Doug Griesel: Architect of Growth, Champion of People, and Steward of Jones & Roth’s Identity
Celebrating the legacy of a partner whose leadership, mentorship, and vision shaped the trajectory, culture, and heart of Jones & Roth.
From Southern California Roots to an Oregon Career That Helped Shape a Firm
Doug Griesel’s journey to Jones & Roth began long before he recognized the full impact it would have on his life — and the lives of countless others. Born in the San Fernando Valley, Doug spent his early years in Southern California before moving to Grants Pass and eventually attending the University of Oregon. His early academic interests spanned psychology, economics, and business, and through a blend of curiosity and practicality, he found his way to accounting.
In 1974, Doug joined Haggerty, Ruff & Company, stepping into a small, close‑knit firm that was poised for transformation. He quickly became an integral part of its evolution.
Joining a Close‑Knit Firm on the Edge of Transformation
When Doug arrived, the firm was small — just over a dozen people — and famously cohesive. Everyone attended every picnic, party, and celebration. The work was heavily compliance‑based: bookkeeping, core accounting, and a handful of commercial audits.
But the profession was changing rapidly. Regulatory shifts, the emergence of new accounting standards, and the early waves of technology were reshaping what it meant to be a CPA. Doug stepped into that change with steadiness and curiosity, developing deep technical skill in both tax and audit while becoming a stabilizing presence within the partner group.
He quickly earned the trust of founding partners Bill Haggerty and Archie Ruff, as well as mentor Lanny Jones, whose warm, client‑first philosophy heavily influenced Doug’s own leadership style.
Guiding Growth Through Vision, Strategy, and Independence
Over the next several decades, Doug played a central role in nearly every major strategic expansion:
- the merger with Roth & Rice (1982)
- acquisitions in Hillsboro and Forest Grove
- consolidation of Springfield and Eugene into a unified West 11th office
- establishment and growth of the Bend office
- early adoption of wealth management
- pioneering investment in technology and firm‑wide systems
These were more than operational changes — they were structural shifts that prepared the firm for long‑term independence. Doug recognized early on that remaining independent required strategic foresight, intentional growth, and a willingness to evolve. He championed the development of specialized niches long before it was common among regional firms. Medical, dental, construction, nonprofit, valuation — these niches gave Jones & Roth an identity grounded in expertise.
His clarity of direction set the foundation for the modern Jones & Roth.
A Leader Who Put People at the Center
While Doug’s strategic leadership shaped the firm’s direction, it was his care for people that shaped its culture.
He made time to visit each office, ensuring partners and staff felt connected and heard. He believed deeply in honest communication, long‑term relationships, and creating an environment where people could grow. He invested heavily in both the personal and professional well‑being of those around him.
Doug’s influence wasn’t limited to systems or strategic planning — he was a leader who modeled humility, warmth, and authenticity.
A Mentor Who Shaped Leaders — Including Those Who Lead Today
Current partner Tricia Duncan describes Doug as the most influential mentor of her entire career. She worked closely with him when she first started, and while the technical training he provided was invaluable, it was his leadership, communication, collaboration, and strategic thinking that left the deepest impression.
Tricia began her career without long‑term goals or a clear path. Doug changed that.
He encouraged her to take on new opportunities, develop new skills, and — most importantly — to speak up and share her insights. His feedback was honest — sometimes difficult — but always rooted in his belief in her potential. Doug saw possibilities in Tricia long before she saw them in herself, and the opportunities he opened for her shaped not only her career at Jones & Roth, but the leader she has become today.
Doug didn’t just teach her how to do the work — he helped her understand who she could become.
A Figurehead and a Role Model: Jeremy Prickel’s Reflections
Partner Jeremy Prickel also credits Doug with shaping his career and his understanding of leadership. When Jeremy reflects on his early years at the firm, Doug stands out as a central influence.
Jeremy remembers learning “so much” from Doug — particularly the way Doug combined technical skill with humility, passion, and genuine care for clients and colleagues. He describes Doug as a natural‑born leader, the kind of figurehead who represented the firm with integrity and intention.
Jeremy also recalls how the firm “really took off” when Doug became managing partner. Under Doug’s leadership, Jones & Roth formalized firm‑wide systems, strengthened processes, and built the foundation for the modern, multi‑office firm it is today.
But what Jeremy admired most was Doug’s humanity. He saw Doug at his kids’ school events, present and engaged despite the demands of his role. Doug modeled that it was possible to lead a successful firm while prioritizing family. Jeremy says he looked up to Doug, and that Doug’s example shaped the kind of professional — and the kind of person — he aspired to be.
And, like so many others, Jeremy remembers Doug’s gift for connection: he brought people in, built teams, and helped others succeed.
A Model of Professional Excellence — and Personal Integrity
Doug’s leadership extended far beyond business acumen. He was the kind of advisor who built real relationships with clients — relationships grounded in trust, curiosity, and a genuine interest in their lives and goals.
He was also the kind of leader who never forgot that people make the firm. His commitment to mentorship, team development, and collaborative leadership remains woven into the culture today.
Retirement — and a Continued Focus on Connection
In retirement, Doug has filled his time with grandchildren, golf, community involvement, and nonprofit board service. While he enjoys the pace and flexibility, he misses the daily conversations with colleagues and the sense of collective purpose that defined his decades at Jones & Roth.
His legacy, however, remains unmistakable.
A Legacy That Lives On in People, Culture, and Firm Identity
Doug Griesel helped build a firm that values independence, develops deep expertise, invests in relationships, and supports people at every stage of their careers. He was a mentor, a strategist, a connector, and a leader whose influence continues through the many people he guided — including today’s partners.
He didn’t just lead the firm. He helped define it.
He didn’t just mentor people. He multiplied leaders.
He didn’t just support growth. He ensured it had purpose.
Doug’s legacy is — and will remain — one of the strongest threads in the story of Jones & Roth.
