Club…My practice supports me and gives me the time to help other people. That's rewarding, to help my church and help people that need it, [and] help my clients. If it weren't for my clients, I wouldn't be able to do any of that, so I appreciate their business and their support."