Meet the Board: Steve Ingram
Roessel Joy’s Advisory Board is made up of diverse and talented members, with success and experience in many different industries. We are proud to formally introduce our members in our new “Meet the Board” series! We sat down with Steve Ingram, Parter at RSM, to learn more about his experience and his role on our board.
Q: How long have known Jonas and Chris?
A: I have known Chris and Jonas for a little under five years. I think I met them through another Board member, Al Faber, who I’ve known for almost 30 years. Al connected us and then Jonas reached out to me. We met for coffee, and that’s how the relationship really started!
Q: What drew you to RJ, and how did you become an advisor?
A: I have been in Public Accounting since 1986. That’s 35 years. I have always had clients in the technology and life science industries. Hiring good people is the number one issue they have. So, I have worked with a number of recruiters to help my clients build out their practices. There was a period back when I went from Arthur Andersen to Deloitte, where we hired over 20 people for a practice in Waltham. I probably worked with at least 4-5 recruiters (this was over 15 years ago). I have been around the recruiting industry for most of my career, so it felt natural to become an advisor to a new firm starting out.
Q: What is your role at your current company?
A: I am a partner at RSM, which is the 5th largest accounting, tax and consulting firm in the country. Since joining RSM in June 2017, I have been the national industry leader for Technology. I have a national team of approximately 40 partners in 12 key markets across the U.S. and Canada. Prior to Covid, I regularly traveled to our key markets, visiting 32 cities in the first 24 months at RSM. I have also been a partner at Arthur Andersen as well as Deloitte. I like the infrastructure of a big company.
Q: What previous experience do you bring to Roessel Joy?
A: I provide connections and professional relationships for Chris and Jonas. I know a lot of CFOs and finance people in Boston. They will often reach out to me to see if I know anyone at different companies, and I usually am able to put them in contact with someone. They are trying to grow their business and build their brand, and my experience helps with that.
Q: Are you involved in any other organizations outside of work?
A: I have been involved with my kids for the last 24 years. All of my kids played varsity sports, so I helped coach their teams on and off when they were growing up. I also am involved with our church. I was a part of the adult supervision group of a mission trip to John’s Island in South Carolina.
Q: Where do you see the future of Roessel Joy going in the next few years?
A: I think they need to really focus on building their team. I am a big believer in “hiring your next boss.” You have to mentor people that can take over your job one day. Hire someone smarter than you, hire someone more creative than you. Hire outstanding people that help out in areas that you aren’t as good in. Also, there are going to be billions of dollars of companies being built in Boston over the next five years in the biotech and life science spaces, with everything that has gone on this year. It would be beneficial to start focusing on those industries.
Q: What is your favorite piece of career advice?
A: You have to figure out what skills you need to succeed in your profession. I was once told that if I wanted to make Partner, I needed to be excellent in tech skills, client service skills, and business development skills. But the way to make sure you’re invaluable is to choose one of those skills and become outstanding at it. If you’re better than anyone at your level in that one, focused skill, you will be indispensable.
Q: What is one thing we should know about you that we can’t find on LinkedIn?
A: My family has a passion to travel. We go on a trip usually one to two times a year. My kids have been to about 35 countries. We have gone on safari in Tanzania, hiked Machu Picchu. We have really made traveling a priority. We are very lucky.