When Clive Grimbleby thinks about the American Dream, he starts with his father.
Born in England, Grimbleby immigrated to North America at the age of three, after his dad and mom — an accountant with a national hotel chain and a registered nurse — left behind secure jobs for something less predictable but full of promise. They wanted more than stability. They wanted possibilities.
“My dad could see he’d be doing the same job for the next 40 years,” Grimbleby said. “That didn’t thrill him. So, he took a chance.”
That decision, and the hard work that followed it, set the tone for Grimbleby’s own life and career: a journey shaped not by shortcuts or spotlight moments, but by decades of investing in others, growing a business with intention and taking small, steady steps forward.
To honor his impact as a leader, entrepreneur and mentor, Stanislaus State and the College of Business Administration, have named Grimbleby the 2025 Champion of the American Dream.
Grimbleby will share his story during a fireside chat at the University’s annual Champions of the American Dream event on Tuesday, May 6 in the University’s Main Dining building.
The celebration will begin at 5:30 p.m.
As part of the Warrior Entrepreneurship & Innovation Program and in partnership with the Porges Family Foundation, Champions of the American Dream recognizes individuals who have distinguished themselves by their professional success and made exceptional contributions to their communities. The event also offers students and community members an opportunity to engage with business leaders who serve as role models through their leadership, generosity and lived experience.
For Grimbleby, the American Dream is more than just the freedom to succeed. It’s a long game and a team sport.
“There are very few overnight successes,” he said. “It’s really lots and lots of small steps over time.”
One of Grimbleby’s earliest steps came in the early 1980s, when—after launching his career with a global CPA firm in Sacramento — he and his wife, Jean, took a leap of faith, leaving behind a home purchase and steady job to take over a one-person practice in Modesto.
The business was originally purchased in 1973 by Grimbleby’s father, Roy Grimbleby, and became Roy’s Grimbleby’s Bookkeeping and Tax Practice. Roy encouraged his son to join him after graduation from Sacramento State. At the time, Clive wasn’t ready. But eventually, the opportunity came around again and this time, he said yes.
“We had three weeks to decide,” he recalled. “We said, ‘Sure, why not?’ We put our house on the market, quit our jobs and moved to Modesto. It wasn’t part of a grand plan. It was just about doing the right thing and seeing where it led.”
Grimbleby purchased the practice in 1981, laying the foundation for what would grow into one of the region’s most respected advisory firms: Grimbleby Coleman Advisors & Accountants. In 2023, the company celebrated its 50th anniversary.
Over the years, Grimbleby built not just a successful business but a reputation for empowering others, whether mentoring team members, hiring Stan State graduates or encouraging young professionals to stay in the Central Valley. For him, that kind of growth starts with trust.
“Scalability doesn’t happen unless you’re willing to let go,” he said. “You have to trust the people you bring in and let them own their work.”
That mindset shaped his long-term partnership with fellow CPAs and partners Jeff Coleman, Sue Hudgens and Marty Fox. Each headed and grew the firm’s tax, accounting and consulting practices respectively. Today, that same approach guides the next generation of partners who have stepped into leadership roles. His son Ian leads the firm and a diverse network of employees, many of whom are Stan State alumni.
“In general, we’ve seen a strong work ethic from Stan State graduates,” Grimbleby said. “I think that comes from the kinds of students Stanislaus attracts, people who’ve had to work to be here.”
He also credits the University for helping to build a truly representative workforce.
“You look through our list of hires...it’s a really diverse mix,” he said. “That’s not just because we were trying to check a box. Our COO and partner, Jane Johnson Simmons, ’94 MBA, always focused on hiring the best people. Stan State has just done a fantastic job reaching into the community. It’s been fun to be a part of that.”
The connection is personal, too. Grimbleby’s youngest son, Trevor Grimbleby, is a Stan State alumnus, ’13, kinesiology, played on the men’s soccer team at Stan State for four years, and the family became the team’s unofficial “road crew,” traveling to nearly every game.
As he prepares to speak at the Champions event, Grimbleby hopes those attending walk away with more than inspiration. He hopes they walk away with a new mindset.
“First, it’s really important to take the long view,” he said. “Sometimes when I talk to people, they have very short-term expectations for success, and that can be tough, especially in a world where the media highlights these amazing, fast success stories.”
“Second, be willing to invest in your community,” he added. “Somebody always knows somebody. And you want those to be positive connections. The best relationships are built on the idea of: ‘How can I help you?’ not, ‘What can you do for me?’”
Grimbleby’s approach to leadership, like his view of success, is deeply relational. He emphasizes humility, long-term thinking and service to others — values that grew from his father’s example and have carried through his own career.
“Every relationship is a building block,” he said. “It doesn’t always have to be about you. Ask: How can I help someone else?”
As he reflects on his career and the opportunities that shaped it, Grimbleby remains grounded in what matters most.
“Yes, the work is unbelievably hard… but I think that idea of ‘There are opportunities for all of us’ came from my dad. I gained some sort of notion of, ‘Have no fear — let’s see where we’re going to go.’”