Ambassador Ed Ryan has been a leader and entrepreneur throughout his career. He cofounded his own accounting and advisory firm, helped lead the integration of that firm into Forvis Mazars, and is currently CFO of a high-growth company in the national security space. Plus, he serves as a member of Forvis Mazars’ Alumni Steering Committee. It should come as no surprise, then, that Ed began his storied career helping everyday people as a … plumber?
Ed, were you really a plumber?
It’s true. I grew up in Long Island in a very working-class family. My dad owned a building business, and I had worked for him over the years. Skills built during that experience—a strong work ethic, interaction with my dad’s customers, and teamwork in a project-based atmosphere—were foundational to the way I have served my clients over the years. I moved to Virginia in 1987 with the initial goal of venturing out to start my own plumbing business.
How did you go from plumbing to public accounting? Seems like quite a jump.
After a few years, I realized I wasn’t passionate about it as a career. So, at age 25, I went back to school. I chose accounting not so much as the end game, but more as a vehicle to get educated. In my wildest dreams, I thought I might hang my shingle up one day as a local CPA practitioner doing tax returns and compilations, never realizing I would wind up as a partner in a national accounting firm. The idea of being a CPA and involved in helping businesses as a subject matter expert was very appealing. After a few classes, I fell in love with the idea of being a professional services advisor with accounting being the way to get there.
And that certainly seems to have panned out …
Most definitely. Returning to the academic environment was sheer joy. I started in a community college and then transferred to George Mason University. Upon graduating in 1989, I was recruited by a large international professional services firm in their metro D.C. office. Recruiting was a lot different back then and, due to my age, I was happy to land a spot.
How did you end up leading your own firm?
Well, I’ve always had an entrepreneurial streak. And the timing could not have been better. These were the technology bubble years of the late 1990s. Suddenly, in what had traditionally been a government contracting market, northern Virginia was being flooded with high-tech companies having complex financial issues. I saw an opportunity to serve the special needs of these companies. So, in 2000, I formed Ryan Associates. As business grew, in 2003 I joined with Dave Sharkey to create RyanSharkey. Our vision was to create a local-firm feel, while serving Big-Four-size clients, providing accounting, tax, and advisory services. My focus, in addition to leadership responsibilities, was primarily on accounting and advisory services delivered to larger privately held and publicly held entities. I worked on a number of transactions and became well versed in technology companies particularly.
In 2019 RyanSharkey became part of a legacy Forvis Mazars firm. Why?
Well, we had built a niche firm with unique serving offerings and skill sets—and we always did our own thing. But we had grown to 55 people and Dave, Tony Riccardella, and I—now in our 50s—realized that, in order to leverage these strengths and provide career paths for our people, we needed a larger platform. We had plenty of suitors in those days, but after meeting with Forvis Mazars legacy firm Dixon Hughes Goodman, we knew it was the right fit from the beginning. It was a very smooth transition and culturally it couldn't have been better.
Since retiring from Forvis Mazars in 2023, you continue serving as a leader, both in industry and on Forvis Mazars’ Alumni Steering Committee. What have you been up to?
Not even a month after retiring, a former client asked if I would help his company with some financial issues, part-time. Two weeks later he asked if I’d become his CFO, full-time. The company, Quantum Leap Partners, operates in the national security space and is experiencing dramatic growth. My job is to build a team to scale along with that growth. It’s a fascinating industry, and I’m learning a lot.
You’ve also joined our Alumni Steering Committee. What do you hope to accomplish?
When I left the firm, I decided: 1) I would always be a business partner and 2) I wanted to help grow the Alumni Network program. While I am happy to have referred business to the firm as an alum, it’s equally important to me to add value to and create more buzz around our alumni program. There’s so much opportunity to engage with our alumni, especially in light of recent M&A. I’ve really enjoyed brainstorming with Metro D.C. Alumni Champion Lauren Callahan on ideas for increasing that engagement.
What are you most proud of during your career?
I think it is the relationships that I have formed. At RyanSharkey, we built a culture that valued the individual accomplishments of all of our members. We served large clients with complex issues but made sure that we kept our family culture intact. It is a joy to this day to hear from many of my former team members and friends who will send a quick note saying how much RyanSharkey meant to them.
As we transitioned the firm, I’d say it was leading the integration of RyanSharkey into legacy firm DHG, now Forvis Mazars. It was a very complementary combination from the start, especially culturally. I think it presented outstanding growth opportunities for our people, allowed us to better recruit and retain top talent, and energized our presence in the market. Definitely a win-win.
I’m also very proud—and thankful—for the relationships I made at the firm, even though I was there a relatively short time. I’m especially grateful to Thomas Boothby and Caleb Vuljanic for their friendship and wise counsel as I transitioned into my new role. They set me up for future success. We still keep in touch.
What does it mean to you to be a Forvis Mazars Ambassador in the Alumni Network?
It means being part of a culture that makes me want to give back. The growth potential for Forvis Mazars people—current and alumni—is spectacular. If I can help keep fellow ambassadors and alumni connected, refer new business, encourage people to build a career here—if I can push that boulder up the hill just a bit further—then that’s what I want to do. That’s the legacy I hope to leave.
More about Ed Ryan:
- Has been married to his wife, Debbie, for 32 years.
- Has three girls, two currently in college, and a four-year-old grandchild.
- Is an avid golfer and father of a “huge Disney family,” having visited the park over 30 times.
