Meet the Chapter President: Ryan Myers, CPA
For TSCPA Nashville Chapter President Ryan Myers, CPA, the best part of his work is building relationships. “Both in business and in life, everything I do is about people and relationships,” he says. Myers’ dedication to serving others surely helped propel him to being named Aprio’s Nashville office leader not long after joining the firm. He says, “Whether it is the team I get to work with on a day-to-day basis, the clients I get to serve or the professionals I get to meet in the community, people are what keep me coming back every day.”
Tell us a little about yourself, your family and where you grew up.
First and foremost, I have been married to my best friend, Emily, for almost 20 years. We have two amazing children, Evie (11) and Brock (6). We live in Franklin. I was born and raised in Goodlettsville and went to Lipscomb University. I am a unicorn as I have lived in a 45-mile radius pretty much my whole life.
What do you do now, and why did you choose to become a CPA?
I am the Nashville office leader for Aprio. I am also an assurance partner specializing in manufacturing and distribution. Honestly, I did not know I wanted to be a CPA until two years out of college. I got an accounting degree with really no idea what I would do with it other than go into business of some kind. In 2007, I decided public accounting was a path that I would pursue, and with that came the CPA.
What’s the biggest challenge you’ve had to overcome, or what’s been your most significant success?
I would say they are one in the same. My biggest challenge that ultimately became my most significant success was leaving a firm where I had worked for 14 years to go to something that was mildly unknown and start over to prove myself. Over time, you build up a lot of sweat equity with an organization, and to move that meter to zero and start over was a significant challenge. Because I took that faith and belief in myself, though, in four years it has ultimately become my most significant success.
What’s the best piece of advice you ever received?
Whatever you do, do it to the best of your ability. I have always said I will never be the smartest person in the room, but I challenge people to out-work me. My mother was, is and always will be the hardest-working person I know. I wouldn’t say it is advice, but watching the model of work and strength she has showed me what I should model. I pour everything I have into each day.
What has changed the most since you entered the profession, and what do you see changing the most in the next 5-10 years?
Sadly, I think the thing that has changed the most has been our communication. Prior to the pandemic, we were traveling to clients and working on-site pretty much every week. Since then, we have been mostly working remotely because we proved we could do that. To me, there will never be something to replace sitting across the table from your client and having a conversation or having them walk you through their facility to discuss challenges and successes. The obvious answer for changes in the next 5-10 years will be technology, but I am starting to really be encouraged by the new generation of team members who want to engage and be back in the office building community.
Anything else you’d like to share with our readers?
I am passionate about what we do and this profession. I believe the strides we are making hopefully will ultimately fix our pipeline problem. This profession is so fulfilling in so many aspects; we just have to get out and be our own advocates and cheerleaders.
The views and reflections expressed in this article are those of the individual members and do not necessarily represent the views of the Tennessee Society of CPAs (TSCPA).
This article was originally published in the November/December 2025 Tennessee CPA Journal.