From Croatian roots to US success and ’40 under 40′ award

Goran and Alyssa (Photo: Private album)

US-based accountant Goran Gmitrovic has become the first Croatian to receive the “40 under 40” award in the accounting profession. 

The awards honor 40 professionals under 40 who are emerging as leaders in the accounting and tax profession. They spotlight top public accountants, educators, and thought leaders who are visibly changing the profession through exemplary leadership, innovative thinking, collaborative efforts, and community outreach

Goran, who resides in Chicago, is the first Croatian to receive this award with CPA Practice Advisor, a nationwide accounting publication that is used as a benchmark across the industry. 

We caught up with him to find out more about his Croatian roots, moving to the US and building his ‘forever home’ in Croatia. 

When did you move to USA?

I was born in Mostar in March of 1989, and our family sought refuge in Germany in 1992 because of the war. After our visa expired, we found solace in the United States in 1998 where we started figuring out the new normal in our life. Our family went through some rough periods at the beginning but we came out stronger on the other side of it. My mom has always been a huge advocate for me staying connected to my country, my roots, my culture and the rest of my Croatian family. 

I would spend entire summers in Croatia during my time in school and university; this allowed me to be with my family, spend time by the sea, enjoy nature and make lifelong friendships. As I continued to grow in my adulthood, my time spent in Croatia decreased because of life responsibilities and commitments otherwise, but I have always tried to stay true to who I am and have made sure to spend time back home on an annual basis. I am very involved in the Croatian community, both in the USA and in Croatia. 

(Photo: Private album)

I am a member of the Association of Croatian American Professionals in the Chicago chapter where ACAP is a diverse philanthropic and business organization that offers impactful collaboration between Croatia and the US across a variety of sectors. I am also very committed to making a positive impact both domestically and globally that is built on intention, vision, purpose and passion led work. 

One of my greatest passions is obviously for my Croatian heritage which has driven us to start multiple property development projects in Croatia, creating job opportunities for communities in need. 

What does being Croatian mean to you, especially living abroad?

When somebody asks me to tell them about myself, I always start with saying that I am from Croatia. Usually next up is the question “Oh so you know Modric?” haha. Jokes aside, Croatia has always been my identity and will continue to be that. It’s really difficult to put into words what my heritage means to me and the intense pull it has on my heartstrings. 

Croatia has always been my safe haven and my place of solitude and peace. I have a strong Croatian cultural identity which helps me connect back to my roots and contribute to my sense of self. Half of my family is still based in Croatia and we have a very strong familial connection. They help me maintain my close ties to the country and to our land. 

My late dedo, similar to me, was very business oriented and driven. My grandparents left us a lot of land which solidified that we are going down the right path now. One of my cornerstones in my life is my national pride, which some might think is because of our football team but it’s so much more than that. There is a certain aura that you feel when you look at the flag that belongs to you, when you stand for the Croatian National Anthem, when you put your hand on your heart and you feel the connection to the country, the people and the pride. Croatians are also community-minded where community is everything! 

(Photo: Private album)

If there is a disaster in Croatia, such as the recent earthquakes in Zagreb, volunteer networks send food, clothes and supplies overnight. It isn’t an act of “kindness”, it’s just absolutely natural. This also reminds me of a time when Alyssa and I were in split. We were driving on a compact street and realized we were going the wrong way, so I put the car in reverse to turn around and unfortunately my car’s bumper caught on a cement block that I didn’t see. 

Before even realizing what happened there was a gentleman running to my car to help me. Before I even got out of the car this man was on his back and under the car already fixing it! This is something I have never experienced in America and probably never will. I think one of the largest hurdles will be understanding that not everybody has an agenda against us or a self-interest. Croatia has always been the northern star that me and my family have followed. 

Where are your favourite places in Croatia and how often do you go back? 

Oh boy there are so many. We make sure to go back at least twice a year, both are usually in two week increments. Our trips have shifted from being pure vacation fun to now spending some time with our architect, attorneys and accountants. We make sure that we have some time to relax and to enjoy new parts of Croatia as well. Alyssa and I have traveled to many places in Croatia over the past several years: Plitivice Lakes in Lika, Hvar, Brac, Dubrovnik, Split, Orebic, Korcula, all of Peljesac, Metkovic, Makarska, and Pula. We love to explore all landscapes and parts of Croatia. 

Alyssa’s favorite island is Hvar, and that’s mostly because of the amazing food and promenade that they offer. The hiking is also amazing there. My favorite island is Brac, specifically in Bol. Bol offers such a beautiful and quiet atmosphere and boasts some of the most beautiful beaches in the world including the zlatni rat beach. When it comes to nature we both love Plitvice Lakes and spending time in the wine region down in Peljesac. We always try to do something new whenever we get back to Croatia.

(Photo: Private album)

You are building a home in Orebić…is your plan to live in Croatia one day? 

Every year since leaving Croatia I have visited, and have always dreamt of permanently being back “home.” Croatia is more than just the place I was born but a place of peace and a place where I feel we belong. It’s not something that I can put into words, but there is an actual pull of emotions back to my home country. My wife (Alyssa) and I frequently spoke about moving to Croatia and in the past five years we got very serious about making it happen. Alyssa, an adopted Croat at this point, was driving the conversation harder than me because she fell in love with the lifestyle and the ease of life. 

There’s something indescribable about the feeling when you know that this is what you are meant to do and that feeling is pure and good, we both share that feeling. After living in the states for over twenty five years, we knew we wanted a more simple life by the water. We are pursuing a life away from the hustle and bustle where we can spend more time in nature and with the small communities that make Croatia what it truly is. This led to us beginning to explore different towns in Croatia.

When we looked at options in Orebić, we were drawn to the balance of nature, greenery, mountains, sea view, and of course the beauty of the wine region. The Pelješac peninsula provides the perfect sense of calm and relaxed lifestyle we are looking for. We felt like Orebic was the perfect spot for our exact needs, we are building two homes – one will be our family home and the other will be a family villa that we will be renting during the tourist season. 

While Orebic is quaint and quiet, it does boast a beautiful tourist season, where people seem to migrate to Orebic to be in a place where they can enjoy a quiet day at Trstenica beach or take the 10 minute ferry to Korcula and enjoy a day out over there. Orebic is also one of the greatest watersport spots in all of Croatia, especially known for its wind surfing. Ultimately Orebić ended up being a place we plan to grow our family, we envision a life of getting to explore every part of Croatia and spending our years by the Adriatic coast.

(Photo: Private album)

Tell us about some of the difficulties you have faced going through this journey. 

Embarking on this project with Alyssa has proven to be one of the most challenging and demanding undertakings of our lives. Our journey began in early 2021, as we carefully formulated a plan and envisioned the path forward. Throughout three trips to Croatia, our primary objective was to identify the ideal location for our future home and the suitable land for construction. Initially, we undertook the task independently, scouring public platforms like Njuskalo and Facebook for available land. However, as time passed, it became evident that this approach was not the most efficient. 

Subsequently, we engaged the services of an agency to assist us in our search, leading us to secure a remarkable 1,800 square meters in Orebic, all midst of the ongoing pandemic challenges. We put an offer in for the land in November 2021 and had it approved by the seller shortly thereafter but there were some issues where we needed to get someone off the title so we can purchase it. Patience, a unique quality demanded by the Croatian process, became paramount. 

After a nine-month wait, the court finally granted us ownership in November 2022. Fast forward to January of 2023, this was when we needed to find an architecture company to help us develop these projects. I would say that this was probably one of the most difficult pieces for us, we interviewed about 16 companies throughout a 3 month span and we felt more lost than when we started. These issues led us to meet some of the most kind-hearted and generous people that helped us along the way. 

This helped us hire an attorney and an architect, both which have been a huge blessing to us. With our architect on board, the focus shifted to securing funding. Contrary to expectations, being a Croatian-born citizen did not simplify dealings with banks; in fact, it added a layer of complexity. Navigating changing EU regulations required two separate visits to obtain my Croatian identification card and complete notary proceedings. Coupling this with needing to open a business created a very cumbersome process as one of the homes we are building will be a rental. We needed to start considering how we were going to structure that asset so we needed to find an accountant and another lawyer that could help. 

(Photo: Private album)

We had conversations with over 20 attorneys and none of them seemed to fit the bill of what we were looking for. Thankfully Alyssa found an amazing lawyer in Pula who guided us in the right direction and helped us find a qualified accountant. 

Navigating the intricate web of regulations in Croatia often felt like taking three steps forward and five steps back. Nevertheless, I respect these regulations as they serve to safeguard the pristine Croatian coast from over-commercialization. While the journey has been arduous, approaching the final phase instills confidence that the countless 3 am calls and persistent efforts have been worthwhile. We are excited to come home soon and can’t wait to spend the rest of our life there.

If you want to follow along in the journey, you can find them on Instagram @NotesFromCroatia