Former Portageville resident honored for leadership in business

Ryan Underwood

LITTLE ROCK, Ark. - Growing up together in Portageville, Mo., Trey Rone said he always knew his best friend Ryan Underwood would achieve great things.

Rone described Underwood as a class leader and an athlete.

“Everybody knew he would do well. He was just that kind of guy,” said Rone.

In October, Arkansas Business Publishing Group named Underwood one of Arkansas 250 Most Influential Leaders.

Rone couldn’t be prouder.

“We need everyone to know about the good people that come out of the small communities in our area,” Rone said.

Underwood earned the recognition as managing partner of the Arkansas offices of BKD, a national CPA and advisory firm with 40 offices in 18 states. In Arkansas BKD has offices in Little Rock, Fort Smith and Rogers and is the largest CPA firm in the state with approximately 130 employees.

While BKD is a large company, Underwood attributes his small town roots as a big part of his success.

The son of Peggy Underwood of Portageville and the late Ronnie Underwood, he spent his youth watching and learning from the adults in his community.

He explained working on his father and uncle’s farm he learned success takes time and hard work.

“ My father was an outstanding man of the highest character and I owe him a lot of gratitude for everything he did for me over the years,” Underwood said.

Playing high school football and basketball instilled lessons as well.

“Playing in sports and receiving guidance from coaches taught me the importance of teamwork, discipline and hard work,” he said. “The coaches also instilled in us the importance of having respect for others, giving 100 percent in everything you do and how to learn from and accept adversity.”

Following graduation from Portageville High School in 1987, Underwood attended Arkansas State University earning a degree in accounting. He began working with BKD in July 1991 and was named a partner in the company by age 32. For approximately the past 12 years he has served as managing partner while specializing in audits of publicly traded banks.

Underwood describe his work with publicly traded bank audit clients as a passion. Top client service is always his goal, he added.

“I’m willing to dig into the details. roll up my sleeves and work along with the staff,” he said.

According to Underwood, BKD also urges company leaders to become mentors in order to develop the next generation of leaders in the firm.

On Jan. 1, Underwood will officially do that as he steps down from his role as managing partner to focus his energy on two of the firm’s largest clients.

“I love my job as managing partner but it was going to be very difficult to serve as both the office MP and engagement executive on some very large audits so I decided it was time to move full-time back into the client service role,” he said. “I also thought it was time for someone else to start making long-term decisions that would impact our future beyond my retirement and the timing would enable an adequate period of time to transfer my knowledge to the next MP.”

It will also give him more time to spend with his family. Underwood is married to his high school sweetheart, Andrea Atwill Underwood. Their daughter, Ashlyn, is following in her father’s footsteps and is currently working on her master’s degree in accounting at the University of Michigan.

Like so many other companies, COVID-19 has impacted BKD. Underwood said while the business remains strong, when the pandemic hit much of the work was done remotely. Currently he said staffing is about 50 percent in the office with the remaining employees working from home.

“I am getting tired of the zoom calls,” he laughed. “I looking forward to getting back to in-person contact.”

He also looks forward to traveling again. Underwood said he and his family enjoy scuba diving, especially at exotic locations.

There are also trips back to Southeast Missouri each fall for duck hunting with Rone.

As for his most recent honor, Underwood said it was humbling to be included with other top business leaders in the state.

“It is pretty cool to get recognized in this manner after a long successful career,” he said. “I’m glad to be recognized but it is not going to change anything. My satisfaction comes from delivery of good client service.”

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About BKD: BKD is one of the top 20 largest firms in the nation as ranked by Accounting Today. The firm was recognized in 2020 as Top 5 Best of the Best Firms in 2020 by Inside Public Accounting.