Nelson Family Village

Nelson family history and genealogy

Category: Role Models

  • Don Engle Dyer, CPA, Mentor, Trailblazer

    Don Dyer

    Chairman of the Board (Volunteer)

    Principles of Success Motivational Program

    Family Heritage

    Don Engle Dyer is the great grandson of George and Jane Jennie Nelson on the paternal side of his family.

    Don is the great grandson of Milton Mike Moss and Bettie Elizabeth Williams on the naternal side of his family.

    Don’s career, education and volunteer accomplishments

    Don Dyer, Certified Public Accountant is a retired partner with PricewaterhouseCoopers (PwC), one of the largest accounting and consulting firms in the world. After serving four years in the United States Navy, Don worked his way through college beginning at Los Angeles Southwest Community College and subsequently obtained a Bachelor of Science degree from the University of Southern California. Don joined Coopers & Lybrand in 1972 and was admitted to the partnership in 1982, at which time he became the first African-American to join the firm as a staff and be admitted to the partnership. (Coopers & Lybrand and Pricewaterhouse merged in 1998 to form PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP.)

    Professionally, Don was an Assurance and a Litigation Support Partner wherein he conducted financial and compliance audits on a variety of governmental agencies as well as private entities including Unocal, Los Angeles County Metropolitan Transportation Authority, and the Los Angeles Lakers.  Don also spent a significant amount of time providing litigation and expert witness services.  Within PwC Don served on a variety of management committees and was viewed as a highly motivated and committed leader within the firm. Don also served in various leadership roles and for a number of years was Partner in Charge of the Firm’s recruiting at the University of Southern California.  Don was a motivational speaker and has made numerous presentations on major college campuses including the University of Southern California, University of California, Los Angeles, University of California, Berkeley, Michigan State University, the University of Notre Dame, Florida A&M University, and Morehouse College.