CEO Spotlight: Brint Ryan

Education

University of North Texas (MS-Accounting, BS-Accounting). I’m proud to currently serve as chairman of UNT’s Board of Regents.

Why I love my job

The most rewarding part of my work is solving large, complex problems for our clients. I love the cases that no one wants or that no one thinks can be solved.

Toughest Challenge

Integrating large, complex acquisitions. Melding cultures and getting diverse teams of people focused on the mission is very difficult.

Lesson Learned

You can’t change human nature. You can harness it and leverage it to great success, but if you fight it or try to change it, you will fail.

Looking Ahead

We have the potential to build the world’s largest indirect tax practice. It’s exciting to enter new markets—it has all the exhilaration and challenges of a startup but with the resources of a large-scale business.

Fun Fact

In high school, I played in a garage band covering groups like AC/DC, Rush, and Ted Nugent.

Advice for an 18-year-old you

Quit screwing around and get busy. I was drifting through life with little purpose at age 18. Yes, it was fun, but the opportunity cost was tremendous. What I could accomplish with some of those years back would be incredible.

Favorite Food:

Tex-Mex, which I get at Mi Cocina, Ojeda’s, Fernando’s, Taco Diner, Avila’s, Mesero, and Rafa’s, to name a few.

Beverage of Choice

Iced tea at Fearing’s. It doesn’t get any better than that.

First Car

A 1978 Ford F-100. It was virtually indestructible, and just what I needed back then.

Favorite Movie

Clint Eastwood’s “Hang ’Em High” is the greatest movie ever made.

Latest Book Read

“Spark: The Revolutionary New Science of Exercise and the Brain.”

Hobby/Passion

Taking money away from the government!

Standout Destination

Easter Island

Bucket List

Building a business that hits $1 billion in annual revenue.